Wednesday, May 30, 2007

All That Doesn't Add Up To Success

I recently blogged about the success we had getting newspaper reviewers to take a look at our new novel "Why Is Crater Lake So Blue?''

I should have also said that by no way do I think we now have it in the bag. Having reviewers ask for the book only means you checked off another needed step to have a chance at success. That's the tough thing about this publishing process. If you fail in any one of the many, many steps - book design, proof reading, publicity, pre pub reviews, etc. - it can all end up as one big fat zero. That's why there is so little success with novels.

At least with non-fiction you should have a very targeted market and that alone should give you a chance.

Today's worry. Will the books get to the wholesaler in time? It never stops.

Michael LaLumiere
www.whyiscraterlakesoblue.com

Tuesday, May 29, 2007

It's Crunch Time For The Book Release

With Memorial Day gone the countdown starts for the release of our new novel, "Why Is Crater Lake So Blue?'' The target date is July 1st.

I've received the first two orders for the book - one from a wholesaler and one from a speciality account.

The newspapers have the review copies. The publicist is approaching the radio shows. The final proofs are being OK'd.

A very nervous time because we've put a lot of money into this project.

As you go through the process you try to anticipate what will happen at each step of the way. Like, will you be able to get the newspaper book reviewers to take a look. The rule for small publishers and self-publishers is no, that's not likely to happen.

So the publicist and I have been surprised to get 17 requests for the ARC (advanced reader copy) from newspapers in the Northwest. Never thought that would happen. Neither did anyone else. I think the problem for most self-publishers is that they don't have a smart plan and they're unwilling or unable to spend the money required to get the respect of the reviewers.

My part time publicist did the approach to the reviewers. We provided professional press releases, story ideas and book package. Not one reviewer said a thing about being a self-publisher or small publisher.

Michael LaLumiere
www.whyiscraterlakesoblue.com

Friday, May 18, 2007

Just Because You're Self-Publishing Doesn't Mean You Have To Act Like An Amateur

I belong to some lists that have to do with self-publishing issues. Self-publishing started out on the fringe and it's easy to tell a fair number of its practitioners are still out there.

At my advanced age I'm sometimes surprised but hardly ever shocked. I was shocked today when I read that many self-publishers believe it is just fine to misrepresent themselves in press releases to the media in hopes of pulling a fast one and getting a book reviewed. The idea is that if an editor knows that the author is sending in the press release about his or her own book the editor won't take them seriously. So they make up a name and pretend they're someone else handling the publicity.

Oh My God.

The argument is they're just trying to get publicity any way they can and the publishing world is already against them so all is fair ....

The self-publishing world is never going to get the respect it needs if people act like silly amateurs. If you can't put together a book that will sell being dishonest is not going to help.

Michael LaLumiere
www.whyiscraterlakesoblue.com

Tuesday, May 8, 2007

Getting Good Critiques Early Saves A Lot Of Time Later

Before you get about a half-mile down this self-publishing road you should stop and get about a hundred quality critiques of what you've done so far. Believe me, it can only help.

Just because you were once a kid doesn't mean you can write a really good kid's book.

Ha, ha, ha, Mike. No really. It irks me just a tiny bit that people who have written maybe 5000 words in their life think writing is so easy that they can just whip out a best-seller because, well, they're special. I've been writing for 30 years - mostly professionally - and I get pounded on every time I try to write something seriously. I completed the novel that's being released in July about six months ago. People are still going over it finding stupid things I wrote.

The only way you can speed up the experience process is to find people who will give you quality critiques. A bad critique is worse than not getting one at all. Why? Because, "Oh you're such a good writer, you should write a book,'' is going to set you back years. Mom can only buy so many books. And then you won't believe the person who says, "You Stink!''

If you've read this blog you know a book publicist recently told me I stink (I ran her comments verbatim). And maybe I do. But if I do, you (person who's only written 5000 words in your life) do, too. So find out if you have any chance at all and hire a professional to give you an appraisal. It will save a lot of time.

The publicist told me that because I was obviously a beginning I would just laugh off her critique (I didn't even though she was clearly having a bad day). But she's right, that's what beginners do. They laugh off the criticism and bask in the, "Oh you're such a good writer, you....

Michael LaLumiere
www.staggerleebooks.com

Saturday, May 5, 2007

Don't Get In The Way Of Harry Potter

My publicist was talking to a Border's Express store manager in Klamath Falls, Oregon, recently. She was working on setting up a book signing for our new book.

The store manager was anxious to pick a date but he told her not to waste time trying to do anything the second half of July. Why? Harry Potter. Harry Potter. Harry Potter. Even in Klamath Falls, Oregon, Harry Potter is king of the book stores. Don't get in the way of that marketing tornado.

A lot of self-publishers point to J.K. Rowling when dreaming about how they could write the next genius book or set of characters that captivate a large chunk of the world. I think I've read in self-publishing blogs and lists that she was turned down by everybody in the publishing world, etc., etc.

Well, that's not quite true. The second agent she approached took her on. She had a book deal a year later. Certainly it wasn't easy for her but she wrote the first book relatively fast and got a book deal faster than almost all first-time fiction writers. Why? Because she did something brilliant.

She came out of no where and changed the world. Unfortunately, the rules say only one person a generation can do that. Or there abouts. Or you have to make a deal with the devil.

I think if your goal is to be the next J.K. Rowling or you're going to do Harry Potter for adults or some other crazy thing like that you're already lost your chance. I think genius work can only come from what a person truly believes in. Almost none of us are going to create anything approaching Harry Potter but we can all write what we truly believe in. That should be the goal.

Michael LaLumiere
www.staggerleebooks.com