| I received a pleasant note from a multi-talented | | | | If you seek to get rich from book sales, I would |
| author that would like to self-publish or have a | | | | advise buying lottery tickets. |
| major house do the honor. | | | | If it is for fame, that's a surprisingly realistic |
| This is not an unusual goal. | | | | objective, as a byproduct of promoting a book. |
| But today, I decided to spice my reply with a little | | | | With relentless promotion, you can get your 15 |
| more sour than sweet, revealing in the process | | | | minutes and beyond. And it's FUN being on TV |
| where I believe the book industry is at this point, | | | | and radio, but does publicity of that type sell |
| and what it is requiring. I think these comments | | | | books? If the exposure your title gets isn't on |
| are applicable, generally, and I hope you, too will | | | | Oprah, then not really. |
| find them useful. | | | | Publicity sells you back to yourself. It's a |
| You must be careful in what you reveal to | | | | vanity-gambit, a great ego massage. But don't get |
| publishers about yourself and what's occupying | | | | carried away. It can become a narcissistic narcotic. |
| your professional plate, at the moment. Is it full | | | | Noting the book publishing industry had changed |
| with unrelated, but glamorous activities? | | | | for the worse, I sold my most recent book |
| If you have varied interests, and mention them, | | | | projects to audio publishers instead, and they |
| my first impression is, "How cool." | | | | have been profitable, as well as |
| But if I'm a publisher and I see varied interests, it | | | | quick-to-the-market. In one case I declined a book |
| could backfire. | | | | contract ($ + royalties) because the publisher was |
| "Now, it seems this gifted creature wants us to | | | | counting too much on me to promote. I wasn't |
| publish her book. Is she willing to dedicate the | | | | about to sign a blank check for my time. |
| next two or three years to becoming our slave; | | | | But let's get back to you. While I've had no |
| to refining it and promoting it? How many copies | | | | experience with e-books, it seems to me they |
| will she personally purchase?" | | | | are a cheap and fast way to get your work out |
| That's right. As an author, you are going to do | | | | there, and to garner at least a trickle of income. |
| the heavy lifting, whether you self-publish or a big | | | | If you are successful in e-books, selling hundreds |
| publisher takes on the project. Chances are very | | | | to say a few thousand copies a month, many |
| strong you won't sell many copies, unless you're | | | | publishers will take a look at putting you into hard |
| the purchaser. | | | | copy. They may even pay an advance against |
| As a sales and marketing type, I find that | | | | royalties, and agents should be interested, as well. |
| prospect very disappointing, having sold hundreds | | | | If I were to choose any single reference book on |
| of thousands of copies of some titles (to | | | | publishing, it would be Jeff Herman's "Book |
| strangers!), while other titles were commercial | | | | Publishers, Editors & Literary Agents." It is a |
| flops. | | | | practical and continuously updated directory of |
| Which makes us revert to the most essential | | | | names, phone numbers, and tastes of the folks |
| question: WHY do you want to publish this book? | | | | mentioned in the title. Plus, there are some useful |
| If that WHY is strong enough, it will be worth the | | | | essays on breaking into the biz. I've sold about 4 |
| transaction costs of accomplishing the mission, | | | | of my books with the intelligence I gleaned from |
| while potentially putting your other interests on | | | | his tome. |
| hold. | | | | But I broke one of Herman's rules, which he has |
| If not, if a published book is just another laurel, an | | | | since revised: I sold my books to editors by |
| entry on your life's resume, then WHY becomes | | | | telephone. |
| WHY BOTHER? | | | | Good luck! |