| What is a book club sale? It is actually a rights | | | | cooking club or to a mathematics club. If your |
| sale or a licensing agreement: you are granting | | | | book is regional, it will not likely appeal to a general |
| permission to a book club the right to | | | | interest book club, so submit that a regional title |
| borrow your work. You have written a | | | | to suitable specialty clubs. |
| book, and now you are allowing a book club to | | | | Tip #5 for increasing the odds: |
| print and distribute your book to its members. | | | | There are rules to follow when submitting your |
| You allow the book club to reprint your book in a | | | | book to the book clubs, so following them |
| specific language, in a specific format, for a | | | | carefully should avoid unnecessary rejections. |
| specific period of time, in a specific geographic | | | | Here they are: |
| territory, to a specific group of people. You | | | | 1. Send your manuscript to the Editorial |
| ensure in your contract that you maintain | | | | department at the appropriate club(s). |
| ownership of the copyright and of all other | | | | 2. Include a cover letter that details the following |
| intellectual property rights, such as electronic, | | | | information: |
| movie, other languages and territories, and serial | | | | summary of the book contents |
| rights — to name a few. Always seek | | | | description of the book (size, binding, hard |
| good legal advice before signing a contract. | | | | soft cover, black & white or color) |
| There are many book clubs, but most of the | | | | expected selling price |
| major clubs fall under the bookspan umbrella ( To | | | | number of pages |
| find other book clubs that are appropriate for | | | | number and type of photographs and/or |
| your book, do an internet search: on your | | | | illustrations (indicate if black & white or color |
| browser, type in +(your book genre, e.g., | | | | notation if the book will be part of a series |
| cooking)+book+club. | | | | which volume the book is in an existing series |
| The chances of having your book selected by a | | | | and a sales history of the series |
| book club are roughly one in ten, which is really | | | | intended publication date |
| quite good. Imagine if your chance at winning the | | | | plans for publicity and promotion, and your |
| lottery was that great! | | | | intended budget |
| Tip #1 for increasing the odds: | | | | 3. Include a brief author biography written in the |
| It is important to know that book clubs are | | | | third person. Be sure to talk about any previous |
| always looking for new ideas to entice their | | | | books published and their sales histories. |
| members, so if your book is well written and | | | | 4. Send photocopies of some of the illustrations |
| edited, has plans for professional graphic design, | | | | and photographs. Please do not send original |
| AND demonstrates a unique slant on your topic, | | | | copies — they will NOT be returned to you. |
| your chances of being selected rise considerably. | | | | 5. Don’t forget your contact information |
| Tip #2 for increasing the odds: | | | | and website if you have one. |
| In saying that, it is important for you to know | | | | Unfortunately, you cannot contact book clubs to |
| that the earlier you submit your book, the better. | | | | follow up on your submission. It’s a case |
| Tip #3 for increasing the odds: | | | | of Don’t call us. We’ll call you. |
| Book clubs are much happier receiving a typed | | | | Book clubs receive too many submissions to allow |
| manuscript six to twelve months in advance of | | | | follow up calls or letters. If they are interested, |
| your publication date than receiving a bound galley | | | | they will call you, usually within two to six months. |
| or finished book close to the publication date. A | | | | Do you think that a book club sale is worth |
| book club likes to introduce your book to its | | | | pursuing? Absolutely! We specialize in book club |
| members near your publication date in order to | | | | and other non-traditional book sales (more info |
| take advantage of the reviews and publicity that | | | | here: Book Marketing Secrets). |
| you will be generating when your book is launched. | | | | For very little effort you can achieve the sale of |
| The bigger the media splash you make, the | | | | thousands of copies of your book. You will likely |
| better everyone’s sales will be. | | | | be paid a minimum sum per copy, but you will |
| Tip #4 for increasing the odds: | | | | also not have any production costs, and a small |
| There are many categories of book clubs, so be | | | | sum multiplied by thousands can equate to a very |
| sure to submit your title only to the appropriate | | | | nice check. Your only effort will be to sign a |
| clubs. Do not send your book to every book club | | | | contract, provide your book on disk and collect |
| that you can find. Each club’s membership | | | | that check — and just think of the free |
| has specific interests so be sure to submit your | | | | publicity! Thousands of book club members will |
| book only to clubs that might buyyou will again | | | | read about your book. You can’t buy that |
| increase your chance of being selected. | | | | kind of publicity! |
| For instance, if you have a humor book, | | | | © Copyright 2004 Ink Tree Ltd. |
| it’s unlikely to be of any interest to a | | | | |