Book Bites

Dr Johnson on Success

2008-12-21T10:26:00.002-06:00

Samuel Johnson grew up poor and handicapped in 18^th Century. He was also brilliant and determined to be independent. Son of a bookseller, Johnson was a voracious reader.

While attending, young Samuel was mortified when a fellow student left a pair of shoes on the doorstep one night after noticing the condition of his tattered shoes. He dropped out of after a year, unable to pay his tuition.

Johnson started a teaching career. Lacking a degree, and with physical handicaps that made him a target for children’s disrespect, he was not successful.

So he turned to writing where his career finally blossomed. Johnson was a prolific writer, creating a dictionary, poems, sermons, books, and political essays. Today he is the second most frequently quoted person in the English-speaking world, second only to Shakespeare.

What does this story have to do with you?

At first glance, nothing.

Look a little deeper into his writings and you’ll find this quote:

“To be happy at home is the ultimate result of all ambition.”

Bam. Kind of hits you right between the eyes doesn’t it?

At this time of year when we are rushing around with holiday preparations, looking back at 2008 and beating ourselves up for all the things we did or did not do, those twelve words put it all into perspective.

Ponder this on a winter’s night:

Are you happy at home?
How can you mark and celebrate the richness of your home life?
In what ways does your business support your home life or subtract from it?
What are you going to do to enhance your happiness at home?

As you wind up 2008 and look ahead to 2009, use these words to create what really matters in your life and your business. Do the same for your readers.

“To be happy at home is the ultimate result of all ambition.”
Samuel Johnson

Raise your glass with me in celebration of all the little things that make home feel like home.

Salute!

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Advocate for Your Readers

2008-12-10T08:57:00.009-06:00

In my work as a publisher, I have the opportunity to read many manuscripts from new authors. Many are wonderful. Some unfortunately, are in need of a makeover.

Some books just feel ‘off’. It’s hard to identify the problem, but they just don’t feel right.

After much study and comparison, I’ve identified a trend in the manuscripts that are not quite ready for publication. It’s a very subtle but important distinction.

The best books are written FOR a reader.
Unsuccessful books are written TO a reader.

If your book feels preachy, arrogant, or judgmental, your reader will not benefit from your words.
For example, if you have strong feelings about teen drinking and write a 250-page book on how sinful and terrible teenage drinking is, how many teens do you think will read it?

On the other hand, if you wrote a funny, compassionate book about the struggles teens encounter with peer pressure, including the pressure to drink alcohol, and gave them easy strategies they could use to avoid alcohol and drugs, your book would be much more attractive to your readers. It would be even better if you had a teen-aged co-author who could speak directly to his/her peers, using their language.

As your plan and write your book, use these questions to ensure that you are advocating for your reader in your book, instead of lecturing them:

Who is my ideal reader?
What problem does this book solve for my reader?
What emotional impact does this problem cause for my reader?
How can I demonstrate my understanding and compassion for my reader?
Where can I praise my reader for seeking a new solution in this book?
How can I encourage my reader that the solutions in the book will help?
What stories can I tell that will show my reader that I understand this issue and demonstrate my own vulnerability?
How can I make reading this book an enjoyable experience, even if it is about a difficult topic?

When you remember that as an author, you are an advocate for your readers, you will write a book that connects to the heads and the hearts of your audience.

‘For’ and ‘to’ are small words. Yet, they carry a powerful reminder for authors. I have them on a sticky note on my computer as a constant reminder.

Hope this article was helpful FOR you!

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Get Your Geek On

2008-12-04T16:16:00.002-06:00

If you have read Book Bites for a while, you know I am a big nerdy, geek at heart. Yes, I was the smart, bookish girl in high school who helped with homework and excelled in the Speech club and Student Council. Yikes.

So forgive my nerdy excitement about research. Each time I ghostwrite a book, I have to spend hours researching the topic, the author, and the ideal readers. I’ve discovered that all that research helps me to write faster and better.

Your book will benefit from some research as well. The more you know about the problems and challenges of your audience, the more compelling your book will be.

For example, imagine you are writing a book to help women returning to the workforce after being home with children. You may know the obvious problems these readers face: communicating like a Mom instead of a professional, updating technology skills and managing office politics.

However, if you did additional research, you would know these readers are also concerned about:

How to dress in today’s corporate environment- styles have certainly changed in 15 years
Coping with co-workers and managers who are young enough to be your child
Overcoming the subtle discrimination from women who’ve worked while they had children or sacrificed children for a career

When you research, you discover the subtle facets of the issue, providing your readers with information that leaves a lasting impact and makes them feel understood.
To conduct research:

Follow blogs related to your topic
Use a search engine like Google or Yahoo to find the most popular websites for your target readers
Read magazines targeted to your ideal reader
Look at other books related to your topic, both the popular and unpopular ones
Interview people with first-hand knowledge of your topic. Find these people at networking events, community or church groups, organizations like the PTA, Chamber of Commerce, or professional organizations, or on social networking sites like Facebook.

Give research a try. It’s fun. Think Nancy Drew, Sherlock Holmes, and prize winning journalists.
The more deeply you know and understand your topic and your readers, the more powerful your book. Soon you will unleash your inner geek and learn to love research just as much as I do!

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What’s on Your Wall?

2008-11-23T08:16:00.003-06:00

I’ve had a quote on my wall for the past 7 years. You may know it:

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that
Other people won’t feel insecure around you.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It’s not just in some of us; it is in everyone.
And, as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give
Other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear,
our presence automatically liberates others.
Marianne Williamson, 1992, A Return to Love

This quote is quite famous, used by Nelson Mandela in his 1994 Inaugural Speech, and quoted widely throughout the world.

These words have blessed my life for many years. In fact, I’ve used them so frequently in corporate training classes, that my co-teachers tease me saying, “Oh, it’s time for Lynne to do that quote again.” They can now say it with me.

What part of your book can inspire people?

Never underestimate the power of your words to help and inspire your readers. Words have power to build up, motivate, educate, entertain, and encourage.

When you write your book, you transform the lives of your readers. It can be an awesome responsibility and a thrilling opportunity.

As you write your book, do not forget that your words and your message matter deeply.
Thank you for sharing your light with the world.

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A single coaching question that makes all the difference

2008-11-05T08:12:00.000-06:00

Why should I invest my precious time in reading your book?

Spend some time with this question and your journal.

Imagine your busy reader, deciding if she should read your book or play with her kids, go to the gym, clean up the house, or take a bubble bath.

What precious information will you give her in your book that will make reading it worthwhile?

When you get very clear on the answer to this question, you will write a powerful, focused book and market it with confidence. If you cannot answer this question in your back cover copy, your description on Amazon.com, your website, and whenever someone asks you about your book, it will not succeed.

This question is crucial to your success.

Please do yourself and your future readers a favor, and invest some time in answering it.

When you do, you will know why it was a worthwhile use of your time to do so.

Trust me on this one.

To read the full newsletter click here.

FAQ on the Business Building Books/Love Your Life Partnership

2008-10-29T08:07:00.000-05:00

Why are you doing this?

There are a couple of reasons for this change. Christine and I have the same goals and very similar values. We also market to the same folks. We decided we could compete or cooperate. We like cooperation better!

Christine brings expertise in creating best selling books and experience with large print runs- both things that I don’t have yet.

Additionally, if we work together, we serve more authors and offer you more- more information, more services, and a bigger reach in the marketplace.

What if I already published my book with you?

Nothing will change. All existing agreements for coaching, publishing, websites, and distribution will be honored.

When will this change take place?

We are in the process of creating our new corporate structure now and will officially launch new websites, etc in January.

However, if are ready to work on your book now and want to save a bundle of ca.sh, we have a few slots left in our beta group for a new 8 week program starting Nov 12.

These spaces are going fast so if you want to join this first class, hurry over here and get the deal of the year.

Will I still get Book Bites?

Book Bites will continue in its present format for the rest of this year. After that, it may transition to a blog, become a newsletter that is sent out periodically, or stay as is but with articles from both Christine and I.

What do you suggest?

Give me your feedback via email: lynne@lynneklippel.com

What can I do to help support this new project?

I love this question!

Please send Christine and me your thoughts and prayers so that we can create a business that is a positive force for us all. There are so many ‘bad guys’ in the publishing industry, so we resolved to create a company aligned with what is good.

To read the full newsletter click here.

Becoming an Author Means Becoming a Leader

2008-10-22T08:01:00.004-05:00

One of my clients and I just finished a huge publishing project on Friday. The author was exhausted.

His publishing journey was filled with many challenges and was a bit bumpy. His time line was short, there were problems with some of the people hired to work on the project, and he spent more time than he anticipated on his book.

One the other hand, he now has a wonderful book. He will present groundbreaking information that will propel him to international prominence in his industry. He has a solid marketing plan, great looking book website, and a strong potential for success.

As we celebrated the completion of his book on Friday afternoon, he remarked that becoming an author made him grow personally and professionally. He needed some coaching and support to realize that now that his book is ready, he will be stepping up into a leadership role in his industry. Frankly, he had to face a few fears to do so.

When you write a book, you too will face a few fears. You’ll have thoughts like:

What if no one reads this thing?
What if everyone reads it and wants to hire me? Can I handle that growth?
What if my life changes now that I am sharing my expertise in such a public way?
What if I am asked to speak before thousands of people?

Writing a book makes you a leader.

This is both exciting and daunting for most of us.

Take a few minutes and write the answers to these questions in your journal:

What excites me the most about becoming a leader in my industry?
What scares me the most?
When I have I lead people or projects?
What leadership strengths can I build upon?
What step can I take today to prepare myself for a bigger role?

There is an old saying that goes, “Lead, follow, or get out of the way.”

You’ve decided to lead. I salute you!!

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Bookmarks: An Old Fashioned Yet Effective Way to Promote Your Book

2008-10-16T07:58:00.001-05:00

One of the benefits of working as a publisher is the ability to watch different marking campaigns and see how they work. Quite a few of my authors are having good results using bookmarks to promote their books.

Bookmarks used to be standard items in every library, school, and home. Did your teachers admonish you to stop bending the corners of a book page and to use a bookmark instead? Mine did. Books were expensive and to be treated with care.

Even if you never use a bookmark while you read, consider using bookmarks to promote your book. They are inexpensive to print, easy to carry, and provide plenty of advertising space. If you have a stack of bookmarks with you, you can easily hand one to people as you have a conversation about your book. If you are a bit daring, you could insert your bookmark into related books in a bookstore or library. You could also distribute bookmarks at networking events as part of your introduction.

You may also wish to insert two bookmarks into the packages of the books you ship, asking buyers to pass the extra bookmark along to someone who would enjoy your book. Word of mouth is the most powerful form of advertising and providing an extra bookmark is a nice way to encourage it.

If you are interested in creating a bookmark to promote your book, you can use a local printer or PrintforLess.com. I suggest getting pricing information from at least two places so that you can make a comparison.

Use heavy paper so the bookmark is sturdy- 120-pound card stock is the standard for bookmarks, with a glossy coating.

You will be able to decide if you want a full- color front with a black and white back or color printing on both sides. The decision will impact your costs.

For example, if you get your bookmark printed at PrintforLess.com, you will pay 20 cents per bookmark for color on the front and black and white print on the back. Color printing on both sides will increase your costs to 30 cents each, but will look more attractive.

Be thoughtful about the text you use on your bookmark. It is important to have a graphic of your book cover, your website address, and then some useful information related to your book.

Create a bookmark that readers will post on a bulletin board or stick on a refrigerator door. Use humor, share an inspirational quotation, or provide a list of handy tips.

Your bookmark then becomes a billboard for your book.

My authors who are using bookmarks are very pleased with their results. If you decide to try them for your book, let me know how they work for you.

To read the full newsletter click here.

When You’ve Lost Your Will to Write

2008-10-09T07:54:00.000-05:00

One of my authors sent me an email last week. His words struck a chord because I’ve heard them from almost every author I’ve ever worked with and said them myself.

His questions:

What’s really that special about me and my book?

Do you think anyone will read this?

This loss of confidence happens at least once in every book project. You are so bogged down in the details of writing, the stress of editing, and the familiarity with the content that you can easily lose your passion, or to use an Austin Powers’ term, your writing mojo.

When this doubt starts to creep in, you will find yourself spending hours on Facebook, cleaning your closets, shopping, or other forms of avoidance and procrastination. You start to feel a little bored and wonder if this idea of writing a book was silly after all.

This is the time to STOP thinking about yourself and reconnect with your passion for helping others.

Remind yourself that you are writing this book to serve readers by providing a solution for their problem. Review your vision and marketing plan to refresh your energy for your perfect readers. Remember how much you book will help them and their families.

Keep in mind that you are probably taking your material for granted. You know it like the back of your hand. It is easy to assume that everyone else knows it too.

That’s not the case.

People are searching for help. When you reconnect with your passion for sharing your knowledge in service to your readers, you will stop procrastinating and start writing again.

It’s all about the giving.

To read the full newsletter click here.

Report from the Social Networking Experiment

2008-10-03T07:50:00.001-05:00

As you know, I’ve been exploring social media over the last few months: Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, and now I’m on Twitter. Yikes!

I’m getting more comfortable with this form of communication but still have questions. What about you?

Facebook seems to be the most useful for meeting new people for professional/personal networking. I actually reconnected with some old friends from high school and met some potential clients there. I’m starting to get some phone calls and inquiries about my work from Facebook contacts, and I’ve found some people to help me. My experience on Facebook has been worthwhile, even as a beginner.

LinkedIn is good for asking questions, job leads, and networking on a high professional level. I’m not as active in this group yet so have not seen many results.

I’m not very active on MySpace yet. It seems to be more popular with teens. If you write for teens, MySpace would be extremely helpful.

Twitter is funny. You can periodically go in during the day and write what you are doing. People can look to see what some of the folks they admire do. I’m very new to Twitter and not sure how it will help me yet. However, it has been fun to follow people I admire.

I remember when I thought I’d never use email. I will bet that in five years, I will be giggling about how I thought these sites were silly too.

Social networking seems to be the wave of the future. It’s fr.ee, it helps you build relationships, and connect globally.

It is becoming a very important tool for authors. In fact, most author proposals now submitted to traditional publishers include information about how many contacts the author has on social media sites.

If you want to follow my on-going adventures in social media, you can connect with me on social media sites:

www.LinkedIn.com

www.Facebook.com

www.twitter.com/lynneklippel

I strongly suggest that you start to experiment for yourself on these sites. Start with Facebook, put up a profile, and connect with authors, marketers, and other people you admire. Watch how they use the site to connect with their readers.

It is fascinating.

Any time you can connect with more readers, that’s a very good thing.

To read the full newsletter click here.

Give Me Your Ears

2008-09-14T07:45:00.001-05:00

Last Thursday’s teleclass, Think like a Teacher, was a big success!

I got many thank you notes from people who mentioned how useful and important the information was to them. I’d planned to write an article about part of the content for today’s Book Bites, but decided instead to send a copy of the recording of the teleclass.

Click here to hear the replay

I have been doing some extensive research on book marketing and am more convinced every day that if you do not use the methods I talked in this class, you are going to be quite disappointed in the financial rewards you reap from your book. Please listen to this replay so you will understand the business aspects of becoming an author.

To read the full newsletter click here.

Give Your Readers the Opportunity to Ask for More

2008-09-08T07:38:00.000-05:00

If you’ve been reading Book Bites for a while, you know how strongly I believe that authors need a product funnel for their books. Simply put, a product funnel is a group of products and services, related to your book topic, that readers could purchase from you after they’ve read your book.

All the most successful non-fiction authors have a product funnel. Consider Wayne Dyer’s audio programs, Debbie Ford’s coach training services, and all the other authors you know who do workshops, teleclasses, calendars, card decks, cruises, and a myriad of other offerings.

If you want to really serve people with your message and create a livable income from your book, you must have a product funnel.

This story will explain how it works:

Life Coach Tina specializes in helping parents of teenagers to manage stress and successfully navigate the teen years.

She writes a book about parenting teens that she sells for about 20 dollars.

Before she launches the book, she gives away a free eBook on ways to get a teen to do homework and be more responsible. People who get this free eBook go onto her mailing list and receive a monthly newsletter from her as well.

Next Tina creates a workbook and teleclass for parents, which provides training, contracts and worksheets to help them set up house rules for teen, a big concept in her book. She sells this class for 79 dollars, mentions it in her newsletter and in the resource section of her book. Later she had the class put on a CD so that people can learn the information even if they missed the class.

Then, Tina creates a three-month group-coaching program for parents of kids who are failing in school. This group is offered for 299 dollars.

Finally, Tina writes a 12-week course on effective communication techniques for teens and parents in crisis. She offers this course to local school districts and community agencies as a train the trainer program so that their staff can teach her material in small local groups. She sells a license to use this material for 699 dollars to professionals and a home study version for individual use at a lower price.

Did you notice the progression of information and price points?
How could you use a product funnel with your readers?
What parts of your book would be idea for an information product or personal interaction with you in a class or workshop?

Creating a product funnel is hard if you do not know what you are doing. I know; I had several failed attempts myself before I got some solid training on exactly how to do this. Now that I know this information, my business has been transformed and so have the business’s of my clients’.

One thing leads to another- how can you make that true for your readers?

To view the full newsletter click here.

The Book That Went Back to Amazon

2008-08-24T07:24:00.000-05:00

I love books, even when they are not perfect. However, I had to break down and return a book to Amazon this week.

Let this article be a cautionary tale of what NOT to do with your book.

The book I purchased for $19.95 received glowing reviews on Amazon. The topic was excellent and the title catchy. It promised the solution to a thorny business problem I had so I ordered it with great anticipation.

When the book arrived, I was a little worried. The cover didn’t look very impressive and the book was tiny—just 101 pages.

Yet, I was eager to read it because I wanted the information it promised.

I cracked open the first page and found five pages of glowing testimonials, which made me feel better about my purchase.

The book layout was well done and easy to read, another positive impression. There was a glowing foreword by someone with an impressive title.

Then, I started to read the book and was under-whelmed by the content.

The material was confusing. There were terms used that were unfamiliar but they were not defined so I felt stupid. No reader likes that!

I kept turning the page, waiting to get to the good stuff, only to find I’d reached the end of the book. I never learned the answer to my problem and felt ripped off by the end of the book.

The basic problem with this book was that it did not keep its promise. There was not enough information presented to make it a worthwhile purchase. I felt like I’d been invited to a banquet and only given a lettuce leaf.

The publisher tried to disguise the lack of information with numerous graphics, testimonials at the end of every chapter, and many extra pages at the back with ‘additional resources’. I wasn’t fooled.
What’s the moral of this story?

There are several extremely useful ones:

Give your readers your best information.
Ensure that you fulfill the promises you’ve made on your back cover and in your advertising materials.
Avoid teasing readers with a partial answer to their problem and an offer for a coaching group to get the rest of the story.
Create enough material so that readers feel like they got a great return on their buying investment. If you don’t have enough material yet, write some more and wait to publish.

Your book is creates your reputation in the world. When you work hard to write the best book you possibly can, your efforts will be well worth it.

And I promise to never return your book!

To view the complete newsletter click here.

Facebook for Authors?

2008-08-06T17:54:00.000-05:00

I am addicted to a new free social networking site for authors. I just discovered it this week and have spent way too much time there already.

Book Marketing Network, founded by John Kremer, has a fun mix of publishing insiders, new authors, and cool folks. It's a place to share, a place to give, a place to pass it on. For book authors, self-publishers, book publishers, publicists, marketers, and others involved in writing, publishing, and marketing books.

I found some wonderful marketing information there already.

Just watch out, it can be a big time drain if you are not careful. I was amazed at how long I stayed on the site, reading and learning.

You may have to set a timer!

What if your book will make people angry?

2008-08-06T15:27:00.001-05:00

I got a very thoughtful email today from a writer who is writing a book on an extremely controversial topic, one that is sure to make people upset and angry, yet a topic that is important to discuss.

She wondered what she could do to avoid negative reactions to her topic.

Here's my reply:

I'm afraid with a topic like yours, there is no avoiding controversy and negative reactions. It is a highly charged topic and sure to invoke a lot of emotions, both pro and con.

I would be careful to make sure that you are not slandering anyone- printing anything that is untrue- and that you carefully disguise the names, places, and situations in your book. You can also put a disclaimer in the front about the names and details being changed to protect the identity of the innocent.

Then, just prepare yourself for the controversy. The good thing is that is might get you lots of attention from the media. The downside is that it could be quite stressful.

I'd also suggest that you work with a media coach to help you have prepared answers to mean-spirited questions so that you can handle them professionally.

***end email***
There is no doubt that controversial books sell. People love the dark side of life. We can't help but be attracted to celebrity gossip or the tales of sin and corruption. Just look at the all time we spend on people like Brittany Spears. We still don't know what happened to John-Benet Ramesy, but ten years later, her case still makes international headlines.

However, if you are writing a controversial book, you have to be ready, professionally and emotionally, for people's reaction. Being an author takes courage and it takes extreme courage to write about a topic that will will stir up strong emotions.

If you are working on a controversial book, my caution is to go slowly, write the very best book you can, get an attorney to review it for you, and then work with media coaches and a PR firm to use that controvery to your advantage.

If people are going to be talking about your book, make sure they are buying it too!

Ghosting

2008-07-26T13:53:00.002-05:00

I don't talk about it a lot, but I am a ghostwriter.

I write blog posts, articles, ezines, and books for other people. Most of the people that I write for are either too busy to write their own material or they are just not blessed with the ability to write well.

People are usually curious about the process of ghostwriting.

Here's how I do it:

I start with extensive interviews with the client so that I can really know her story, her business, and her readers. These interviews are taped and transcribed.

Then, I work up a book blue print (yes, the same one I teach in Book School), the purchaser approves it, and then I write the book using their style.

The purchaser contirbutes stories, comments, and has final approval on the finished work. The manuscript belongs to him or her to publish as they wish.

This process is time consuming. It generally takes 6-12 months for me to ghostwrite a book since I do it in additional to my other business writing.

It's fun but quite challenging. I have to make sure I don't write like a middle aged woman when my client is a man in his thirties!

The hardest part is keeping my mouth shut and not revealing who my clients are!

Right book at the wrong time?

2008-07-20T12:36:00.002-05:00

This week I had to give bad news to two authors.

Both had a book idea and were eager to write their first books. They were excited and enthusiastic.

I felt like a heel when I gave them my recommendation that they wait to write their books.

Why did I give such advice?

One author was financially strapped and in fear of losing his home. He thought writing a book would be the answer to his financial woes.

The other author was ready to open her own business but had not yet begun. She had a good idea for a book and a business but no practical experience in applying her ideas with others yet.

Time for a reality check.

Writing a book will not make you instantly rich, no matter how much you visualize beach homes and chatting with Oprah on her tv show.

Nor will writing a book make you an expert in something if you really are not. You can write a book and tell people what you think they should do, but without examples and proof that the ideas worked well for others, your book will not build a business for you.

Writing a book is a great idea for business owners. However, the timing must be right. You need results from your life and from other's that your methods work as well as a plan for products and services related to your book that will help you make money with it.

To me that's a matter of integrity. If someone is broke but plans to write a book on attracting financial abundance, there is a big disconnect. That would be like someone who has been divorced four times writing a book on finding the ideal mate.

(I said no on that one last year!)

An Author Who Did Everything Right with PR

2008-07-14T20:51:00.002-05:00

Check out this story from Yahoo's OMG site on Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's choice of baby names

Did you notice how author Pamela Redmond Satran was listed as the baby name expert?

While I don't know for sure, I bet that Pamela or her publicist sent a press release to members of the media, giving her insight about the names of little Knox and Vivienne.

You can do that too!

Savvy authors know to pay attention to current events. When a news story breaks with something related to your book topic, the time is hot for you to let the media know that you have information that relates to the story.

You can start locally for best results. Get your local media to think of you when they need a local expert to comment on a story.

Then, after you have a bit of experience, branch out to the national media.

Learn more about this topic in my fr.ee interview with Larina Kase on Wednesday, July 16. To register or learn more about the call, click here

Lessons from a book gone wrong

2008-07-06T08:16:00.002-05:00

A couple of weeks ago I was asked to review and endorse a new book.

Sadly, I could not.

The book did not have enough content to be worthwhile. At less than 45 pages, the majority of the information was readily available for free from other sources and there was little that the author added personally. It was written in list format, with sparse text. The author had many opportunities to expand the information but did not. Yikes!

Call me picky, but if I am going to shell out money for a book, I want to learn something from it, be entertained, or least be challenged with a fresh idea.

Unfortunately, many people are jumping on the author bandwagon a little too fast, creating books that do not represent them well in the marketplace.

If you are going to go through the work and expense of writing and publishing a book, please ensure that it is a good book!

Do so by following the standard steps I teach in Book School or you can find in other sources:
1. Create a solid vision and marketing plan
2. Know what your readers really want and need
3. Create a book blueprint so that your content is well organized and makes sense
4. Give your best in your book. Ensure that your readers get useful information, not just teasers to hire you.

A book can be a fabulous marketing tool for any business. However, a poorly done book gives you a bad reputation that is hard to overcome.

Make YOUR book shine and you will reap the rewards.

An interesting move by Amazon.com

2008-07-02T18:38:00.002-05:00

Earlier this year, Amazon.com rocked the publishing world when they announced that they would stop carrying print on demand books (POD) that were not published by Book Surge, one of their companies. Lawsuits were filed and many people were up in arms.

As far as I know, that issue still is not totally resolved. My POD books are still listed on Amazon and I use Lightning Source, not Book Surge.

I got an email today from Amazon about a new company called CreateSpace. It is designed to do POD printing as well as DVD and CD production.

On the surface, the pricing looks OK, similar to industry standards. I am curious about the quality of the finished books. The quality of printing by Book Surge was not up to par.

The danger of using programs like this is that an author who is not sure of what she is doing could write and print a really bad book. There are no editing requirements-always a dangerous idea. If the books do not use high quality paper and cover design, they will be challenging to sell.

I'll be watching this developing story and try to purchase a book or two so that I can further evaluate this latest publishing development.

Stay tuned!

5 Ways Prepare for an Awesome Audio Interivew

2008-06-25T19:09:00.003-05:00

Many of my coaching clients are building a funnel of information products related to their book topic. This is a very smart business strategy!

One of the most important parts of that product funnel is a free item that you give to your website visitors in exchange for their name, email address, and permission to maintain on-going contact. In internet marketing terms, this technique is referred to as list building with a squeeze page, or pink spoon if you are an Andrea Lee fan like I am.

To create a pink spoon page or freebie offering quickly and easily, I suggest doing an audio product. The most effective way to create an audio product is to have someone else interview you about your area of expertise, record the interview in mp3 format, and then provide website visitors with a link to listen to the audio after they register for your site.

However, you can't just get on the phone with a friend and chat. If you want to create a audio that will showcase your expertise and begin a positive relationship with your listeners, it is crucial that you do a little bit of preparation work before the interview.

Take these steps:
1. Select an interviewer who is engaging, has a good voice, and will be passionate about your topic.
2. Consider your future listeners. What benefits will they get when they listen to your interview? Will you give them new information, share a case study or examples, solve a problem, or motivate them to try something new?

Make a list of at least 5 benefits that listeners will enjoy from the information you will share. Keep this list handy as you will use it to write the copy for your squeeze page later on.

3. Determine the length of your interview. I suggest 30-40 minutes which is enough time to give good content but not so long that people get bored and stop listening.

4. Craft an introduction and 5-7 questions for your interviewer. Ensure that your questions highlight the benefits you listed in your previous step.

5. Add in a call to action at the end of your interview. Do you want people to buy your book, send you some feedback, or sign up for a coaching program? Give the listeners one step to take if they liked the information and want to learn more from you. Share this call to action with your interviewer before the call so she knows how to lead up to it in a classy way.

When you take these 5 steps to prepare for the recording of your audio product, you will feel confident and have fun making your audio product. If you neglect these steps, your interview will not give you the positive results you desire plus feel like slogging thru molasses as you record it.

After hosting my radio show, Web Sorority Talk Radio for the past three years, I've gotten really good at interviewing people. If you'd like me to help you create your audio product recording or website, just drop me an email.

The Anatomy of a Big-Time Author Event

2008-05-09T15:20:00.001-05:00

Last Sunday, Larry and I went to see author Sylvia Browne on her farewell tour, sponsored by her publisher, Hay House. While I’ve been to a few book signings, this was an event, and I wanted to observe the orchestration of it as well as learn more about a prolific author turned celebrity.

Advertising for this event began last fall via the Hay House newsletter. This multi-city author tour was a paid event with two levels of tickets offered, seats up close to the front for $75 dollars and general seating at $40 per ticket.

The St. Louis event sold out: 2100 people purchased tickets to meet this author in a large hotel ballroom. (Can you imagine that many people coming to see you?)

When we arrived, we were given a wristband, color coded by the level of ticket we’d purchased. No tickets were sold on site. There were some nice posters giving information about the event around the hotel. Everything seemed very classy and well organized.

There was a book table set up displaying Sylvia’s books and books by Colette Baron-Reid, another Hay House author, who served as the opening speaker. CD’s of music or audio programs from the authors were also available. The book table was well staffed so that buyers could quickly and easily purchase items via check or credit card.

The event started promptly on time with a brief welcome from a Hay House representative explaining that Baron-Reid would speak for 45 minutes, followed by a short 15-minute break, and then Sylvia Browne would be on the stage for 2 hours. After that, both authors would be available to autograph copies of books, with a limit of one book signed per person. I was surprised that the authors would take time to sign autographs for such a large crowd.

The event ran precisely on schedule, ending exactly when promised. Even though the lines for autographs were huge, there was no hurry. The authors promised an autograph for everyone, no matter how long it took.

Both authors gave excellent presentations. They were funny, warm, and informal. Neither spoke from prepared remarks, they just told stories about their lives, took questions from the audience, and shared information from their books. Neither made you feel obligated to buy a book. Both were charming and seemed to relish sharing their information and meeting people.

In fact, at one point we were laughing so hard at Sylvia Brown’s jokes that I thought I was in a comedy club instead of a book signing. These well-trained authors made the event fun, informative, and inspirational. I left adoring both of them because they were so warm and genuine.

As we left, I noticed the book table was almost completely sold out, a successful day for Hay House and the authors.

What can you learn from this story?

If you decide to do personal appearances to promote
your book, be sure to be genuine, generous with your time and information, and
let people see your warmth.
Gather a team to help you run a well-organized event
so that you are not stressed.
Make the event fun and useful. Think of it more as a
short seminar or lecture instead of a book signing. When you give great
content, you will sell many books and create life-long fans.
Be yourself. Both authors were refreshingly human and
were able to laugh at themselves. They seemed happy to meet people and
interested in helping. They shared some of their struggles and triumphs but
spent the majority of time giving information instead of talking about
themselves.
Start small so that you can build your confidence and create a system for the event. Begin in your hometown with a small group. Work your way up to larger groups and out of town travel as you grow in confidence.

Read May 9th issue of Book Bites

Think Like a Teacher: Easy ways to evaluate your topic For product opportunities.

2008-05-09T08:16:00.000-05:00

Sure, you know that super successful authors have products and services related to their books. That’s old news.

However, do you know HOW to look at your book topic and uncover the learning opportunities hidden inside? It can be easy if you shift your mindset and learn to think like a teacher.

If you’ve been struggling to figure out what you can create from your book idea, this teleclass is for you!

Spend an hour with me and you will learn to:

evaluate your topic for learning opportunities

use adult learning theories to create the most
successful ways for people to master your concepts

understand the concept of a product funnel and why
every author needs more than one way to follow up with readers

use key questions to break your topic into sequential
learning units.

Join me on Thursday, May 15, 2008 from 7-8 pm Eastern

To learn more and register for this free class, click here.

Editing Stephen King Style

2008-01-29T14:56:00.000-06:00

Stephen King, one of America's most prolific and best selling authors, is more famous for his bone chilling horror stories than as a teacher of writing.

However, his book, On Writing, is full of inspiration for writers of any genre. In it, King not only tells the story of how he started writing, the sacrifices and rewards of his literary career, and some of the demons he faced while becoming famous, he also shares some outstanding editing tips.

Try these:

Have courage. Use active verbs instead of passive ones.

Sentences should have power, action, and clarity. Otherwise, they are boring.

King believes that timid writers use the passive voice too frequently. Instead, make sure that you have a noun actually doing something in each sentence.

For example, compare these sentences:

Jack was planning to leave Irene for another woman, Stella, who was his secretary.

Jack and his secretary Stella eloped.

The first one uses the passive verb form. Who cares if Jack was planning something?

When he elopes, the story gets interesting. You want to know more. Your mind starts painting a picture and considering all the implications for Jack's career, future, and the people he discarded.

Action verbs create strong sentences.

Be direct. Make your point in fewer words.

Eliminate needless description.

Remove the word "that" wherever you can.

Never use a long word when you could use a short one.

Give your self time. Write your book, article or website all the way through before you edit.

Create your draft and put it away for at least a few days.

Then, read it out loud. Listen to the flow of the words. Cut anything extra.

Then, read it aloud. Remove anything that is extra, especially adjectives and adverbs.

When you edit, hone your words. Make them crystal clear, action packed, and direct.

Read On Writing by Stephen King. Translate his suggestions to your personal style.

Then, go write your masterpiece!

The Only Road to Everything You Want

2008-01-20T14:50:00.000-06:00

One of my favorite authors, Tama Kieves, author of This Time I Dance, wrote a beautiful article that really spoke to my heart and soul. She gave me permission to reprint it here.

Wanted to share it with you in hopes that it would compel you forward on your writing journey.

The Only Road to Everything You Want

We commit to real change, and then we resist it. This cosmic dance has been going on forever in every ballroom since the beginning of time...

I've committed to write more this year. It's what I want. Now that I've said it, I know I will drag into my writing room, and it will feel as though I have to hoist a dead body out of the way, just to sit down and type out a sentence. I'll want to wash my hands, and then research how soap got invented, and then perhaps start a small organic soap company.... But I'll stay there and write instead.

There is a part of myself who will wheedle: "Maybe tomorrow. You'll feel better tomorrow." Then there's the one who's painted her toenails hot pink and stomps her imperial feet. "I don't want to do that," she bellows. Another part of me bargains. "I'll answer email now. I'll do the dishes. Okay, okay, I'll exercise!"

What is all that about? Therapists call it resistance. In spiritual traditions, they call it the death of the ego or the frightened self. But I'm thinking the technical term is: blah, blah, blah, something to ignore on the road to everything you really want.

In Buddhism, there is a classic story about Milarepa, a Tibetan monk who sought to meditate and find peace in a cave. You can think of it as his new year's resolution. Just when Milarepa gets all ready to keep his promise to himself, these unruly, foul demons arrive and disrupt his lovely peace-fest. But Milarepa didn't go ballistic and he didn't go limp either. As the tale gets told, he accepted his disruptive energies and invited them to tea. He stopped thinking things should be otherwise, and refused to reject the way things were. Then having stopped protesting the demons, they simply disappeared. Those fun-loving Buddhists always have great answers for our pain.

Natalie Goldberg, creative writing guru, makes a similar point. She talks about writing past your inner critic, not giving the critic any energy or pushback. Remember that old childhood retort, "I know I am, but what are you?" That wouldn't be a good strategy for an infinitely vicious and disturbed inner troll. She says fighting with your inner critic is like "wrestling with tofu." It's pointless, exhausting, and smelly in the end. So I'm guessing you can invite tofu to tea as well.

This year I've decided I'm going to write-- no matter what form resistance takes. I may have to walk past a screaming baboon, crusted barbed wire, or stay in a room with a foul odor. I may have to look in the mirror and confront cellulite and age and the breaking of past promises. But it's all okay. Because I'm on the road to freedom. There is only one road through this. I'll be gentle with myself, but I'll hold to my desires with both fists, all my breath, and the golden stallions of my yet untapped strength. I've fooled myself for far too long, saying it's easier not to make the commitment. Now I know I'll never live my full dreams without this commitment. Besides, resistance is the clear sign that I'm getting too near the gold mine or stash of real change. I must be afraid of something very big and explosively good. Ooh la la.

What's the one thing you can do this year that would make every difference in the world to you? What calls to you right now? What would you regret not discovering, beginning, doing or finishing, yet again, for another year? That's your road to freedom. That's the pathway to everything you want. Your monkeys are out there. But so are the angels. That's where you'll meet your white hot truth and freedom. Everything else is a secondary version of your real life.

I see now that resistance doesn't matter and will always be part of the turf. Resistance will take many faces. My feeling of failure doesn't matter. My fear and shame and even all my "reasons" don't matter. There is only one road to what I want. I can get on that road or not. My dreams aren't going to change.

This year I'm going to take that road. It's my year to do it.

I might have to crawl or step over broken glass and hidden rattle snakes, I don't know. And I don't much care now. It's the only next step I can take that points me in my true direction. I'll bring snacks, bribes, amulets, faith and self-mercy. But I'm going, baby. I'm taking the road to freedom. I hope I see you out there....

Yours in the dance,

Copyright 2008 Tama J. Kieves. All rights reserved.