Authors Access http://www.AuthorsAccess.com Where authors get published and published authors get successful en Sat, 21 Jan 2012 08:52:50 -0500 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss info@authorsaccess.com victor@LHPress.com literature,arts,books,authors,publishing,writing,marketing 1440 RSSeditor v0.9.54 (http://www.rss-info.com) http://audio.authorsaccess.com/podcasts/authorsaccess_200.jpg Authors Access Logo http://audio.authorsaccess.com/podcasts/rss.xml Ellen Feld - Niche Marketing Your Children's Book http://www.authorsaccess.com/?p=528 Victor R. Volkman Nancy Barr - Writing Regional Mysteries http://www.authorsaccess.com/genres/mysteries/nancy-barr-writing-regional-mysteries Victor Volkman On January 4th, 2012 Tyler R. Tichelaar andVictor R. Volkman spoke with regional mystery maven Nancy Barr.  Nancy served as news editor at the Daily Mining Gazette in Houghton for three years and now works at Michigan Technological University, where she recently earned a masters degree in Rhetoric and Technical Communication.  Her novels include Page One: Hit and Run(July 2006), Page One: Vanished (May 2007), and Page One: Whiteout (November 2009), all from Arbutus Press. She spoke with us on all the particulars of regional mystery writing including:

  • Challenges of writing about real locations in rural areas
  • Character development deciding who deserves a repeat appearance and who is a one-book wonder
  • Plotting versus characterization.  Each book has been different for me.
  • Other mysteries worth reading that feature the rural upper Midwest.
  • The pros and cons of small, regional publishing houses.
  • Marketing
]]> Donna Winters: Writing Regional Historical Romances http://www.authorsaccess.com/genres/romance/donna-winters-writing-regional-historical-romances Victor R. Volkman On December 14th, 2011 Irene Watson and Tyler R. Tichelaar spoke with romance author, publisher, and entrepreneur Donna Winters about writing regional historical romances.  Donna Winters and her husband Fred Winters are the owners of Bigwater Publishing. Since 1989 they have released 15 of Donnas historical romances for ages 12 and up under the Great Lakes Romances imprint.  We covered a wide-range of topics from writing to marketing, including:

Historical romances vs. contemporary romances
Research methods
Historical characters
Images
Names
Character development
Historical dialog
Historical costumes
Historical transportation

]]> JC Simonds - How to Start a Publishing Company http://www.authorsaccess.com/marketing/jc-simonds-how-to-start-a-publishing-company Victor R. Volkman On December 1st, 2011 Susan Violante and Tyler R. Tichelaarspoke with publisher and marketing guru Jacqueline Church (JC) Simonds. She is the co-owner of Beagle Bay, Inc, a book packaging and distribution company. Jacqueline is also the author of the historical novel Captain Mary, Buccaneer. We went back to basics for this episode and touched on all the fundamentals you need, including:

Self-Publishing = Entrepreneurship. Can you handle the business or do you need a partner?
Publishing is a $3 TRILLION a year, global business. Are you ready to compete?
Most new publishers are woefully lacking in knowledge about the book business.
Should you go for a Doing Business As (dba) or incorporate?
How many ISBNs should you buy 1? 10? 1000
Understand the new business models of Print on Demand (POD) + distribution, eBooks, and offset printing.
Marketing = Sales. How do you plan to reach your reader/buyer in the first few months, and from then on?

]]> Publishing and Marketing Roundtable 2011 http://www.authorsaccess.com/marketing/publishing-and-marketing-roundtable-2011 Victor R. Volkman Roundtable with Tyler R. Tichelaar, Irene Watson, and Victor R.
Volkman. Tyler R. Tichelaar is the owner of Marquette Fiction and
author of The Marquette Trilogy and other books. Irene Watson is the
owner of Reader Views, a book review and marketing services company
that does everything from author interviews to book videos. Victor R.
Volkman is the owner of Loving Healing Press and Modern History Press
that have produced more than 120 titles in paperback and eBook formats
in self-help, personal growth, disabilities, and fiction to name a few
categories. The focus of this weeks show is both looking back the
past five years since the show started in 2006 as well as projecting
the trends ahead up to 2016 to come. Specifically, we touched on
these topics and how YOU can take advantage of them:]]> Karl Beckstrand - Publishing and Selling Activity Books http://www.authorsaccess.com/genres/childrens-books/karl-beckstrand-publishing-and-selling-activity-books Victor R. Volkman On October 20th, 2011 Irene Watson and Victor R. Volkman spoke with childrens author and publisher Karl Beckstrand.  Since 2004 he has run his own publishing company Premio Publishing and a Spanish language imprint Gozo Booksproducing captivating stories, ads, and scripts. Beckstrand has experience in high tech, TV/radio broadcasting, film, and public policy. Karl shared with us key points on writing and producing childrens activity books, including:

How do you market activity books?
How do you distribute them?
Do parents/educators prefer physical books for kids?
Why activity books/Why not just picture story books?
What kinds of activities engage children?
Are activities with adults more beneficial?
Bilingual books

 

]]> Susan Violante- Writing Your Book with Oral History Techniques http://www.authorsaccess.com/genres/memoir/susan-violante-writing-your-book-with-oral-history-techniques Victor R. Volkman
 On October 5th, 2011 Victor R. Volkman and Donna Wintersspoke with writer, broadcaster, and historical fiction writer Susan Violanteabout incorporating research from oral history into fiction and non-fiction contexts.  In 2020, she published her Young Adult novel Innocent War: Behind and Immigrants Past Book One. She currently works as the Editorial Assistant for Reader Views and First Chapter Plus. During the course of her writing she used tapes her father recorded as well as one-on-one interviews to flesh out the events, characters, and emotions that she hoped to capture in her book.  In this wide-ranging discussion, we covered those issues and much more:
Researching for your book.

  • Researching for your book
  • Benefits of Interviewing as a research tool when writing any story
  • Different Interviewing tools and techniques.
  • Quick tips to interview like a professional.
  • How to use your storys research to Market your book.
  • Creating Podcasts using recorded interviews done during story research.
  • Using your contacts generated through story res
]]> Barbara Techel - Selling Books Through School and Library Author Appearances http://www.authorsaccess.com/genres/childrens-books/barbara-techel-selling-books-through-school-and-library-author-appearances Victor R. Volkman
What to include in your presentation.
Types of presentations
Ideas for what fiction authors can speak about
Pitfalls to avoid in pitching classroom appearances
Appropriate length for various ages
Managing the sales appropriately
Where to speak: In-person and via Skype
What to charge for classroom appearances
Marketing your message and appearances to schools
]]> Irene Watson - Creating Your Marketing Platform http://www.authorsaccess.com/marketing/branding/irene-watson-creating-your-marketing-platform Victor R. Volkman Tyler R. Tichelaar and Victor R. Volkman spoke with author and marketing guru Irene Watsonon how authors can generate their marketing platform with a minimum of effort. Irene Watson is the Managing Editor of Reader Views, where avid readers can find reviews of recently published books as well as read interviews with authors. Her team also provides author publicity and a variety of other services specific to writing and publishing books. She spoke with us and addressed the following points:

  • What is an author platform?
  • Why does an author need a platform?
  • Whats the first thing to do to create a platform? (Define Audience)
  • What is the next step after I define my audience?
  • Basics of the platform (Brand, Reputation, Connections)
  • What is the foundation of a platform?
  • 7 steps in creating an author platfor
]]> Paul McNeese - Differentiating Your Book From Run-of-the-Mill Genres http://www.authorsaccess.com/marketing/paul-mcneese-be-differentiating-your-book-from-run-of-the-mill-genres Irene Watson and Victor R. Volkman spoke with publishing and marketing guru Paul McNeese. Paul spent 27 years writing for radio, TV, newspapers, magazines and in corporate America before retiring to create his own organization. Pauls new company, OPA Author Services, helps both first-time authors and seasoned professionals to self-publish their materialsin other words, to become their own publishers. In this session of Authors Access, Paul McNeese is with us to offer some thoughts and perhaps a little advice on a vital aspect of branding for writers and authors]]> Joel Friedlander - Going Past Traditional Publishing & Self-Publishing Instead http://www.authorsaccess.com/technology/self-publishing/joel-friedlander-going-past-traditional-publishing-self-publishing-instead Victor R. Volkman Tom Cornett - Writing Humor and Satire http://www.authorsaccess.com/genres/humor/tom-cornett-writing-humor-and-satire Dion McInnis - Turning Memories into Memoirs, Autobiographies, Short Stories and Nonfiction http://www.authorsaccess.com/podcasts-about-hosts/tyler-tichelaar/dion-mcinnis-turning-memories-into-memoirs-autobiographies-short-stories-and-nonfiction Victor R. Volkman Tyler R. Tichelaar and Victor R. Volkman spoke with writing coach and author Dion McInnis about how anyone can learn to write an engaging memoir.  He teaches Memories to Memoirsworkshops at a variety of outlets, as well as teaching photography.  He fell in love with writing by the time he was 12 and photography at 6.  During the day, he is a university administrator, and every moment of every day he is a writer/photographer/speaker/poet.   We covered a range of topics on memoir including

  • Using writing cues to jog your memory
  • The Horizontal Timelines and how they can co-ordinate the story of your life
  • The importance of preserving your point-of-view while recovering memories
  • Choosing fiction or non-fiction as your final product
  • Using old photos to stimulate memories and discover context
  • Non-verbal methods of bringing yourself back in time
  • And much more!
]]> Bill See - From Indie Musician to Indie Author: Every you need to know to DIY http://www.authorsaccess.com/marketing/bill-see-from-indie-musician-to-indie-author-every-you-need-to-know-to-diy Victor R. Volkman Irene Watson and Victor R. Volkman spoke with legendary punk rocker Bill See about publishing and marketing his own memoir. Bill See was the lead singer for critically acclaimed Los Angeles indie rock band Divine Weeks before continuing on as a solo artist.He shared his D.I.Y. know-how from his band days now to promote and market his own book and covered several topics:

  • How the music industry was revolutionized and is still trying to adjust to the changes and speak to the theories and similarities to the literary world.
  • The pros and cons of self publishing vs. traditional publishing.
  • Marketing/promoting: Traditional media vs. underground, blogging and social media, etc.
  • Pros and cons of hiring a publicist as a self published author. What is money well spent in promotion.
  • Most important aspects of promotion before actually starting the campaign (i.e. title, keywords, metadata, keywords, social media, book trailers)
]]> Patrika Vaughn - The Right Mentor for Your Book? http://www.authorsaccess.com/writing/patrika-vaughn-the-right-mentor-for-your-book
Know your audience and what potential mentors know about that audience
Interview them: find one who is on your wavelength
Know what type of help you need
Be able to take criticism
Dont choose a dictato]]> Carolyn Scarborough - The Book Whisperer http://www.authorsaccess.com/book-development/carolyn-scarborough-the-book-whisperer Victor R. Volkman Susan Violante and Alan E. Smith spoke with writing coach Carolyn Scarborough on the Book Whisperer what one is and why you need one! Carolyn is a writing coach, who works with people to turn their whispering to write into a reality.  Her most recent book is Backyard Pearls: Cultivating Wisdom and Joy in Everyday Life. She is an award-winning magazine writer, editor and newspaper columnist and has published more than 500 articles in magazines around the world.  We touched on many aspects of the writing process, including

  • What is writers block and how can we dissolve it?
  • How do we stay motivated to write?
  • Why do we tend to get so sidetracked with distractions instead of writing?
  • How do we get in touch with our writer voice.
  • What can we do to make writing easier and more joyful?
]]> Kate Harper - How to Publish and Sell Articles for the Amazon Kindle e-Reader http://www.authorsaccess.com/technology/self-publishing/kate-harper-how-to-publish-and-sell-articles-for-the-amazon-kindle-e-reader Irene Watson and Tyler R. Tichelaar spoke with e-book author and product designer Kate Harper about how to re-purpose existing articles and even blog posts as Amazon Kindle e-books. Kate is inspired by the current blending of arts with technology. A former adult education teacher, Kate Harper has a special skill of knowing how to assist the creative, non-tech person, deal with new and fast changing technologies that affect their careers, such as how to format books for e-reading devices like the Amazon Kindle. We covered a range of e-book production details including: 
  • How e-book publishing world has changed (and how selling on Amazon is like having a free marketing department).
  • How anyone can publish on Amazon quickly and easily (theres no excuse anymore for not finishing that book!)
  • Why publishing articles are better than publishing books
  • The advantages of selling an article on Amazon, rather than selling it to a magazine or newspaper.
  • Rules of thumb for formatting and selling articles for the Kindle (and how it is different than a book)
  • Watch out for the fear mongers who say you need to pay experts (and how can do this for free)
  • Other places to publish and sell your e-article (since you retain full rights to your work)
  • Why this is the best time in history to make a living being by being a writer (and how I accidentally started selling an article on Amazon)
]]> Brian Jud - Selling Outside the Bookstore to Increase Your Profits http://www.authorsaccess.com/marketing/non-traditional-sales/brian-jud-selling-outside-the-bookstore-to-increase-your-profits Victor R. VOlkman
* What is the definition of special sales?
* What are examples of non-traditional sales?
* What are the benefits of selling to these segments?
* How big is the market for non bookstore sales?
* Should publishers sell to non-bookstore markets instead of bookstores?
* Can fiction be sold to non-bookstore markets, or are these only for non-fiction?
]]> Brent Sampson - Dispelling the Myths of Subsidy Presses http://www.authorsaccess.com/?p=409 Victor R. Volkman Irene Watson and Victor R. Volkman spoke with Brent Sampson., president and CEO of OutskirtsPress.com, on subsidy press, vanity press, and what authors can expect from them. Brent is an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year semi-finalist. Through Outskirts Press, Brent has helped thousands of authors successfully publish thousands of books. He speaks nationwide on the topics of writing, publishing, and marketing. You can follow Brent on his blog Our discussion ranged over a variety of topics including:

* A question of semantics subsidy vs vanity
* What is the difference between a subsidy press and a vanity press and a self-publishing company?
* Different types of self-publishing (DIY vs full service)
* Why does the stigma of self-publishing continue?
]]> Stephen E. Gillen - Book Titles and Trademarks: Know Your Rights http://www.authorsaccess.com/?p=404 Victor R. Volkman
* Is the title of your book protected by the copyrights in the book.
* What does the copyright in a book cover?
* Is there no protection for your book title?
* How and when can a title be protected?
* What are the advantages of trademark protection and registration?
* Is there a downside to the intersection of trademark law and book titles ?
]]> Tyler R. Tichelaar - Creating a Local Historical Book http://www.authorsaccess.com/genres/historical-books/tyler-r-tichelaar-creating-a-local-historical-book Victor R. Volkman Irene Watson and Victor R. Volkman spoke with local historian, professional editor, and entrepreneur Tyler R. Tichelaar about the ins and outs of producing books on local history, from research to marketing and distribution. Tyler R. Tichelaar,a 7th generation Marquette resident, has written five novels with more to come, all set in Upper Michigan including The Marquette Trilogy, the award winning Narrow Lives, and the recently published history of Marquette, My Marquette: Explore the Queen City of the North, Its History, People, and Places. We covered a wide range of issues, including:
  • What made you decide to write a local history book?
  • What makes your book stand out from other local history books?
  • How did you arrange the book and decide what to leave out and what to include?
  • What was the most difficult part of the research and writing process?
  • Beyond the writing, what other decisions had to be made, such as in acquiring photographs or the layout of the book?
  • What have you done to market the book?
  • What kind of response have you received so far
]]> Victoria Strauss - Writers Beware: Warnings About the Schemes, Scams, and Pitfalls That Threaten Writers http://www.authorsaccess.com/marketing/book-contests/victoria-strauss-writers-beware-warnings-about-the-schemes-scams-and-pitfalls-that-threaten-writers Victor R. Volkman # Contests and Awards
# Copyright
# Electronic Publishing
# Independent Editors and Manuscript Assessment Services
# Literary Agents
# Print-on-Demand Self-Publishing Services
# Small Presses
# Vanity and Subsidy Publishers
# Vanity Anthologies
# Writers Services]]> Alan Smith - Getting Interviews on AM/FM/Satellite Radio and BlogTalk Radio http://www.authorsaccess.com/marketing/speaking/alan-smith-getting-interviews-on-amfmsatellite-radio-and-blogtalk-radio Victor R. Volkman Irene Watson and Victor R. Volkman spoke with author, entrepreneur, and marketing guru Alan E. Smith on how to line up and successfully execute media interviews on AM, FM, Satellite, and BlogTalk Radio stations. Alan is the author of How To UnBreak Your Health.  Since the first edition of his book was published in late 2007 hes been interviewed on more than 70 radio programs.  Hes been on AM, FM, Internet and even satellite radio shows talking about his book about complementary and alternative medicine 

Weve even had Alan Guest Host a couple of Authors Access shows and I highly highly recommend you listen to our roundtable episode called Podcasting For Authors which has all the resources you need to start your very own podcast.  Since his college education was in broadcast journalism he chose to make radio his primary marketing tool for his book, also because it was free.

]]> Valerie Coleman - Organizing a Successful Book Fair http://www.authorsaccess.com/marketing/events/valerie-coleman-book-fair Victor R. Volkman Victor R. Volkman and Tyler R. Tichelaar spoke with best-selling author, award winning publisher, and entrepreneur Valerie Coleman about secrets of making a great book festival event. In 2010, Coleman joined forces with LaTonya Branham and Charlotte Brown to launch the Dayton Book Expo. The first event drew over fifty authors from across the nation and almost five hundred book lovers. We ranged over a wide variety of aspects of exhibition planning and execution including:
  • What was the catalyst for creating the Dayton Book Expo (DBE)?
  • Where did the authors come from
  • What elements are essential for a successful book fair?
  • How did you recruit the volunteers?
  • What unique things did you do for the DBE authors?
  • What things did you do for the DBE book lovers?
  • how far in advance do you have to plan an expo?
  • what should the well-prepared author bring with them
  • How did you divvy the work load?
  • How did you market the event?
  • When is the next DBE?
  • Are you doing anything differently for the 2011 event?
  • How can authors, book lovers and sponsors learn more about this event?
]]> Dan Poynte - Book writing, Publicity and Promotion http://www.authorsaccess.com/marketing/dan-poynter-book-writing-publicity-and-promotion Victor R. Volkman Irene Watson and Victor R. Volkman spoke with entrepreneur, publishing, and marketing guru Dan Poynter about a wide variety of related topics. Poynters Self-Publishing Manual: How to Write, Print and Sell Your Own Book has had more than 15 editions and is the most often referenced book on the subject by far. Dan has produced more than 76 books and revisions so far, of which some have been translated into Spanish, Japanese, Russian, British-English and German. Heres just a few of the things we talked about:
  • eBooks and the future of publishing
  • Importance of a good book title
  • Pre-pub reviews do they still matter?
  • Marketing on a budget
  • Self-publishing without the Vanity tax
  • Proofing and editing
  • Basics of good book cover design
]]> Elaine Wilkes - Getting Your Book into Bookstores http://www.authorsaccess.com/business/bookstores/elaine-wilkes-getting-your-book-into-bookstores Elaine Wilkes, author of Natures Secret Miracles about how she got her book into bookstores with NO support from her publisher and NO interest from corporate buyers at Barnes & Noble and Borders.  Its a simple one-on-one technique guaranteed to get you results, all you have to do is be willing to pick up the phone with someone and have a 2 minute conversation about your book.  Theres no tricks, no smoke and mirrors, just good old fashioned saying Hi, Im an author and Id love it if your store could have a copy of my book for sale.]]> Kristi Floyd & Rhonda Kuiper - Getting Your Book into Libraries http://www.authorsaccess.com/marketing/libraries/kristi-floyd-rhonda-kuiper-getting-your-book-into-libraries Victor R. Volkman
* From what sources do librarians buy the books exactly?
* What is the importance of book covers to library patrons?
* How can local authors get involved in speaking at libraries and schools?
* What review sources do librarians consult?
* Under what circumstances do libraries accept books donated by authors?
* How does patron input work into book purchasing?
* How can inter-library loans trigger a book purchase?
* Are bibliographies and indexes really that important to non-fiction?
]]> Tyler R. Tichelaar - Getting Successful Book Reviews http://www.authorsaccess.com/marketing/tyler-r-tichelaar-getting-successful-book-reviews Victor R. Volkman Jim Bouchard - Promoting Your Book by Being a Media Personality http://www.authorsaccess.com/marketing/branding/jim-bouchard-promoting-your-book-by-being-a-media-personality Victor R. Volkman Alan E. Smith and Tyler R. Tichelaar spoke with author, blackbelt, and media access guru Jim Bouchard, about how to develop yourself into a successful personality sought by the media. Jim Bouchard has spoken to numerous companies and organizations including the CEO Club of Boston,  the University of New England, , the Association for Consulting Expertise, , and the Boy Scouts of America, to name but a few. He appears regularly on radio, TV and in person sharing his message of excellence, discipline, focus and opportunity. He spoke on a wide range of aspects including:
  • What does it mean to Think Like a Black Belt?]
  • What are some of the key characteristics of Black Belt Mindset?
  • Why is Black Belt Mindset so important in todays world?
  • How do you apply Black Belt Mindset to business or personal life?
  • What exactly is success? Can anyone become successful?
  • Is this just another positive thinking philosophy or secret?
  • Whats wrong with positive thinking?
  • Do you need to be a martial artist to Think Like a Black Belt?
]]> Julie Ann Stricklin - Things You Need to Know Before You Hire a Graphic Artist http://www.authorsaccess.com/genres/childrens-books/julie-ann-stricklin-things-you-need-to-know-before-you-hire-a-graphic-artist Victor R. Volkman Irene Watson and Brad Grochowski spoke with Julie Ann Stricklin about what every author must know before buying and/or commissioning artwork. Julie is an author, independent Illustrator, graphic designer, and fine artist working in the field since 1985. She constantly alternates her passion for design work, illustration and fine art. These passions have created a body of work that includes the illustration of six childrens books. We spoke with her about several key concepts of collaborating with an illustrator:
  • What do I need to know about a potential artist?
  • What is Work for hire?
  • What are traditional media versus computer-generated media?
  • What do I need to know about deadlines?
  • How do I negotiate payment and delivery?
  • What should I not ask the artist to do?
  • What do I need to know about royalty free images and clip art vs. a commissioned work?
]]> Tom Wanek - Currencies that Buy Credibility for Your Book http://tinyurl.com/twanek Victor R. Volkman Irene Watson and Alan E. Smith spoke with marketing guru Tom Wanek about the six essential ingredients (or currencies) to successful marketing Tom Wanek. His book, Currencies That Buy Credibility, teaches the foundation that every smart marketer needs to know in order to craft a believable marketing message.  Tom shares his views on marketing and advertising on his blog, MarketingBeyondAdvertising.com.  In a wide-ranging discussion, we talked about
  • What is the books primary argument? Why is it important now?
  • Can money categorically buy credibility like buying ad space?
  • What was the inspiration behind Currencies That Buy Credibility?
  • How can fiction and non-fiction authors exploit these currencies?
  • Any surprising applications of your currencies?
  • What are the most commonly credibility investments in business today?
  • What are the key factors that will help marketers cut through the social media clutter and communicate with credibility
]]> Valerie Bradley-Holiday, PhD - Writing as a Working Mom http://tinyurl.com/vbhol Victor R. Volkman Valerie Bradley-Holiday, PhD. Valeries doctorate degree is from The Union Institute and University, a distance-learning program based in Cincinnati, Ohio. Her specialization is Social Psychology. She has a Master of Social Work Degree from Wayne State University. Valerie shared with us critical items to success as a writer and working mom:
  • Time management: keeping it all together
  • Respect for yourself and your craft as an artist
  • Professionalism and its importance in producing quality products
  • Dealing with frustrations and setbacks
  • Accepting success and being prepared to act on it
  • Self-publishing perils and benefits of using it.
]]> Drew Gerber - Catapult Your Book with Media Coverage http://tinyurl.com/DrwGerber Victor R. Volkman Irene Watson and Alan E. Smith spoke with author and media coverage guru Drew Gerber of PitchRate.com. L. Drew Gerber is CEO of Wasabi Publicity, Inc.  and creator of www.PitchRate.com, a free media tool that connects journalists, publicists, and experts. Drew informed us on critical aspects of the interface between author and media including:
  • How to stand out from the crowd and brand whats unique about your book.
  • How to make it easy for customers and journalists to find you and your book online.
  • Who wants your expertise? How to position yourself as an expert.
  • How to grab the medias attention by creating the perfect pitch.
  • How to get to the point and use sound bites.
  • How to maximize your publicity by leveraging the coverage youre getting to attract more traffic and leads to your website.
]]> James P. Studinger - Using Your Book as an Investment Tool http://www.authorsaccess.com/?p=154 Victor R. Volkman Irene Watson and Victor R. Volkman spoke with financial adviser and author James P. Studinger. He is the author of Wealth Is a Choice, and owner of the JPStudinger Group, a wealth-management company. Studinger wrote this book to create a road map for his children to follow should anything happen to him. This passion blossomed into a book to educate readers and help them embrace, not fear, financial decisions. This evening he spoke about the critical role of understanding how an author can exploit their book to best financial advantage, including:
  • What is the secret to becoming wealthy?
  • Good assets vs. bad assets
  • Efficiency
  • Where is there profit in a book?
    • Sales of books
    • Ancillary services
  • What have other authors done in your field
  • Leverage your credentials
    • Where would you like this to take you in the future?
    • Keep aligning your efforts with your goals.
]]> Mark Long - Getting Published by a University Press http://tinyurl.com/MarkLong Victor R. Volkman Irene Watson and Tyler R. Tichelaar spoke with university press publisher Mark Long. He has a BA from the University of Texas at Austin and an MA from the University of North Texas, both in English. In 2004, after teaching for ten years, he oversaw the formation of TSTC Publishing, the publishing arm of the Texas State Technical College System.  Mark Long shared his wisdom about:
  • Manuscript/project acquisition (what we look for in proposals): market analysis, author credentials, ease of marketing/sales efforts
  • The textbook sales cycle: summer (research), fall (pre-sell), spring (adoption season)
  • Printing considerations: offset vs. POD
  • Marketing/Sales: how we publicize and sell books: facebook, blogs, email newsletters, trade shows, direct mail pieces, inside sales/cold calling
  • How authors make money: royalties vs. work-for-hire agreements (plus, as well, what publishers pay for vs. authors
  • Future of college (textbook) publishing: ebooks, enhanced ebooks, and apps
]]> Shel Horowitz - Green Marketing: Reaching the Environmentally Aware Customers http://www.authorsaccess.com/marketing/shel-horowitz-green-marketing Irene Watson and Victor R. Volkman spoke with Shel Horowitz, author, marketing consultant and copywriter who works with authors and publishers. A veteran of the 1977 Seabrook occupation, his first book, written when he was only 22, was about why nuclear power makes no sense. He visited with us to share some secrets from his 8th book Guerrilla Marketing Goes Green: Winning Strategies to Improve Your Profits and Your Planet (John Wiley & Sons, 2010, co-authored with Mr. Guerrilla Marketing himself, Jay Conrad Levinson). Specifically, Shel informed us on:
  • How does ethical/green marketing differ from ordinary marketing?
  • How can an author put together a green book event?
  • What green options are physically available in terms of paper and book production?
  • Does green marketing cost more, if not, why not?
  • Where should I start and how can I get my customers to notice and to care?
  • How can cooperative marketing create green results?
  • How do I get started going green?
]]> Jim and Linda O'Connor - Developing Comprehensive Campaigns to Sell Your Books http://www.authorsaccess.com/marketing/jim-and-linda-oconnor Victor R. Volkman
  • Why do you need to promote your book and yourself?
  • Why every book is promotable
  • When and how to get started
  • Giving traditional media what they want
  • Mass mailings and target marketing
  • Social media and Internet Marketing
  • What a publicist can do for you
    • ]]>         Roundtable - Choosing the Right Book Contest http://tinyurl.com/BKContest Victor R. Volkman
  • Whats the purpose of entering a contest?
  • What kinds of contests are out there?
  • How are contests judged?
  • How do I enter a contest?
  • What can I do with the awards?
  • What about poetry and short-story contests?
  • How do I choose a category that I can win in?
  • Local, regional, vs. national contests: is bigger always better?
  • Whats a reasonable fee for entering my book?
  • What about contests where everyone is a winner?
    • ]]>         Kim McDougal - Creating Sizzling Book Video Trailers http://www.authorsaccess.com/marketing/kim-mcdougal-creating-sizzling-book-video-trailers Victor R. Volkman Irene Watson and Victor R. Volkman spoke with artist, author, and book video director/producer Kim McDougal of Blazing Trailers.  Kim has produced more than 100 book video trailers and hosts more than a thousand of them on BlazingTrailers. She shared her hard won experience in producing and also critiquing these latest promotional marketing tools.  Her laser-sharp focus in marketing really showed us what does and doesnt work for videos.  Some talking points included:
    • Why make a book video trailer?
    • What makes a good trailer (good, bad, or ugly)?
    • How do I use my trailer effectively?
    • Can I include a Special offer in my video?
    • Walk us through a typical experience with you working with an author
    • Should I make my own trailer or have someone make it for me?
    ]]>         Katharine Sands - Making the Perfect Pitch: How to Catch a Literary Agent's Eye http://www.authorsaccess.com/getting-published/katharine-sands-making-the-perfect-pitch-how-to-catch-a-literary-agents-eye Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Agency. She helped educate us on the basics of good pitchcraft, including
    • What is pitching?
    • Why is pitching your work so important?
    • Why there is such a relentless emphasis on platforming a book
    • What are some rules for pitching a book?
    • How does self-publishing play into this equation?
    • What do I need to know about becoming a full-time nonfiction author
    ]]>         Jonathan Maxwell - Arranging Public Appearances http://www.authorsaccess.com/genres/nonfiction/jonathan-maxwell-arranging-public-appearances Tyler R. Tichelaar and Victor R. Volkman spoke with successful nonfiction author and speaker Jonathan Maxwell. He is the author of Murderous Intellectuals: German Elites and the Nazi SS (2009). Jonathan has tirelessly promoted his books at bookstores, libraries, museums, colleges, and K-12 schools. Today, he shared his wisdom about
    • The Importance of Making Public Appearances (sales, marketing, buzz)
    • Alternatives to Public Appearances (reviews)
    • Obtaining Public Appearances (libraries, schools and colleges, museums, bookstores)
    • Charging Fees (why, when and how much)
    • Becoming a great speaker(tips and tricks)
    ]]>         Janet Grace Riehl - Do-it-Yourself Audiobook Production http://www.authorsaccess.com/genres/poetry/janet-grace-riehl-do-it-yourself-audiobook-production Victor R. Volkman Irene Watson and Victor R. Volkman interviewed poet, author, and performance artist Janet Grace Riehl about recording, producing, and marketing audiobook versions of eBooks and print publications. Her book Sightlines: A Poets Diary, told in story poems, was recently made into an audio book Sightlines: A Family Love Story in Poetry and Music. Twice selected as finalist for Poet Laureate of Lake County, California and a member of Authors Guild, her poems, stories and essays are published in national literary magazines and several anthologies.]]> Marie Davis - Your Career as a Cartoonist http://www.authorsaccess.com/genres/cartoons/marie-davis-your-career-as-a-cartoonist Irene Watson and Victor R. Volkman interviewed veteran cartoonist and graphic artist Marie Davis on the nuts-and-bolts of this exciting creative visual endeavor.    Marie is the creator of three comic strips which have run as long as 14 years in syndication: Kentucky Tales, She saidShe said, and Besos. We covered a wide range of topics in cartooning, including

    • Cartoons as educational tools
    • How to get started on cartooning
    • Building a portfolio and finding your creative voice
    • Non-traditional outlets for cartoon work: businesses, book illustrations, and more.
    • Coloringhow it works
    • Cartoon grammarthe 1 panel, 3 panel, and 6 panel strips
    • Finding a mentor
    ]]>         Walt Shiel - Print Book Design, Typesetting, and eBooks http://www.authorsaccess.com/book-development/walt-shiel-print-book-design-typesetting-and-ebooks Victor R. Volkman Tyler R. Tichelaar and Victor R. Volkman spoke with veteran author and publisher Walt Shiel about some of the most confusing topics for the self-publishing newcomer: print book design, typesetting, indexing, and even eBook production. Walts publishing company, Slipdown Mountain, has published three novels, two military history titles, two other nonfiction titles, and one short story collection. Its subsidiary Five Rainbows Services for Authors and Publishers was spun off to meet the demand for assistance from self-publishers. Walt addressed some of these key points in todays interview:

    Book Design & Typesetting

      * Is there any difference between designing a book and typesetting it?
      * What are the key decisions a book designer must make?
      *  Isnt typesetting just pouring the text into the typesetting software, adding some formatting, and letting the software work its magic?

    E-Book Design

      *  Does design and/or typesetting matter at all in creating an e-book?
      * Arent there software packages that can create e-books virtually automatically?
      *  Do readers even care if an e-book is well-designed as long as they get the content one way or another?

    Indexing

      *  What is an index and how is it different from a concordance?
      *  Doesnt the author know better than anyone else what should be indexed?
      *  What do you need to know to create a useful index

    ]]>         Successfully Sell Your Books at Conferences, Craft Shows, and Fairs http://www.authorsaccess.com/podcasts-about-hosts/victor-volkman/successfully-sell-your-books-at-conferences-craft-shows-and-fairs Victor R. Volkman Irene Watson moderated a roundtable with Tyler R. Tichelaar and Victor R. Volkman on how to successfully sell your books at conferences, craft shows, and regional, seasonal, and special interest fairs.   Tyler specializes in working regional craft and seasonal fairs and has achieved some remarkably good results.  Victor exhibits at professional conferences for social workers, psychologists, and mental health fairs.  Together, they addressed the following issues:

    • Managing bathroom breaks
    • Dealing with show management
    •  Supplies You May Want to Buy as an exhibitor: tables, tablecloths, acrylic book stands and signholders, posters, Directors Chair, Tschokte items (pens, post-it notes, to give away),
    • The Fine Print: watch out for proof-of-insurance, mandatory carpet purchase, furniture rental, and more
    • Indoor vs. outdoor shows: foot traffic, weather, customers, pros and cons
    • How to lure people to your booth
    • Being prepared for any situation
    • Offering exclusive specials
    • Which shows work and which ones dont
    • Determining whether you succeeded 
    ]]>         Ernest Dempsey - Earn Extra Income Freelance Writing for the Web http://www.authorsaccess.com/writing/ghostwriting/ernest-dempsey-earn-extra-income-freelance-writing-for-the-web Victor R. Volkman Irene Watson and Victor R. Volkman spoke with fulltime freelance writer, proofreader, and editor Ernest Dempsey.  He shared encouraging information on how you can get started in the fun and profitable art of freelance writing.  In addition to having written 4 books, he is now the editor-in-chief of the literary magazine Recovering the Self: A Journal of Hope and Healing and also works as the country editor for Pakistan on the celebrated Internet news channel Instablogs.com.  He shared with us on the following points:

    • Where are some places that I can go to look for freelance web writing?
    • Is it ghost writing or does sometimes my name get shown?
    • What about being a Foreign Correspondent for a news organization in another country?
    • How does getting paid work?
    • How do you manage personal time, schedules, and deadlines?
    • What types of writing projects are available: interviews, reviews, tutorials and how well does each pay relative to the others
    • How have you improved your knowledge of English by writing over time?
    • How does freelancing compare to a regular job? Do you get to travel more?
    ]]>         Jamie Saloff - Six Rules That Will Kickstart Your Book Website into Full Gear http://www.authorsaccess.com/marketing/websites/jamie-saloff-six-rules-that-will-kickstart-your-book-website-into-full-gear Victor R. Volkman Irene Watson and Victor R. Volkman spoke with web media and book publicist expert Jamie Saloff on common pitfalls of author/book websites and simple, easy, and inexpensive ways to get more conversions from your web hits into book sales.  Jamie is the site owner for www.PolkaDotBanner.com an author-helping-author website designed to help authors gain visibility for their books. She also maintains several other sites she built and designed, including the site for Pennwriters, a regional multi-genre writers organization, where she is the Web Committee Chair.  In this wide-ranging discussion, some key talking points included:

    • What are the high real estate values and high productivity areas of your website?
    • How does art direct the eye and how can I use it to my advantage?
    • Why are color and lighting important?
    • How is reading a website different from reading a magazine or book?
    • How does my website reflect who I am and why it is important?
    • How to use multi-media and flash cost effectively?
    • What other things can I offer or talk about besides the book, the book, the book?
    ]]>         Dana Lynn Smith - Twitter for Authors http://www.authorsaccess.com/marketing/websites/dana-lynn-smith-twitter-tweeting-and-re-tweeting-twitter-book-marketing Victor R. Volkman Irene Watson and Victor R. Volkman spoke with book marketing guru Dana Lynn Smith about exploiting the potential of Twitter for marketing your books. Dana Lynn Smith, owner of Texana Publishing Consultants, LLC, has 15 years of experience in publishing and 25 years of marketing experience. She specializes in developing marketing plans for nonfiction books and teaching authors how to promote their books online. She is the author of The Savvy Book Marketer Guides, a series of ebooks on book marketing topics. Talking points include:

    • How does Twitter work
    • Why do you think Twitter is a valuable tool for authors?
    • What common mistakes do you see authors making on Twitter?
    • Twitter profile for a minute what suggestions can you offer?
    • Can you give us some tips for attracting followers on Twitter?
    • A lot of people who use Twitter wonder what they should be tweeting about. Can you give us some suggestions?
    • I know there are several different types of messages that can be sent on Twitter. Can you explain the difference between Replies, Mentions and Direct Messages?
    • How often should authors tweet?
    • How can Twitter work with FaceBook or MySpace?
    • How can I run a contest with Twitter
    ]]>         Podcasting for Authors - Roundtable with Alan E. Smith http://www.authorsaccess.com/podcasts-about-hosts/victor-volkman/podcasting-for-authors-roundtable-with-alan-e-smith Victor R. Volkman, Alan E. Smith, Irene Watson 2. Is it hard to do, do I have to learn a lot of stuff?
    3. Should I use blogtalkradio or do-it-myself?
    4. How do I get guests, what do I talk about?
    5. How do I promote the podcast?
    6. What is RSS.XML and stuff like that
    7. How can I tie my book into the podcast without making it an endless infomercial?
    8. Can I integrate or interweave my book and podcast content?
    9. How do I measure success?
    10. What about audio quality? tips]]>         Debbie Herald - Writing and Publishing Erotic Romance Novels http://www.authorsaccess.com/guests/debbie-herald-writing-publishing-erotic-romance-novels Victor R. Volkman What is the difference between erotic romance and pornography?
    pseudonymns
    If a writer uses naughty words does that automatically make it erotic romance?
    If you write erotic romance can you branch out to difference sub genres with success?
    What makes erotic romance so highly successful in epublishing?
    Is there a standard for how much sex should go into an erotic romance?
    As an editor what do you like to see in a sex scene?
    What pushes the boundaries if anything in erotic romance?]]>         Paul Krupin - Are Press Releases an Effective Way to Market? http://www.authorsaccess.com/guests/paul-krupin-are-press-releases-an-effective-way-to-market victor@LHPress.com
    * So What Exactly Is A News Release?
    * Why Is This So Hard To Do? What Makes This So Special?
    * So What Exactly Do Media People Look For When They Receive A News Release?
    * So What Do You Need To Do To Write A News Release That Really Works & Truly Gets Media Attention?
    * How do you know when youre ready?
    * What Specifically Should Authors Do To Create This Galvanizing Candy This Magic Script .
    * What is the Magic Formula (DPAA+H)? (Dramatic Personal Achievement in the face of Adversity, plus a little Humor)
    * Which Are Better For Authors To Aim At Book Reviews Or Feature Stories & Why?
    * How do you know when you achieve success with a news release?
    * So once you have a trash proof news release, what do you do with it
    ]]>         Donna Kakonge - How to Turn Your Writing Career into Journalism http://www.authorsaccess.com/getting-published/donna-kakonge-how-to-turn-your-writing-career-into-journalism Victor R. Volkman
    * How can I educate myself to start a career in journalism?
    * What important trade associations can help me on my journey?
    * Besides book writing, what other kinds of journalism are out there now today?
    * Should I establish some sort of business identity?
    * Can I make money just form my blogs?
    * What about rejection, how do you deal with it?
    ]]>         Kate Harper- Getting Into the Greeting Card Market http://www.authorsaccess.com/self-publishing/kate-harper-getting-into-the-greeting-card-market Victor R. Volkman
    * Card terends: research, seasonal cards, occasional cards, and publishers
    * What subject areas and categories to focus on, how to stay organized
    * Test marketing your cards and card verse.
    * Seven most common mistake card writers will make
    * Why competition in the card business is vastly over-estimated
    ]]>