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Helping to Change the World Word by Word

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Home » Archives for Steve Laube » Page 107

Steve Laube

ICRS 2013 – Observations

By Steve Laubeon July 1, 2013
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by Steve Laube

americacenter-featured-full1

This year was my 32nd consecutive annual bookseller’s convention now known as ICRS (International Christian Retail Show) held this year in St. Louis. As always it is a time of conversations, meetings, and business opportunities.

I arrived on Saturday afternoon, despite every attempt by the transportation industry to delay me…with 15 minutes to spare before giving an hour long “state of the industry” speech to AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association).

Sunday was filled with meetings, both casual and scheduled and two formal dinners. One was the Golden Scroll awards banquet and the other was the Baker Publishing Group dinner. Early Monday morning was a delightful SpeakUp breakfast with many inspirational stories shared by amazing speakers and writers.

Then came the convention itself. Back to back meetings for both Tamela and I as we flitted from one publisher’s booth to another, back across the street for meetings at the hotel and back again to the convention sales floor for other meetings. This ping-pong movement lasted for three straight days. But we had a lot of highly valuable conversations and presentations. Tamela was amazing as few knew she was not feeling well but she never complained (not once). It is a privilege to think of all the incredible people we talked to during those days. The creativity and the vision of each publisher and editor is quite inspiring. If you had heard what we did you’d feel a lot better about where this industry is headed.

LeeHoughchristyawards2013
Lee Hough – Lifetime Achievement Award

A highlight for me was Monday night and the Christy Awards where I had the privilege to emcee. It was so meaningful to have Lee Hough attend with his wife Paula as he received a lifetime achievement award and said goodbye to his beloved industry and long time friends (he has terminal cancer). It was touching to have him make the trip. To let us say our words of love to him as well as to see us all one more time. The few minutes alone I had with him will be treasured forever. We love you Lee.

But as the emcee I was tasked to keep the event moving and it did with breathtaking speed. It is to Donna Kehoe’s credit (the head of the Christy Awards) for designing an evening that included all awards, all special recognition, speeches, and dinner and ended on time only 2 ½ hours after it began. Amazing.

Congratulations to all the winners, but am particularly proud of my client Susan May Warren for winning her first Christy Award! She said beforehand that she knew she wouldn’t win because she had been nominated five times before without a trophy.

Karen Hancock Hall of Fame award 2013
Karen Hancock (L) receiving Christy Hall of Fame Award from Donna Kehoe (R)

And to both Karen Hancock and Lynn Austin for being inducted into the Christy Hall of Fame. I remember “discovering” Karen at a writers conference in 1998 but not taking her book idea to committee for another year, waiting for the right time. That book, Arena, became her first of four Christy Awards.

The convention itself was interesting on a number of levels. The announced statistics said registrations were down. But those that came were there. Not like Orlando where someone might register but leave during the event to go to Disney World. It was the first year in many where the convention floor fit the room it was held in. In the past the exhibit hall was too large for the event and made it seem small. Not this year. It was also the first time in years where there was only one entrance into the convention which added to the feel of movement and attendance since there were people milling around all the time.

For the first time in 32 years I did not walk every aisle of the convention exhibits. Simply ran out of time with our appointments. Even on the last day we had half a dozen meetings which kept us engaged right up to the closing announcement. So I was unable to see first-hand any of the “duck call” items that I heard were on display (thank you Duck Dynasty).

There is no other time where so many in the industry gather at the same time. In one moment you can be talking to a retailer and the next to a famous author and the next to a key acquisitions editor. As a bonus you get to see the newest wares of the industry (book, music, and gifts). I describe it as the world’s largest Christian bookstore….but you can’t buy anything….you can only look. I collected nearly 40 catalogs and spent an evening going through them looking at cover designs, titles, concepts, and author names. Nowhere else could I have that type of immersive experience. I can’t wait to go to ICRS next year in Atlanta!

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Category: Awards, ICRS, SteveTag: Christy Awards, ICRS, Lee Hough

News You Can Use – June 25, 2013

By Steve Laubeon June 25, 2013
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Elevator Pitches: If You Build it, They Will Come. - Excellent post from Susan Spann! Do the exercise on your own pitch.

Christian Stores See 8.5% Overall Gain in 2012 - Looks like the growth came from non-book items. That is good news in that it means traffic in the stores has increased and reversed recent trends.

101 Things to Do to Build Your Writing Platform -  My advice? Don't try all …

Read moreNews You Can Use – June 25, 2013
Category: News You Can Use, SteveTag: optimism, Pitching, Platform

Fun Fridays – June 21, 2013

By Steve Laubeon June 21, 2013
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Happy Summer Solstice! (Here is how we celebrate in Phoenix. At the Public Library!)

And enjoy this fun lesson in grammar.

Read moreFun Fridays – June 21, 2013
Category: Fun Fridays, Grammar, Steve

News You Can Use – June 18, 2013

By Steve Laubeon June 18, 2013
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Self-Published eBooks Account for 12% of the Entire Digital Market – Watch the stats for trends.

How People Read Online – Does this mean I have to shorten my blog posts? And if I do will you still skip the last 2/3rds of what I write anyway?

Three Scriptural Cautions Against Self-Publishing – Do you agree or disagree? (and then read the next link below)

Three Reasons to Support …

Read moreNews You Can Use – June 18, 2013
Category: News You Can Use, SteveTag: blogging, Pitching, Self-Publishing

Fun Fridays – June 14, 2013

By Steve Laubeon June 14, 2013
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Wouldn't if have been a blast to help put this together? Makes me want to create one of my own.
Watch the world's longest book domino chain:

Read moreFun Fridays – June 14, 2013
Category: Fun Fridays, Steve

News You Can Use – June 11, 2013

By Steve Laubeon June 11, 2013
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How to Launch a Bestselling Book - Michael Hyatt reveals some tremendous tips to have your book make a big splash. One of our clients followed some of these ideas along with some of their own. They sold out every online bookseller in the country withing four days (Amazon, B&N, Ingram, Books-a-Million, Lifeway, ChristianBook, Mardel, etc.) It can work if you have the right platform established …

Read moreNews You Can Use – June 11, 2013
Category: News You Can Use, SteveTag: audiobooks, exercise, launch your book, Twitter

News You Can Use – June 4, 2013

By Steve Laubeon June 4, 2013
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Special Days in June to Market You Book - Edie Melson does it again! Did you know this week is "Fishing Week"?

Publishers Should Invest In Authors, Not Just In Books - from Forbes magazine online. What do you think of what she is saying?

The Seven Deadly Myths of Digital Publishing - I found myself nodding in agreement while reading this article by Bill McCoy the executive director of the …

Read moreNews You Can Use – June 4, 2013
Category: News You Can Use, SteveTag: ebooks, Find an Agent, marketing ideas, Platform

News You Can Use – May 28, 2013

By Steve Laubeon May 28, 2013
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10 Brands That Will Disappear Within a Year – stunning to find the Nook in this list Create a Great Title for Your Book – A well done article that could help your Muse Five Things Indie Authors Do Very Well – Dr. Alison Baverstock makes some solid observations. Cover Letters and Book Proposals – Looking for some help with these? This article provides the basics. Proofread Like a Pro – Never …

Read moreNews You Can Use – May 28, 2013
Category: News You Can Use, Steve

Fun Fridays – May 24, 2013

By Steve Laubeon May 24, 2013
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I love Henri the Cat. (aka "the existential cat.")

Enjoy his most recent adventure "Cat Littérature."

and one of our favorites:

Read moreFun Fridays – May 24, 2013
Category: Fun Fridays, Steve

News You Can Use – May 21, 2013

By Steve Laubeon May 21, 2013
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Happy 8th Birthday to YouTube - Yesterday was the day. Who could have ever imagined? (It also happened to be my daughter's birthday. Happy Birthday Fiona.)

Stephen King Delays E-Book! - In an effort to support physical bookstores he has delayed the ebook edition of his newest release.

The Anatomy of a One-Sheet - Barbara NcNichol provides a simple explanation that you can use to help promote …

Read moreNews You Can Use – May 21, 2013
Category: News You Can Use, Steve
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