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Helping to Change the World Word by Word

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Home » Archives for Tamela Hancock Murray » Page 10

Tamela Hancock Murray

The Secondary Market for Books: Friend or Foe?

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon September 15, 2021
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Understandably, most artists want to earn the highest royalties for their hard work. Remember how Garth Brooks wanted a secondary royalty on his music, thereby kicking off a feud with secondary-market retailers? (See the article linked here.) 

So, as an author, do you feel that the secondary market is a friend or foe?

I think this market is our friend. Here are a few reasons why:

  1. Discoverability: Readers may find an author’s book in a thrift store before seeing it in a retail store that may have limited shelf space. For instance, the “Religious Fiction” (not my favorite label) section in my local used bookstore seems to be about six or eight shelves high and goes on for at least forty feet. In comparison, the last time I visited a local brick-and-mortar retail store, Christian fiction titles occupied about eight shelves of two bookcases.
  2. Space: My store stacks books on their sides and behind each other. The customer must dig to find them all. A retail store displays books with a marketing eye. That means each title must readily be visible. The display is prettier; but, again, it limits how the retailer can use space.
  3. Price: Recently, I found a copy of Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers at my used bookstore for 25 cents. A reader new to an author’s work may risk 25 cents to read a book, then purchase more books by the same author. They may go back to the used bookstore or buy more books from retailers if they like the author enough.
  4. Serendipity: Though they are selective, used bookstores rely on haphazard incoming inventory. For instance, when I settled my parents’ estates, I sold biographies, car books, mystery novels, and dog books. I tend to buy and sell religious books, current bestsellers, biographies, history, and fashion books. Almost every book I purchase on the secondary market is a fun find. Readers can randomly discover your book this way too.
  5. Impatience: I make a list of books I want to buy secondhand before I venture to the store. Because the inventory is unpredictable, I seldom find the exact book I seek. Because I’m impatient, I’ll give up and order the book from a retailer. 

Regardless of how readers find your book, they’re reading it. And that’s a good thing!

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Category: Book BusinessTag: Used Books

Grateful for Workers

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon September 2, 2021
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As we approach Labor Day this coming Monday, let’s pause for a moment of gratitude: 1.   I can read! According to Live Science, as recently as 2009, 14% (1 in 7) of American adults were considered illiterate. 14 Percent of U.S. Adults Can’t Read | Live Science Historically, women were less likely to be literate than men. As a woman, I am a thankful reader. 2.   I can work longer. Writing is …

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Category: Personal

But They Missed the Point!

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon August 25, 2021
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Sometimes rejection letters reveal that the reviewer may have missed the point of an author’s proposal. Upon rejecting a novel: Dear Author: Thank you for your submission. However, we are not seeking memoirs at this time. Or, upon rejecting a book of satire: Dear Esteemed Academic: Thank you for allowing us to review your dissertation on the merits of Hades. However, in October, we have plans to …

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Category: Rejection, Reviews

Tips on Comparables

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon August 12, 2021
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The comparables section of a book proposal is one of the most challenging for many authors. Here are a few quick tips for a successful entry: Define It The comparables section shows what books are on the market that compete with yours. Know the Purpose The purpose of providing this information is to help agents and editors position your book. Agents will use this to decide which editors need to …

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Category: Book Proposal Basics, Book Proposals

It’s New to Them

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon August 4, 2021
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The other day, I was surprised to see an ad for a book published fairly recently regarding Kitty Genovese, a woman murdered as bystanders watched in Queens, New York, in 1964. This case was so notorious for its study of human behavior (Why would witnesses fail to act?) that people have analyzed the event for decades. Most adults know the name and reference without blinking. But what about younger …

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Category: Creativity, Inspiration, Pitching

Our Essential Work

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon July 22, 2021
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My husband and I recently attended a ceremony for a milestone event, after which we felt depressed for several days. The memory still leaves us despondent. Why? Because no one invited the Lord. No one mentioned Him in any way, shape, or form. I waited helplessly to hear His name. Luke 17:27 rang unbidden in my mind: They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until …

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Category: Personal, Theology

You’re Not the First Author to …

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon July 14, 2021
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Miss a deadline because you underestimated how long a project would take. Miss a deadline because of a family emergency or your own illness. Ask for not one, not two, not three, but four deadline extensions. Have a manuscript declared unacceptable. Cancel a contract and return your advance money Feel hurt by an editor’s harsh words. Experience a major printing error. Hate your book cover. Hate the …

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Category: The Writing Life

Should I Time My Novel’s Release to a Past Event?

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon July 1, 2021
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Novelists often ask me about timing their stories to the anniversary of a significant historical event. As with most questions, no definitive right or wrong answer exists. Here are a few thoughts. Does the event capture the public’s imagination? Since most Americans make yearly plans for the July 4th holiday, that event can offer perennial plots for novelists. But to time a novel to celebrate the …

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Category: Book Proposals, Marketing, Pitching

The Back Cover Blurb

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon June 23, 2021
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Even in the age of online shopping, the back cover blurb is essential in helping a customer choose a book. When a reader decides between two books, the one with the best back cover copy often wins. When referring to the back cover, the reader wants to know the following: What does this book reveal? Why should I care? Nonfiction Of course, nonfiction covers a wide swath, including instructional, …

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Category: Book Proposals, Pitching, The Writing Life

How Long Should My Summary Be for a Novel?

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon June 10, 2021
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Writers often ask about the length of a book summary for a proposal. How long should it be? I can say: The summary should be as long as you need it to be. Your goal is to present your story so an editor will want to read the book and then make an offer to publish it. If you can write a compelling summary, that’s a gift you should not be shy to use. Here are a few more tips: Present your proposal …

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Category: Book Proposals, Pitching
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