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The Steve Laube Agency

Helping to Change the World…Word by Word

The Steve Laube Agency

The Steve Laube Agency

Helping to Change the World Word by Word

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Things That Work to Help Your Book Work

By Guest Bloggeron March 8, 2023
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Today’s guest post is by Jane Jenkins Herlong, who is a Sirius XM Southern humorist and member of the Speaker Hall of Fame. She is the author of five books. In the spring of this year, Jane’s latest book, Sweet Tea Secrets from the Deep-Fried South (Tyndale) will be available in select Cracker Barrel restaurants throughout the county. She is represented by Bob Hostetler.

_________________

I’ll never forget the depressing words I heard at my first Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference: “Unless you have your own television show, podcast, and YouTube channel with tons of followers, your book will never have traction.”

But I had an idea and a passion to get my words on paper. I’m thankful I did not let that negative comment get down into my spirit. There had to be another way.

With the help of Eddie Jones, Les Stobbe, and Bob Hostetler, I was determined for my books to have traction. I learned to be teachable, seek out a trusted team of knowledgeable experts, and listen to their advice.

Platforms

Here is what I had going for me—a newsletter and two published books. My newsletter is only sent to those who want to receive the bi-monthly electronic publication. I don’t add names, just because I can. My newsletter is formatted for simple reading and linked to my blog. The self-published books can become awards and giveaways. My open rates are now trending at 30%. I also stayed true to my platform—it is all Southern.

Another venue to help your book is to establish a speaking platform. Offer to share with churches, organizations, etc. Collect names at the end of your presentation by having a drawing to give away books; this way you can add names to your newsletter list.

Ads and Influencers

Running ads is more effective than having a book-launch party and other energy vampires. The pre-launch preparation and advance-reading platforms are a big help to start a buzz. Ask folks for feedback on social media; get your community involved. I asked professionals who had podcasts to interview me; some became my influencers. Since Amazon is “the Big One” with 72% of all books housed there, invest in running ads.

When your book launches, ask your team to stagger their reviews. Amazon will penalize reviews if team members who are not “verified purchasers” flood Amazon with reviews all at once.

Simple Ways to Share

I created and gave away bookmarks with QR codes for folks to scan to a web page to read a few pages of the book and order from various vendors.

I also gave away Sweet Tea tote bags with a cute saying. At Christmas I had Sweet Tea ornaments made. Did I make money? No, but I had a reason to share my book again.

Skin in the Game

Save up and help the publisher promote your book. My thought is that if my name is on the book, then I have a responsibility to help the publisher—and they love it! What happens is when you have another book in the works, it will increase interest; and you look like a rock star! You should also charge for speaking; this will feed your ad campaigns.

 

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Category: Career, Guest Post, The Writing Life

Q&A With Brett Harris from The Author Conservatory

By Steve Laubeon March 6, 2023
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I absolutely believe in the need to train the current and next generations of writers. Our world is in desperate need for Christ-infused content that can challenge and counter a broken culture. One person who is doing this every day is Brett Harris. Today, I’m delighted to present an interview with Brett. He is the bestselling author of Do Hard Things and co-founder of The Young Writer’s …

Read moreQ&A With Brett Harris from The Author Conservatory
Category: Career, The Writing Life

Fun Fridays – March 3, 2023

By Steve Laubeon March 3, 2023
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This is a mesmerizing video. It is a scene where a writer corrects their editor, no matter how many corrections are made. “No! I’m a perfect, inerrant writer! Don’t change a word!” After you watch this 34-second video, comment below. (If you cannot see the video in your email newsletter, please click through to the site to view it.)

Read moreFun Fridays – March 3, 2023
Category: Fun Fridays

Love As a Christian Author

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon March 2, 2023
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As Christian authors, we have many opportunities to put into practice the list of the attributes of love that St. Paul listed in 1 Corinthians 13: Love: Is patient: After submitting proposals, we do ourselves, our agents, and editors a favor by exercising patience. In Submissions Land, editors may feel as though a month is five minutes. Agents might say a month is a day. For an author, a month …

Read moreLove As a Christian Author
Category: Encouragement, Inspiration, The Writing Life, Theology

Voices of Faithfulness: Why Missionary Writers Are Important

By Dan Balowon March 1, 2023
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I’ve been pondering the types of people, professions, and perspectives that might best write to the Christian church in the coming years. No Christ-follower can look at the world around us without seeing it unraveling at an astounding pace. Thinking back to the 1990s when Jerry Jenkins and Tim LaHaye created the first books of the fictional Left Behind series, they would have been roundly mocked …

Read moreVoices of Faithfulness: Why Missionary Writers Are Important
Category: Career, Encouragement, Inspiration, Trends

The Cost of Permissions vs. Fair Use

By Steve Laubeon February 27, 2023
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Every book contract has a clause that reads something along these lines: If permission from others is required for publication of any material contained in the Work or for exercise of any of the rights conferred by this Agreement, Author shall obtain such permissions at Author’s expense, in a form acceptable to Publisher, and shall deliver such permissions to the Publisher as part of the complete …

Read moreThe Cost of Permissions vs. Fair Use
Category: Book Business, Copyright, Legal IssuesTag: Copyright, fair use

Fun Fridays – February 24, 2023

By Steve Laubeon February 24, 2023
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“It’s a Southern Thing” has many hilarious takes on the Southern United States. “Double names” is one of them. Enjoy. Then tell us a local or regional idiosyncrasy in your part of the world that may sound “foreign” to a visitor. For example, in Arizona we know how to pronounce Mogollon Rim. Do you? (If you cannot see the video in your email newsletter, …

Read moreFun Fridays – February 24, 2023
Category: Fun Fridays

Don’t Wait for Retirement

By Bob Hostetleron February 23, 2023
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It seems as if it happens at least once at every writers conference I attend. Someone will say, “Once I retire, I’ll be able to write.” I get it. It’s hard to find the time to write—and build or expand a platform of speaking or podcasting or blogging and more—while you have an actual job for which you’re supposedly being paid. But I can’t say this strongly enough: Don’t wait for retirement to …

Read moreDon’t Wait for Retirement
Category: Agents, Platform

Tips for Nonfiction

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon February 22, 2023
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In response to my post “Line Editing,” a faithful blog reader asked me if I had any tips for nonfiction writers. The suggestions here aren’t considered line editing but are more general. I hope they offer insight. Consider your brand. While you want each book to be fresh, you want to stay within your brand, or the brand you’re building, so your readership knows you wrote …

Read moreTips for Nonfiction
Category: Branding, Pitch, Pitching, The Writing Life, Writing Craft

President’s Day – 2023

By Steve Laubeon February 20, 2023
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In the U.S., today is a national holiday, Presidents’ Day. Originally designed to be a celebration of Washington and Lincoln’s birthdays (February 22 and February 12 respectively), it has become a more general day to recognize our presidents. I find history to be fascinating, especially when learning or being reminded of tidbits from the past. Some are not pleasant. Did you know? John …

Read morePresident’s Day – 2023
Category: Historical
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