Blog

Time to Play!

By Karen Ballon May 31, 2017

As I was considering what to write for this week’s blog, I realized I needed a break from all the seriousness of the last few weeks. Not that I don’t love the “conversations” and insights everyone has shared. But, at the core, I’m a golden-retriever kinda gal, and I gots to play! So today seemed perfect for a game I love: First Lines.

SO! Get your play on, folks, and share your first line—and ONLY the first line–of a project you’re working on. Fiction, nonfiction, children’s, short story…we love ‘em all. Now is your chance to test your line out on some readers.

Here’s mine, from a nonfiction project I’m working on:

It took an angry hummingbird to open my eyes.

Ready? Set. Go!

Why Do Professional Reviewers Dislike Bestsellers?

By Dan Balowon May 30, 2017

One of the most interesting issues I’ve confronted in my years involved with traditional publishing is why some books sell well despite less-than-stellar reviews and why some with five star ratings barely move the sales needle. It would be similar to films which win Oscars or top honors at film festivals but are barely noticed in the marketplace. I recall attending a showing of a movie with my …

Category: Book Sales, Reviews, The Publishing LifeTag: reviews, The Publishing Life

Orville Rogers – A Memorial Day Tribute

By Steve Laubeon May 29, 2017

Today in the U.S. we honor the veterans who gave the ultimate sacrifice and died for our country in the military. It is an important day of remembrance. Earlier this month, at the Global Media Summit, I had the honor of shaking the hand of Orville Rogers who is 99 years young. He trained pilots in World War II, flew the B-36 airplane (aka “The Peacemaker”) on secret missions during the …

Category: InspirationTag: Inspiration

Fun Fridays – May 26, 2017

By Steve Laubeon May 26, 2017

Does your platform need a boost? If you are a pastor, do you need to become “relevant?” Never fear, Swag Seminary is here! Enjoy the video…wait for the big reveal at the end…

Category: Fun FridaysTag: Fun Fridays

Trade Fiction Versus Category Fiction: What’s the Difference?

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon May 25, 2017

Often I’m asked, “What’s the difference between a trade book and a mass market category book?” Great question! Here are some primary differences and as always, the exception proves the rule. Trade books are: About 95,000 words in length, varying between 85,000 and 100,000. Trim size called “Trade Paperback” is usually 5.5″ x 8.5″ Not restricted by the rules of any category …

Category: Book Business, Romance, Romantic Suspense, The Publishing LifeTag: Book Business, The Publishing Life

A Green-Eyed Obstacle

By Karen Ballon May 24, 2017

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I know better. And yet I did it anyway. Not my fault, really. I never would have given in if I hadn’t seen that best-seller list. With that name. That author who started years after I did. Who was getting all the accolades, all the lists, all the awards… I mean, I’d had a book on the bestseller list. So what if it was years ago? So what if the book that mattered most to me got panned by an …

Category: The Writing Life, TheologyTag: Jealousy, The Writing Life

Test Marketing Books

By Dan Balowon May 23, 2017

In the traditional book-publishing world, insiders often refer to the initial release of a book from a new author as a marketing test…more R&D than launching and promoting a known product. The self-publishing process can function in a similar role of market testing for a first time author. You won’t know for certain how it will be received, but it is worth the effort to try. Most authors …

Category: Book Business, Indie, Marketing, Self-Publishing, The Publishing LifeTag: Indie, Marketing, Self-Publishing, The Publishing Life

A Typo Hear, a Typo Their – Typo, Typo, Everywhere

By Steve Laubeon May 22, 2017

Is it just me or am I starting to find typos more frequently than ever before? I’m not a copy-editor or a proofreader, so I don’t go looking for them. Unfortunately they find me. My wife finds them regularly in the sports section of our daily newspaper (The Arizona Republic owned by the same people who own USA Today). It is embarrassing. I suspect budget cuts eliminated an extra set of …

Category: Craft, GrammarTag: Craft, Grammar

Fun Fridays – May 19, 2017

By Steve Laubeon May 19, 2017

With our daughter getting married late this Summer I couldn’t resist posting this video. (It also happens to be her birthday tomorrow.)

Category: Fun Fridays

Make Me Jump off the Fence

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon May 18, 2017

So, when querying me, maybe you followed my guidelines, submitted an appropriate manuscript, and your work has much to recommend itself. So why am I not getting back to you right away? Am I ignoring you? I’m sure it feels that way, and I’m sorry. What has probably happened is that your manuscript (and yours is not alone), has me sitting on the fence. Think about that expression. Who wants to sit …

Category: Book Proposals, Get Published, PitchTag: book proposals, Get Published