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News You Can Use – Nov. 15, 2011

By Steve Laubeon November 15, 2011

The End of Borders and The Future of Bookselling – BusinessWeek article shows why Borders failed and why it doesn’t mean the demise of bookstores. Every writer should read this.

Another Change in How We Read Books? – Cloud-based book rentals…is it the future?

You Don’t Have to Accept Rejection – Copyblogger makes the case for the Indie route.

Does Your Web Site Use Flash? – If so, then it is time to change. It is no longer supported by Adobe.

Random House of Canada to Try New Book Tour Model – Selling tickets that include the price of the book. Thus the book is “free.”

Jeff Bezos of Amazon, Owns the Web – A fascinating article from Wired magazine.

Kindle’s Cost More to Make than What Amazon Charges – Obviously a “loss leader” that gets readers buying tons from Amazon.

A Fascinating infographic. Enjoy!
From: Media Beat

Don’t Quit Your Day Job

By Steve Laubeon October 27, 2011

I’ve been talking with writers who have another job as well as their writing to see how they juggle doing both. I was a social worker before my daughter was born and started writing soon after, but now that my youngest is off to college I’ve thought about getting back into the work force. I just don’t know how I’d balance the two yet.

The first thing I thought of was that I’d have to do some …

Category: Book Business, Career, Get Published, Writing CraftTag: Book Business, Career, Writing Craft

Study the Market

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon October 20, 2011

What is the best way to find out what is successful in the current market?

This is a good question because while as an author, you don't want to chase the market, you also don't want to write books that are so far off from the current market that they have no chance of selling. First and foremost, marketing advice from any source assumes that authors submit their best, most polished, highest …

Category: Get Published, Marketing, Tamela, Trends, Writing CraftTag: Get Published, Pitching, Tamela, Trends, Writing Craft

Conference Proposal Requests

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon October 6, 2011

The recent ACFW conference (attended by nearly 700 writers and industry professionals) has writers, agents, and editors in overdrive as we all attempt to follow up on conference proposal requests. Writers are working feverishly to get proposals to editors. Some are thinking, "Surely the editor who seemed so excited about my proposal is checking email at least once or twice a day looking for it. I …

Category: Conferences, Get Published, Marketing, TamelaTag: Book Business, Conferences, Pitching, Rejection, Tamela, Writing Craft

What Makes a Christian Book “Christian”? (Part Three)

By Karen Ballon October 5, 2011

So, there I were, surrounded by publishing professionals, faced with the question of whether or not we liked--or respected--our end consumer: the reader.

Publishing folk are a freaky bunch. They love to think and debate and share ideas and dissect and explore. Get a whole room of editors going and nothing is sacred. At the same time, everything is. At their core, publishing professionals …

Category: Book Business, Get Published, Karen, Theology, Writing CraftTag: Book Business, Ideas, Karen, Theology, Trends, Writing Craft

Bestseller List News – October 3, 2011

By Steve Laubeon October 3, 2011

Some of our authors have recently hit the bestseller lists! Congratulations to all.

Harvest of Grace by Cindy Woodsmall hit #22 on the tradepaper fiction New York Times extended bestseller list for August 28st. And is #2 on the ECPA "Multi-Channel" bestseller list for October.

Forbidden by Ted Dekker and Tosca Lee (Center Street) hit #17 on the hardcover fiction New York Times bestseller …

Category: Book Business, Get Published, News You Can Use, SteveTag: Book Business, Bookselling, Get Published, News, Trends

Loving to Laugh

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon September 29, 2011

At least once a week I'm asked if romantic comedy is currently marketable. While sometimes this category seems hot and then cold, I'd say that sharp, witty, well-executed romantic comedy can find a good home no matter what the publishing season. Note that I take the adjectives I used seriously. This is not a category that most writers can whip off with little effort. Successful writers of romantic …

Category: Book Proposals, Craft, Genre, Get Published, Tamela, Writing CraftTag: Craft, Ideas, Pitching, Romantic Comedy, Tamela, Writing Craft

What Makes a Christian Book “Christian”? (Part Two)

By Karen Ballon September 28, 2011

So what are some of the answers I’ve been given to the question "What makes a Christian book Christian"? Consider the following:

Written from a Christian world view
Story offers hope
Core of the story shows importance of faith in Christ

Similar to the things you all wrote in your comments (though I think your responses went far deeper.) But I’ve also been peppered with the following …

Category: Book Business, Get Published, Karen, TheologyTag: Book Business, Get Published, Ideas, Karen, Theology, Trends, Writing Craft

ACFW 2011 Report

By Steve Laubeon September 26, 2011

This past weekend nearly 700 novelists, editors, agents, and industry professionals gathers in St. Louis for the 10th annual American Christian Fiction Writers conference.

It is always invigorating to be with so many highly creative people and to be a part of the discovery and development of tomorrow's bestselling authors.

I had over 30 one-on-one appointments and editor meetings, taught …

Category: Conferences, Get Published, SteveTag: convention

One-Sheets versus Queries

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon September 22, 2011

A recent post inspired an excellent question. "Is a one-sheet the same as a query?"

Yes and no. There is some overlap, but the differences are significant.

A one-sheet gives writers a document for talking points about a project at a conference. The one-sheet can help authors be sure they convey the information they want to the editor or agent without forgetting anything critical. In turn, …

Category: Book Proposals, Get Published, TamelaTag: Pitching, query, Tamela, Writing Craft