Writing Craft

Book Tour Lesson: Listen to Publisher

By Steve Laubeon January 10, 2011

Melanie Benjamin, author of Alice I Have Been, reflects on book tours, in an article for the Huffington Post. Especially the difference between the one she put together herself several years ago and the one she is currently doing with the help of her publisher.

“I’ve also learned to listen to my publisher. When a bookstore contacts me personally about an appearance, I pass the request on to my publicist. Only once did I ignore her advice and do an event anyway.

Only the janitor showed up.”

And this month’s issue of Christian Fiction Online Magazine features a great article by James Rubart and his recent book signing experiences.

Meanwhile, enjoy this hilarious YouTube video about a Waldenbooks signing:

HT: Shelf Awareness

Lawsuit over Hyperlink?

By Steve Laubeon December 20, 2010

In Canada a man is suing another person for linking to allegedly damaging web content on a web site (the suit is currently before the Canadian Supreme Court). A big "thank you" to Mac Slolcum for writing about this issue last week. In his article Mac asks the pertinent question, "Is a link on your web site equivalent to an endorsement of that content?" Think about it for a second. If you click …

Category: Book Business, Legal IssuesTag: Endorsements, Facebook, Internet Usage, Marketing

All About E

By Steve Laubeon December 17, 2010

This was the year of the E word. "E-Books." The topic replaced the other "e" word...the Economy...as the number one topic among authors, editors, publishers and agents. And the news media reported every nuance with breathless excitement. The iPad, the iPhone4, the Droid, the avalanche of tablets, the Kindle, the Nook, and a deluge of e-reading devices, all commanded our time and attention.

But …

Category: Book Business, E-Books, Get Published, TrendsTag: Book Business, Digital Books, E-Books, Get Published, Trends

E-Book Buyers Buy More Books

By Steve Laubeon November 18, 2010

New research by the Book Industry Study Group (BISG) has made some interesting discoveries.

E-book consumers say they are buying more books overall, but fewer in print, and are decreasing their total dollars spent
More than 40% of e-book readers have reduced the number and dollars spent on hardcovers and paperbacks.
Retailers are becoming more important than publishers as a source of …

Category: Book Business, E-Books, TrendsTag: Book Business, E-Books, Trends

Art of War for Writers

By Steve Laubeon November 24, 2009

Periodically I plan to recommend a title or two for you to read. I've always enjoyed this form of "word-of-mouth" marketing, thus I will "pay it forward." :-)

Yesterday afternoon I received James Scott Bell's The Art of War for Writers: fiction writing strategies, tactics, and exercises (published by Writer's Digest Books). With interest I took the book home and devoured it. Not literally of …

Category: Book Review, Writing CraftTag: Book Review

The Wave of Digital Creativity in Books

By Steve Laubeon October 17, 2009

I went to high school in Hawaii (I know.. a rough life) where I learned the joys and perils of body surfing. That experience is a great metaphor for the new "waves" of digital revolution we are seeing in the publishing world.

The key to great body surfing is waiting for the right wave and then time your push just right. The ride is exhilarating (I still remember riding inside the tube of a …

Category: Creativity, Get Published, Publishing A-ZTag: Digital Books, Get Published, QR Code

ICRS / CBA Bookseller’s Convention

By Steve Laubeon July 13, 2009

Today is the official opening of the convention in Denver. This year will be my 28th consecutive ICRS (International Christian Retail Show) or CBA as we veterans still call it (Christian Booksellers Association Convention). I absolutely love the experience. I've attended as a retailer, as an exhibitor, and now as an "industry professional." I find it amusing that each name badge is color-coded to …

Category: Conferences, ICRSTag: Bookselling, ICRS