I'm excited to announce that I'm one of the participants in a brand new blogspot called The Blood-Red Pencil. I invite everyone to come on over to http://bloodredpencil.blogspot.com. The Intros are up for you to read about our bloggers who will share their perspectives on the various aspects of editing manuscripts.
Also, please read my post about Backstory and leave a comment.
See you over there,
Morgan Mandel
http://bloodredpencil.blogspot.com
www.morganmandel.com
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Let Your Light Shine By Morgan Mandel
They say a pregnant woman has a glow about her. So should an author. To get people hooked on you and your books, be sure to let your light shine.
How?
Be enthusiastic.
Be friendly.
Be caring.
Be outgoing.
Be prepared.
Be everywhere.
Be smart.
Be everything.
Not easy, but only the uninitiated think it is!
Morgan Mandel
www.morganmandel.com
http://acmeauthorslink.blogspot.com
http://bloodredpencil.blogspot.com
I'M SO SPOILED By Morgan Mandel
I'm so spoiled. I can type my manuscripts on a computer. If I make mistakes I can fix them. If I want to move sentences, paragraphs or pages, I can do that. If I want to print, I just connect a USB cord to a printer, press a button and get as many copies as I want.
Whatever did authors do before? Good grief, they had to write with pen or pencil on paper. Or type on a typewriter that didn't have the auto correct when spaced backwards. Then, if it was before the copy machines, they had to use carbons to make copies, or worse yet, type extra ones and hope they didn't make mistakes.
I've been complaining because lately on vacation I've had a hard time connecting with my network card to the Internet. Thank goodness, I finally got mine working right today. But whatever did authors do before the Internet? How did they ever get their names out there?
I'm so spoiled.
Morgan Mandel
www.morganmandel.com
http://acmeauthorslink.blogspot.com
Whatever did authors do before? Good grief, they had to write with pen or pencil on paper. Or type on a typewriter that didn't have the auto correct when spaced backwards. Then, if it was before the copy machines, they had to use carbons to make copies, or worse yet, type extra ones and hope they didn't make mistakes.
I've been complaining because lately on vacation I've had a hard time connecting with my network card to the Internet. Thank goodness, I finally got mine working right today. But whatever did authors do before the Internet? How did they ever get their names out there?
I'm so spoiled.
Morgan Mandel
www.morganmandel.com
http://acmeauthorslink.blogspot.com
Tweets for Today
- 20:10 After dinner went to Hoggie Doggie's in Woodruff, WI. for chocolate covered soft serve ice cream.Why can't I eat like this all the time? #
- 21:32 New author? Need promo ideas? Read my blog today at morganmandel.blogspot.com #
Saturday, August 30, 2008
HABIT By Morgan Mandel
I'm a creature of habit. I've worked at the same law firm for over 36 years. I've been married to my husband for almost the same amount of time. I eat the same things for breakfast each day. I watch the same things on TV. Need I go on?
Readers are also creatures of habit. At stores, they gravitate toward books by authors they're familiar with, usually the ones on the NY Times Bestseller Lists. They've either read books by these authors or have seen so much advance publicity, the authors seem familiar to them.
How does an author not on the Bestseller List get sales? It's not easy, unless you're incredibly lucky. Most of us aren't.
So, to get those readers to buy your book, a fledgling author needs to follow through on a serious publicity campaign. You want your name known not only in book circles, but also with the general public.
Here are a few suggestions to get you started. There are many more out there.
First get a website and blog. Be sure to keep them updated. If you're not on the Internet these days, you're not considered a sourced to be reckoned with.
Get advertising material. Some suggestions are: bookmarks and business cards to leave everywhere you can think of; postcards to mail to libraries, bookstores and the people on your Christmas list; rack cards for bookstores; tee shirts, tote bags, caps with your cover art on them; pens with your name, website and book name; flyers and brochures containing your cover art and blurbs.
Whenever possible, get interviews so your name and book information appear in the newspaper. Also, get interviews online.
Arrange book signings. Participate in conference and library panels.
Join listservs and book sites where you can network with other authors or readers.
These are just a few ways to get noticed. I've done them all. Also, I've done far-fetched things like riding in a 4th of July parade hawking my book. You do whatever you feel comfortable with and more. Stretch the limits each time until you get more comfortable promoting your book. Don't just sit at a book signing. Get up and put your book in a person's hands and talk about it, or whatever else the reader wants to discuss.
By now, you've got the idea. Do everything you can to get noticed. It's the only hope you have to get readers to spend their dollars on your books instead of those on the NY Times Bestseller List.
What are you waiting for? Get to work.
Morgan Mandel
www.morganmandel.com
http://acmeauthorslink.blogspot.com
Readers are also creatures of habit. At stores, they gravitate toward books by authors they're familiar with, usually the ones on the NY Times Bestseller Lists. They've either read books by these authors or have seen so much advance publicity, the authors seem familiar to them.
How does an author not on the Bestseller List get sales? It's not easy, unless you're incredibly lucky. Most of us aren't.
So, to get those readers to buy your book, a fledgling author needs to follow through on a serious publicity campaign. You want your name known not only in book circles, but also with the general public.
Here are a few suggestions to get you started. There are many more out there.
First get a website and blog. Be sure to keep them updated. If you're not on the Internet these days, you're not considered a sourced to be reckoned with.
Get advertising material. Some suggestions are: bookmarks and business cards to leave everywhere you can think of; postcards to mail to libraries, bookstores and the people on your Christmas list; rack cards for bookstores; tee shirts, tote bags, caps with your cover art on them; pens with your name, website and book name; flyers and brochures containing your cover art and blurbs.
Whenever possible, get interviews so your name and book information appear in the newspaper. Also, get interviews online.
Arrange book signings. Participate in conference and library panels.
Join listservs and book sites where you can network with other authors or readers.
These are just a few ways to get noticed. I've done them all. Also, I've done far-fetched things like riding in a 4th of July parade hawking my book. You do whatever you feel comfortable with and more. Stretch the limits each time until you get more comfortable promoting your book. Don't just sit at a book signing. Get up and put your book in a person's hands and talk about it, or whatever else the reader wants to discuss.
By now, you've got the idea. Do everything you can to get noticed. It's the only hope you have to get readers to spend their dollars on your books instead of those on the NY Times Bestseller List.
What are you waiting for? Get to work.
Morgan Mandel
www.morganmandel.com
http://acmeauthorslink.blogspot.com
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