Here’s what I’ve been working on today: I’ve been writing a proposal for my next novel. I want to thank one of our regulars on this blog, Mary DeMuth (alias, RelevantGirl). Mary recently released an e-book on how to write a non-fiction proposal, and I’m finding it very helpful.
I’m an old hand at writing proposals and thought I knew everything there was to know. 🙂 I’ve discovered that Mary knows a lot more than I do. Of course, there are vast differences between a fiction proposal and a nonfiction proposal, but even so, I’ve gotten some good ideas on how best to write this next proposal. Thank you, Mary!
Mary’s got the e-book for sale on her site for only ten bucks (scroll down a bit on the page and look for the title Nonfiction Book Proposals that Grab an Editor or Agent by the Throat). It has annotated examples of proposals she wrote for a couple of her books. Mary, I hope you’ll do a version of this e-book for novelists soon.
Yesterday, we started a conversation with my friend Jeff Gerke, who will be launching a new publishing house, Marcher Lord Press, next October. Jeff has the “impossible” task of trying to sell Christian fantasy and science fiction novels. This is a task that all the Big Boys in Christian publishing have tried without much success.
Today’s question for Jeff is the following:
Q: You and I brainstormed up some innovative ideas for launching your first few books at MLP. Tell us about those ideas and how you’re coming along with them.
A: The two main marketing strategies we talked about were a massive giveaway prize drawing for launch day (which is October 1, 2008, God willing) and freebie goodies to be given to anyone who actually purchases one or more books on launch day.
The plans for both strategies are proceding apace. But I’ll tell ya, when I thought about forming a publishing company I never thought I’d be reading about how to score cheap international airfare. Ah, it’s an adventure.
I know what I want to give for the grand prize but I haven’t figured out the financing for it yet. The name of the company is Marcher Lord Press. Marcher lords were knights who held the borderland between England and Wales and England and Scotland. Marcher lords were used in other cultures, too. And in literature: our dear Theoden King, is Lord of the Mark (March). So what would be better for a grand prize than sending the winner and a guest to England to stay in the most famour marcher lord castle of all: Caerphilly Castle in Wales?
So if you have any free international airfare tickets sitting around, could I please have them? Oh please, oh please, oh please?
I’ve also gathered and am still gathering tons of other great prizes. I want to have as many as 100 things to give away. I’ve got signed copies of Christian novels, I’ve got an etching from William Shakespeare’s tombstone, I’ve got a leather-bound 50th anniversary edition of The Lord of the Rings, I’ve got cups and canvas bags and book markers. I’ve even got a numbered, signed, canvas print by famed space artist Frank Hettick. More goodies continue to roll in, too.
For the added value items to be given away with a purchase on launch day, I’m going electronic. If someone in Australia buys a book, I don’t want to have to mail him my goodie individually (since the book itself will ship directly from the printer). So the goodies will be downloadable, I think.
The first is an original nonfiction book (20,000 words) on marcher lords and their castles by professional castle historian and author Lise Hull. The second will be an art book full of artwork by the many excellent Christian fantasy and SF illustrators I’ve come to know through WhereTheMapEnds.com.
Randy sez: Those of you who’ve heard me teach on marketing know that there are three main things you must create, and you create them in this order:
1) A web site
2) An e-mail list of potential customers
3) A product.
Most writers start with Door Number 3–they write their book, have it come out, and then say, “Oh yeah, guess I better start marketing it.” That is way too late. I will be starting in January to market the novel that I haven’t written or sold yet (the one I’m writing the proposal for now). The book won’t be out for at least two years, but I’ll be starting to market it now–by revamping my web site and using that as a platform to build a list of people who are interested in what my book is about.
Jeff is doing things in the right order. In October of this year, Jeff created a new web site. Then he created an e-mail list where people can sign up to be notified about new books that Marcher Lord Press will release. And he’s got a form on the web site on this page.
As Jeff noted above, he’ll be holding a drawing to give away prizes to anyone who’s on his list on the day his books release. Not everyone on the list will win a prize, but the more people you refer to his list, the more chances you have of being drawn. (This encourages people to tell a friend, and is a primary piece of what is called “viral marketing.”)
When his books launch, Jeff will notify people on his list and make his pitch. Part of that will include some freebies for anyone who orders on Launch Day. Those freebies are electronic, so Jeff can deliver them at no cost to himself. But they are valuable freebies. That’s an ideal situation.
Not everyone will buy Jeff’s books when he rolls them out. But here’s the thing–people will KNOW about his books on Launch Day. They’ll have an incentive to buy on Launch Day. The rest depends on how good the books actually are. I’ve been impressed with the books Jeff has acquired in the past. He mentioned Sharon Hinck and Tosca Lee yesterday. I know Sharon and Tosca and have read their novels. Jeff did extremely well in landing those books.
Andie wrote a comment that caught my eye:
Can’t get to know the manager of local Berkeley B&N. It recently went out of business along with Cody’s on Telegraph. Black Oak Books is teetering too. Sad.
Randy sez: Dang! When I lived in Berkeley, I bought most of my books at Cody’s, which was just a couple of blocks away from my apartment. Is nothing sacred??? 🙁
For our next blog, we’re going to pose this question to Jeff:
Q: Tell us more about the economics of your publishing model at Marcher Lord Press. How will you edit, produce, and distribute books? What advances and royalties will you pay your authors?
This blog appears Monday through Friday, so Jeff will answer this question next Monday. See ya then!
Lynda submitted that men tend to avoid fiction by female authors and I sadly have to agree with that observation. I am of opinion however, that it has nothing to do with chauvinism, rather merely a matter of personal taste.
My wife is a Danielle Steele freak while her books do not grip me at all.
BUT on the other hand, I had read three novels written by June Flaume Singer which I enjoyed just as much as I enjoy Dan Brown, Randall Ingermanson and John Grisham.
My point is, Lynda, take heart!
jeff, I just learned of an author who contacted a venue (a nice retreat center) and asked if they’d be willing to give away a weekend. They were! For the airfare, I’d simply send a nice letter to several airlines, letting them know how you would promote them and what is the reach of your contest. You never know.
Oh, and Randy, you’re the bomb! Thanks for mentioning the NF Proposal tutorial. I’m so glad it’s helping you.
Randy,
You state that an author should begin marketing their book long before they write it… Sounds good if you are an already published author because you have a base to stand on, but what if you are working on your first? Seems to me it’s not marketing in that case, but just bombast about something does not yet exist, and statistically speaking, will never exist. It seems to me a slightly different technique is needed to market a first time novelist -how does one get traffic to the website? How does one get an audience with an editor or publisher…etc. In my case I intend to use the resources I have at my disposal which is my brother, who just happens to be a compositor… but those without these resources need to be more create. I have an ulterior motive for asking this, of course, I am a copywriter looking for new accounts! 🙂 Later! –Dave
(Oops, I had posted this comment on the previous day’s blog in error, so am repeating here, referring to Randy’s initial paragraphs about non-fiction proposals.) If I may also promote another e-book, former editor and now literary agent Terry Whalin also has an excellent book on how to write a non-fiction book proposal. He comes with many credentials (as you probably know, Randy) and years in the publishing industry, having worked for big-name Christian publishers.
Aargh!!! We have to wait until Monday?!?! Bummer!
I’m a guy and I have a few female authors I enjoy reading. Does that make me weird? If so, I’ll live with it, because their books are excellent!
Terri Blackstock’s Restoration Series
Karen Ball’s Family Honor Series
Melanie Wells’s Dylan Foster Series
Let’s talk about creating that website.
You’re way ahead of the game as a programmer.
For those of us all thumbs on the keyboard, do you recommend taking a web design courses at the local JC? Getting books and teaching self? Paying someone to do most of the work? Hiring an off shore company?
How does a writer keep all this stuff from swallowing one whole?
This is a very interesting topic. And Jeff’s sites are really nice. I’m curious what exactly constitutes a Christian style. Apparently it’s not just having to do with biblical things, so it makes me curious. Good luck on launching your company, Jeff. I know I’ll be watching for updates on it.