So, your labor of love is complete and your final manuscript is in your hand. Look at the baker's dozen hints below to start you sailing along. These tips may make your initial adventure into publishing easier and more productive.  Follow up with a formal business plan.

 

1. Be sure that a professional editor has reviewed every single line of the manuscript for grammar and spelling errors. Are all proper names spelled correctly and consistently the same?  Read the book out loud to someone and catch your own errors

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2. If there is any resemblance to real life and the work is fiction, be certain all real people and events are sufficiently disguised.

 

3. If this is, in fact, a memoir, everything must be accurate. No fiction here.

 

4. Many reviewers want your galley print three to four months BEFORE publication. Make copies of the final manuscript, preferably pdf (to prevent changes) to send for those galley previews. Keep a spreadsheet with dates, mailings and responses.

 

5. Go to a legitimate domain sales site and hosting service and purchase your domain. In the end, it will give you better recognition everywhere. Hire someone to build your initial site: It may cost from $100 to $300 for a basic site with minimum bells and whistles. If you wish, build your own www.freewebs.com site that is quite user friendly.

 

6. Print business cards immediately with your book name and your contact information. Vista Print has promotions for 250 free cards for shipping cost (about $5), and they arrive quickly. There are many online and local printers.  You may print them yourself.

 

7. Prepare a marketing plan and media kit. Take a calendar and tentatively schedule events every month to give media exposure: book signings, press releases, book readings at libraries and schools, volunteer events, book clubs, guest talks at community organizations. Get out and get known!

 

8. Media Kit: Book cover and product information. Author bio. Reviews. News Release. Business card. Bookmarks. Sample chapter. Sample author interview. Book Synopsis. Other information to give news media and booksellers the desire to promote your book. Make hundreds of these kits to hand out to media, booksellers and others who may arrange book signings and book sales outlets.

 

9. Once you have a cover design: add it to business cards, bookmarks (about 20 cents per marker with local printing) and a large poster for book signing events. Make LOTS of bookmarks and throw them everywhere! (cheaper by the thousands) MSWord has a template to design your own bookmarks. Others are found free online.

 

10. Join writers' forums and message boards. Post a blog. Exchange links with other authors. Start gathering information that makes your site enticing for others to visit.

 

11. Keep the media kit, books, bookmarks, business cards and handouts with you at all times.  Put cards and/or bookmarks in your payment envelopes when paying bills. Hand them to the clerk at the P.O., the waitress at the restaurant, the person sitting next to you at the airport. Never miss an opportunity to promote your book.

 

12. Memorize a synopsis to describe your book in five sentences or less. Have a quote for yourself by which you wish to be known.

 

   13.   Above all, have fun!

 

 

 

           

 

Baker's Dozen Author Tips for Book Signings

1. Schedule a series of book signings several weeks in advance.
2. Make arrangements in person where possible, holding the book.
3. Provide product page, reviews/news articles, book cover and bio in folder
4. Connect with more than book stores
1. Restaurants
2. Pubs
3. Libraries
4. Flee markets
5. Writers' Conferences
6. Art Shows
7. School related mall events
8. Charity Events
5. Contact news media in person and prepare flyers well in advance of the event.
6. Give the host an incentive
1. A 60/40 profit split
2. Free, autographed book
3. Publicity generated by author
7. Bring the following to the event:
1. A poster of the book cover
2. A poster of the author, short bio, and one line reviews
3. Bookmarks by the l00's
4. Reviews laminated to pass around
5. A fishbowl to collect business cards or fill out cards for a free book drawing
6. A related give-away 

                                                               i.      I give bamboo cocktail parasols

                                                             ii.      Another author brings coloring books of the book characters

8. Position book signing table where it is clearly visible
9. Bring a formal guest book for customers to sign
10. Price book for even dollars, including sales tax (back it out later)
11. Be prepared with a standard autograph that can be written quickly
1. The Best is Yet to Come
2. Believe in Miracles
3. You are the miracle
4. Enjoy the adventure
5. Take the journey to success
12. Greet people and give everyone a bookmark; hand books out to preview. Only sit to sign books.
13. Write a thank-you letter to the host site

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