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Reader, 1,000,000+ copies of Longitude have been sold. Yes….a book about those horizontal lines on the globe. I wanted to know how and why. Dava Sobel joined me on Before The Bestseller over the last two weeks which also inspires today’s 321. I rarely know what the gravy of a conversation will end up being and these ones were no exception. talking to Dava it became clear how important it is to chose the right publisher, should you chose to go that route. I provide today’s 321 to give you an idea of what it looks like when a publisher has buy in. feel free to use Dava’s story in your next negotiation of just how much a good publisher can do for you. That publisher (on their own expense) printed up bound galleys and handed them out at the yearly American Booksellers Association convention. This got the attention of a multitude of independent bookstores due to the quirky topic. As Dava says, if the publisher is really behind you, and doing everything possible, a lower advance just means you earn it out faster… It’s easy to disappear with one of the big houses. 3 Secrets: 1. When the look of the physical book itself attracts readers Does it matter if the physical book is beautiful? Dava says it does. perfectly chosen poetry at the start of each chapter ✔ Dava’s publisher had the foresight to design a book that complimented the story being told. makes me think…. when everyone else is using the same standard KDP printing, or publishers focused on printing the cheapest cost per unit, could it pay to have the book physically look beautiful? After 10 years, Dava’s publisher proposed they get unique foreword for the 10th anniversary edition. “Know anyone famous” he asked. Dava immediately thought of a story she had just read about famed astronaut Neil Armstrong giving a toast at a state dinner to one of the main characters of her book. “I knew he knew the story, if I could just get to him – I knew he’d say yes….but he’s an incredibly private person” luck would have it that Dava’s agent just so happened to be approached for help with foreign rights by Neils biographer. “I was instructed to write a letter that would be passed through various people to get to Neil.” then, after a few weeks… “I saw the NA initials come into my inbox and I stopped breathing. As predicted he was only too happy to do it”. What’s the takeaway here besides incredible luck?
3. A bookmark that intentionally pairs with the book The publisher opted to not include a photo insert in the book out of fears it would look too much like a textbook. Instead, the head of marketing came up with a book showing photos of the characters and other key elements of the story. If you’re using your own story to teach something, why not include photos of the journey? Photos of the key elements of what you’re teaching? Use the bookmark to bring the story alive instead of just a QR code that invites people to leave a review. Bonus secret – Dava calls her book, an intimate letter to a stranger and for 30 years has spent every Thursday responding to her fan mail. Despite her publisher and agents attempt to get her to join Social Media – that’s not what excites her. She find that engaging with people who’ve reached out over the years and creating genuine connection has done far more for building a core fan base than trying to be everywhere all the time. 2 Links
1 Quote “Do something every day to market each of your books for three years.” with love and sincere appreciation,
Alex P.S. Know someone who needs help marketing their book? We offer a $500 referral bonus 🙂 |