Getting to Know You
In pondering the other side of the fence, the one on which the panel of literary agents stands, torn in the assessment of THE EMPRESS ROSE’s worthiness to hold its own on the bookstore shelves, I’ve had to ask myself: what more can I do to move myself up from the ranks of Miss Congeniality to that of crown-wearing superstar? With my website and its contents I hope I have conveyed that not only do I have a brain, but I know how to use it. My product, THE EMPRESS ROSE, is complete and up to the challenge of professional scrutiny and/or editing, so there are no worries there. The only other topic of concern that I can foresee is potentially in the area of marketing. If that is indeed the case, then perhaps some disclosure will help.
Having read Publicize Your Book! by Jacqueline Deval (Seriously people, make this book your friend. Upon getting that first book deal, its tax deductible!) I have already established a marketing plan which can only make life easier on the agent’s sales pitch to prospective publishers, and thus the publisher’s pitch to the bookstores. To date, I have completed the following:
- Written a bio
- Defined my goals
- Developed a positioning statement
- Derived a synopsis for the book jacket
- Defined a target audience
- Compiled a list of comparative books
- Established media angles and sales points
I realize that any fiction book with ties to Tarot cards can initially bring forth feelings of discomfort, if not dread, which is why I’m committed to making this book a success and it will be, with the right people standing beside me. Publishing is a gambler’s industry; fear has no place here, nor does complacency. Communication is key. Confidence, self-knowledge and mad writing skillz will move you forward. The time is now, oh, literary giants. The time is now!
