| Here's what I've discovered in perusing the coverage | | | | sure it's no mistake that Ms. McGowan's publishers are |
| of this year's BookExpo America: all is NOT doom and | | | | promoting her at the Expo at the same time that The |
| gloom in the publishing industry! If anything people are | | | | Da Vinci Code movie is out there ringing up the big box |
| just as excited about books as they ever were and | | | | office bucks!This doesn't necessarily mean that |
| that means lots of opportunity for people like us who | | | | McGowan was looking to ride the coattails of Da Vinci |
| are interested in putting more books out there in the | | | | when she wrote her book, but when marketing time |
| world. But success doesn't happen by accident. There | | | | comes around and you can connect your book to a |
| are still obstacles to overcome and the more you | | | | previous success and hop on that bandwagon as |
| know about the publishing process, the easier your | | | | she's doing, by all means, get on board!Not All Stars |
| journey will be. So let me share with you a few of the | | | | Get All the Attention.I thought it was interesting that, as |
| tips I gleaned from this year's Expo that can | | | | the Times reports, less than half the seats (in a |
| inform--and hopefully inspire--your process.Making the | | | | 400-seat conference room) were filled for author |
| Leap from the Unknown is Still PossibleThe New York | | | | Mitch Albom's presentation at the Expo. Here's |
| Times highlighted the story of author Kathleen | | | | someone with a proven track record: Tuesdays With |
| McGowan and how she was present at both last | | | | Morrie and The Five People You Meet in Heaven, so |
| year's and this year's BookExpo. Last year, though, Ms. | | | | it's not as though he's someone whose selling power |
| McGowan and her husband had gone into debt to | | | | has dried up. I'm wondering if the book reps at the |
| travel to the Expo and struggled to get anyone to pay | | | | Expo are more focused on finding the next hot thing |
| attention to her self-published novel, The Expected | | | | instead of spending time with the tried and true, which |
| One. The whole experience brought her to tears. "I | | | | they're going to stock anyway. If that's the case |
| was, like, is there any point for us to be here?" she told | | | | then...It's Worth Your While to Attend--If You're Clear |
| the Times.Apparently there was because months later | | | | About What You Want!If the reps are looking for the |
| Ms. McGowan managed to sell her book to | | | | totally new, you could be the writer they're looking for. |
| Touchstone Fireside, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, | | | | So consider making the investment for next year, BUT |
| for a reported seven-figure advance! This year she is | | | | only if you have thoroughly prepared your material and |
| being toasted at numerous parties and people are lining | | | | know what you want to get out of the event and who |
| up for her to sign her book. She's a great example | | | | you want to meet. I'd say going to such a big |
| because she perservered when she could have easily | | | | convention would justify also spending the money to |
| given up in frustration. It's also good to know that those | | | | get the help you need to complete your book or whip |
| rags to riches stories can still happen. One note, | | | | it into shape. You want to make your first impression |
| though: Ms. McGowan's book was not necessarily sold | | | | the best. I'm sure the McGowan's didn't make the |
| on its own merits alone. The author either knew or | | | | decision lightly to attend last year at such great |
| soon learned that...It Helps to Be Tied in to a Big | | | | expense. It looks like she brought her A-material and |
| TrendMs. McGowan's book, The Expected One, is | | | | her A-game. I'd say her return on investment has been |
| described as a thriller about a descendant of Mary | | | | excellent! |
| Magdalene and Jesus. Mmm....Does that ring a bell? I'm | | | | |