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52 of 54 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Invaluable, August 17, 2004
This review is from: Jump Start Your Book Sales: A Money-Making Guide for Authors, Independent Publishers and Small Presses (Paperback)
At first I was concerned that Jump Start Your Book Sales might be all fluff and no substance, filled with a lot of tips that I had already thought of.
Well, my concern was not justified. I had not gotten past page 10 before I realized I had better get out my pen and start taking notes. I was getting dozens of ideas and tips that were supercharging my own ideas about how to publish and market books. And this after going to some $1,000+ seminars on the same topic! So I'm not a complete newbie in this area.
The authors have been in publishing for over two decades. And I really got the impression that they were dedicated to putting down everything they have learned in this jewel of a book. They held nothing back. And I have gained a great deal from reading it.
Multiple areas, from selling your books to traditional bookstores, getting a distributor, to going off the beaten path and selling your books in non-traditional ways, including getting book in mail-order catalogs, and having a company use your book as a premium to help them sell a product or service. They do not just suggest that you check out these avenues. They tell you how to do it, and what to expect, including the price points and types of contracts that will be offered. Every chapter contains a host of resource material that gives you what you need to completely implement the plan yourself.
They also provide key insights on how to build the marketing of your book right at the very start when you are writing it. These were the points I found the most stimulating and helpful. The authors lives and breathe publishing, and it shows in the generous offering in Jump Start Your Book Sales. I will be re-reading my copy, that is for sure.
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21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Wow! BUY this book!, July 28, 2004
This review is from: Jump Start Your Book Sales: A Money-Making Guide for Authors, Independent Publishers and Small Presses (Paperback)
SPECIAL NOTE: I have to apologize. Did I only give this book 4 stars? I wish I could add another star. I have just had my 5th book published and of course I still sit around and wonder at night how to get anyone to read it - and almost by accident I came across my old, highlighted and tattered copy of Jump Start Your Book Sales. After a few minutes of shuffling the pages together (I had carefully torn out the pages I wanted to use **right now!** several years back) I realized how much I really love this book! I cannot tell you just how much you really need this book if you EVER plan on selling ANY copies of YOUR book!
I have read every book on book marketing I could lay my hands on, and some are worthless, some are written to publishers, but mention authors just enough so they can SELL to authors, and a very few are truly great. This is one of the greatest books on the subject ever. The best part is that even if you don't like half of the ideas you read here, the other half can make you fantastically wealthy (and somewhat famous). My original review follow, but all in all I strongly encourage you to buy this book and start promoting yourself!
Okay - so admittedly I didn't like it very much at first. This book is HUGE! It covers so much ground that you can easily get lost during your first read. But I diligently came back two weeks later (after reading it the first time) and I slogged through all of the details. This book is THE encyclopedia of book marketing for authors who want to make REAL money (whether you self-publish or work with a p. house).
I have self-published and worked with publishing houses, so I can see both sides of the fence. This book is a MUST HAVE no matter what patch of grass you want to play in (they are both green). But here's why you must own this book:
If you self-publish, you will make a LOT more money. There is no contest. You keep 50-70% of the selling price of your book (remember printing and ad costs). This book has resources for publicity (like the mighty Joe Sabah!), SPAN, Publisher's Weekly, as well as media contact methods and the occasional agent recommendation. All good stuff. This book pays for itself over and over.
If you publish through a publisher (small or large), you KNOW that you alone are responsible for the success of your book. Your agent has told you that you must get out there and "promote, promote, promote!" This book shows you how. I didn't like the binding (it falls apart quite easily), but you are paying for the information, not the binding.
This is one to add to your collection! Good luck with your new book(s)!
:-)
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20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Must-Read for People Trying to Sell Books, May 24, 2001
This review is from: Jump Start Your Book Sales: A Money-Making Guide for Authors, Independent Publishers and Small Presses (Paperback)
This book had a wealth of information about book marketing including contact information for buyers and how to get publicity for little or no cost. Writing a book is only half the battle, maybe even less, and trying to let the world know that your book exists is the truly challenging part. This book will get you well on your way.
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