Jump Start Your Book Sales: A Money-Making Guide for Authors, Independent Publishers and Small Presses [Paperback]

Marilyn Ross (Author), Tom Ross (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1999

The authors of this text offer ideas for booking author events, signings, TV appearances and radio interviews, and they also show ways to capitalise on the latest promotional trends, including the World Wide Web.'

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Review

". . . is absolutely terrific. Every page overflows with sound, practical advice and actual usable information and sources." -- Dottie Walters, President of Walters International Speakers

"...an authoritative kick in the pants. This book thinks of everything you didn't. And then some." -- The Bloomsbury Review

"...filled with real-life examples, Jump Start Your Book Sales is an essential reference for publishers." -- Dan Poynter, Author of the Self-Publishing Manual

"An excellent source of ideas and information for making hard work on books pay off." -- Judith Appelbaum, Managing Director of Sensible Solutions Author of How to Get Happily Purchased

"Any publisher who needs proven ideas, techniques or even just a jolt of motivation needs this book... -- Mary Westheimer, President of BookZone.com, the Web's largest publisher community

"Call it a jump start cable, crutch, helping hand, or how-to. Whatever you call it, get yourself a copy today." -- Letty Cottin Pogrebin, President, The Author's Guild of America

"You'll understand my excitement . . . their classic,...has helped me sell millions of books. Guess what? They've done it again!" -- Dave Chilton, Author of Canada's #1 best-selling book, The Wealthy Barber --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Author

With the intention of starting a "buzz" in the industry as well as securing some advance quotes we sent bound manuscripts of Jump Start Your Book Sales (WDB/F&W) to 67 carefully selected people. Blurbs came back from 41! This may be a record in itself.

The early rave reviews came from Judith Appelbaum (How to Get Happily Published) to Dan Poynter (author of The Self-Publishing Manual), from Clarissa Pinkola Estes, Ph.D. (whose Women Who Run With the Wolves was on the NYT bestseller list for almost 3 years) to Letty Cottin Pogrebin (president of The Author's Guild of America). And also from Dave Chilton (who holds the record for authoring/publishing Canada's #1 bestseller: The Wealthy Barber) to Mary Westheimer (president of the Web's largest publisher community). --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Communication Creativity (December 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0918880459
• ISBN-13: 978-0918880451
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (72 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,797,848 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Marilyn Ross is a self-publishing pioneer. Over the last three decades, she has helped thousands of authors sell millions of books through About Books, Inc., the company she and former husband Tom founded in 1977 and have since sold. Then Marilyn turned her energies toward championing authors, professionals, and small presses by founding Self-Publishing Resources.

Marilyn, an internationally acclaimed self-publishing authority, has been noted and quoted in U.S. News & World Report, Publishers Weekly, the Los Angeles Times, Writer's Digest, Bottom Line Personal, John Naisbitt's Trend Letter, Investor's Business Daily, Rocky Mountain News, the Denver Post, San Diego Union, Chicago Daily Herald, Phoenix Gazette, the New York Times, Newsweek, and the San Francisco Chronicle, among others. Entrepreneur magazine dubbed Marilyn a "trend tracker." Additionally, she has appeared on scores of radio and TV shows, including NPR's All Things Considered.

In 1996, Marilyn and Tom Ross launched an international nonprofit trade association for self-publishers, small presses, and assertive authors. Although they are no longer involved, under their leadership the Small Publishers Association of North America (SPAN) became the second largest such organization in the world.

She brings her invigorating style to her best-selling books The Complete Guide to Self-Publishing (5th edition now out), Jump Start Your Book Sales, and Shameless Marketing for Brazen Hussies. This energetic woman not only helps authors successfully write, publish, and market their own books and information products--she has written and self-published fifteen books of her own. Following the "success formula" she espouses, five of the books have been sold to major trade publishers.

Singled out for the Guerrilla Marketing Hall of Fame, she is also listed in numerous Who's Who directories. Marilyn has intimate knowledge of the joys and frustrations of being an author. Writing and publishing conference planners often call upon her as a speaker.

She divides her time between helping clients, dancing, enjoying nature, gardening, volunteering, spiritual study, travel, being playful, and nurturing her many friends. Contact her at [e-mail].

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

52 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Invaluable, August 17, 2004

By 

Kat Bakhu (Albuquerque, NM United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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.

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wow! BUY this book!, July 28, 2004

By 

Dusty "Author The Easiest Way--EVER!! series ... (Montrose, CA, United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

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)!

:-)

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

By 

Zane "NY Times Bestselling Author" (Maryland) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

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.