Books + Pumpkins = Creative Kids

I really enjoy seeing creative tie-ins to books like this. This one was done by and for kids, but I can easily see it done as a book marketing campaign as well. Pumpkin time is just about over for this year, but there's nothing wrong with planning now for next year.

If pumpkins don't quite work for your storyline, I think the sky's the limit for this promotional opportunity. What else could people (adults and kids alike) create or decorate and enter that tie in with your book? Bikes, hats, shirts, gingerbread houses, picture frames, pillow cases...

http://www.publishersweekly.com/blog/660000266/post/380029638.html?nid=3340

Good Writing & God Bless,

Cheryl Pickett

What Publishing Can (and probably should) Look Like

Book Business Magazine has a nice piece in the current issue about a small press called Dzanc Books. I think the article is a very good example of how publishing can survive, maybe even thrive as opposed to what is happening in general out there now. Yes, they are non-profit, but they certainly don't intend to lose money I'm sure.

A couple of points jumped out at me. First, they choose books because they like them, then the figure out how to sell them. The other is for those of you who write fiction, pay attention to the comment about literary journals.

http://www.bookbusinessmag.com/story/story.bsp?sid=175925&var=story


Good Writing & God Bless,
Cheryl Pickett

What Else Can a Book Become?

Interesting, cool ways to recycle and reuse at least some of those books that would otherwise become wasted pulp. A few are a bit strange for my taste, but some I'd definitely put in my home.

Enjoy!

http://www.darkroastedblend.com/2008/09/bittersweet-art-of-cutting-up-books.html

More About Boys and Reading

There's been a fair amount of news lately that book sections are being cut from newspapers, so I was happy to see this feature article on Sunday in the Detroit Free Press.

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081005/FEATURES05/810050327/1025/PRINT

If you write for boys or kids in general, capitalize on this story with your own angle. Pitch your local papers, post a press release online, blog about it etc.

Good Writing & God Bless,
Cheryl Pickett

Serial Anyone?

This week, the topic of serializing writing came up at links at pretty much opposite ends of the spectrum of how it works.

First, I read about http://www.dailylit.com, a company that promotes the sale of books bit by bit in the electronic age. Readers can get deliveries of installments of books to their email, phone or other e-device. For those people who barely have time to read their grocery lists, it's a useful purchase option. The prices are a little low for the author side, but that's a whole other topic.

On the other side of the spectrum is an article about an author who serialized most of his work. He sold a set number of pages per installment, often through weekly magazines. When he reached the end of a novel, those who'd purchased the installments could have them all bound into a book if they wished. People who didn't want to buy the whole book at once had options, as did those who wanted it. By the way, this all happened in the 1830s! Find out more here http://www.pbs.org/wnet/dickens/life_publication.html

If you've ever dwelled on the thought that you can't sell your book if the big publishers aren't interested, maybe it's time to think again.

Good Writing & God Bless,
Cheryl Pickett