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Francine Craft

Francine Craft

Last Updated: 11/18/2009

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Sunday, December 06, 2009

Self-publishing: Some Startling News
Current mood:

accomplished
Category: Blogging

Will wonders never cease? If you ever doubted that self-publishing is the wave of the future, the redoubtable Harlequin is starting up a print-on-demand (POD) shop. It's called Carina and they are really pulling out all the stops with advertising.They're used to besting competition, so they'll win plenty of business, I'm certain.

Be careful not to let big names throw you off-track. You want a company that will take time to answer your questions, treat you with the respect you deserve, and that has a pricelne that will fit your pocketbook. You also need a company that will expend the resources to show you how to publicize and distribute. Unless you have all this, your book is going nowhere, and your heart's work is going to be in vain

.

For at least 20 and possibly more years, I've studied self-publishing, beginning with John Kremer's worldwide best seller "1001 Ways To Market Your Book." I've written about some things I've learned and I've learned a lot from you through the blogs I've put on MySpace.

Do get with it and write, write, write your head off. Then get with it again and market your book with the same fervor with which you wrote it.

My heart and my thoughts are with you as you go further on one of the most fascinating journeys you'll ever take. I just got the final draft of my cover of "Dying On The Edge," my romantic voodoo mystery that comes out in April. I've accomplished many things in my life, but I find this one of the most satisfactory.

Love and blessings,

Francine

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Sunday, November 29, 2009

Tears For The Shaniya Davis Case
Current mood:

thoughtful
Category: Blogging

I won't be writing about self-publishing today because I want to write about the recent Shaniya Davis case where the little five-year-old child was kidnapped, raped and strangled. Heaven's angels must weep en masse for this crime, as they weep for all children who are tormented and destroyed on this earth.

What can we say about Shaniya? That she was lovely as all children are, that she was sweet, that she attracted love and affection, that she was born to win as all children are, but a much to be pitied mother and mother's male friend saw to it that she lost. Why does God permit these things to happen? We could ponder this long and hard. We saw her grieving father and aunt, of another race, but seemingly no less loving for that, cry bitter tears for her abduction, then for her rape and murder.

Officers charge that little Shaniya was sold into sexual slavery by her mother, but permit me the expletive what in the HELL can you do with a five-year-old. What vicious "kick" could come from it? Was the perpetrator going back in his own twisted mind to a time when he was the same age and suffered some grievous psychic trammeling? We can't know and would it help if we could? An English psychiatrist, a Dr. Garth, contends that psychicatrists like to point out traumas that cause people to commit unspeakable crimes, but he believes that in this world there is such a thing as evil personified that nothing can explain.

A famous sports figure paid for Shaniya's funeral that 2,000 people attended. For photos of this child check into Google and ask for images of the Shanyia Davis. In and of themselves they tell a sad story of a robust and sparkling child, then a child who seems straight out of a nightmare. What did she endure in the days before she died?

Weep yes, but let us go beyond weeping and do what we can to stop child abuse the way we fight cancer and other diseases. We can join in and fight, or we can let it destroy us all as it is doing.

Love and blessings,

Fancine

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Sunday, November 22, 2009

Self-publishing - Connected Artifacts
Current mood:

blessed
Category: Blogging

Check on last week's blog and see Shawn James's comments. This dovetails nicely with my topic for this week. He mentions that he's turning out t-shirts for his book "Isis." A wonderful idea and one we all ought to emulate. Now if this isn't your cup of tea - making things - don't despair. Get somebody else to do it. The woods are full of artisans who make all kinds of objects that can be used to advertise our books. Why not begin with Shawn?

Other possibilities are mugs, bookmarks, business cards and post cards. The last three should be part of any author's store if we're really serious about marketing books. Sit back and think of some others yourself.

Don't forget autographed copies. Self-published authors can advertise on their websites for their autographed books and extras that any reader would enjoy getting -- all for the price of the book. The books sell higher on our websites than on Amazon.

And whatever you do, don't forget to offer your book for Kindle on Amazon. Three of my two years or better books are on and have sold quite well. They've been in 5 and 6 places, are now much lower of course. Harlequin first put them on, but after February the titles revert to me and I put them on.

So get on the ball, mull this over and get moving. You'll sell your books for more on your website, but don't make the mistake of being greedy. Offer autographed copies and other items free of charge along with the book. It never fails to work for me.

Happy Marketing!

Love and blessings,

Francine

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Sunday, November 15, 2009

Self-publishing: Helpful Websites
Current mood:

blessed
Category: Blogging

Let me tell you about two websites that give great information for free. And please don't forget Google, everybody's friend. If you take the time to phrase your question precisely, you'll find that Google can tell you just about anything you want to know.

There are many helpful websites out there. The ones I've benefitted most by have come from the only self-publishing outfit that John Kremer recommended: Wheatmark, located in Tucson, Arizona, but about as sophisticated as I've found the New York City publishers to be. Their general website offers a book that can be downloaded titled "Marketecture." It's free and it set me right about what I wanted for my book. It encompasses a workbook feature in which you ask yourself questions about what you want for your book and the audience you want to reach. It's enormously helpful and I wouldn't miss it. www.wheatmark.com.

The second is Wheatmark again and this time it's their blogs that couldn't be more useful. www.wheatmark.com/blog. Their highly talented and savvy employees write some of these blogs. Other are written by authors they've published and what they did and didn't do to sell their books. What worked and what didn't. I found these blogs are useful as any I've come across.

Now, I am in no way connected to Wheatmark and I don't get a break on anything they do for me. I just like to pass on what works and what doesn't, because I'm very grateful when you write in telling me what worked in your self-publishing and what didn't. And I still want to hear about it.

Please don't forget to google to your heart's desire. Often it can be an education in itself.

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Sunday, November 08, 2009

Correction On Last Week's Blog on Self-Publishing
Current mood:

blessed
Category: Blogging

I won't give additional information on self-publishing this week because I want to make certain I call your attention to an error in last week's blog. I said B&N, Target, etc. would not accept self-published books for sale. Happily I'm wrong and delighted to be. B&N and similar stores like Border's will not accept self-published books in their brick and mortar stores. However, these booksellers do accept self-published books in their online stores. Oh happy day, when I got this straight, because I was grieved.

I may make mistakes, but I correct them post haste. See you next week with more on self-publishing.

Love and blessings,

Francine

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Sunday, November 01, 2009

Self-publishing: More Tips For Marketing Your Books
Current mood:

blessed
Category: Blogging

One cardinal rule you've got to remember when marketing your book: It's not about you; it's what others are looking for. You're out there to fill a need, not to talk about yourself. Of course, your readers would like to know a few things about you, but they're much more interested in whether or not your book will give them an entertaining read, if it's fiction, and if it will give them answers to problems, if it's nonfiction.

Last week I gave you a tip that should be posted all over your living space: A potential reader sees your name or the name of your book 7-8 times before deciding to buy. It has taken me much longer than this at times. This is one case in which familiarity does not breed contempt, but interest. Along this same line, John Kremer in his book, 1001 Ways To Market Your Book, discusses the fact that sales are built on good - excellent interpersonal skills. Be respectful at all times, answer your requests and inquiries promptly. Be gracious at every turn.

Work between the times you have a book for sale to sell that book. Sign up as an expert on something. You'd be surprised at what others are interested in. Market your book and your expertise tirelessly and charmingly. Run contests, if you like doing so. Make friends at your church, your clubs, the churches of friends and their clubs. And don't forget to enlist the aid of your friends. Don't be selfish. Be willing to return favors.

Authors have told me they've had good success at flea markets. Every town or city has them weekly, and you might consider starting one yourself. Selling from the trunk of your car is a time-honored way to sell books. E. Lynn Harris began his career this way. Never forget selling from the back of entertainment venues: concerts, church socials, any place you know will have large gatherings of people. They're in a happy mood and willing to see your wares. You'll need a smashing cover for this and colorful brochures describing the book

Come up with your own ideas. When you're in love with your book, you're brimming with ways to get it to readers. And first and foremost, believe in yourself and your book. Give it your very best shot, and I predict you'll be surprised at the results.

Please don't forget to check the responses to last week's blog. Shawn James has an excellent outline to submit to independent booksellers.

Love and blessings,

Francine

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Sunday, October 25, 2009

Self-Publshing: Two More Possible Markets
Current mood:

blessed
Category: Blogging

You're going to find that places like B&N, Target and Books-A-Million dont give fair play to the self-published. The reason is that they're very close to major book publishers and don't want the competition. Self-publishing is getting bigger and bigger and some of the top names are beginning to do it. Ah, but Amazon is another story. They're a self-published author's best friend. Study Amazon to see just how much they do offer.

So what's left? Plenty? First of all, I've talked about the internet and some about what's there. I've talked about giving books away via bookcrossing, for name recognition. And please write it in big, bold letters and place copies around your place the fact that readers see your name and the name of your book 7-8 times before they buy. You're cheating yourself if you forget that.

Two other places that will do well by you are libraries and independent bookstores.

Good old libraries. They've been a writer's best friend and will be for some time to come. Visit your libraries. Call them and find out who buys books for libraries. Put on your most winning style and go for it.

Independent bookstores are a familiar with all writers. You can't count the hours you spend in them, talking, listening, getting a take on what their readers are looking for. Again, be your personable best. You sweat blood writing your book. Can you do less marketing it? Make it your goal to see that everyone who could profit from your book gets a copy.

So, there - you're started. I've said before that you need a copy of John Kremer's 1001 Ways To Market Your Book, and of Steve Weber's Plug Your Book. With these things in mind, you may be pleasantly surprised at how well you do.

Love and blessings,

Francine

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Sunday, October 18, 2009

Self-Publishing: Book Clubs
Current mood:

blessed
Category: Blogging

So your new book is out and your feet are barely on the ground. Hopefully, you long ago began marketing your book. Talking it up to everyone you know, blogging daily-even short blogs help. And, if you just don't have the time, and even if you do, refer your readers to another good blog you've enjoyed.

Now, you've contacted all the independent bookstores you can manage, and you've contacted every library you can manage. Are you thinking about book clubs? Hey, they've really proliferated in the past five years, and they're eager to get new, readable books for their meetings. If you can, get the name of the president or leader of the club and call or write.

You don't want it all to be about you, because it isn't. Find out what their book club is about, what has interested them. And what are they likely to be interested in in the future? Be personable, but do more listening than talking. Trust me, you'll come out ahead that way.

Offer either some free books or a discount on soandso many. And don't be stingy. You want name recognition, because that's the way you sell book. Remember, it's generally held that a person hears the name of an author or a book seven to eight times before they decide to buy.

Cultivate all the book clubs you can, and that means cultivating the people in those clubs. Night clubs are not the only places to have fun. You wouldn't believe how much enjoyment you can get from clubbing and book clubs!

Love and blessings,

Francine

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Sunday, October 11, 2009

Self-publishing: Ways to Sell Your Book
Current mood:

blessed
Category: Blogging

Hopefully you've put the best you can into writing your book, gotten both an editorial and marketing analysis, and gotten an excellent edit. Now what?

Your book is beautiful I'm sure, and you love it to pieces. But where do you go from here? I favor, and others in the know agree with me, that you should put copies of your book in the hands of those who will help publicize it for free: your friends, local newspapers, local radio and TV stations. You probably won't have much luck with the major TV channels unless you're a name. Focus on people you know in your church or your club or your lodge. They may have friends who have friends. It's certainly worth a try.

If your chiildren are in school, talk with their teachers, the principal, school employees. People know other people, and sometimes who they know will surprise you. Contact independent bookstores in your area and in nearby areas, and if you drive, in more distant areas. Try to call as many bookstores as you can. I understand the major chains aren't interested in the self-published. That's because they're tight with the bigtime publishers.

I think anybody serious about marketing a book should buy a copy of John Kremer's "1001 Ways To Market Your Book," and Steve Weber's "Plug Your Book." Both books give you incredible tips on marketing, and Weber's book is almost exclusively about the internet, one of the first places to start.

On the internet, set up accounts with Google, MySpace, Twitter and Facebok. Study ways to best use those accounts to sell your books. Many authors are putting excerpts or their full books on their websites or on their blogs, some with amazing results.

The above is a start. You'll find a wealth of additional tips in these two books. Log on to http://www.wheatmark.com and order for free their really useful book on marketing. So, you're off and running. Good luck and keep on keeping on.

Love and blessings,

Francine

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Sunday, October 04, 2009

Self-Publishing: Do You Blog?
Current mood:

blessed
Category: Blogging

Blogging is fast becoming one of the loves of my life. I like digging up the information I hope will be useful to others. And I like no less getting information from others. I'm also beginning to blog on http://www.blogger.com/francinecraft. Google's handy venue for blogging. If you have the time and the inclination, you can get quite an education there. And best of all it's free.

I'm beginning to hear from many sources that blogging is an excellent and free way to get your book before your potential readers. Many authors put in a chapter a day for a while, or for the length of a short book.  More others excerpt their books on their blogs. Many ask for comments and later incorporate those comments. I say free, but there are many blog spaces for hire. However, I'm doubtful they would be any better than Google or other free spaces.

There are many tips that will help you to become a more effective blogger. Tune in to google with a specific help wanted request. I think you really owe it to yourself to become very familiar with this terrific sales aid. Whatever you do, Please don't wait for the world to beat a path to your door. Nowadays it won't -- unless you can give a surefire way to earn $100 a day with little effort.

For the past two weeks I've blogged about market and editorial analysis. And zero response.  Authors, these two things are incredibly important, and what little money you spend on them will pay you rich dividends. It can very well mean the difference between success and failure.

Don't cheat yourself.  Any book you've written is your precious creation. So many of the letters you've written lead me to believe you're very, very talented. Now, get on the ball and be as street smart in marketing as you are in writing.

Love and blessings,

Francine

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Sunday, September 27, 2009

SELF-PUBLISHING - EDITORIAL ANALYSIS
Current mood:

blessed
Category: Blogging

Another all-important facet of any type of publishing is having the highest quality manuscript you can offer. I spoke of the absolute importance of getting a market analysis that can tell you just who your target readers are most likely to be and giving recommendations for reaching those readers.

Getting an editorial analysis is every bit as important. You'll need light, moderate or heavy. They don't come cheap, but stop and think how many sales you're going to lose with errors and misspellings and grammatical errors. Not to mention the drubbing you'll get from more enlightened reviewers and readers. Please don't do that to yourself.

You've spent a lot of precious time writing your book and the heart and soul investment is even more.You write because you want someone -- a lot o someones -- to read what you've written. And just putting it on paper isn'g going to fill the bill. You've got important things to say. Make it look as good as it is.

I'm not preaching to the choir, because I'm not preaching at all. I simply want the best for you and your book. You've become a part of my world and I want your success. I benefit greatly by your tips and hope you do likewise by mine. So get on the ball and get rolling with market and editorial anlyses. They're not that expensive and they're worth their weight in gold.

Love and blessings,

Francine

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Sunday, September 20, 2009

SELF PUBLISHING: MARKET ANALYSIS
Current mood:

blessed
Category: Blogging

I'm all a-twitter now about market analysis. For a couple of hundred dollars, I submitted a copy of my book (Wheatmark would be handling it), and they gave me back a complete market anlysis by a marketing specialist who told me who he (or she) felt the book would and wouldn't appeal to,(economic status, educational background, urban or rural, just the whole enchilada of possibilities. It was a fairly lengthy list. I was also told who it would not likely appeal to.

Next, they told me markets I could depend on or couldn't depend on to sell my book. (The ones I had most looked forward to handling it won't because they're controlled by the big publishers and they're not about to let self-publishers in.) Of course, the internet is wide open for selling possibilities, and Amazon is in a class by itself.

The market analyst compared the book with five others like mine that I would be competin with and gave a complete delineation of how they were doing, what they sold for, and Amazon sales number, all of which was very helpful.

I think I most profited by their recommendations for selling my book. There were 7 and I consider them really good. I would advise anyone with a book they care about to get the market analysis. It gives you a darned good head start on where you're going. I think you owe it to your book and to yourself.

Next week, I'll discuss my take on editing, something else you need an expert to do. Beware, my friends, because editors can make or ruin a book, and I know instances of both. Editing comes high, but is well worth it when it's a good job. You need to be on your toes here as never before.

I'm still open to your experiences with self-publishing. I use and I enjoy hearing about where your book(s) are going.

Love and blessings,

Francine

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Sunday, September 13, 2009

WHAT YOU GAIN BY GIVING AWAY BOOKS!
Current mood:

blessed
Category: Blogging

Say what? Give away the books I spent my lifeblood writing, publishing, publicizing, marketing? No doggone way!

Well, if you're smart, you'll give books away, as many as you can possibly afford to. And you know why? Because you're going to need all the name recognition you can possibly get. In the end, it will be more worth your while than scrounging every penny you can for your books. Studies have shown that people really look favorably on individuals and businesses that give freebies, excellent customer services and charge fair prices. Can you think of anything more valuable than goodwill? I certainly can't.

There's an excellent organization called Bookcrossing online. Log on the find what they're all about. You purchase stickers from them, slap them on your books and leave them anywhere you can think of. The Washington Post had an article about a woman who left a bunch of her book all over the zoo. Restaurants, churches (only the appropriate), theaters, anywhere people congregate. You'll have a label to put on that book and only about ten percent have stickers returned to Bookcrossing, but they may send you notice that someone in India, Japan, or Europe wrote with their comments on the book.
Contact Bookcrossing at www.bookcrossing.com and check them out.

The closed hand gives nothing out, but gets nothing back either. As you talk your book up, give free copies to a chosen number. See that every library in your burg gets a copy, as well as businesses.

Sound crazy? Just think about it. You're not just in it for the money, I hope, because if you are, you'll never make much of it. Of course you sell all the books you can. I'm only suggesting you give away a nominal number and that's up to you. But way down the road, people will have fond memories of you and what you gave them, as well as what they bought.

In another blog, I'll list other ways that giving away can lead to readers buying what you're offering. Stay tuned!

Again, let me emphasize that I'm very, very interested in your take on this self-publishing business. It's what you make it, and you can make it a winner!

Love and blessings,

Francine

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Sunday, September 06, 2009

KNOW THE NEGATIVES OF SELF-PUBLISHING
Current mood:Tickled
Category: Blogging

Whatever you do BE SURE YOUR BOOK IS COPYRIGHTED IN YOUR NAME!

Tack this on stickit notes around your house. I've found out that many publishers are copyrighting authors' book in the publishers' name. That way, you don't get your digital rights that enable you to sell to Kindle and other e-book places that are springing up all over the place.

As close in as 2005, I had a website couple try to copyright my website in their name. I didn't know beans about any of it. Fortunately my new website people were able to step in and straighten it all out. I also got ahold of a publicist who took me for a lot of money, then cut off and couldn't be contacted. So, watch out for many things along the way. Forewarned is forearmed!

So far, I've been pleased with Wheatmark. They're far and away the best in the business for showing you how it's done to be successful. Visit their website at www.wheatmark.com. You'll get more material Free from them before you sign up than you can get from most places after you sign up. Ask for their brochure. And when you feel you're ready, there's a link I'll give you, and you're signing nothing.

This has been such a pleasure that I'll go on writing about what I'm learning about marketing. Things I've wanted to know for a very long time.

Check out my two previous blogs, Two Who Love Self-Publishing, and my blog More on Self-Publishing, to read what Shani Greene-Dowdell has to say about some pitfalls. It's very useful advice I didn't know. I've really enjoyed your input with these pieces. It's never too late to learn. Please keep writing and I'll always answer.

Love and blessings,

Francine

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Sunday, August 30, 2009

SELF-PUBLISHING PLACES TO GET STARTED
Current mood:

animated
Category: Blogging

Last week I wrote about marketing and got excellent, but not much feedback. Make no mistake about it, if you don't get your marketing ducks in a row, you're duck soup.

Let's say your book is written - and I hope you've taken the time and put forth the effort to make it the best you can do. You see that it's typed in first-rate format, properly edited by the best you can afford, then on to a small self-publishing company that will allow you to do much of the basic work beyond writing. Lulu is a good bet for this and you'll find others on Google.

The larger self-publishing companies charge more and do far more toward helping you realize a superior product. I chose Wheatmark, Inc., located in Tucson, AZ. When I contacted them, they responded immediately, sending along a homey brochure that fully outlined what they had to offer. I e-mailed them with questions I neeeded answered and they quickly responded in each case over about a month. Then I got their book on marketing - Marketecture that is a remarkable course in marketing. And I was hooked. I'm still working with them and cannot recommend them too highly. Their link is www.wheatmark.com/refer.cfm.

Others you may be more familiar with such as Xlibris, very widely advertised, BookSurge, Amazon's self-publishing arm, and others you'll find on Google. As I said last week. Ask for references and check those references. Call your Better Business Bureau.

No one of these places is cheap, but you'll likely get what you pay for in this case. A shoddy, poorly designed book isn't going to sell well, so don't go that way.

Except for the very smallest and cheapest ones, these companies will also help you with publicity, get your copyrights, your ISBN's and do a number of the worrisome things that take you away from writing.

And whatever you do, please don't forget to check out at your local library or buy John Kremer's 1001 Ways To Market Your Book and Steve Weber's Plug Your Book. There are things in both you wouldn't think of in a million years! Both are available from Amazon.

Happy writing - happy self-publishing - happy marketing!

Love and blessings,

Francine

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