MS? What is MS?  New authors always ask this question.  Your MS is your manuscript.  This blog post is about getting it done.
Most publishers would rather get the MS in full rather than in parts – sometimes they will take 1/2 by a certain date to make sure you are both on the same “page” and thinking along the same lines, your formatting lines up with the guidelines they sent to you, you are on the right track, and more.
Normally your contract will have a date specified when the MS is due.  If you don’t think you can make that date – change it BEFORE signing the contract. Very important.
Try to make your deadline – most authors do not – this is good for you, the publisher, your book and the marketing.

Repeat this to yourself 5 times:  Even though I might be traditionally published, I will be doing most if not all of my books marketing.

Every publisher has a marketing plan but be prepared to do most or all of the marketing yourself - publishers publish and don’t do much marketing – it is really up to the author.  Get a copy of their marketing plan before you sign the contract – ask them what kind of author support they will give you, for example, if you give a presentation will they help advertise, or send you flyers (free) to post or hand out, will they distribute press releases that you write – or do they write them, do they have a blog? Will they post your events to their blog or website?

Something to remember, is that most publishers will not offer any of these things but if you ask for them – they will say yes or at least work with you to get you the things you need to promote the book.  When in doubt – ask them, they can only say no. I have had great luck with this and have had my publisher send me thousands of free flyers, postcards and promo items when I have asked for them.  Once you have their marketing plan, write your own to correspond with theirs so that you can more easily work together.

Most authors who publish with a publishing house will get paid an advance – make sure you know how your advance works along with your royalty payments and how you will be informed of sales.
Can you check your royalty reports online or are they just sent to you twice a year through the mail?  (I can check my sales/royalties earned online anytime with my publisher – so ask about this)
What is your royalty rate?  Make sure you know the exact number before signing anything.  Also ask how many books have to be sold BEFORE you start making royalties. Are you getting an advance?  If you are getting paid an advance that money will be deducted from any sales BEFORE you start to make any royalties.  Find out what that number is and make sure all of this is clearly spelled out in your contract.

Most authors work towards getting a contract with a publisher but then when they get one, they have questions on what to look for, what to ask, what is standard and where to go from there.  I will attempt to answer some of those questions in this and follow up blog posts for you.

I have always asked for more than what they offer in free books and have always gotten it no problem – I would ask for a case of free books and if they say yes, make sure that is reflected in the contract.  Try to get as many free books up front that you can.  You won’t be able to get any free later.

Ask them if they will be sending out galleys or review copies.  If they will, ask them if you can submit a list of people/media/reviewers that you want to receive free review copies – you want this to happen BEFORE the book is published so you can have reviews to either include in the book or on the back cover. You will also use those reviews on your website, in your promo materials for your book and on amazon or other book seller websites.

Start compiling a list of folks you think would be good people to read your book and give you a good review or give you press – for example a list of people in your industry, radio shows that deal with your topic, magazines that write about your topic, newsletters, other authors of similar books, peers, members etc. Once you have this list give it to your publisher once you sign a contract and ask them to send those people free review copies of your books – then it is up to you to follow up with them to make sure they received it, read it and will write something about it or have you as a guest on their show for an interview to talk about the book.

Thank you everyone who helped spread the word and share the information about my free book for the last 2 days! I had 298 people take advantage of the free book offer, 5 people “liked” the book on amazon and I received two 5 star reviews! Thank you!

Many of you are familiar with the Amazon KDP program, where you can offer your book for free for 5 days during the first 90 days of being enrolled.  Since so many of us are either in debt or know someone in debt, I thought you would be interested in knowing that on 4/17 and 4/18 my book Dealing with Aggressive Debt Collectors, what to do and how to do it by an industry insider will be completely FREE to everyone.

Please take a look and download your free copy on Tuesday and tell everyone you know!  Take advantage of this free book offer and help yourself or someone you love.    

I have been publishing on Kindle for years now, but only recently started selling more books through the Kindle store.  I now have 15 books available on Kindle and even before I have begun working my marketing plan for them, I am making sales!  Are you publishing on Kindle?

Please share your story, success or why you don’t!

1. Not having a marketing plan or idea.
2. Not knowing anything about marketing.
3. Pitching blindly to press who have no interest in your topic.
4. Hiding out – not speaking out or going to events.
5. Not networking or doing any speaking.
6. Not having a blog or website
7. Not being proactive
8. Not pursuing joint ventures
9. Giving up
10. Not having a marketing plan!!!!!! I know this was #1 but it is so important!!

1.  Know your target audience and their demographics – focus on them and where they “hang out” whether that is online or offline.
2.  Offer quality articles, not promo for your book or product but helpful information.
3.  Network online and offline
4.  Be everywhere – attend everything you can – join any associations you can and attend meetings or participate – visit your customers businesses.
5.  Pitching relevant media and forming relationships with those people.
6.  Follow relevant press on Twitter, re-tweet or comment on their content.
7.  Be persistent, never stop pitching
8.  Start your own “group” online and write a press release about it – I have a yahoo discussion group that I started in 1998 that is still going strong! I also have a group on LinkedIn.
9.  Keep a blog.
10. Believe in yourself no matter what anyone else says and keep at it. You can do it if you have a plan and are persistent.

I have been adding some of my books to Kindle and have just this week gotten book covers uploaded and approved!  I am considering adding my books to the Barnes & Noble Nook store and wonder if any of you have done this?  I am off to find the Nook specifications and see if it might be worth my while to also offer my books for Nook.

Any feedback on Nook is appreciated!