Joanna McCall publicist @ joannamccall.com
Make no mistake, after a writer completes a book, the work is less than halfway done. Of course, there’s the editing and the publishing, but the greatest piece is the promotion. As publicist Joanne McCall made clear in the first of my free summer seminars for writers, the trick is to stand out like a red sheep in a sea of white ones. Almost everyone wants to write a book, has written a book or is in the process of writing a book. U.S publishers produce over 400,000 tomes each year, more than other countries in the world. (Click) Obviously, the competition to get noticed is fierce. Being a good writer isn’t enough. Novelty is key. After all, how many romance novels is the public willing to buy? A lot, it would seem. Nonetheless, with so many works written in each genre,
Ali Shaw courtesy of indigoediting.com
how does a writer stand out?
If you attended the Saturday seminar of May 12, McCall offered some good ideas. If you who live in Togo, don’t despair. She summarized a few of her points in a recent article. (Click) And if you’re looking for a publicist, even if you live in Togo, she can be reached. (Click)
If you regret missing the first seminar, don’t fret. Two more are on the way. Ali Shaw, head of Indigo: Editing, Design will be our guest on June 9. She will take authors through the thorny path of moving from a manuscript to a published work. No, Amazon, Smashwords and Ingram’s aren’t the only routes. The number of paths is multiplying, each with different requirements. As you write your book, it helps to know in advance which path you intend to take. Ali Shaw will be your guide. Even jaded pros, with a book or two under their belts, would be advised to catch a glimpse of the road ahead.
We’ll be gathering with Ali Shaw on Saturday, June 9 between 2-3 p.m. at Another Read Through, 3932 N. Mississippi Ave. Portland, Oregon. To register for this free event contact
