tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post6948839550831885275..comments2023-09-15T04:27:57.129-04:00Comments on Commentarama: THIS ISN’T YOUR MOTHER’S BOOK SIGNING. . .AndrewPricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-75139412126316229822009-09-15T17:06:42.660-04:002009-09-15T17:06:42.660-04:00Don't worry ArmChairGeneral. You wouldn't...Don't worry ArmChairGeneral. You wouldn't be the first. Good luck with your book!Writer Xhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16505411188186283813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-39219893547328040242009-09-15T17:02:26.957-04:002009-09-15T17:02:26.957-04:00"Don't laugh but Amish Romance is current..."Don't laugh but Amish Romance is currently the latest hot trend in Romance. Sadly, I do not write Amish Romance."<br /><br />How can I not laugh at this?<br /><br />I am working on a mystery myself. I cannot tell you what it is because then it wouldn't be a mystery.Game Master Rob Adamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08198920658123610173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-10876097006163017322009-09-15T15:42:39.504-04:002009-09-15T15:42:39.504-04:00No thanks, think I'll pass.No thanks, think I'll pass.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-39400883505394904162009-09-15T15:38:21.796-04:002009-09-15T15:38:21.796-04:00Andrew, no clue either. I'll see what I can f...Andrew, no clue either. I'll see what I can find out. So, I'm guessing I shouldn't get you Amish Romance for your birthday?? Darn. I'll have to think of something else.Writer Xhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16505411188186283813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-30476460902353205982009-09-15T15:35:48.796-04:002009-09-15T15:35:48.796-04:00Writer X, I think you've said that before, abo...Writer X, I think you've said that before, about Amish Romance. I am absolutely flabbergasted. I don't understand how this got started or who is buying it? Clearly, I am not the target audience.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-82668691457944892712009-09-15T15:31:18.256-04:002009-09-15T15:31:18.256-04:00LawHawk, too funny. That is a cheesey sales gimmi...LawHawk, too funny. That is a cheesey sales gimmick but it does seem to work, especially for Danielle Steele. I think she's the most successful romance writer out there. I think I've read one Danielle Steele book in my entire life. They do the same thing for Nora Robert's books and her Lifetime channel movies.<br /><br />I think Bill would be turning in his grave if he knew how he was commercialized...Writer Xhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16505411188186283813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-77002290059193954492009-09-15T15:28:12.312-04:002009-09-15T15:28:12.312-04:00ArmChairGeneral, you are very welcome. Right now,...ArmChairGeneral, you are very welcome. Right now, it's all about Dan Brown. His book just came out today.<br /><br />In other genres, Young Adult currently sells very well, although that's because you have young adults (12-18) and women buying YA. Romance ALWAYS sells well and there are lots of offshoots. Don't laugh but Amish Romance is currently the latest hot trend in Romance. Sadly, I do not write Amish Romance. <br /><br />I've also heard from publicists that Mysteries are not selling as well as they have in the past, but I'm not sure I buy that completely. A good mystery will always find a loyal audience.<br /><br />Memoirs still seem to be hot, especially if there is a celebrity connection. <br /><br />If someone has a well-known name, their books will sell big, at least the first printing, regardless of the genre.Writer Xhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16505411188186283813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-87457035048094064842009-09-15T15:21:14.390-04:002009-09-15T15:21:14.390-04:00Stan, so true. You have to depend on me, myself, ...Stan, so true. You have to depend on me, myself, and I! And a few million readers never hurts either.Writer Xhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16505411188186283813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-24079421476996059782009-09-15T14:43:55.648-04:002009-09-15T14:43:55.648-04:00WriterX: I get irritated by minor authors whose p...WriterX: I get irritated by minor authors whose publishers make the author's name part of the title(like "Danielle Steele's XXXXX"). It got so silly that Hollywood, of course, picked it up. So when they did their modernized version of the tale of Verona, it became "William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet." I don't think Bill needed the help.LawHawkRFDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17800255923675295515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-2960725849886597072009-09-15T14:43:03.832-04:002009-09-15T14:43:03.832-04:00Thanks for the comments WriterX. Andrew you are c...Thanks for the comments WriterX. Andrew you are correct, Masons do not care what people say about them. WriterX what is hot right now in the publishing world?Game Master Rob Adamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08198920658123610173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-16919738223855748202009-09-15T14:22:32.406-04:002009-09-15T14:22:32.406-04:00WriterX, you are business of one. Great advice for...WriterX, you are business of one. Great advice for any kind of endeavor, sell, sell, sell!StanHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07395708786509590321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-92103948380952440462009-09-15T13:01:24.339-04:002009-09-15T13:01:24.339-04:00Interesting. I'll have to check out the book ...Interesting. I'll have to check out the book jacket next time I'm at the bookstore.Writer Xhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16505411188186283813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-77324792072765931042009-09-15T12:58:12.350-04:002009-09-15T12:58:12.350-04:00It will be interesting to see if this works for hi...It will be interesting to see if this works for him. With the Da Vinci Code (I agree, boring movie, never read the book), he at least had an enemy -- Churches, which went out and protested and made a big stink.<br /><br />Most of the Free Masons I know (and I've met a ton) really don't care one way or another what people say about them.<br /><br />So I don't think he'll get the controversy he may need to sell that many books.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-69435651981066983062009-09-15T12:43:41.390-04:002009-09-15T12:43:41.390-04:00Andrew, Dan Brown's THE LOST SYMBOL comes out ...Andrew, Dan Brown's THE LOST SYMBOL comes out today, as a matter of fact. I'm probably one of only two people on the planet who fell asleep reading THE DAVINCI CODE and the movie. Free Masons, though? I wasn't aware. THE LOST SYMBOL has a first printing of 5 million copies. That is in the words of Donald Trume: UUUUGE.<br /><br />Most publishers aren't doing very well right now, partly due to the economy and partly due to making the wrong decisions on what books to buy, IMO. Regarding those political biographies, they have to sell A LOT of books to make a profit.Writer Xhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16505411188186283813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-8925863800270068462009-09-15T12:27:43.710-04:002009-09-15T12:27:43.710-04:00Writer X, speaking of controversy, I just saw that...Writer X, speaking of controversy, I just saw that Dan Brown has now written about the Free Masons. LOL!<br /><br />P.S. I never did see how publishers made money on these huge advances to politicians. I just don't see the sales they would need?AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-23356505254782692902009-09-15T10:49:56.766-04:002009-09-15T10:49:56.766-04:00Anonymous, thank you. Hopefully they're consi...Anonymous, thank you. Hopefully they're considering buying my latest manuscript. :-)Writer Xhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16505411188186283813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-81918414924939818252009-09-15T10:48:24.621-04:002009-09-15T10:48:24.621-04:00Andrew, it worked for James Frey, although appeari...Andrew, it worked for James Frey, although appearing on Oprah didn't hurt either. Not sure if their subsequent feud helped, although I don't really follow him all that much. He lost me when it was revealed his book was mostly a bunch of bunk. I think he lost a lot of his audience, too.<br /><br />I'm not a fan of political biographies. It always seems that they contain two pages of something fairly interesting and then 400 pages of dullsville. The buzz on those books is always about the two pages--e.g. Teddy Kennedy's latest book and whether he finally came clean on Mary Jo Koepechne, courageous man that he was. Not. As an aside, his publisher is going to have to sell truckloads of his book to make back the six (or was it seven?) figure advance they paid him AND make a profit.Writer Xhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16505411188186283813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-62159576591112550612009-09-15T10:44:11.141-04:002009-09-15T10:44:11.141-04:00I love your posts. What does your publisher do whi...I love your posts. What does your publisher do while you're doing this?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-74326147163720736282009-09-15T10:38:32.775-04:002009-09-15T10:38:32.775-04:00Writer X, A cynic (and I'm just guessing becau...Writer X, A cynic (and I'm just guessing because I don't know any :-)) might say you could plan a whole career being controversial. First you do something to annoy a huge market. Then you have an epiphany and repent. Suddenly, you've got two huge books. I would think that would be enough to jump start a career?<br /><br />In biographies, I know that controversy always sells -- especially in the "tell alls" and in the political biographies. One thing you see all the time in political books is people changing sides right before getting their new (other-sided) book published.<br /><br />In terms of ideas for future columns, how about giving us your take on the "conventions" of various genres? Maybe what they are now or how they've changed?AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-55028181395663360612009-09-15T10:26:45.456-04:002009-09-15T10:26:45.456-04:00Mega, thanks!
The great thing about amazon.com is...Mega, thanks!<br /><br />The great thing about amazon.com is just about any author can sell through them--those who self-publish or those who publish through traditional publishers. Although I personally love walking into bookstores, there will probably come a day when they'll no longer be necessary, thanks to places like amazon.Writer Xhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16505411188186283813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-25195551265801723112009-09-15T10:17:04.399-04:002009-09-15T10:17:04.399-04:00Another great article Writer X! I've read that...Another great article Writer X! I've read that a lot of people who are self-publishing are getting their books sold through Amazon and I figured there was something they do to advertise, because otherwise, how do you find them?<br /><br />I know that several of the guys who have sports websites will publish a book and then advertise it through their own blogs.MegaTrollhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03234420338804013858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-89589018508845228762009-09-15T09:51:14.700-04:002009-09-15T09:51:14.700-04:00Andrew, the ones I've seen on TV are very chee...Andrew, the ones I've seen on TV are very cheesey, sort of the B-Book Trailer version of what's out there. Nancy Grace, as an example, had a TV book trailer (her mystery has become a bestseller, BTW). It looked like something my little neice could put together. Yet, she's sold a ton of books, probably some (or most) on the strength of her name. But she and her publisher could afford the ad time on a major news channel.<br /><br />I think it is very common for an author to do or say something controversial to sell books. Whether or not it's intentional might be another story. No one would ever admit to doing anything intentional. I've seen it done with memoirs lately. Think James Frey and A MILLION LITTLE LIES. The only problem is that an author has to think long-term: Is it worth it to say something controversial to sell one book? What happens when your next one comes out if you've pissed off your entire potential audience? Still, controversy can sell books, no doubt about it.Writer Xhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16505411188186283813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-88645001863755989602009-09-15T09:37:21.909-04:002009-09-15T09:37:21.909-04:00Ah. I thought maybe used actors and the such. I ...Ah. I thought maybe used actors and the such. I see the occasional television ad for books, but I find them strangely not enticing. They all seem to follow the same pattern. Voice over says "read the new book by ____, author of _____" while there is smoke on the screen -- which clears to show the book. Kind of cheesy.<br /><br />How common, if you know, is it to try to do something controversial to generate sales? It seems like there's nothing like an angry group of something-or-other to generate publicity for you. . . and it's really easy to set those people off.<br /><br />Do publishers/authors seek that out, try to avoid it, not care?AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-81644338432452082672009-09-15T09:24:50.273-04:002009-09-15T09:24:50.273-04:00Andrew, you're welcome!
Don't get me wron...Andrew, you're welcome!<br /><br />Don't get me wrong: Book signings still happen. If you're a big-time author like Dan Brown, as an example, book signings and a few interviews might be all you have to do. But when you're not Dan Brown, you've got to try harder and be a little more creative. And determined.<br /><br />Regarding book trailers, they're usually no more than a couple of minutes long. They look like beefed up PowerPoint presentations, frankly, complete with music and images. If you go to amazon.com, look up your favorite author, there's a good chance you'll see a book trailer promoting his/her latest book.Writer Xhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16505411188186283813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-2806805422271216272009-09-15T09:19:29.438-04:002009-09-15T09:19:29.438-04:00Writer X, Thanks! Very interesting article. I fi...Writer X, Thanks! Very interesting article. I figured it was a lot different than what I'd see in the movies -- imagine that!<br /><br />In the movies, they always seem to set up book signings in a dozen cities around the country and the author goes city by city, signing books.<br /><br />I had never thought about putting together a book trailer. What do they normally look like?AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.com