Book Expo Awakens Authors Dreams of Writing a Book & Being a Best Selling Author: How Do You Choose a Publisher?

Any author wants to get a great publisher, and it’s a tough business. How do you find a publisher? You have options, each of which has advantages and disadvantages.

If you want to know about your publishing options as an author expert, you can explore them in Chapter 13 of the new book Instant Credibility. This book is for business owners who are writing a book to showcase your expertise and grow your business.

A sure sign of late spring for authors is Book Expo. It’s the premier event for the writing and publishing industry and the largest publishing event in America. It’s a big deal, and like any conference of its nature, emotions run high. I guess you could say it has the following and emotional charge of American Idol, though there is no direct competition.

Authors go there hoping to catch the eye of a publisher and/or woo fans. Publishers go there to promote themselves. I can only imagine the level of cortisol that must be released by all the stressed-out hopefuls.

An author named Richard called me all excited because 3 separate publishers had written him wanting to publish his book. He could hardly believe his luck. I mean – they sought HIM out. Little ol’ Richard who was just an ordinary fellow. How wonderful is that!

But unfortunately, I had to burst his bubble. And I want you to be alerted to what this type of publisher does so that you don’t get “hosed.”

Richard got caught up in the emotion of being a “sought out” author with publishers falling all over themselves to publish his book. I don’t blame him or anyone. Think of the American Idol hopefuls who want their “big shot” at greatness with the show.

These were only publishers to the extent that they produce books. Actually, they were vanity presses that have their sales department send letters to anyone with a book coming out, in the hopes of drawing their business. You see, these are all subsidy publishers” or “vanity publishers” who charge a fee to the author.

I’m not against using a print on demand publisher. For entrepreneurs, speakers, coaches, and other business owners, it can be a great option. Several international speakers I know use a fulfillment house or print on demand publishing to get their books into people’s hands. But I want you to look carefully at the publishers.

Be a wise consumer

How Much Does It Cost? If you’re expected to put out thousands of dollars to get your book in print, what you have is a vanity publisher.

Due Diligence: Don’t rely on the publisher’s website for the real truth. This is simply a marketing tool. Check out the publisher. A great place to start is Creditors and Editors. What do they say? You can also check on forums such as AbsoluteWrite.com and WritersWeekly.com. What do people say?

Watch out for Add-On Services:  One author friend of mine was all excited because a publisher would put up an opt in form for him. big whoopty-doo! That’s something he could hire a VA for if he doesn’t want to do it himself. And that way HE would have control, not the publisher. don’t get excited about a page on a publisher’s website for your book. I can get you a great website done for you that will do everything you need it to do and be under YOUR control. (visit ProfitableStorytelling.com/website for details.). How much is the publisher charging you for their services, and would you be better served to hire a virtual assistant?

Be a wise consumer and don’t pay a lot if you do select a self publishing option. If you’re at Book Expo, watch how the publishers posture.

Resource

Instant Credibility walks you through a step by step process to write a book that grows your business.

The Instant credibility Action Guide gives you all the worksheets you need to create your table of contents, chapters and more.

Related articles

• Derek Beres: The Long Tale of Publishing: One Sale at a Time (huffingtonpost.com)
• The Next Media Revolution (andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com)
• Publishing: Digital vs. Print (designmind.frogdesign.com)
• Bowker Reports Rise in Print on Demand Titles (readersread.com)
• Where do you start with DIY Publishing? (seattlepi.com)

Ronda Del Boccio is a transformational speaker, mentor and author known globally as The Story Lady because she teaches authors, entrepreneurs and business owners to easily connect with your ideal customers and contacts through the power of your story.

She is the author of numerous stories, poems, and articles, as well as her books I’ll Push You Steer, and other upcoming books.

Discover how to explode profits, prospects and prime media opoprtuntiies with her latest book is the Instant Credibility system, which teaches any business owner, entrepreneur, coach, speaker or writer to craft a lead-generating book that grows your business.

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