The ARC

Have you ever wondered where those laudatory quotes come from on book cover jackets or the inside pages or the back cover of a paperback book?  Do you read those quotes?  Do the quotes influence your decision to purchase the book?

I confess, I read the quotes even though in most cases I have no idea who the person is offering their opinion.  I’ve often wondered if those people are paid for their words of praise – maybe per word or something.  I can’t say that I’ve purchased a book because of the quote but certainly it offers some reassurance that someone else has read the book and thought well of the story or the writing or the plot or the characters or some aspect of the book.  Our human instinct is to implicitly trust an honest opinion or viewpoint.

Where do those quotes come from?  Lesson #3 – they come from offering an Advance Readers Copy (ARC) to people who you believe will make a favorable comment about your book.  When I completed the Henschel Haus marketing survey I had to provide a list of potential ARC readers.  I chose people I know well and people that have read my other two books and past teachers.  I’m assuming that at least Wisconsin readers will be familiar with their names.  At least all of them have serious writing chops so their opinion will be honest and credible.

I have yet to learn where in the traditional publishing process an ARC is created and sent to readers, or how much time a reader is given and offer their publishable viewpoint.  I’m guessing that adding those quotes comes near the end just prior to the publication date. 
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The arc of my learning experience is steep. 

In today’s publishing world it doesn’t matter how you publish from self-publishing to the BIG 5 traditional publishers, the author is primarily responsible for marketing.  The publisher takes responsibility for putting the book into the distribution and stream and helping it land in a few brick and mortar stores.

In my presentations I point out that the skills needed to write a good novel and those to market a novel are radically different to the point of being mutually exclusive.  Many authors bemoan marketing and like to pretend the work is below their station in life.  I don’t agree.  I want to market my work as long as someone doesn’t want to turn me into a brand.  I’m not a box of cereal – I’m a person, I’m an author.
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About 95% of my book sales have been from direct selling.  My Amazon sales are minimal and the few I have had, I believe, are the result of conferences and book sales I have attended.  I honestly don’t have a clue on how to generate Amazon sales.  I advertised on Goodreads for a year and even gave away books but I can’t point to any sales from the effort.  I took out an ad in the Irish American News for a year and again, can’t tell if I sold a single book as a result.
I am honest enough to admit I don’t have any idea how to market a book series.  In wide, wide world of readers who will buy three books from Rex Owens?  I admit, I need help.  My solution is to seek help from a professional.  I know I will need to determine a budget for marketing services.
 So the question becomes – how much do I invest in myself?  How much am I worth?    
If there are authors reading this blog who have used professional marketing services, please email me at:  [email protected] and share your experience.

I just got up to dash off this blog and then dive back into my electric blanket warmed bed because I’ve been under the weather the past few days.  Today the idiom “under the weather” means feeling ill.  As are many things in the English language the meaning has changed dramatically.

Originally, the idiom referred to being seasick or affected by bad weather.  I don’t have a clue about how the phrase evolved to its current meaning. 
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There you have it. 

​I have already experienced several lessons about book traditional book publishing.  When I first met Kira Henschel at the Wisconsin Writers Association we were sitting at our table selling books at the conference.  She picked up each of the books, looked them over, a quizzical look slid across her face.  “These don’t look the same,” she observed.  “I thought they were a series?”
I explained that my original intent was not to write a series, however, the books evolved into a series and the publisher of Out of Darkness added a front page that said:

Also by Rex Owens
Book I of the Murphy series
Murphy’s Troubles
 
With that introduction two books became a series.  I don’t recall that front page in the proof copy but it must have been there.
Kira asked how each cover was designed and I explained the images were ones I selected and graphic artists completed the actual design.  She didn’t say more on the topic that day.
When she offered the traditional publishing contract she asked if I would be open to changing the covers to the two books.  Of course, I responded because covers are not really in my skill set.  Then in an exchange of e-mails she asked if I would be open to having Henschel Haus re-publish the books with new covers.  I agreed without hesitation.
When Kira and I met last week to sign the contract for Dead Reckoning she explained she would draft separate contracts for Murphy’s Troubles and Out of Darkness.  Her plan is to publish Dead Reckoning by March 2018 followed by the other two books.  She then asked if the size of the books could be changed – again to be consistent.  Again I agreed. 
“You know, when I first saw your books I thought they were historical romance by the way they looked.”  Her comment deflated me like a bicycle running over a rusty nail on a country road.  I explained that I would always accept her recommendations on things like book covers, size, fonts, etc. because it is clear I have no talent for such things.
This was lesson #1. 

​A week ago Kira Henschel of Henshel Haus Publishing sent me the standard contract; I found a quiet place and read every word, later re-read it and with the third reading took notes on questions I wanted to pose.
When she e-mailed the contract she indicated she wanted to meet in person to sign the document and would let me know when she would be in the Madison area.  The worry wart that I am, my reaction was to stay calm and wait because there was a message in wanting to sign a hard copy contract in person.
It was another sign that I was with the right publisher for me.  It could have been a publisher in another state and the signatures would be electronic and you would never meet the person face to face.  Kira isn’t like that.  It is clear that we are partners who look each other in the idea, discuss things, exchange ideas, compromise and make a joint decision.  Refreshing.
At Kira’s suggestion I agreed to have both Murphy’s Troubles and Out of Darkness have new covers designed, change the book size and be re-released under the Henschel Haus Publishing moniker.  She will write a separate contract for each book and that work will be done after releasing Dead Reckoning  in March 2018.
We also talked about hiring a publicist I have gotten to know through my radio program, ‘My World and Welcome to It’.  The publicist, Sharyn Alden, has years of experience and has suggested several authors she represents to be guests on my radio show.  I met with Sharyn to talk about how to market a book series.  Kira was very supportive of working with Sharyn and even has other authors she will refer to Sharyn.
Kira likes to produce audio books and told me she is always looking for talent to read.  Of course, I suggested my actor friend, Michael Herold and they have already been in contact.
Kira asked me what date I wanted on the contract October 31 or November 1.  Because I write with an Irish theme I told her the 31st is samhain a Celtic festival holiday marking the end of one year and the beginning of the next.  “Of course, we must sign on October 31, 2017.”  Kira laughed, “I’m not surprised.”
So on November 1 I mark the beginning of a new year in my writing life.  I am immersed with new partners and an ever growing network.
It just can't get any better.