Catch Today's Talking Book Show

Later today at 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern or 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific, I will be on The Talking Book Show with Stacy Hawkins Adams speaking about book proposals. I believe if you want to ask a question, you can call the phone number on the website. It's a podcast so I'm unsure if there is a link to listen to the program live or not. If not, notice the call is recorded and you can listen to it online or download it after the fact.

Last year Stacy and I met at the Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers Conference. It was a brief meeting over a meal where we exchanged business cards. We've kept in touch over the past twelve months and a while back, Stacy asked if she could interview me for her program. We agreed on a date and got it on our calendars. Today is that day.

There are several worthwhile points from this experience. First, are you actively showing up at writer's conferences where you can meet editors and literary agents and other active freelancers? There some terrific conferences around the country and opportunities. Many writers have introvert personalities. Most editors and agents are exactly the same. We rise to the occasion and meet people during these conferences. We exchange business cards. We answer questions and talk about the business of publishing. My encouragement is not to be reluctant or shy about these opportunities. Now you don't want to be a pushy author either and I've met a number of those folks who stand out from a negative standpoint. Seek some balance and you will be surprised at where those relationships can take you. As I've heard John Kremer, the author of 1001 Ways to Market Your Books often say, publishing is about relationships. Where are you actively working to build those relationships? It can be at a conference. It can be with an online forum or other places.

Also another key is taking that introductory meeting and building it into an on-going relationship. You will have to be patient with some of these relationships and other times a bit persistent (yet not a nuisance--again I'm a proponent for gentle balance). Opportunities are around us if we take advantage of them.

Finally while my Book Proposals That Sell has been in the market for a couple of years, I continue to look for opportunities to talk about it and promote it to new audiences. An author's responsibility in my view is not just a seasonal push on that new book when it releases, but it is an on-going effort. Not every book slams out of the gate like a bullet when it is published and bursts on a bestseller list. Some times the sales are slow and steady and that counts for as much or more than the book which was a flash then fizzled.

I hope you can catch The Talking Book Show about book proposals.