One on One with author Charles S. Weinblatt

Charles S. Weinblatt

We’re back with author Charles S. Weinblatt, author of the children’s book Runaway Ducks, the historical love story Jacob’s Courage: A Holocaust Love Story and the science fiction novel Lost & Found, as well as Job Seeking Skills for Students and Book Marketing 101. (Click here to read Part One.)

For more about Charles and his books, visit his author page, his Smashwords page and his Facebook fan page for Jacob’s Courage. You can also watch the incredible moving and compelling trailer for Jacob’s Courage on YouTube and follow him on Twitter (@Chuck_Weinblatt).

Jacob’s Courage

What marketing strategies have you used to promote your book?
I believe that marketing must begin with compelling reviews from the most persuasive sources in the genre. Publishers and literary agents can help with this. Unfortunately, novice authors typically lack agents and big publishers. Sol I tried to learn what they do to market and see if I might be able to do some of it on my own.

For virtually all novice authors, especially for fiction, the author platform is where we begin. Your platform consists of all of your successes, including writing awards, degrees, successful books, published articles, major interviews, newspaper and magazine articles, TV and radio appearances, etc.

I marketed with web sites, blogs, a video trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHqowym6wyU), a video teaser ad, press releases, public speaking, media interviews, newspaper and magazine articles, Facebook and Goodreads fan pages and all other social network marketing (Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, Ziggs, Yahoo, LinkedIn, Multiply, etc.).

I purchased a Facebook ad and created a Facebook fan page for Jacob’s Courage. I also wrote many published articles at TRCB and Ezine. I am a contributing journalist for The Examiner and reviewer for The New York Journal of Books. All of these efforts enhance an author platform. When a publisher or literary agent decides to Google your name, you want plenty of pages of positive, writing-related topics to appear.

My publishers have engaged in e-mail and fax blasts, catalog marketing and representation at key international book fairs, conferences and conventions. My publishers also handle warehousing, global distribution, stocking, restocking and sales.

Marketing is an endless task, even if you have a trade publisher. As long as your book is in print and for sale, you will need to devote at least 10-15 hours per week to marketing. If you’re on a limited marketing budget, forget about Facebook ads and focus on creating a terrific trailer. Post it everywhere; not just on You Tube. I fabricated a 30-second video teaser ad for FREE at Animoto. This might not be a full two-minute video trailer, but it generates interest and it cost nothing but two hours of my time to complete using my own pictures and music. I also created an author web site on Wix.

Being interviewed by publishing-related blog owners (like this one) can help a great deal. Here are just a few of my recent interviews:

BookBuzzr: http://tiny.cc/377uk
Jewish Literary Review Interview: http://tiny.cc/mnxga
Wandering Educators: http://tiny.cc/f7bsv
Joey Pinkney Interview: http://tiny.cc/3k4wp
Mike Angley: http://childfinder.us/?p=2567
Morgen Bailey: http://tiny.cc/dgmkq
Paper Dragon: http://paperdragonink.com/?p=1842
Toledo Blade: http://tiny.cc/ce2fa
Toledo Free Press November 2010: http://tiny.cc/vd09m
Book Promotion: http://www.valeriebowen.com/book-promotions.html
Friday Author Interview Series: http://tiny.cc/44qn9
Thoughtful Reflections: http://tiny.cc/d85wx
Cobwebs of the Mind: http://tiny.cc/wdgubw
Paper-blog: http://tiny.cc/74w5f
Book Marketing BuzzBlog: http://tiny.cc/vsw5fw

Ask them for an interview! What’s the worst that can happen?

Blogging and appearing on other’s blogs can help. And you can do this without spending a dime. I used BlogSpot (free) for presenting a detailed synopsis of Jacob’s Courage. For my free landing page, I used WordPress. Your landing page is not just for presenting information about your book. It is used to count and track visitors, entice them to become engaged, to stimulate conversation about the topic and to determine which sites led them to your page (referrers). In other words, select your landing site with analytics in mind.

Much more of this is at my writing and publishing blog. My inexpensive e-book ($1.99), Book Marketing 101, offers step by step directions for how to effectively promote your book (Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, iTunes, etc.).

Are there aspects of the writing or publishing business that you have found particularly challenging or difficult?
My biggest challenge is creating the time that I require to write. I spend a great deal of time reading and reviewing books for The NY Journal and sometimes as a favor for a friend. I spend so much time reading e-mail messages and corresponding that the day seems over and I haven’t written a word. Eliminating distractions and carving out time to write every day is critical and I’m still working in it.

It took years to learn how to write a good publishing proposal and agent query. I won’t say that I enjoyed it, but I’m glad that I learned how to accomplish it.

Any interesting stories from book signing events? From media interviews?
I’ve done some public speaking, primarily for my Holocaust novel. And I’ve been fortunate to have many terrific interviews with newspapers, magazines and Internet personalities. One memory that sticks is an interview with the editor of The Toledo Free Press. He described my novel as, “The Forrest Gump of the Holocaust, because young lovers walk through real historical events.” That comment struck me as very appropriate.

If you had to do media events to promote a book, did you find it harder than you expected?
Thankfully, my university career placed me in front of TV news cameras more than 40 times, including several appearances on live TV news. This prepared me well for public speaking related to my writing career. Like riding a bike, the more you do in this arena, the better you’ll become. Never turn down a media opportunity. Never doubt the power of media appearances. They can translate into thousands of sales.

Based on your own experience, what tips do you have for authors who are preparing for their “maiden voyage” on the sea of publication?
If you feel uncomfortable about your skill level, or if you have been rejected repeatedly by publishers, take courses in writing or find a good mentor. NEVER edit your own book. You’ll never be able to step far enough away to see it all. And, NEVER discount the value of a talented editor. If you self-publish, this will be your most crucial investment. Do not skimp on editing costs.

The more that you understand about character development, dialog, narrative, description, context, metaphor, flow and timing, the better your books will become. This can be accomplished in local classrooms, in conferences and workshops, by attending conventions, by reading books on the subject and through computer or Internet-delivered courses. Many universities, community colleges adult education centers offer writing courses.

I also recommend a large dose of patience. It can take several books for an author to reach her optimal skill level. It can take years to create a single new book. Then, it can take months to have it professionally edited. It could require several more weeks to create a proposal that you can be proud to tender to an agent or a publisher. While you’re being patient, read, read and then, read some more. You’ll acquire the best skills of each author.

If you believe that you have the talent that readers and publishers desire, learn how to create a winning publishing proposal. The same applies to being represented by a literary agent. The odds are against you; but it is possible. I never really thought it would happen for me. But I took time to understand the process. You might need to contact dozens or even hundreds of small independent publishers and literary agents.

Never mail the manuscript to publishers. Always read the publisher’s web site very carefully, particularly the section called, “submission.” Creating a winning publishing proposal is the central piece of this puzzle. Unless you’re already a celebrity, you will need to convince a publisher to spend a few thousand dollars on your book. Publishers don’t dole out that kind of money out of the kindness of their heart. One must have talent and a marketable book that’s better than your competition.

A captivating publishing proposal will devote at least one section each to: sales attributes, marketability, a biography, synopsis, market analysis, competitive analysis, chapter outline and marketing strategies. The publisher will also expect a writing sample, often the first three chapters. This winning proposal can take very long to fabricate and can easily stretch to 50 or more pages. If you simply send the entire manuscript electronically or by mail, it will almost certainly be rejected.

Try to also include a demographic analysis of your target audience and a very detailed and sound competitive analysis, including meticulous summaries of the best books of similar content within the genre. Compare and contrast your book with those successful books. Include relevant details, such as current Amazon sales rankings and review data.

Once you have a good proposal, be willing to send it to dozens or even hundreds of agents and publishers. Unless you’re a celebrity, forget about Random House or Harper Collins. The big publishing houses will not even glace at your fine-tuned proposal. Instead, focus on the thousands of small independent publishers around the world.

I had to proffer almost a hundred proposals to publishers in order to generate four sold contract offers for Jacob’s Courage excluding subsidy (vanity) publishers. This took several months. The last offer turned out to be the best one (again… patience).

Most importantly, research each publisher carefully and adhere to every rule of their submission guidelines. With the vast volume of incoming unsolicited proposals, publishers can and do delete proposals that do not follow all directions completely. Never accept the first contract offer unless it’s the best one. Beware of scam publishers. If an unknown publisher offers you a quick contract, check with Writer Beware (http://www.sfwa.org/other-resources/for-authors/writer-beware/) and with Predators & Editors (http://pred-ed.com/).

It can be tempting to self-publish. I’ve done it twice. For everything, there is a season. If you write non-fiction, and especially when you can sell plenty of books on your own, self-publishing might be the best decision. It can also be useful to test market a book. It’s fast, easy, and you will control all aspects of the process. You interview and hire your own editor, graphic artist, printer, etc. You purchase the ISBN and create global distribution contracts.

Many writers can sell books through their occupation, as a consultant, as a public speaker or through seminars. Such authors should give strong consideration to self-publishing. I could sell copies of my job seeking skills book with my consulting fees. The same book became required reading for graduate students at my university. This is a perfect example of why people should SP. Why share the profit if you don’t have to?

However, if you write fiction, and especially if you need to develop a successful author platform, consider the value of traditional publishing. They are still the gold seal of approval for quality fiction authors. A trade publisher will have a talented professional staff ready to make your book perfect, including editors, graphic designers and printers.

Most importantly, trade publishers have inroads to the most influential review sources. These publishers will represent your book at global book fairs, conventions and conferences and via extensive global marketing. Remember that trade publishers only earn a profit from sold books. They will typically do whatever is necessary to distribute, to market, publicize and promote your book.

The simple fact that your book was selected for trade-publishing can be the most important factor for a fiction author who needs to create or enhance a significant author platform. And, they will throw thousands of dollars into your book’ success while paying you an advance. Just be certain that you have a positive author platform before contacting a trade-publisher.

Of course, being trade published is not a decision. You must win the publisher over. And publishers receive hundreds of submissions each week; many will be just as promising as yours if not better. The odds are not good. You must motivate the publisher with your talent and your book must be marketable. If you cannot demonstrate why tens of thousands of readers are likely to purchase your book, you won’t be trade-published.

No one would buy a book by Charles Dickens if the topic was how to drink a glass of water. The submission proposal to a publisher and the query letter to a literary agent must contain sound logic. Finally, never stop writing. We learn by doing. Like any other talent, you will become a better author as you continue to write.

I do not recommend vanity publishing, unless you’re certain that you don’t care at all about sales. It’s expensive and very unreliable for sales. Some memoir authors are better served with a vanity publisher, since they only write the book for their progeny. Vanity publishers (publishers who charge the author a fee) will do nothing to distribute or sell your book. Once they have your money, you will be dropped like a hot coal. You’ll have a nice book with your name on it for the coffee table. That’s it. If a publisher asks you for money, then it is NOT a trade-publisher. It is a vanity publisher. Caveat Emptor! (I cover all of this and more at my writing and publishing blog here: http://cweinblatt.wordpress.com.)

What was your favorite childhood book? Is there one that, now as an adult, you read again?
As a child, I loved reading Jules Verne. As teenager, I appreciate the screenplays of Rod Serling and Ian Fleming. As a young adult, I loved the novels of James Michener. In middle age, I purchased Tom Clancy. I can re-read all of them now and still enjoy them, especially, The Source, by Michener.

What type of books do you prefer: non-fiction, fiction, essays, poetry?
I prefer science fiction and horror fiction. But I also love reading historical fiction. I also read non-fiction, and I particularly prefer history.

What book are you reading now?
Boxer’s Story by Nathan Shapow. Remember, I am a reviewer for The New York Journal of Books. They send me many pre-published books related to Judaism, the Holocaust and historical fiction.

I’m currently swamped with review requests. It seems that a lot of novice authors have found me via Goodreads, Facebook or some other social networking site. I know how important it is to them to obtain a persuasive review. I wish that I had the time to help them. Perhaps one day…?

What book—or author—do you find yourself reading again?
The New York Journal of Books has given me the opportunity to review a number of Elie Wiesel book, prior to publication. I consider this a tremendous honor and a delightful opportunity. I can read almost any of Wiesel’s books again and enjoy it nearly as much as the first time. I’ve felt the same way about James Michener. I can read almost any of his books and enjoy it tremendously.

Which three authors would you love to have a “One on One” with?
James Michener, Edgar Allen Poe and Elie Wiesel.

Who has inspired you — either at a personal level or as a writer?
My father was a psychiatrist and a neurologist. He served as a psychiatrist in Africa and Italy in WWII in the Army Medical Corps. He was a star college football player and he was the best parent imaginable. We were as close as two people can become. He was the best role model, with a perfect sense of ethical behavior and morality. In our 26 years together, I never heard him use a swear word or deprecate anyone. He had a heart of gold. I’ve never met anyone as intelligent, wise, gentle or humane.

What’s the worst advice anyone gave you about being a writer? What’s the best?
The worst advice came from people telling me to use a subsidy publisher or to self-publish. The best advice came from people who told me to be patient, continue to write and create a positive author platform. It can take years to create such a platform. I the end, it will help you acquire agents and publishers.

How do you define success as a writer? What makes you feel successful as a writer?
I only desired to be published traditionally. That has now occurred three times; so my dreams as a writer have already been accomplished. Whenever I see my book cover or my name in a store, on-line, or elsewhere, I feel proud.

Conversely, what makes you feel like a failure, and how do you combat that?
Since I only wanted to be trade-published, and it has happened three times, I’m very fortunate. I can’t honestly say that I feel like a failure as an author. Then again, my expectations were pretty low! Conversely, I feel that I have opportunities that I never imagined. To become a better author, I need to continue to read and adopt other author’s skills. I need to become more adept with dialog. I tend to over-write at times, making the manuscript repetitive. I still have a lot to learn.

What is your idea of a perfect writing day?
A “perfect writing day” is one in which I am not overwhelmed with reading and reviewing responsibilities, a day in which I can get through my e-mail in an hour and then spend the rest of the day writing. I’m still working on this.

What advice do you have for other writers who are contemplating pursuing a writing career?
If you feel uncomfortable about your skill level, or if you have been rejected repeatedly by publishers, take courses in writing or find a good mentor. The more that you understand about character development, dialog, narrative, description, context, metaphor, flow and timing, the better your books will become. This can be accomplished in local classrooms, in conferences and workshops, by attending writing and publishing conventions, by reading books on the subject and through computer or Internet-delivered courses. Many universities, community colleges and adult education centers offer writing courses.

What do you want your writer’s epitaph to be?
“He was an entertaining author.”

My thanks to Charles for being part of One on One: Insights Into the Writer’s Life!

The post One on One with author Charles S. Weinblatt – Part Two appeared first on One on One.