| Author Persistence Pays Off Big |
Here is a story of author persistence I was sent by Claudine Wolk, author of It Gets Easier ... and Other Lies We Tell New Mothers . . . While trying to get my book published through traditional routes, I developed a relationship with an agent. She liked the book but she wasn’t willing to take me on as a client. I asked why. She told me that my platform wasn’t big enough. (I was pretty psyched that she was returning my emails at this point because her correspondence was more that I had received from any of the others in the publishing industry outside of form rejection letters) I asked what an author platform was. “Become an expert,” she said, “Get published in newspapers and magazines, create a blog following, and do some speaking engagements.” After her response, I pushed my luck with one last question and asked, “If I do all of these things, would you consider me as a client?” “You bet,” was her answer. I took this little bit of encouragement and decided that I could wait no longer for my message to get out there. I decided to create a publishing company and self-publish the book. Throughout the process, however, I took the agent’s advice. I wrote. I connected on the Internet. I booked speaking gigs. I became an expert. As my book came into being, I did one more thing, I stayed in touch with the agent. When my book cover was done, I sent her an email with the cover attached, “What do you think?” I asked. When my title was decided upon, I sent another email, “How do you like the title?” When my book was completed, I sent her a copy of the book. Finally, after I sent her an email showing my Amazon sales ranking, she finally said the words I had longed to hear, “Are you looking for representation to have this booked picked up by a publisher?” The rest is history. I’ve been with Verna Dreisbach with Dreisbach Literary Management ever since. Six months into our relationship and Ms. Dreisbach and I were signing a bona fide publishing contract with AMACOM books! My book, It Gets Easier! and Other Lies We Tell New Mothers, will be released by AMACOM in June 2009. After I had signed with her agency, I asked Verna why she had finally decided to take me on as a client. “You did everything I asked you to do,” she said. “You would be surprised how rarely that happens with authors.” This sounds like something I’ve read before by a famous book marketing guru. What’s that guy’s name? -- Besides being the author of It Gets Easier ... and Other Lies We Tell New Mothers, Claudine Wolk is also the website owner of http://www.Help4NewMoms.com and a blogger at http://help4newmoms.blogspot.com. Labels: author marketing, book marketing, book promotion, persistence |
posted by John Kremer @
8:43 PM
6 comments |
John Kremer's Ten Million Eyeballs Internet Marketing Event
6 Comments:
Thank you for sharing your story. It gives new authors such encouragement to realize what they need to do in order to have more possibility of getting picked up from a publisher. Congrats on your book --it is so exciting!
Sincerely,
Teresa Morrow
Fantastic story. Well done!
I'm wondering if I could get an agent. I already have a publisher but would love representation. I'm already writing for newspapers, twitter, facebook, maintaining and updating my site. Do you think this agent is considering submissions?
thanks for sharing your pathway to success,
Mary
http://www.marymalone.ie
If you have a real book publisher and are looking to sell additional titles, almost any agent would love to represent you.
For a list of literary agents, see http://www.bookmarket.com/orderform.htm. $30.00 for 1,400 literary agents with books they've represented. Instantly downloadable ebook in Word format.
I'm a firm believer in persistence, I believe in a modified quote from Edison (he uses Genius I use Success… “Success one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.”
Robin
www.michaelsullivan-author.com
That is a great experience! I have done most of the things you have done as well, and have taken my historical fiction novel to #1 on Amazon in the romance/historical category, FINALLY beating out Gone with the Wind. (Mine is Civil War era as well) Still don't have any bites from agents or publishers despite the success. Thanks for sharing your story!
Jessica . . . How many books did you sell to get to #1 in your category?
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