Issue One Hundred Thirty Six – Authors Publish Magazine

Increase Your Book Sales – Add Libraries to the Mix

Susan Sundwall — Thu, 10 Dec 2015 19:36:59 +0000

According to the American Library Association there are over one hundred and twenty thousand libraries in the United States. That’s a wonderful thing for a writer to know because libraries buy books. In our zeal to get our name out there by way of bookstore signings, conventions, blog tours etc., we often overlook our loyal allies in the library.

When my publisher advised their writers to submit book suggestions to libraries in their home and surrounding states, I was skeptical. I mean, how many book sales could that be? And how exactly did I go about contacting all those libraries? Silly me. Of course there was a way.

First craft a short letter about your books. Introduce yourself as the author of whatever genre you work in. Then offer a blurb about the book or books. List the ISBN numbers for your hard cover, paperback, and any other format next to your titles and mention attributes like good reviews or niche markets. With this information the librarian will have your name and titles on hand when the time comes to order new books. Direct your inquiry to the Library Director whose name should be available on the library website. Put “book suggestion” in the subject line of your email. Some libraries have a message box on their websites. Others have an e-mail address. To search for libraries nationwide go here: http://librarytechnology.org/libraries/

Offer to give a book talk. This might consist of a reading from your current work followed by a question and answer period. Work with the librarian to come up with the best program for her patrons. After your talk, you’ll be able to sell your books. This is also a good venue for participating in a larger event, with other authors, by way of a panel. My mystery writer’s group frequently participates in events with two or more authors. Working with the library staff and promoting the event with available media brings writers together with readers in a comfortable setting that not only gives name recognition, but puts the author’s face to the books being sold.

Bear in mind that you may not hit a responsive cord with every library you contact. There are many that will only take a book suggestion from members served by their branch. But the greater percentage of the time the librarian will be delighted to hear from you. One librarian I contacted, not too far from home, replied with a very enthusiastic, “Oh, we have your book already!” What a boon for a writer to hear that!

I’ve done all of the above and beyond. Some libraries, especially larger ones, allow room in their budgets to pay authors to speak. Call and ask for the library event coordinator – they’re always looking for willing and enthusiastic authors. Be upfront with your inquiry about speaker fees. If this is something they are able to do, set up a meeting to discuss details. You may be asked for a photo, a book blurb and a short bio. Have them ready for your meeting. Be aware that these will be more work than shorter book talks you may participate in, but well worth it. Such opportunities have been a boon to my bottom line. My first library book talk paid seventy-five dollars for a one hour session. Besides being loads of fun, I found new readers and sold several books. I’m looking forward to several more in 2016.

Your library loving friends and family can also aid and abet your efforts by asking their local branch to order your book for their shelves. Supply them with your business cards or book marks as a way for them to open the conversation.

If you’d like to find out more about how libraries acquire books and what authors can do, visit the American Library Association website at http://www.ala.org/tools/libfactsheets/authorfa

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Susan Sundwall is a freelance writer, blogger, speaker, and mystery author living in upstate New York. Find her latest Minnie Markwood mystery, The Super Bar Incident, at Mainly Murder Press, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and Google Books. Visit her blog at www.sundwallsays.blogspot.com

3 Anthologies Seeking Submissions

Emily Harstone — Thu, 10 Dec 2015 19:16:51 +0000

These three anthologies are all seeking submissions. The first deadline is January 4th.

great weather for MEDIA a small press based out of NYC seeks poetry, flash fiction, short stories, dramatic monologues, and creative nonfiction for their annual print anthology. Their focus is on the fearless, the unpredictable, and the experimental. The deadline is January 15, 2016. Payment is one contributor copy, plus $10 for writers based in USA. International writers receive two copies. To learn more visit their website here.

Shabda Press is seeking 1 to 3 poems on nuclear impact in the world for Nuclear Impact: Broken Atoms in Our Hands – A Poetry Anthology. Poems may be previously published with first publication acknowledgement. Poems must be submitted by February 14th, 2016. Payment is one copy of the anthology. To learn more visit their website here.

America is Not The World will be an international print and e-book collection of poetry and short fiction published by Pankhearst. Their call for submissions states “Write about your world, your way. Tell us why you’re at war with it or how you survive in it. Tell us your history, glorious as it is, or crumbled and begging for revolution. Write about home, wherever it is. We want real stories, those that aren’t interrupted by commercial breaks or campaigns. Everything is important, and everything’s allowed.” You can submit up to 5 poems or 3 short fiction pieces via email. Submissions are due by January 4th, 2016. Previously published works are allowed, if you own the rights. To learn more visit their website here.

The Bitter Oleander: Submission Guidelines (Poetry & Fiction)

Ella Peary — Thu, 10 Dec 2015 19:15:07 +0000

Since 1974, The Bitter Oleander has been publishing uncommon writing—poetry and fiction that unhinges the door of imagination. Beyond the contrivances of culture and habit, the Bitter Oleander brings readers and authors from around the world face to face with one another and their uncovered selves. Their pages host the lofty music of linguistic rhythm and the unforeseeable theatrics of deeply image-driven verse. They publish unheard of writers, often-heard writers, and all writers in-between, but they don’t publish writing we’ve all heard before—easy truisms and worn-out wording. They’re looking for honesty and invention in any form and style. To get a sense of their taste, you can read their featured work online.

The Bitter Oleander is published in print twice a year, spring and autumn. They read submissions all year, except for the month of July. Submitting writers can expect a response within about one month. Since The Bitter Oleander aims to cultivate a meaningful author-editor relationship, they personally answer all submissions.

Poets may submit up to eight poems. Fiction writers may submit one or more pieces of short fiction, 2,500 words or fewer. They also accept flash fiction, 1,000 words or fewer.

The Bitter Oleander accepts submissions online, but not via email or post. They accept simultaneous submissions, but ask that writers immediately withdraw work published elsewhere. They do not accept previously published work.

If you’d like to learn more or submit to The Bitter Oleander, please visit their website at http://www.bitteroleander.com/submission.html.

Siren Bookstrand: Book Submission Guidelines

Emily Harstone — Wed, 04 Nov 2015 23:42:34 +0000

Siren Bookstrand is a popular publisher of romance and erotica. They only publish books that end happily ever after. They publish many books every year and most authors seem happy with the work that the Siren Bookstrand editors do. They are primarily an electronic publisher, but they also have print editions.

They are most known for publishing books about menages, and they have more than one line devoted to menages. Authors who have published more than one book with them say that the menage books sell the best. So that is something to keep in mind, if you have a book that features one. They do also publish more mainstream, traditional romance novels, but as a publisher that is not what they are known for.

All of their imprints are looking for very specific things in terms of content so read all of the guidelines for the imprints very closely.

They also have very specific guidelines. Make sure to read all these guidelines closely before submitting.

They only consider work that is longer than 20,000 words in length.

To learn more, visit their website here. You can read their submission guidelines here.