Blogging to help the author from the publisher's perspective.
Literary Trolls
Hey! It's your girl Critical Eye, coming to you today to vent. Today's vent: Literary Trolls What's a Literary Troll? A Literary Troll is a failed writer who stalks the social networking sites looking for successful authors they can pick at and on in an effort to make thesmelves feel better, instead of feeling like the failures they are. Before I go any further, let me define a failed write...
Do You Have An Author Business Plan?
Most writers have a dream of being a New York Times Bestselling Author. Most have this dream, but it's a dream that will never come true. Why? Lack of business skills. Publishing is a business. It has assets, liabilities and deals with gains and losses. It's not a passionless business, but it's still a business none the less. Ask a non-author business owner/entrepreneur or author whose turned into...
They Will Not Come Running!
The other day, I came across a request from a writer who had written a book and was upset because no publishers had come running and begging to publish her book. They had supposedly been talking about it all over the net and even sent some publishers a letter of inquiry. No one had bit. They even tried agents and went through the same process and even they didn't bite. They were truly upset and...
Welcome Our New Contributor
As you can see, holding down a blog is never an easy task. It's been so busy over here lately with the magazine which is out now that I've barely had time to write any blogs. So I've asked for some help. I've been blessed to have gotten not just a magazine contributor but now our blog contributor.  Her name is Critical Eye. She has quite a few years in the business of publishing and knows her stu...
To our existing clients
On behalf of the Z Group, I want to begin by thanking you for entrusting your business with us.  Whether you are a design client, branding client or an aspiring author, it is our pleasure to be doing business with you.  I wish I could be writing this letter in a time of joy, but sadly I am not.  I am writing to apologize for any discomfort and uneasiness your may feel or have felt as a result o...

ZLS Publishing Awarded Business of the Month

ZLS Publishing is proud to announce that they have been named-Business of the Month by the writers magazine-From A Writers Point of View. To read the article and find out more about this writers magazine click here:
http://http://fromawriterspovmagazine.com/issue/january-2010/article/business-owner-of-the-month

Yes!

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Bad Book Marketing-Too Little, Too Late!

Posted By: ZLS on September 7, 2009 in Publishing, Twitter, book Marketing - Comments: 5 Comments »

Lately, I’ve been seeing blog posts where writers are announcing that their book has just come out.  They then go on to give an excerpt as to what the book is about.  Whiel, this is okay, let’s not forget that some authors wait until after the book is done to announce it.  For some, this is too little, too late. 
Let’s review why:
When you wait until the very last minute to announce that you’ve written a book, you’ll find more chances than not that most people won’t care.  Plenty of people write books and plenty more are published each year.  The key is to market the book while you’re writing it.
How do you do that?
Tease your audience with Chapter excerpts, although I prefer the term-Chapter Previews. The last time I went to the movies, I spent 10 minutes watching previews, a few of those being movies that aren’t coming out until next year.  The preview was so good that I can’t wait until they come out.  The only problem? I need to keep coming to the movies to see the preview in order to remember those great movies. There’s no difference in book marketing.
In order for your book sales to do well, people have to remember you and be enticed by what you have to offer. You have to get your potential buyers to care, to follow, to remember, to need. If you wait until the last minute to do that, then you’ve waited too late. The truth is that when you tease people with your book, before the book comes out, they feel a bit special and honored and are more likely to buy your book because they’ve been made to feel like a part of the process. Waiting until after the book is published feels like a sales pitch, and nobody cares for a sales pitch.
Take a que from the movies industry and other famous authors. They don’t wait until the last minute to announce a new book. With online resources such as Twitter, Myspace, Facebook, Ning, Linkedin, Gather, etc., there is no reason to wait until the last minute to discuss your book. I mean you can, but just remember: Sometimes, it’s too little, too late!
Until tomorrow!
ZLS Publishing
www.zlspublishing.com

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Book Marketing Package of the Month

Posted By: ZLS on September 4, 2009 in Customized Book Marketing Material, Publishing, Twitter, book Marketing, newsletters - Comments: 16 Comments »

It’s September, which also means it’s my birthday! To celebrate my birthday, I am giving away the following specials:

Basic Book Cover Review Package:

  • Your book cover reviewed by a focus group of book buyers within one week.
  • Professional suggestions as well as focus group suggestions on how to improve your book cover.
  • 2 recommendations on book cover artist.
  • Attention email sent out to newsletter subscribers, telling them to watch out for your book (Over 4,000 subscribers)
  •  

    September Price: $25   

Platinum Book Cover Review Package

  • Your book cover reviewed by a focus group of book buyers within one week.
  • Your book excerpt reviewed and a suggested example for you to use if necessary.
  • Professional suggestions as well as focus group suggestions on how to improve your book cover.
  • 3 recommendations on book cover artist.
  • Attention email sent out to newsletter subscribers, telling them to watch out for your book (Over 4,000 subscribers)

September Price-$40    

Basic Book Review Package

  • Basic cover review within one week.
  • Book review completed within one week after receipt
  • Newsletter alert, Twitter alert, Blog Alert
  • Tear Sheet provided in PDF form.
  • Review posted on any online platform author requests-Amazon, Barnes and Nobles, etc.

September Price-$59

Platinum Book Marketing Package

  • Basic cover review within one week.
  • Book review completed within one week after receipt-Author and their book will be the book to read of the week.
  • Book featured in the following: Twitter, Gather, Myspace, Facebook, Blog, Newsletter, Website, BlackPlanet, LinkedIn, Ning
  • Press Release written and distributed
  • Tear Sheet provided in PDF form.
  • Author interview.
  • Review posted on any online platform author requests: Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, etc.

September Price: $85

Writers who sign up for our newsletter and choose the Platinum Book Marketing Package get 10% off.  We will email you your coupon code. 

Current newsletter subscribers get 10% off, we will also email you your coupon code.  

Pay right on our website-Go to Pay here and click in the price you have been emailed, if you are a subscriber.  If you are not a subscriber, then just go to: Marketing Services for Book Reviews, Graphic Services for Basic and Platinum Book Cover Review Packages.

Email your book covers to:

Mail your books to: ZLS Publishing, Book Reviews-255 Orange Street, Suite 207, Albany, NY 12208

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How attitude helps or hinders a publishing deal!

Posted By: ZLS on August 7, 2009 in Publishing, Twitter, book Marketing - Comments: 2 Comments »

I just ended a client relationship the other day because the client was obnoxious, cocky, self absorbed, etc. Their attitude is unfortunate because they are talented but because they think someone owes them something, they were too difficult to work with.
Which brings me to the central point of this blog: Your attitude matters. If you’ve followed my blogs, you know that a pet peeve of mine is a bad attitude. A good attitude will get you further than a bad one. Approaching a publishing executive or just a business owner with the attitude you can do better than them, are better than them or that they should kiss your behind because you got some idea that you think is the best idea since sliced bread, will get you no further than you were before you entered their office or rang their phone.
Attitude matters.
No one owes you anything and no one is going to kiss your behind. It is not that serious! A publisher has overhead, bills, etc. The last thing they need is the stress of working with someone they deem as difficult because in the business world, difficulty equals lack of money and no publisher is going to deal with anyone whose going to affect putting money in their pocket.
The Publisher does not work for you. You don’t pay them, they pay you. They are an employer who takes a percentage of what you earn, keeps it and gives you the rest. The part they give to Amazon, B&N, is like paying taxes to the government. They invest their time, energy and money into you. This is what an employer does.
Attitude matters.
Remember, there is someone better than you, more talented than you. The difference between them getting a contract or a deal and you is the attitude. Whether you write, sing, shout or talk on the phone, your attitude shows. Be mindful of that as it makes all the difference.
Signing Out,
Lady Z

Follow us on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/zlspublishing

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ZLS on Twitter

Posted By: ZLS on July 11, 2009 in Twitter, welcome - Comments: 1 Comment »

We are now on Twitter. Follow us, let us follow you!

http://twitter.com/zlspublishing

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