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Author: Stan Shinn (Page 103 of 111)

Young Adult Novels: Day 3

May 5, 2005 /

The New Trend

Some CBA publishers have dabbled in the YA marketplace, and not done well economically. When you sell a book for only $4.99 it’s a challenge to make money from it.

More recently books geared for older youths are selling in trade format in the $12 range. They run 300 pages or more, and cater to the same kids who gobbled up Harry Potter and Tolkien. Witness the success of Bryan Davis’ Dragons In Our Midst series, and Donita K. Paul’s Dragonspell series, both of which launched in the CBA market, but have now crossed over to selling on the shelves of Wal*Mart.

Some have called these types of fiction crossover fiction in that the fiction transcends the YA audience to appeal to older youth and adults alike.

If you’re writing to sell, take note of this trend!

Young Adult Novels: Day 2

May 4, 2005 /

The Economics of Trade vs. MM Formats

Consider the economics of book publishing, particularly in the CBA (Christian Booksellers) marketplace.

Fiction books are typically published in either hardback, trade paperback (5″x8″ to 6”x9”) or mass-market paperback (4″x7″) formats. When was the last time you saw a CBA fiction book in a mass-market paperback format? [Tip: some refer to these formats with the abbreviations ‘HC’ (hard cover), ‘Trade’ (trade paperback), and ‘MM’ (mass-market paperback)].

Why do CBA publishing houses avoid this size?

Economics. The CBA marketplace is a bit different than the books you see at the grocery store or other market outlets. CBA booksellers cater to a niche market, and customers will buy a trade paperback as readily as a mass-market paperback. The trade paperback may command $12 while a mass-market paperback sells for no more than $8.

Do the math. You can see which will make the publisher more money.

Young Adult Novels: Day 1

May 3, 2005 /

Young Adult (YA) novels don’t look like YA books anymore. Walk into any bookstore and you’ll see the books becoming bigger, thicker, and with beautiful covers.

The marketplace for Young Adult books is changing. Two reasons:

1) Harry Potter & Tolkien Books
2) The Economics of Trade vs. MM Formats

Harry Potter & Tolkien Books

First let’s think about the Harry Potter effect. Prior to H.K. Rowling’s blockbuster success with the Harry Potter series, conventional wisdom was that young adults wouldn’t read books over 200 pages. Harry Potter books are thick, almost Bible-like in size.

Now things have changed. Youngsters have voted with their pocketbooks to purchase books in the 300 to 400 page range. The Lord Of The Rings movies then rode on the coattails of Harry Potter to sell 400-500 pages books to a YA audience.

To be fair, this is really a change in the older YA marketplace. The 10 to 15 year old crowd has blossomed into a distinct buying group whose demand publishers are now rushing to fill.

Tomorrow we’ll talk about the way economics is shaping the market.

Christian Chick Lit Builds Community on the Web

April 28, 2005 /

Christian chick lit, recently featured on the Today Show and described by Steeple Hill Executive Editor Joan Marlow Golan as novels for modern Christian women who wonder,”How do I live authentically in the kind of world we live in?,” continues to grow in popularity. In response to the genre’s growing readership, the authors of Steeple Hill Cafe, launched Faithchick.com, a blog community that’s welcomed over a thousand visitors since it’s launch in late March.

Veteran authors like Lori Copeland, Annie Jones, Kathryn Springer and Lynn Bulock add depth to the blog mix of newer authors like Marilynn Griffith, an African American home educator, Rachel Hauck, a youth pastor’s wife and Susan May Warren, a former missionary to Russia.

Griffith, whose first novel debuts with Steeple Hill in 2006, put together the blog with the help of her husband.

Griffith said:

Faithchick.com gives Steeple Café readers a chance to get to know our authors better and have a little fun doing so.

And there is fun indeed, with entries like “Hallelujahs on a Harley” and a recent “Living With the Top Down” contest with a Barbie convertible prize. The blog reaches the inner chick of all readers, especially the fifty percent of American women who attend church each week, according to the Barna Group.

The “Are You a Faithchick?” poll is another popular post, allowing readers to earn petals if they “own a cool devotional Bible but can’t remember the date” or “own one or more WOW worship CDs…and a karaoke machine.”

Creating Promotional Pieces that Sell Books

April 27, 2005 /

Most authors write because they want someone to read what they have to say. But what do you do once you’ve fleshed out all of your ideas and written your book? How do you get it into your readers’ hands?

Aspiring authors need to understand the importance of book promotion and how to successfully market your book.

Former media professional and Master Writing Coach™ Dawn Josephson reveals the secrets to successful book promotion in her book Putting It On Paper: The Ground Rules for Creating Promotional Pieces that Sell Books (Ground Rules Press, $19.95, ISBN 0-9744966-1-8). She states:

The first step in book marketing is to create a press kit, or media kit, for your book. While each kit will vary in complexity depending on the book’s subject matter, the overall goal is to highlight what your book is about, why your message is important, who you are as an author, how you will help your readers, and how you’re marketing your book.

Josephson has interviewed buyers from major bookstore chains, distribution houses, and top book reviewers, so she knows what decision makers want to see in a book press kit. To help authors, Josephson details how to create each piece of the book press kit according to the decision makers’ guidelines so it gets a favorable response. She also includes examples of powerful and effective promotional materials that have helped authors propel their book sales.

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