Here’s what I found out by perusing the coverage of this year’s BookExpo America: It’s NOT all doom and gloom in the publishing industry! If anything, people are just as excited about books as ever and that means lots of opportunities for people like us who are interested in getting more books out into the world. But success doesn’t happen by accident. There are still hurdles to overcome and the more you know about the publishing process, the easier your journey will be. Let me share with you some of the tips I got from this year’s Expo that can inform, and hopefully inspire, your process.
Taking the leap from the unknown is still possible
The New York Times highlighted the story of author Kathleen McGowan and how she was present at BookExpo last year and this year. Last year, however, Ms. McGowan and her husband had gone into debt to travel to the Expo and fought to get anyone to pay attention to her self-published novel, The Expected One. The whole experience brought her to tears. . “I was like, is there a point for us to be here?” she told the Times.
Apparently there was because months later, Ms. McGowan managed to sell her book to Touchstone Fireside, a Simon & Schuster printer, for a seven-figure advance! This year there are toasts to her at numerous parties and people line up to have her sign her book. She is a great example because she preserved when she could have easily given up in frustration. It’s also nice to know that those rags-to-riches stories can still happen. One note, though: Ms. McGowan’s book didn’t necessarily sell on its own merit alone. The author knew or soon learned that…
It helps to be tied to a big trend
Ms. McGowan’s book, The Expected One, is described as a thriller about a descendant of Mary Magdalene and Jesus. Hmm… Does that ring a bell? I’m sure it’s not a mistake that Ms. McGowan’s publishers are promoting her at the Expo at the same time that The Da Vinci Code movie is raking in big money at the box office!
This doesn’t necessarily mean that McGowan was looking to ride on Da Vinci’s coattails when she wrote her book, but when it comes time for marketing and you can connect your book to a previous success and jump on that bandwagon like she is, by all means get on board!
Not all stars get all the attention.
I thought it was interesting that, as the Times reports, less than half the seats (in a 400-seat conference room) were filled for author Mitch Albom’s presentation at the Expo. Here’s someone with a proven track record—Tuesdays with Morrie and The Five People You Meet in Heaven—so it’s not like she’s someone whose selling power has run out. I wonder if the book reps at the Expo are more focused on finding the next big thing instead of spending time with the tried and true, which they’re going to stock anyway. If that’s the case then…
It is worth attending, if you are clear about what you want!
If reps are looking for something totally new, you might be the writer they’re looking for. So consider making the investment for next year, BUT only if you have prepared your material well and know what you want to get out of the event and who you want to meet with. I’d say going to such a big convention would also justify spending the money to get the help you need to complete your book or get it in shape. You want to make your first impression the best. I’m sure McGowan did not make the decision lightly to attend last year at such great expense. Looks like she brought her A her stuff and her A her game I would say her ROI has been great!