Jane Friedman's Blog: Jane Friedman, page 6

On the list: The Farmhouse by Chelsea Conradt

Bestselling, award-winning romance author Carol Ericson has written over 65 books, mostly romantic suspense for Harlequin Intrigue.

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Macmillan UK launches children’s nonfiction imprint

Rocket Fox will publish activity books and commercial nonfiction “from experts on topics that really matter to children and their families.”

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New literacy nonprofit launched by author Kwame Alexander

One Word at a Time will provide educational resources to school libraries and help connect children’s readers and authors.

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Links of Interest: August 6, 2025

The latest in marketing & promotion, trends, culture & politics, and AI.

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How a Box of Misprinted Books Became My Most Creative Marketing Tool Yet

Today’s post is by author Jen Craven.

When I opened the shipment of newly printed copies of my novel The Skiers, I was riding the high of release season. But that excitement quickly dipped when I realized a handful of books had slight printing flaws—wonky text on the chapter titles and headings.

Readable? Totally. Sellable? Meh … not really.

At first, I was disappointed (read: seriously annoyed). I didn’t want to throw them out (as an author, the idea of books in the trash is practically sacrilegious), and I didn’t love the idea of mailing them to readers as official review or giveaway copies. But I kept circling back to a simple truth: these books still worked. They still had value.

That’s when the idea hit me—if these books weren’t perfect, maybe they could still be fabulous in a different way.

The “Flawed But Fabulous” Scavenger Hunt

Instead of discarding the misprinted copies, I decided to turn them into a literary experience. Over the course of a month, I launched a local book scavenger hunt in my hometown of Meadville, Pennsylvania, hiding fifteen flawed-but-readable copies of The Skiers in public places and small businesses.

Some of my clue locations included, from left to right, a local boutique, park bench on Allegheny College campus, and outside our ice rink.

Each book included a note explaining the contest and inviting the finder to post a photo and tag me on social media. Anyone who participated was entered to win an advanced copy of my upcoming release this fall. Every location featured a clever rhyming clue (think: “Where custard swirls and cones delight, a story waits just out of sight”) posted to my social accounts to generate buzz.

The result? Far more than I expected.

The best book promo I never planned

What began as a creative workaround to a printing problem turned into one of the most meaningful—and effective—marketing efforts I’ve done in years. Within days of launching the hunt, something magical happened. People started talking. Posting. Sharing. Even those who didn’t find a copy were engaged, following the clues like they were part of a community game. Plot twist: The flaws ended up being the feature.

Here’s what I gained from the experience:

Media attention: The local newspaper picked up the story and featured it on the front page, turning a grassroots effort into a community-wide event. That publicity led to increased social engagement and new followers (Readers would DM me things like: “Ah! I think I know where this one is. I can’t get there today, but will you let me know if I’m right!?”)Local partnerships: I collaborated with bookstores, cafés, parks, and even wineries, building relationships that could benefit future events or book launches. Many were excited and thankful I chose them as one of my hiding spots.Increased visibility: With every tagged post, my book—and my brand—reached new readers, especially local followers who may not have discovered me online otherwise.Sales bump: While the goal wasn’t direct sales, I saw a modest but noticeable uptick in local purchases, and inquiries about signed copies. Of course, I always directed them to my favorite indie bookstore to encourage #shopsmall!Community engagement: Most importantly, it promoted literacy and accessibility. People who may not regularly visit bookstores were thrilled to find a free novel in the wild—no strings, no cost, just the love of reading. It brought books to readers in a fresh, unexpected way—something that’s often hard to do in an industry saturated with noise.

One of the most rewarding outcomes? My friend and fellow author Sharon M. Peterson saw what I was doing and decided to replicate it in her small Washington town. She, too, hid books and saw the same ripple effects—heightened engagement, new readers, and a whole lot of local joy. So fun! It was proof that this kind of grassroots, author-driven campaign could work beyond just one zip code.

Creative ways to use flawed or extra books

Whether you’ve got misprints, advance review copies, or simply surplus stock, there are countless ways to turn those “extra” copies into marketing gold. Here are some inventive, outside-the-box strategies to consider:

Host a town-wide scavenger hunt: Like I did! It’s fun, interactive, and builds genuine community buzz. Add riddles, photo challenges, or team play for more depth.Create a “Blind Date with a Flawed Book” display: Wrap misprinted books in brown paper and leave them in Little Free Libraries or partner businesses. Add a teaser: “Flawed on the outside. Fabulous on the inside.”Tuck them into Airbnb guest rooms: Reach out to local Airbnb hosts and offer a copy for their welcome basket. It’s unexpected, memorable, and might turn a guest into a new fan.Collaborate with a local artist: Let a local artist turn the flawed cover into a painted bookplate or altered art piece—then give it away as a one-of-a-kind collector’s edition.Donate to prison libraries or youth centers: These under-resourced communities often lack access to recreational reading materials. Imperfections are more than acceptable—and the gesture is deeply appreciated.Host a “read & release” pop-up: Invite people to take a book, read it, and leave it somewhere new for someone else. Add a sticker tracking its journey (à la BookCrossing).Use for guerrilla marketing in unexpected places: Leave a book on a train, at a laundromat, or tucked inside a shopping cart with a note: “Free book! Take me home!” Bonus if your contact info is inside. (I often do this at airports when I travel, and it’s fun knowing your book will be with a reader in a city/state it might not otherwise have reached).Run a “Find the Flaw” contest: Invite readers to identify the printing error for a chance to win a flawless copy or other prize. It’s engaging and light-hearted.Craft a book-themed photo booth at events: Use flawed books to create a stunning visual backdrop or display at signings or festivals. Readers can snap pics and tag you.Use as giveaway bonuses: Offer “flawed but fabulous” copies as a bonus to readers who preorder, review, or join your mailing list.

My books are both traditional and self-published. Because The Skiers is a self-published novel, I had full control over how to distribute the misprinted copies. Traditionally published authors may need to obtain permission from their publisher or return defective inventory, so be sure to check your contract or publisher guidelines before launching a similar campaign.

Lessons from a misprint

Authors are often told to think like marketers. But we don’t always hear that marketers should also think like creatives. This experience reminded me that not everything in publishing—or marketing—has to be polished to perfection. Sometimes, the best ideas are born out of imperfection.

If I’d tossed those flawed copies, I would’ve missed out on a powerful opportunity—not just for exposure, but for connection. I met new readers, collaborated with local businesses, and celebrated the simple joy of storytelling.

As authors, we often talk about how to get our books into readers’ hands. But sometimes, it’s about getting creative with how they find them. After all, isn’t that the heart of storytelling? Unexpected discoveries. A little mystery.

So next time you find yourself with a stack of not-quite-right books, don’t reach for the recycling bin. Instead, ask: What story can I still tell with these?

You might be surprised by how many people want to read it.

Readers Are Fascinated by Truth in Fiction—and It Matters

Photo by Aziz Acharki on Unsplash

Today’s post is by author Penny Haw.

Readers are intrigued by what is or might be true in literature. Even when authors vow that our fiction is just that—fiction!—readers interrogate us, and dissect characters, behavior, plot, and themes to find hidden elements of autobiography. There’s a sense that truth adds value to books. And, when the opposite occurs and facts are exposed as fiction—as was recently alleged in an Observer article about Raynor Winn’s memoir, The Salt Path—the weight of the work diminishes significantly.

During an event at this year’s Kingsmead Book Fair in Johannesburg, two authors were interviewed about their new fiction. Paige Nick’s novel, Book People, tells a rollicking story about the (largely but not entirely) imagined shenanigans of a Facebook book club with more than 23,000 members, which, in reality, the author founded and administers. Nick freely admits that some of the characters in the book are modeled on actual members and that, with the relevant members’ permission, she lifted several posts and comments directly from the site for her novel.

“Clearly the saying is true, you could not make this shit up…your words are better than anything I could have come up with,” writes the author in her acknowledgments in Book People.

The other author was Bonnie Espie, whose debut cozy mystery, Making a Killing, is set in a South African village very much like the one in which the author resides. Although she insists her book is fiction, Espie concedes some of her characters were inspired by real people from her village.

I was struck, during the interview and by the audience’s questions, by how utterly fascinated people were about who and what in Nick’s and Espie’s books were based on truth. Everyone wanted to know how fact and real people shaped the stories. Those members of the audience who belong to the Facebook book club asked—with what appeared to be a mix of dread and hope—if they themselves had inspired characters and events in Book People. The audience also wanted the lowdown on who among Espie’s neighbors appear in Making a Killing and seemed hungry for gossip about how they’d shaped the story.

“Who, among your characters, are real? Did you have to disguise them?”

“What, exactly, was your inspiration for the story? Who misbehaved?”

“Have people recognized themselves in your book? If so, how did they react?”

Books might be marketed as fiction, but it’s the truth and possibility thereof that intrigues people. I see this with my historical fiction. Inspired by the lives of Britain and Ireland’s first female veterinary surgeon, Aleen Cust; the wife and business partner of the inventor of the automobile Carl Benz, Bertha Benz; distinguished paleoanthropologist, Mary Leakey; and early female astronomer, Caroline Herschel, the books are fictionalized versions of real stories. The disclaimer, “A Novel” is prominent on their covers.

In my author’s notes in each book, I describe what is biographical and where I’ve added to or imagined incidents, characters, thoughts and dialogue. Still, readers inevitably ask me to confirm these claims. They want me to elaborate on the detail, particularly where this involves the challenges, misogyny, and prejudice that the women faced in reality.

“Was Aleen really disowned by her family?”

“Did Bertha’s father actually write ‘Unfortunately, only a girl again’ alongside her name in the family Bible?”

“Did Mary Leakey truly receive only two years of formal schooling?”

When I answer “yes” and reiterate and expand on what I wrote, their eyes light up and they nod. Readers are thrilled by the truth; the more inconceivable, the better. That seems certain. Why it is so, is more complicated, but there are theories.

Stories help us understand

It doesn’t matter who we are, we all want stories. They help us make sense of our experiences and a complicated world. Because we’re inquisitive, social animals, stories help us understand and connect with one another. When we recognize and relate to characters and events in stories—particularly those we believe to be true—it strengthens our social bonds and confirms we belong. There’s a kinship that inspires, informs and comforts us and, though we might not always be conscious of it or understand why, we’re all searching for truths in the world.

Stories also evoke emotions and help us understand what it might be like to be different. We want to see the truth in those stories to help us understand people who are different and have different experiences of life.

We want to be inspired

People love heroes, particularly real ones. We want to read and hear stories about how others experience life, overcome challenges and tragedy, and prevail regardless of the obstacles they face. We rejoice with them. Even where the subjects’ ambitions and experiences are nothing like our own, we want to know it’s possible to survive and succeed. If the stories are declared fiction, we want to believe they could be true because it elevates the emotion we experience. It gives us reason to celebrate.

Readers want to understand authors

When some readers ask authors what inspired a book, they want to know how it came to be written. They’re curious about whether the author is writing from experience. It’s not just that they want to believe the story; they also want to get to know and understand the creator. Even if a story is absolute fiction, readers get an understanding of the personal passions and philosophies of the author through their writing. Our stories represent who we are, what’s important to us, and things we want to share with others. That readers want to understand these things is encouraging. In fact, it’s wonderful. It’s important that readers care as much as authors.

Why authors should care

Authors are advised to write as if everything is true. Good fiction must be credible. While readers shouldn’t be duped, they must be convinced the story they’re reading could be true. If fiction is to effectively engage our imaginations and elicit the kinds of emotions that help us understand our world better, it must be possible the stories and characters could be real. Our emotional responses to stories and characters must be genuine.

If readers are moved to quiz you about the truth in your fiction, you’ve done a good job. Ideally, they’ll understand that fiction is an author’s response to reality. However, what really matters is that our stories feel true.

How authors can ensure their fiction rings trueKnow your interests, passions and key philosophies of life.Write about these things, the matters you truly care about. Passion shines in stories and is transferred to readers. Also, it brings joy to the writing process.Be inspired by real people and events. Observe and reflect upon the world, a place your readers will recognize and relate to.Explore and tap into your emotions. Recognize what moves you and how.Be brave and personal. Don’t be afraid of your struggles and personality showing up in your writing.Be yourself. Don’t pretend to be anyone or anything you aren’t. That way you don’t have to worry about keeping up pretenses.

Senators introduce AI legislation bills that don’t align with President Trump’s recent plan or comments

Following a Congressional hearing on AI, Senators Josh Hawley and Richard Blumenthal proposed the AI Accountability and Personal Data Protection Act.

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New imprint at Simon & Schuster UK: Solstice

Solstice Books will publish sci-fi/fantasy, romantasy, and horror starting in spring 2026.

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New children’s publisher: Dream Jar Publishing

Author-illustrator Angela Quezada Padron has launched Dream Jar Publishing, which will focus on diverse children’s books.

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Storysnap: AI that outlines your book

Storysnap generates a reverse outline of your book, as well a story bible, based on the manuscript you upload.

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