A lot to be learned from J.K. Rowling initial failure

[Larry]

Rowling book initially bombs


This is yet another example of a "name" author being considered a sure bet in which the "name" publishing houses seek to keep tight control of the industry. In my EPEE Award-Finalist book, "Self-Promotion for Authors" in my first chapter I wrote: "Earlier I asked if 500 books really is your sales goal? Assuming a cover price of $10 and assuming your contract calls for a 15-percent commission, you’ll only make $750. Therefore, you have to sell a whole lot more than 500 books. Trying to do it the way most first-time authors do, with one-on-one contacts, is impossible. There aren’t enough hours in the day. Therefore, you have to do what professional publicists do. You have to get your message out there to as many people as possible. You have to run a professional-style publicity program on a beggar’s budget."

Interestingly, Rowling verified my earlier research and the importance of "brand" when selling books. At least one publisher turned her nom-de-plume book down as being well written by with nothing outstanding to make it publishable/salable. As the best-selling author in the last Century even she was unable to produce an anonymous winner.

The obverse side of the coin is that her subsequent marketing ploy forever demonstrated the importance of book branding but also demonstrated the old saying "nothing succeeds like success." Without her name attached to the book, Rowling was unable to rise above a field packed with good writers, beginning authors and the wannabees that drag down the industry.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/bo...