The Front and Back of books

[P.D.R.]

I thought I was doing well with my book design and presentation then I was hit by really good articles at Indiesunlimited.com - now there's a place full of useful indie information for all Indies. Excellent stock of resources and kind people. - The articles were about what to put at the front and back of our books.

Ah ha! I thought.

Then last weekend I 'attended', via computer, the London Book Fair's Indie Fringe festival:
http://selfpublishingadvice.org/alli-...
and realised how much I was failing to do with the presentation and the back of my books.
Listen to 'How To Position Your Book For Success Right From The Start' Kathy Meis and 'Improve Your Book Descriptions and Audience Targeting' Jane Friedman

Do go and check out all the details at both sources but have a think. Do ebook readers need a blank title page? Could the contents become hooks with lively headings like Chapter One. Whose body is it? Could we get a different blurb and a few review snippets up there instead of blank space and hook more readers to buy?

What about the back pages? How about adding reading groups questions? What about a thank for reading this novel and would you write a review request? Is your About the Author snappy and yet personal? Do you have all the links to your other books?

And take note of those ten things to do to present your novel successfully. The analysis of the best sellers in your genre really opened my eyes as did the cover analysis.

Have a think and see if the ideas presented make sense. They have made me take a good look at my book presentation and hopefully improve it.

[Anna]

Diamonds. Pure diamonds. Thank you, P.D.R.

But where are the 'ten things to do to present your novel successfully' and the analysis. I couldn't find them. (Possibly 'cos I'm thick.)

[Carole]

Great site. A lot of useful information by people who know. Thanks P.D.R.

[P.D.R.]

Oops! Sorry Anna.

Listen to 'How To Position Your Book For Success Right From The Start' Kathy Meis at the blog Self publishing advice. I think it's moved to page two now, maybe three but her very long talk is full of stuff you want to use. You'll need to listen and take lots of notes several times before you take on board what she's said.

[J.B.]

Great info! Thanks!

[P.D.R.]

The information was just so mind blowing for me as I knew about various things to do but did not know how to do them all, find the time to do them all or frame my writer's only mind to stop saying "Ug! Yukky pushy sales stuff." Once I could understand how simple the tasks are and how they helped put my books in a better position for sales I realised that the time spent was valuable not pushy!

[Carole]

Everything you do is a learning experience and the more you do it- the easier it gets.

[Sandy]

I wish there was a written version for those of us who are hearing impaired. It has close captioning, but by the time I've translated what's on the screen, I'm several minutes behind and it only gets worse as the video plays. Try watching a video like this with the close captioning on and you'll see what I mean. It's wonderful when it works, and you're a fast reader, but there are times it devolves into nonsense.

[P.D.R.]

True, Carole, and in the hope of learning more here's an advanced notice for the next Indie Fringe. Will put your suggestion forward Sandy. They might be able to do a PDF which you can download.

BOOKEXPO INDIE AUTHOR FRINGE. ONLINE EVENT, GLOBAL
• Cost: Free
• Date: Saturday June 3rd
Our next Indie Author Fringe event will focus on providing the kind of author education that will be lacking at BookExpo. Our focus will be Selling Your Book & Reaching Readers (book marketing and promotion).

[Sandy]

P.D.R. wrote: "True, Carole, and in the hope of learning more here's an advanced notice for the next Indie Fringe. Will put your suggestion forward Sandy. They might be able to do a PDF which you can download.

B..."

Thank you.

[Carole]

Good information. Thanks PDR

[P.D.R.]

Cheers! Have a great weekend everyone.

[Carole]

You too!