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WPNews, 2023
The I Survived the Holidays Issue
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From Kathleen Kaiser, President
For writers, start the New Year on a high note by dedicating time every day to write, even just an hour, or work on promoting your current book. Again, consistency is vital to finding success.
I should know since I write this note while trying to get back into a creative space on my next book. It's much harder than I thought, and I'm letting too many distractions take away my time.
As for promoting, I must also start ramping up my social media presence. I work in this space all the time for clients, but as often happens, I've pushed things for myself aside.
So why don't we become each other's cheerleaders and a support team? I'm open to it, as nothing is more inspiring than not having to report failure!
If you are interested, please email me. We can form an informal Zoom club that meets once or twice a month to discuss problems we are having with our writing or book promoting.
Here's hoping this is a great new year for you and yours.
Kathleen Kaiser, kathleen@kathleenkaiser.com
PS: If you sell on Amazon, please read Jay Hartman's Publisher's Perspective column on WPN's Facebook page. Would love to know your thoughts and comments.
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From Sandra Murphy, Editor
Once again we’ve survived the holidays, some more easily than others. Were you asked about your writing, did you hear ‘have you written anything I would read? or was there silence and then ‘are you working yet?’ Support is sometimes elusive with friends and family. Connect with other authors who understand.
Now of course, we’re facing New Year’s Resolutions, which are always stressful. Should you make your goal attainable and stress-free or go big? I’m leaning toward attainable so I’ll have a checkmark on my list I can refer to when a day is uncooperative. It’s also encouraging when a day is going well.
Be kind to yourself and others. Try something new. Enjoy something you’ve missed. Take time to sit and daydream. We deserve it.
Wishing you a happy and prosperous New Year,
Sandy, Editor, editor@writersandpublishersnetwork.com
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Ask the Book Doctor: Chicago Style Wins Over AP Style in Books by Bobbie Christmas
Q: I am writing a non-fiction book about basketball teams, and my editor and I are confused about the use of numbers in the book. I have been going by The Chicago Manual of Style, but he is a former sportswriter and thinks the AP Style should apply.
The key Chicago rule is that numbers from zero to one hundred should be spelled out and 101 and above should be expressed in numerals. The AP Style says to spell out single digits and use numerals for double-digit numbers. The first question is which style manual applies to non-fiction books?
Here are some more specific questions:
1. We both think that all game scores should be shown in numbers, e.g. 8-5, 34-21, 97-63. 112-86. I searched the Chicago style manual in vain for an exception. Are we correct on this point?
2. The next question applies to a single score in a sentence, e.g. “Smith was the Rams’ leading scorer with eighteen points.” My editor thinks it should be expressed as “18” points, since it would follow AP style. Another example would be “The Rams scored a record thirty-two points in the third period.”
Learn More...
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Bobbie Christmas is a book editor, author of Write In Style: How to Use Your Computer to Improve Your Writing, and owner of Zebra Communications. She will answer your questions too. Send them to Bobbie@zebraeditor.com or BZebra@aol.com Read Bobbie’s Zebra Communications blog at https://www.zebraeditor.com/blog/
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The Publisher’s Perspective by Jay Hartman
Authors and publishers are hypocrites. There, I’ve said the ugly part out loud that nobody wants to admit to, but let’s face it…we all know it’s true. Myself included. For the last month, my inbox, Facebook feeds, message lists and other places are filled with people who are disgusted by what’s going on with Twitter, are horrified, and are cancelling their accounts immediately.
Meanwhile, the same people continue to sell their titles through Amazon—a company with a proven, documented history of abuse of its employees, a company that charges authors and publishers to deliver an ebook to a reader and deducts that cost from royalties. And that uses other slimy tactics.
Learn More...
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Looking to get The Publisher Perspective? Send your questions to jhartman@untreedreads.com with TPP in your subject line. If your question is used, we’ll send you a free ebook from Untreed Reads.
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It’s Never Too Late to Create Your Year-Long Book Marketing Plan by Penny Sansevieri
Do you know how long an effective book marketing strategy should take place? One year, at least. The first thirty days after the release of your book are crucial, yes, but just as crucial are the following eleven months.
Unless you’re beginning as a household name, you’re going to have a difficult time earning and maintaining a bestseller status without a detailed, ongoing marketing plan to guide you. You don’t need to be a marketing expert, but you do need to think ahead and strategize.
So, what’s in a twelve-month marketing plan for a book?
Learn More...
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Penny C. Sansevieri, founder and CEO of Author Marketing Experts, Inc., is a bestselling author and internationally recognized book marketing and media relations expert. She is an adjunct professor teaching self-publishing for NYU. Her company is one of the leaders in the publishing industry and has developed some of the most innovative Amazon Optimization programs as well as Social Media/Internet book marketing campaigns. She is the author of 18 books, including How to Sell Books by the Truckload on Amazon: Revise and Re-Release Your Book, and more. To learn more about Penny’s books or her promotional services, visit www.amarketingexpert.com
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How Do You Want to Be Published? Confused by hybrid, self-published, large publishers, small publishers, vanity presses? Take a look at Jane Friedman’s article and chart (updated regularly) to see what it all means. https://www.janefriedman.com/key-book-publishing-path/
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Bits and Pieces – News You Might Have Missed |
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What’s Next for Simon & Schuster?
Paramount Global chose not to extend the $2.175 billion sales agreement it had signed with Penguin Random House in November 2020, which was set to expire November 21. With the deal now dead, Paramount will receive a $200 million termination fee. “A healthy publishing ecosystem is one that has many publishers with different tastes, interests and degrees of risk willing to assume. The bigger any of the Big 5 are, the harder it is for the smaller and newer publishers to compete,” the Author’s Guild CEO, Mary Rasenberger said.
https://tinyurl.com/mr36v8vv
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Literary agents threaten to blacklist HarperCollins from upcoming author projects in support of striking staff
More than 150 literary agents have signed an open letter to HarperCollins vowing to “omit” the publisher from upcoming book submissions until it reaches an agreement with striking employees. Nearly 250 publicists to editorial assistants, entry- and mid-level staff, have been on strike since November 10. Wages, workforce diversity and other issues are in disagreement. No new talks are scheduled.
https://fortune.com/2022/11/29/harpercollins-staff-strike-literary-agents-support-open-letter/
Harper Collins response: https://tinyurl.com/jwzhh9n4
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By now, we’ve all heard about the Nigerian prince who wants
to send us millions because we are a good person. Now there’s the
Mexican Film Maker Scam – read all about it on Writer Beware here: https://tinyurl.com/4skaecch
And another one: sent to WPN members
SCAM ALERT from Kathleen Kaiser, WPN president
Two members have now contacted me about an email from an
agent who "found their book on the internet" and wants to sign them.
The name on the email is Eric Myers who is a legitimate agent.
However, this is a scam. Always google the agency and go to their website. NEVER follow links in the email. And never send them your manuscript!
Below is what is on the top of the Myers Literary Management website. Here is a link to the site https://myersliterary.com/
BEWARE OF PEOPLE FLATTERING YOUR EGO. THEY HAVE ANOTHER AGENDA.
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PW’s 2022 People of the Year: The Defenders
We recognize the librarians, booksellers, authors, publishers, and allies standing tall in the face of an unprecedented attack on the freedom to read.
https://tinyurl.com/nd4vmkn5
To balance the bad news libraries and teachers face, Publishers Weekly asked librarians and teachers what they enjoyed most this year. Here are surprising answers: https://tinyurl.com/2y7xmy29
In more good news, librarians are social media savvy - Social Media Mavens: How Teachers and Librarians Are Harnessing Online Platforms
https://tinyurl.com/bdh4x38c
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Singer Roberta Flack makes children's book debut with The Green Piano. Look for it January 10th. Here’s how it came about: https://tinyurl.com/546x45pm
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Jesse Myers has been named president and CEO of Baker Publishing, making him the first non-Baker family person to hold the job.
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USA Today has paused its bestseller lists through the end of the year and laid off their editor.
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From Publishers Weekly, “Penguin Random House CEO Markus Dohle has relinquished his position as publisher, “at his own request and on the best of mutual terms,” just weeks after a federal judge blocked the publisher’s attempt to acquire rival Big Five publisher Simon & Schuster. PRH president and COO Nihar Malaviya will succeed Dohle on an interim basis.”
Although the deal with Penguin Random House fell through, Paramount’s CEO says the company will still divest itself of Simon and Shuster. No details of how or when.
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Upcoming Book Fairs and Festivals for January and February
For the complete list thru October 2023, go to
https://book-publicist.com/top...
For more upcoming book events check out C-SPAN2 at: https://www.c-span.org/bookTv/ click on the Book Fairs tab. For more information about book events and book marketing visit https://www.Book-Marketing-Expert.com
January and February listings
Winter Poetry & Prose Getaway, January 13-16, 2023, Galloway, NJ. A participant-focused writers’ conference. Choose from workshops in poetry, fiction, nonfiction, memoir, songwriting and more. https://wintergetaway.com/
Sunshine State Book Festival, January 27-28, 2023, Gainesville, FL. Sunshine State Book Festival is bringing readers and writers together again for the fourth year. The 2023 festival will feature 150 authors writing in 15 genres. https://www.sunshinestatebookfestival.com/
Rancho Mirage Writers Fest, February 1–3, 2023, Rancho Mirage, CA. The Rancho Mirage Writers Festival is a world-class gathering of writers. The City of Rancho Mirage, welcomes 60 authors and 1,000 readers from around the globe to the Rancho Mirage Library and Observatory each January. https://www.rmwritersfest.org/
Literary Women Long Beach Festival of Authors, February 11, 2023, Long Beach, CA. Started in 1982, the Literary Women Festival of Authors is dedicated to helping balance the field of writers. They seek to share work that may not have the stage to do so. Proceeds go to the Long Beach Public Library to purchase books that will be featured at upcoming festivals. Any bookworm will like this spin on literary festivals. https://literarywomen.org/festival.php
Savannah Book Festival, February 16-19, 2023, Savannah, GA. The Savannah Book Festival has been around since 2008. It offers live streaming sessions with leading authors. https://www.savannahbookfestival.org/
Amelia Island Book Festival, February 18, 2023, Fernandina Beach, FL. Engage with readers in an up-close and personal way to showcase and sell your books. Multiple activities and Celebrity Author breakout presentations are designed to keep visitors engaged and circulating around exhibits throughout the day. https://www.ameliaislandbookfestival.org/author-expo
Southern Voices 2023, February 21-25, 2023, Hoover, AL. Southern Voices is a five-day festival celebrating art, music, and writing. Sponsored by the Hoover Public Library, this conference is a one-day part of the festival celebrating the written word. https://www.hooverlibrary.org/sv?sfw=pass1670037254
F.R.E.S.H. Book Festival, February 23-25, 2023, Daytona Beach, FL. F.R.E.S.H. Book Festival promotes literacy year-round. They provide students with books, host conversations with authors from around the world, and support other literacy initiatives. https://www.freshbookfestivals.net/fresh2023
Rose Glen Literary Festival, February 25, 2023, Sevierville, TN. The Sevierville Chamber of Commerce created the festival in 2010 to help local authors, giving them a chance to sell books, meet readers, and network. The event features presentations, book signings, and workshops. https://www.roseglenfestival.com/
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Submit your Willamette Writers Conference Proposal!
Willamette Writers is proud to announce our upcoming 2023 conference, which will be both in-person and virtual on August 2-6th, 2023, online and in downtown Portland, Oregon at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. Pitches and critiques will be online, August 2-3, 2023, and workshops and keynotes will be hybrid, August 5-6, 2023.
Full details are at the proposal link below. Proposals turned in before February 1st will have priority.
Submit your proposal here today: https://forms.gle/q6mRzTs3gop2XHda8
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Writers in Paradise at Eckerd College, January 14-21, 2023, St. Petersburg, FL. This conference features professional writers spending quality time with participants seeking an unhurried climate for learning. https://www.writersinparadise.com/
Colrain Poetry Manuscript Conference, January 27-30, 2023, Zoom (Virtual). Unparalleled for its rigor, thoroughness, and integrity, Colrain is the original, one-of-a-kind manuscript conference. Faculty includes nationally renowned poet-editors and publishers. http://www.colrainpoetry.com/
SCBWI New York Conference, February 10-12, 2023, New York, NY. For their first in-person conference in over two years, they’re launching a brand-new format: Creative Labs. The conference is built around an intensive workshop model, which will allow attendees to learn and form lasting community connections. https://www.scbwi.org/events/in-person-ny-winter-conference-2023/
19th annual San Francisco Writers Conference, February 16-19, 2023, Hyatt Regency, San Francisco, CA. This will be the 19th Celebration of Craft, Commerce and Community for all writers. Attendees will join with 100+ presenters and fellow writers from across the country and around the world. https://www.sfwriters.org/
Asheville Christian Writers Conference, February 24-26, 2023, Asheville, NC. The Asheville Christian Writers Conference is an opportunity to strengthen ties with one another and hone the craft of writing to spread the Word through fiction and non-fiction books, screenplays, scripts, articles, and blogs. https://ashevillechristianwritersconference.com/
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