by Scott Lorenz | Author Advice, Author Spotlight, Book Marketing, Book Promotion, Books to Read, Interviews, Radio, Social Media, Television
#1 Bestseller on Amazon in 25 Categories & 4 Countries
By Scott Lorenz
Westwind Communications
Media trainer and esteemed “media guru” Jess Todtfeld recently launched his new book, Media Secrets: A Media Training Crash Course. The book shows readers how to earn press coverage, ace interviews and personally gain the most from media interviews.
Media Secrets taps into Jess Todtfeld’s former career as a producer for CBS, NBC and FOX to reveal how you can make the most of your time in the media spotlight. Jess was a former producer on FOX & Friends where we met a few years ago. Utilizing his unique grasp on the industry, Jess Todtfeld exposes how the media industry operates and how you can use that to your advantage.
Use Sound Bites. Todtfeld says the best interviews include succinct quotes or “sound bites” that the media can extract and then publish from entire dialogue. Here are some ways to frame your most important points during an interview to increase media pick up:
- Express Emotion
- Speak in Absolutes
- Use Action Words
- Use Clichés
- Use Analogies
- Use Humor
- Include Facts and Examples
- Make Predictions
- Ask Rhetorical Questions
“The media especially likes predictions,” says Todtfeld, “It takes the heat off them and it’s interesting to hear what you think could play out. In the future, if they figure out whether or not your prediction came true, they may choose to bring you back on.”
“Give some of your best answers early in the interview,” says Todtfeld, “Especially if it’s taped or recorded, because they may only use your answers from that first part of the interview.”
Media Secrets: A Media Training Crash Course is available in both eBook and hard copy. Visit https://www.amazon.com/Media-Secrets-Publicity-Interviews-Strategies-ebook/dp/B01LWBVJZO and watch the video and bonus links with tips to “Get on Good Morning America.”
The Bottom Line: If you are serious about maximizing your media exposure and every media opportunity, then buy this book. You owe it to yourself to learn from a top media pro how to optimize each interview, so it converts to sales, web traffic or other opportunities.
Book publicist Scott Lorenz is President of Westwind Communications, a public relations and marketing firm that has a special knack for working with authors to help them get all the publicity they deserve and more. Lorenz works with bestselling authors and self-published authors promoting all types of books, whether it’s their first book or their 15th book. He’s handled publicity for books by CEOs, CIA Officers, Navy SEALS, Homemakers, Fitness Gurus, Doctors, Lawyers and Adventurers. His clients have been featured by Good Morning America, FOX & Friends, CNN, ABC News, New York Times, Nightline, TIME, PBS, LA Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Woman’s World, & Howard Stern to name a few.
Learn more about Westwind Communications’ book marketing approach at https://WestwindBookMarketing.com or contact Lorenz at scottlorenz@westwindcos.com or 734-667-2090 or fill out the form below. Follow Lorenz on Twitter @aBookPublicist. Want help titling a book? Check out Scott Lorenz’s new award winning, bestselling book: Book Title Generator- A Proven System in Naming Your Book www.BookTitleGenerator.net.
Would you like help promoting your book?
If so, tell us a little about your book. What is the title? Do you have a publisher? What is the publish date? How many pages is your book? What is the cost? Do you have web site? What is your specific goal I.E., to make money, raise awareness, get the attention of an agent or publisher, sell the story to a movie or TV studio or something else?
Submit the form below with this information and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you!
by Scott Lorenz | Author Advice, Book Marketing, Book Promotion, Book Publicity, Book Publishing, Interviews, ProfNet, Promoting a Book
By Scott Lorenz
Westwind Communications
As a book publicist I am always on the lookout for effective ways to reach book buyers and the media. One way is to utilize a service called ProfNet. As one of its first users I’ve seen ProfNet become one of the most important ways of reaching the media in a non-intrusive way.
Here’s how it works. A reporter, freelance writer or television producer is assigned a story. Unless they know someone, who is an expert on that topic, they’ll need to find someone to interview. So, the reporter will place a query on ProfNet requesting an expert with certain qualifications and who could speak to a certain issue they are writing about. They’ll include a deadline, contact information and their media outlet.
These queries are compiled by ProfNet and are emailed out to thousands of publicists, experts, authors and other subscribers multiple times a day. I personally read just about every set of queries as they could contain a big media opportunity for my clients. On any given day there could be queries from the NY Times, Good Morning America, Women’s World Magazine, NPR and just about anybody you could think of.
I’ve landed clients in all the above-mentioned outlets and hundreds of others as well. One reason it works so well is that the media is looking for the expert rather than you or me (the publicist) pushing my client on them. In this case they actually have a story they’re working on and NEED an expert.
Who in the media uses ProfNet? Meet freelance writer Lisa Iannucci. Lisa has written many articles for consumer and trade publications including Weight Watchers, Muscle & Fitness, Parenting, Shape, ePregnancy, SkyGuide Go (American Express), American Health, USA Weekend, Parenting, New York Magazine and more. She has also written for New England Condominium, The Cooperator, Business Travel News, DDIFO (a Dunkin’ Donuts trade journal), Sports Travel and more. She is constantly on the lookout for interesting experts and authors to interview for her various freelance assignments.
Authors are perfect for Profnet because of their built-in credibility since they wrote about the subject matter covered in their book. The media likes people who have credentials and are authorities and experts.
Here are key tips to remember when responding:
1. Note the deadline. Get your response in well ahead of it.
2. Answer the question or query directly. Keep your email short and to the point. Nobody has time to read a dissertation.
3. Google the reporter or the publication if you are not aware of them. Get every edge you can as you’ll be competing against others who want the coverage too.
4. Remember Radio likes “sounds.” Television likes a “visual.” Online services like links and Print likes everything! So, cater to the medium in your response.
5. Put “ProfNet Query” in the subject line
I pitched one of my authors to a ‘major consumer magazine’ about her Hollywood makeup book as they were looking for the latest in Blush/Luminizers/Contouring/Makeup. Another author of mine wrote a book about Type 2 Diabetes and was quoted extensively in a highly regarded association publication with two million readers because the ProfNet query asked for tips about Type 2 Diabetes and insurance.
On another occasion, I responded to a ProfNet query from the New York Times who was desperately looking for someone to comment about a financial issue at 6pm on a Friday night. Got that one too!
ProfNet is not free and is billed on an annual basis. Authors can sign up directly or work with a publicist who subscribes. For more information visit: https://profnet.prnewswire.com/ProfNetHome/What-is-Profnet.aspx or call 800-PROFNET (800-776-3638) or email: profnet@profnet.com
The Bottom Line: Authors, put ProfNet into your marketing mix. By proactively promoting your book to the media you can become the Go-To-Expert on your topic. Do it today!
Book publicist Scott Lorenz is President of Westwind Communications, a public relations and marketing firm that has a special knack for working with authors to help them get all the publicity they deserve and more. Lorenz works with bestselling authors and self-published authors promoting all types of books, whether it’s their first book or their 15th book. He’s handled publicity for books by CEOs, CIA Officers, Navy SEALS, Homemakers, Fitness Gurus, Doctors, Lawyers and Adventurers. His clients have been featured by Good Morning America, FOX & Friends, CNN, ABC News, New York Times, Nightline, TIME, PBS, LA Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Woman’s World, & Howard Stern to name a few.
Learn more about Westwind Communications’ book marketing approach at https://WestwindBookMarketing.com or contact Lorenz at scottlorenz@westwindcos.com or 734-667-2090 or fill out the form below. Follow Lorenz on Twitter @aBookPublicist. Want help titling a book? Check out Scott Lorenz’s new award winning, bestselling book: Book Title Generator- A Proven System in Naming Your Book www.BookTitleGenerator.net.
Would you like help promoting your book?
If so, tell us a little about your book. What is the title? Do you have a publisher? What is the publish date? How many pages is your book? What is the cost? Do you have web site? What is your specific goal I.E., to make money, raise awareness, get the attention of an agent or publisher, sell the story to a movie or TV studio or something else?
Submit the form below with this information and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you!
by Scott Lorenz | Blog, Book Marketing, Book Promotion, Book Publicity, Book Publishing, Books to Movies, Get a Hollywood Movie Producer Interested in Your Books, Hollywood, Promoting a Book
By Scott Lorenz
Westwind Communications Book Marketing
If you want to sell your book to Hollywood, it’ll help to think like Hollywood producers and directors. Since everybody is so busy these days, you’ll have to boil down your book to a quick pitch that answers the question: What is your book about?
Your logline should SELL the story, not tell the story.
Think about it, do you have a one-sentence summation of your book to tell others? Do you have the main elements of the story composed together? If not, you need a logline.
A logline is a one or two sentence description that boils down the essential dramatic narrative in as succinct a manner as possible, says James Burbidge on Raindance.org
According to John Robert Marlow, author of Make Your Story a Movie: Adapting Your Book or Idea for Hollywood, “If you want to turn your book into a movie then understand that the people who represent and purchase books and screenplays are incredibly busy. They need a way to decide which stories are worth a closer look, and which are not—without actually taking the time to read those stories. This is where the logline comes into play.”
Hollywood Logline, Sell Your Book to Hollywood
Here’s an example of a good logline for a book from the author resource website WildSound.ca.
“The Last Thing She Did” is a romantic comedy in which a ditsy writer struggles to overcome her reliance on a dead friend’s advice in order to meet a deadline.
According to Michelle Mclean, Romance and Nonfiction author, the elements of your logline should consist of Characters, Conflict, Distinction, Setting, and Action.
“A logline is a brief description of the plot of your story, which involves an emotional hook and a twist of irony. A logline organizes a story in the briefest form possible while retaining the strongest emotional effect,” said Jen Grisanti, author of Story Line: Finding Gold in Your Life Story.
“A good use for the logline is the pitch. This handy, dandy quick summary of your story is very useful in persuading agents, editors, and even your dentist that you’ve hit on a ‘wow’ premise that simply MUST be written. Better yet, if it’s already written, then it MUST be read,” said David Macinnis Gill, author and teacher.
“The logline is just as important as a creative tool as it is as a vehicle to spark an interest of others,” said Noam Kroll of Indiewire, an award-winning Los Angeles based filmmaker, and founder of the boutique production company Creative Rebellion.
“You do not need to condense your entire book into one sentence, but you do need to give enough information that the agent/editor/ curious acquaintance you are addressing gets the gist of your book, and is interested enough to want more,” said Michelle Mclean.
One author’s logline gained the interest of several producers and production companies as well as a major agent. “Sometimes the logline comes to me in the middle of writing a book and other times it’s the last thing I do. Whenever inspiration strikes, I capture the words immediately,” says Tricia Stewart Shiu author of the Moa Series, a Young Adult Science Fiction Fantasy. “Writing a logline is, essentially, communicating with gut instincts the core essence of a story. When you’re done, it should ring like a bell,” adds Shiu.
“Another use for a logline is you. A novel is a big thing. It’s difficult to hold the whole story in your mind, especially when you’ve finished a first draft and are still giddy from the flow of creative juices. Writing a logline helps you define—for yourself—the essential elements of the plot. It will also let you know immediately if major components of the plot are missing. This prevents episodic plots that are a string of (interesting and exciting) events that lack a complete story spine,” added David Macinnis Gill.
While writing your logline make sure it is brief. According to Wildsound.ca, brevity is an absolute necessity of creating a good logline, as well as choosing your focus carefully. It is important to choose the focus of your logline because it is the selling point of your book. You need to draw the readers in with action, the plot twists and turns, anything that will grab their attention and interest for more.
Your logline can also be brought to life by an actor through Wildsound.ca who’ll post it to their YouTube Channel, which draws thousands of viewers daily. They claim that agents and producers check the site for new content. It’s worth a look. https://www.wildsound.ca/
The Bottom Line: Creating a logline is an integral part of being able to convey to others what your book is about in a quick concise manner. Master this whether your book is going to Hollywood or not.
Book publicist Scott Lorenz is President of Westwind Communications, a public relations and marketing firm that has a special knack for working with authors to help them get all the publicity they deserve and more. Lorenz works with bestselling authors and self-published authors promoting all types of books, whether it’s their first book or their 15th book. He’s handled publicity for books by CEOs, CIA Officers, Navy SEALS, Homemakers, Fitness Gurus, Doctors, Lawyers and Adventurers. His clients have been featured by Good Morning America, FOX & Friends, CNN, ABC News, New York Times, Nightline, TIME, PBS, LA Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Woman’s World, & Howard Stern to name a few.
Learn more about Westwind Communications’ book marketing approach at https://WestwindBookMarketing.com or contact Lorenz at scottlorenz@westwindcos.com or 734-667-2090 or fill out the form below. Follow Lorenz on Twitter @aBookPublicist. Want help titling a book? Check out Scott Lorenz’s new award winning, bestselling book: Book Title Generator- A Proven System in Naming Your Book www.BookTitleGenerator.net.
Would you like help promoting your book?
If so, tell us a little about your book. What is the title? Do you have a publisher? What is the publish date? How many pages is your book? What is the cost? Do you have web site? What is your specific goal I.E., to make money, raise awareness, get the attention of an agent or publisher, sell the story to a movie or TV studio or something else?
Submit the form below with this information and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you!
by Scott Lorenz | Author Advice, Author Spotlight, Blog, Book Marketing, Book Promotion, Book Spotlight, Interviews
By Scott Lorenz
Westwind Communications Book Marketing
Did you know that Andy Weir author of The Martian first published a series of blog posts, then an ebook? Yes, it’s true. Before The Martian became a Hollywood legend it had humble beginnings… on a blog. Here’s the backstory of this self-published author.
Author Andy Weir wrote The Martian in 2011 and it’s now one of the most popular movies of the day. It is a story about fearless astronaut Mark Watney, played by actor Matt Damon, who overcomes several challenges after being left behind by his team on Mars.
How did Weir get the inspiration to write a bestselling novel and Sci-Fi blockbuster extravaganza? With rejection of course…
“I was sitting around thinking about how to do a human mission to Mars, not for a story but just for the heck of it. I started thinking about how I would do it and all the things that could go wrong, and I realized it would make a great story. So, I made up a protagonist and subjected him to all of it,” said Weir in an interview with SmithsonianMag.com.
“I had tried before to write novels and submitted them to agents, but no one was interested,” said Weir.
Weir grew up with parents who were electronics engineer and a particle physicist and became interested in science, technology, and of course Sci-Fi classics including Isaac Asimov, Arthur C. Clark, Robert Heinlein, and let’s not forget Dr. Who, according to an article by Micah White on Biography.com.
Weir was a computer programmer at AOL, but when they merged with Netscape he was let go and with his severance package went on to fulfill a dream of his to write fiction.
In 2009 Weir began writing The Martian as a hobby and posted chapters on his website for interested readers. He gained a few thousand followers, many of whom were scientists that provided technical accuracy of the story. From there, The Martian was completed and posted on his website as a free e-book.
“If it wasn’t for the Internet, the story wouldn’t have been possible at all because I wouldn’t have had any medium to tell stories. I wasn’t even trying to break into the industry anymore, I was doing it as a labor of love,” said Weir in his SmithsonianMag.com interview.
“Chemists actually pointed out some problems in early drafts,” said Weir in an interview with Businessinsider.com. With that he was able to go back and correct some of the chemistry that was crucial for Watney’s survival.
This self-publishing author followed his true passion without any additional help from an agent or marketing team and continued to write even though he received many rejection letters.
“I was afraid it was going to read like a Wikipedia article if I didn’t make it really interesting,” said Weir during a discussion of The Martian at the recent Human MARS Summit in Washington D.C.
In September 2012, the book became available on Amazon for $0.99, selling 35,000 copies and moving it up to the top of Amazon’s Sci-Fi Bestseller List. After topping the Bestseller List on Amazon, an agent contacted Weir and he was soon represented by Random House for a book deal. On top of that Fox contacted him for the film rights of his novel.
Within days of each other both deals closed, and the computer programmer had gone from a self-published author to published author (selling nearly 1 million copies) to the creator of Hollywood’s 2015 blockbuster.
Even NASA loved the publicity from The Martian with the following tweets:
- NASA astronaut and #TheMartian movie actress hope to inspire the next generation of astronauts on our #journeytomars
- Watching #TheMartian? See how our Deep Space Habitat compares to one in the film: go.nasa.gov/1iUaBKi
“It was such a sudden launch into the big leagues that I literally had a difficult time believing it,” said Weir in an interview on his site. “I was actually warned it could all be an elaborate scam. So, I guess that was my first reaction: ‘Is this really happening?’”
Persistence is key in the self-publishing book business. Almost every writer goes through the struggle, some having an agent, some not. The idea behind The Martian is that similar to Mark Watney, Andy Weir did the best he could with the limited resources that he had, no agent, no marketing team and no publisher. He, like Watney, took the creative spark he harnessed and prevailed in his struggle to find success.
The Bottom Line: There’s a wealth of brilliant self-published authors striving to succeed. For some authors big success awaits. The difference is often getting just a little exposure. If the New York Times and other publications who routinely dismiss self-published authors would take a look at the fine work created by these talented people, The Martian will indeed leave an indelible imprint on the self-publishing landscape. To the NY Times: See what you are missing!
Book publicist Scott Lorenz is President of Westwind Communications, a public relations and marketing firm that has a special knack for working with authors to help them get all the publicity they deserve and more. Lorenz works with bestselling authors and self-published authors promoting all types of books, whether it’s their first book or their 15th book. He’s handled publicity for books by CEOs, CIA Officers, Navy SEALS, Homemakers, Fitness Gurus, Doctors, Lawyers and Adventurers. His clients have been featured by Good Morning America, FOX & Friends, CNN, ABC News, New York Times, Nightline, TIME, PBS, LA Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Woman’s World, & Howard Stern to name a few.
Learn more about Westwind Communications’ book marketing approach at https://WestwindBookMarketing.com or contact Lorenz at scottlorenz@westwindcos.com or 734-667-2090 or fill out the form below. Follow Lorenz on Twitter @aBookPublicist. Want help titling a book? Check out Scott Lorenz’s new award winning, bestselling book: Book Title Generator- A Proven System in Naming Your Book www.BookTitleGenerator.net.
Would you like help promoting your book?
If so, tell us a little about your book. What is the title? Do you have a publisher? What is the publish date? How many pages is your book? What is the cost? Do you have web site? What is your specific goal I.E., to make money, raise awareness, get the attention of an agent or publisher, sell the story to a movie or TV studio or something else?
Submit the form below with this information and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you!
by Scott Lorenz | Blog, Book Cover Designers, Book Marketing, Book Promotion, Book Publishing, Writing a Book
A Good Book Cover Can Help Sell a Book- A Bad Cover Can Kill a Book
By Scott Lorenz
Westwind Communications Book Marketing
Being a book publicist and book marketing guy, I often weigh in on book cover designs. Sometimes it’s in the nick of time sometimes it’s too late to make a change. Here’s the situation, authors, please – do not underestimate the importance of a book cover’s design. Not only do potential book buyers judge a book by its cover but so do members of the media. Many reporters receive dozens of books every day! Do you really think they read the book flap and your pitch? Ha!
Here are some important items to consider when making decisions on book cover design:
Use a subhead to create more description. If you have a 10-word title, you have not properly named the book in the first place.
Check with Google on the words that are most searched on your topic. To do this, type in the word that best describes your book in the search box and then see what the next most important or popular words are in that list. That ranking is very relevant marketing- wise so try to use those words in your title or subtitle. Consider using the genre in the subtitle too because that’s what people are searching on.
Visit bookstores and look at the covers of all types of books. What catches your eye? Look at the book face and look at the spines. Which ones are readable and why?
Will it play on Amazon? Go to Amazon.com, BN.com, Good Reads, Smashwords and search for competitive books in your space. Notice the book covers that catch your eye and the ones that do not. If your cover does not show up well in an Amazon thumbnail, then you are going to lose sales.
Contrast. Don’t let your graphic designer get started without keeping contrast in mind. The reason black ink works so well on white paper is because it produces the best contrast possible. Yellow ink on green paper in a small font simply does not work.
How does your book look in black and white? Not every publication will be printing it in color.
Font size. Many designers are young with great eyesight. But your buyer may not be able to read the tiny font some designers insist upon using. Be practical.
The spine. Can you read it from five feet away? If not, neither can browsers in a bookstore.
Blurbs. Keep them relevant and short. Consider including a mention on the cover of a foreword written by a famous person or author. “Foreword by J.K. Rowling” or “Foreword by Oprah Winfrey” or “Foreword by Best Selling Author Brian Tracy.”
Do not overlook creating content on the back inside flaps because consumers pick up a book after looking at the spine, front cover and back and then open the book to find the price or more information.
Print your cover out on a laser printer. Don’t just review your cover on a computer screen which will make it look considerably better. Print it out actual size and make a determination using that printed version.
Pictures are worth 1000 words. Use photos and illustrations to describe what would take too long to explain.
When choosing a book design ask yourself how the cover will look on your website home page. Branding is important so you’ll want to use the same design elements on your website that you do on your book cover.
Show your cover designs to as many people in your target group of potential readers. Get their reactions and opinions. It costs you nothing and you’ll likely find out something you did not realize before.
Here are 100 book cover designers and services to consider for your next cover:
1. 99 Designs – https://99designs.com/
99designs.com uses graphic designers from around the world who compete for your business by actually designing the book cover on speculation, ie no charge. I commissioned many covers for authors using 99designs after the author was not happy with the creations from his own designer. I mentioned several design elements such as the title, subtitle, what the book was about etc.
Figuring more is better, we got 65 different cover designs in 5 days! The most difficult part was narrowing down the selection to 8 then having friends, family, co-workers vote on their favorites from all corners of the world all online.
They also added their comments, insight and logic behind liking or disliking a cover design right under the image of that cover. They voted over several days and the comments were able to be read by our team, also scattered all over North America. The cost was about $700. Currently 99designs book covers range in price from $299 to their top-of-the-line platinum package at $1,199. This was an excellent process that delivered a NY Times bestseller quality cover that I highly recommend.
2. Foster Covers – https://fostercovers.com/
George Foster of Foster Covers is a book cover designer who has earned more than 300 awards and created covers for 134 bestsellers. His work has appeared on over 1,000 books.
3. Fiverr – https://www.fiverr.com/
Fiverr gives you many options for just $5. These are fast and obviously cheap, but I’ve seen some pretty nice work. Order from 2 or 3 designers at the same time. Hey, it’s only $5 bucks!
4. Killer Covers – https://killercovers.com/
Killer Covers offers various packages for your book cover needs including web pages, Facebook pages etc. They are based in Australia, and I’ve used them and recommended them several times.
5. Book Cover Express – https://bookcoverexpress.com/
Cathi Stevenson of Book Cover Express has 30 years of publishing experience, and more than 1500 book covers to her credit. Book Cover Express has a competitive flat rate so you can work with your ideal budget.
6. Author Support – https://www.authorsupport.com/
The designers at Author Support are a great resource.
7. Book Creatives – https://www.bookcreatives.com/
Book Creatives offers book cover design and eBook design for authors.
8. Alexander von Ness – https://www.nessgraphica.com/
Alexander von Ness is a book cover designer with over twenty years of professional experience in graphic design, including over a decade as art director in a branding agency. In the last decade his main area of focus has been book cover design. His website Nessgraphica is among the top trusted sites for book cover design services overall.
9. Damonza – https://damonza.com/
Damonza has over 30 years combined experience in the design and advertising industry.
10. Robin Ludwig Design – https://www.gobookcoverdesign.com/
Robin Ludwig Design specializes in providing superior book cover design services utilizing professional equipment and software.
11. Andy Carpenter Design – https://acdbookcoverdesign.com/
Andy Carpenter Design is a boutique design firm for self-publishers and small presses.
12. Self-Publishing Lab – https://selfpublishinglab.com/
Self-Publishing Lab has been voted the best website for authors, so be sure to check it out.
13. Lulu – https://www.lulu.com/
Along with publishing services Lulu provides design quality at a competitive price.
14. David Airey – https://www.davidairey.com/books
David Airey is a creative book cover designer.
15. CreateSpace – https://kdp.amazon.com/createspace-transfer
CreateSpace allows you to work with their professional design team to custom-create an affordable, striking cover that broadcasts your book’s key messages with distinct colors, fonts, and one central image.
16. BookBaby – https://www.bookbaby.com/book-design/book-cover-design
BookBaby offers a straightforward approach to finding a budget and designing your book cover.
17. Guru – https://www.guru.com/
Guru is a great website to utilize to find freelance book cover designers from around the world. Very cool.
18. 1106 Design – https://1106design.com/
1106 Design offers editing, proofreading, cover design, Interior page layout, eBook formatting, Printing and more.
19. Albertine Book Design – https://dotdesign.net/
Albertine Book Design offers complete design and production services for children’s books, tabletop books, cookbooks, textbooks, fiction and non-fiction hard cover and paperbacks.
20. Book Covers for All – https://bookcoversforall.com/
Book Covers for All features one designer boasting over 18 years of experience with 1000+ books to his credit.
21. Reedsy – https://reedsy.com/design/book-cover-design/
This is very interesting in that the book covers are already designed; you just add the title! There are some very high-quality covers priced at $25 and up. Definitely check this out.
22. Extended Imagery – https://extendedimagery.com/
Carl Graves is a professional book cover designer who has a fire sale on book covers with more than 2,000 book covers on hand. These are really amazing must see covers.
23. Illumination Graphics – https://illuminationgraphics.com/
Illumination Graphics provides affordable and dynamic design for books, both book cover designs and book interior layouts.
24. BookWise Design – https://bookwisedesign.com/
BookWise Design has designed over 1200 book covers and strives to provide the most experienced and helpful book production services.
25. ExpertSubjects – https://www.expertsubjects.com/
Expert Subjects has several cover artists, and you can choose to create a fully customized book cover depending on your budget constraints. They also provide an array of services including typesetting, editing, critique and undertake publishing & distribution too.
26. Canva – https://www.canva.com/create/book-covers/
Canva’s book cover maker makes book covers amazingly simple to design – even for non-designers. I’ve used them for memes too.
27. The Cover Collection – https://www.thecovercollection.com/
Here’s a way to get a high-quality book cover for a great price using premade book cover designs. Authors receive multiple drafts to choose from and a choice of font options. I’ve checked out their covers and they are top notch.
28. TS95 Studios – https://www.ts95studios.com/
Hampton Lamoureux of TS95 Studios is a Daily Deviation award-winning artist on DeviantArt.com. He designs e-book and full jacket covers, crafting elaborate realistic scenes from stock photos for fantasy, horror, mystery, and sci-fi novels.
29. Bianca Bordianu Design – https://moonpress.co/
Bianca Bordianu is a professional cover designer who works with bestselling authors, publishing houses and indie authors in all genres. She delivers high quality designs for competitive prices.
30. Lance Buckley – https://www.lancebuckley.com/
Lance Buckley is a book designer with over 10 years of experience. Says Lance, “I’ve worked for 8 years as a Design Specialist at CreateSpace before Amazon consolidated things and axed CreateSpace altogether. For the last 4 years I’ve been designing book covers and interiors for authors. You can view some of my work on my website. I try to keep my pricing as low as possible while still providing a very professional design.”
31. Julia Rohwedder – https://www.lunaryxdesign.com/
Julia Rohwedder is a freelance photo illustrator & designer living in the southwest of Germany. She has been creating digital photo illustration since around 2006. She loves book cover art commissions for Fantasy genres, like Dark Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Fantasy.
32. eBook Launch – https://ebooklaunch.com/
Since 2011, eBook launch has designed hundreds of creative book covers for independent authors and publishers in nearly every genre. Check out their book cover portfolio here. https://ebooklaunch.com/custom-book-cover-portfolio/ They also handle book editing, formatting as well.
33. Book Cover Hub – https://bookcoverhub.com/
Book Cover Hub is a professional book cover design agency specializing in custom, market-driven covers for authors and publishers. The company is known for creating visually compelling designs that help books stand out across Amazon, bookstores, and digital platforms.
34. Adobe Express Book Cover Designer – https://www.adobe.com/express/create/cover/book
Adobe Express makes it easy to create a book cover. Start with a free book cover template or create your own custom cover.
35. GetCovers – https://getcovers.com/book-cover-design/
Get an affordable book cover design that represents your genre. GetCovers team offers unlimited number of free revisions for your book cover design.
36. DesignHill – https://www.designhill.com/book-cover-design
Explore their professional book cover designers and work closely with them to design a cover that compels your readers to turn the pages.
37. DesignCrowd – https://www.designcrowd.com/ebookcover-design/
The #1 custom eBook cover design service with 1,329,622 designers. Professional freelance eBook cover designers around the world ready to create you the perfect eBook cover. If you’re not satisfied with the eBook cover designs and don’t get the perfect eBook cover for your business, get your money back.
38. BookCoverZone – https://bookcoverzone.com/
BookCoverZone with its innovative LiveBuild engine is a new way to obtain professionally made book covers in a matter of minutes. All covers are made by professional book cover designers -many of them with international design awards such as the World Gourmand Award. For over 20 years our studio has created covers for a variety of self-published and genre authors throughout the world.
39. The Book Cover Designer – https://thebookcoverdesigner.com/
Covers are one-offs. Once a cover is sold, it’s removed from our catalog and will never be sold again. The Book Cover Designer works with talented designers from all over the world and they don’t accept AI-generated book covers.
40. Moonstruck Cover Design & Photography – https://moonstruckcoverdesign.com/
In business since 2016, Moonstruck covers all genres with a specialty in romance! Their style is often described as vibrant, spunky and sparkly that “Packs a Punch”! Their covers are colorful & twist the common tropes! A great style to catch your readers’ eye!
41. Goonwrite.com – https://goonwrite.com/
GoonWrite.com’s owner James has been designing book covers for 14 years. He has been a freelance graphic designer for the last twenty-five years. You can buy pre-made book covers from this website.
42. Amnet – https://amnetauthorservices.com/cover-design-for-ebook/
eBook design encompasses the process of creating eye-catching and creative images that serve as a “cover” for eBooks. The cover of your eBook will be the first thing a reader notices and it should draw them in and help stoke their interest in the book. Amnet does eBook cover design service for a variety of authors and genres. Simply put, if you are an eBook author, you can greatly benefit from Amnet’s book cover design services.
43. CreativCovers – https://www.creativindiecovers.com/
CreativCovers the book cover designer indie authors come back to — bestselling-quality book cover design that stops the scroll, owns the genre, and sells the click. The same craft you’d get from a Big Five publisher, at a fraction of the price.
44. eBookWritings – https://ebookwritings.com/ebook-cover-design
eBookWritings.com is a renowned book cover design company that is popular for bringing publications from the rear window shelf to the main spotlight. We are a source of assistance to many writers out there who are looking to give a kick to their book cover designs. Our experts are responsible for ensuring that readers connect with your story. Brace yourself to get the massive sales.
45. DIY Book Covers – https://diybookcovers.com/
Dive into DIY Book Covers treasure trove of FREE book design templates and easy-to-follow tutorials, so your book can finally get the attention (and sales) it deserves. No design skills? No problem. Get started today and transform your book from Blah to Wow!
46. 100 Covers – https://100covers.com/
100 Covers began as a budget conscious book cover design service for the typical self-published indie author on a shoestring budget. Our journey since then could be titled, From Discount to DOMINANCE.
47. Whitewolf Publishers – https://whitewolfpublishers.com/book-cover-design
Whitewolf Publishers is a top-tier choice for eBook cover design. Whitewolf Publisher’s team of experienced eBook cover designers have vast experience in creating captivating and professional eBook covers that reflect your story and the essence of your eBook.
48. PosterMyWall – https://www.postermywall.com/index.php/g/book-cover-posters
9,470+ Free Kindle/Book Cover Design Templates. Design an eye-catching book cover for your next best seller in minutes. Personalize, print and publish online.
49. Deranged Doctor Design – https://www.derangeddoctordesign.com/
Working with Deranged Doctor is a little different than what you may be used to when working with a solo cover designer. They are a company, which means there are several people working on each project.
50. 5MediaDesign – https://5mediadesign.com/
5MediaDesign crafts smart book cover design that stand out from the ordinary.
51. Kittl – https://www.kittl.com/create/book-covers
Make your book stand out on the shelf with Kittl book cover designer. You’ve poured your heart and soul into your manuscript – now it’s time to make sure your book will stand out on the shelf with a cover that sells. Save time and money from hiring a graphic designer— simply choose a template, drag and drop design elements, and craft your unique book cover in just minutes.
52. TrifBookDesign – https://trifbookdesign.com/
We all know you should never judge a book by its cover – but that’s what we all do at the beginning. Your book cover is the first thing a reader sees and is the difference between them picking up your book or walking away. No book deserves to be dismissed because it’s poorly presented, so we want to make sure they buy. Trif Book Design specialize in BOOK COVER DESIGN SERVICES with many years of experience and work hard to make sure that your book cover is what will make you stand out.
53. Yummy Book Covers – https://yummybookcovers.com/book-design-services/
Cover design & illustration for every budget. Yummy Book Covers offers premium Canva templates, premade characters, premade character cover design and custom cover design.
54. Premade Book Cover Shop – https://www.premadeebookcovershop.com/
PremadeBookCoverShop.com’s premade book covers are not templates, each cover will be sold only once, then is removed from the site – making it exclusively yours!* Price includes changing out the title, author name, and adding a subtitle and/or phrase. You can even ask for a font style or color change, an overall hue change or an eye color change!
55. BookFly Design – https://www.bookflydesign.com/cover-design
Book Fly Design doesn’t use pre-made templates for our covers; yours will be custom designed in Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. Their price includes unlimited royalty-free stock images (unless you have specific image requests, which may require additional charges) as well as 3-D images you can use to promote your book. Your final cover will be optimized for web viewing and ready to upload to your e-book publisher(s) of choice.
56. ETSY eBook Cover Design – https://www.etsy.com/market/ebook_cover_design
On Etsy, you can find a wide range of eBook cover design online in US, from one-of-a-kind handcrafted options to vintage treasures ready to be loved again. Our global marketplace is a vibrant community of real people, ranging from makers and independent designers to creative entrepreneurs, connecting over special goods so you can browse the latest ebook cover design listings by Etsy sellers from, not just all corners of US, but also around the world.
57. JD&J eBook Cover Design – https://www.jdandj.com/ebook-cover-design.html
JD&J eBook cover design team is dedicated to making your book cover design a work of art that stands head and shoulders above the other books in the high street shops and in online stores.
58. Creative Paramita – https://creativeparamita.com/
Your cover has one job: sell the story before page one. Paramita creates professional book cover design for authors who want a market-ready look—whether you need a scroll-stopping eBook cover, a full print wrap (front + spine + back), or an exclusive premade cover. If you’re looking for reliable book cover design services with strong typography, genre accuracy, and thumbnail readability, you’re in the right place.
59. Graphic Design Eye – https://graphicdesigneye.com/book-cover-design-service/
A book cover tells a number of aspects about a book. So, the design needs to be perfect. The flawlessness of the design makes the books look impressive and helps to raise the sales. Graphic Design Eye is a leader in providing different types of book cover design service to our global clientele.
60. BookCovers.com – https://bookcovers.com/
BookCovers.com, formerly known as SelfPubBookCovers.com is your premier destination for high-quality, ready-made, and custom book covers designed to bring your stories to life.
61. Comeup – https://comeup.com/en/category/ebook-covers
Hire a freelancer to design a professional eBook cover. Work with freelance designers to create attractive eBook or paperback covers that highlight your content and capture readers’ attention.
62. Noble Verse Publishers – https://nobleversepublishers.press/book-cover-design-services.html
From custom covers, and interior design to illustration tools and more, Noble Verse Publishers’ book cover designers are competent and have mastery over various software. Share your book’s prologue or synopsis and instantly get fascinating ideas for the book cover design today.
63. Alkira Publishing – https://alkirapublishing.com/publishing-services/book-cover-design-and-formatting/
Book cover design and interior formatting is the trickiest part to get right if you’re self-publishing, and it makes sense to have one professional do it all – a one-stop shop! Rose is a fully qualified graphic designer and award-winning book cover creator with eleven years’ experience in book cover design.
64. BookCoverify App (Apple) – https://apps.apple.com/in/app/book-cover-maker-designer/id6502331077
BookCoverify: Your Ultimate Book Cover Design Companion! Are you an author looking to make your book stand out on digital shelves or catch the eye of readers in print? Look no further than BookCoverify, the all-in-one solution for creating stunning, professional book covers with ease. With BookCoverify, you have access to a vast library of editable templates designed for every type of book imaginable. Whether you’re publishing an eBook, an audio book, or a physical copy, our app has you covered. Choose from a variety of genres and styles to find the perfect template for your masterpiece.
65. Book Cover Designer App (Android) – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.socialplatform.postermaker2022
Wishing to design Wattpad covers by your smartphone? Looking for the book cover maker? If it’s your YES, then you are at the right search app page. Book Cover Designer application will help to design eBook covers easily by using your smartphone. Book Cover Maker doesn’t require any special design or editing skills. You just have to select the book’s template or can customize your book cover. The application gives book cover templates by different categories to design the desired book cover.
66. PaperTrue – https://www.papertrue.com/writers/self-publishing-services?tab=bookCoverDesignTab
Get PaperTrue’s skilled book cover designers to create an attractive and unique cover—including the front, back, and spine—that elicits the readers’ curiosity.
67. Cover Kitchen – https://coverkitchen.com/
You’ve put countless hours into crafting your book. Let Cover Kitchen cooks up the unique book cover design it deserves. Their team of award-winning book designers is ready to design the perfect book cover for your unique story. With their help, your readers won’t be able to resist picking your book up off the shelf.
68. UpWork – https://www.upwork.com/services/book-design/book-cover-design
For more than two decades, Upwork has been a pioneer of a better way to work. They’ve enabled businesses and professionals to thrive through major shifts – from migrating to the cloud, capturing the potential of mobile, to creating new value through social media. No matter how needs and skills evolve, their purpose remains the same: To create opportunity in every era of work.
69. Template.net – https://www.template.net/book-covers
Create your own professional book covers with our free customizable and printable templates. Template.net is an AI Production Engine that transforms natural language prompts into production-ready assets. We bridge the gap between AI inference (thinking) and professional execution (doing). Their engine generates fully layered, editable, and branded outputs—including documents, presentations, diagrams, charts, and functional web assets.
70. Rachel Lawston – https://www.rachellawstonillustration.com/
Rachel Lawston is an illustrator, freelance book designer, and children’s author with over 15 years of experience in the publishing industry.
71. Cormar Covers – https://www.cormarcovers.com/
Cormar Cover’s mission is to provide you with an amazing cover that best suits your story. Their goal is to create a cover that represents your book, attracts readers, and is something you’re proud to display.
72. Qamber Designs & Media – https://www.qamberdesignsmedia.com/
Qamber Designs & Media W.L.L. is an authentic design agency dedicated to creating outstanding designs tailored to your needs. We specialize in book branding (book covers, interiors, swag, etc.) in many areas of publishing, including fiction, literature, stationery and so much more.
73. Steven Novak – http://novakillustration.com/bookcovers.html
Steven Novak has worked with everyone from indie authors looking to dip their toes in the market, to publishing houses both small and large.
74. Elderlemon Design – https://www.elderlemondesign.net/cover-gallery
Owned and operated by award-winning author Kealan Patrick Burke, Elderlemon Design provides affordable book cover designs for authors. We cater to print and digital media, and each cover is made to order based on the author/client’s own input. Employing stock art, our own photography, and often hand-drawn elements, we work with you to ensure your finished cover accurately reflects your book’s content in a dynamic, eye-catching way, and at the most competitive rates in the business.
75. Rebecca Frank – https://rebeccafrank.design/
Rebecca Frank is a book cover designer who works primarily in the Urban Fantasy, Romantasy, Paranormal Romance (PNR), and Fantasy genres. Her style is bright, vibrant, and magical, with highly marketable designs that draw readers in. She has worked with a variety of bestselling authors, and books with my covers have been featured on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestseller lists.
76. For The Muse Design – https://www.forthemusedesign.com/cover-art-gallery.html
For the Muse Design creates affordable designs with the authors vision as the steppingstone to something creative and beautiful. Feel free to browse the site and see what Award-winning designer Elaina Lee has been up to. For the Muse may be just what you’ve been looking for to create the perfect, memorable work of art for your book, website, social media page or anything else you may have need of a designer for.
77. Lisa Amowitz – https://www.lisaamowitz.com/
Lisa is an award-winning author of three fantasy/thrillers for young adults, UNTIL BETH, VISION, and BREAKING GLASS. She is also a cover designer and Professor of Graphic Design at Bronx Community College.
78. Alchemy Book Cover & Design – https://www.alchemybookcovers.com/
Keri Knutson of Alchemy Book Cover & Design has designed over 1,000 published book covers for authors, including many on the New York Times, USA Today, and Kindle bestseller lists. She is passionate about books, and dedicated to designing a cover that will capture the soul of your book and the imaginations of your readers.
79. Bespoke Book Covers – https://bespokebookcovers.com/
Professional book cover design. Surprisingly affordable – perfect if you’re a self-published author…Every author should be able to benefit from a beautiful book cover design. (Not just the lucky few who get signed by a big publisher).
80. Kingwood Creations – https://www.kingwoodcreations.com/
Ready-made book covers can look just as good as custom cover designs, and it comes at a fraction of the cost. Choose from hundreds of carefully crafted, readymade covers from their exclusive premade book cover shop.
81. Placeit – https://placeit.net/mockups/book
Sell More Books with Placeit’s Book Cover Mockups. Placeit is an Envato product. Placeit has a wide range of book mockups which you can try. Placeit’s pricing starts from $1.99/month.
82. Pixlr – https://pixlr.com/
Pixlr gives you a powerful AI photo editor, AI image generator, AI video maker, face swap, collage maker, and 20+ editing tools — 100% free, right in your browser. Powered by Flux, Kling, Recraft, Veo, and more.
83. Snappa – https://snappa.com/templates/ebook-cover
Become the next best selling author with the help of Snappa’s professionally designed eBook cover templates. Their wide selection of ready-made templates are free to use, sized appropriately, and super easy to customize.
84. SeventhStar Art Services – https://www.seventhstarart.com/
Stefanie of SeventhStar Art Services is an Award-winning and best-selling cover design artist. Her clients include Tor Books, Macmillan/Entangled, Penguin-Random House, and Simon & Schuster UK. She has also worked with Spanish, German, Polish, and French publishers for local and international books, such as Siren Books, Festa Verlag, and VAJONA Verlag.
85. OpenArt AI Cover Art Designer – https://openart.ai/generator/cover-art
Create striking cover art for books, albums, and more with our AI Cover Art Generator! Capture the essence of your content visually.
86. Karrie Ross Graphics – https://karrieross.com/
Karrie Ross of Karrie Ross Graphics specializes in book cover design for the self-publishing industry.
87. Book Cover Genius – https://jjfast.com/bonuses/bcg-tna53a
Book Cover Genius offers a great sales pitch about why you should download their software to design your own book cover. Worth a look.
88. JD Smith Design – https://www.jdsmith-design.co.uk/
JD Smith is an award-winning book cover designer who has worked in the graphic design industry since she was 17. She designs book publishers for traditional publishers and independent authors.
89. Jessica Bell Design – https://www.jessicabelldesign.com/
Jessica Bell is dedicated to creating one-of-a-kind book cover designs that fit any author’s budget. She began designing covers as favors for her author friends and has turned her hobby into a successful business.
90. Mars Dorian – https://www.marsdorian.com/covers/
Mars Dorian is a digital illustrator and storyteller who specializes in creating e-book covers that stand out for affordable prices.
91. Alexandra Brandt – https://www.alexandrajbrandt.com/
Alexandra Brandt’s print and e-book cover focus on sci-fi and fantasy works.
92. Jeff Brown Graphics – https://www.jeffbrowngraphics.com/
Beautiful sci-fi and fantasy book cover designs can be found at Jeff Brown Graphics. Jeff has collaborated with over 90 authors on more than 250 covers.
93. Historical Fiction Book Covers – https://historicaleditorial.blogspot.com/
For a historical fiction book cover design, consider Historical Fiction Book Covers by Jenny Quinlan.
94. Dissect Design – https://www.dissectdesigns.com/
Dissect Design was created for indie book authors who are in search stunning book covers that don’t break the bank.
95. Laura Duffy Design – https://www.lauraduffydesign.com/
Laura Duffy of Laura Duffy Design is a former art director who takes great pride in creating professional book designs.
96. More Visual Design – https://bookartwork.com/
Dave Kessler of More Visual is a graduate of Parsons School of Design and specializes in unique and professional book design services.
97. David Moratto – https://davidmoratto.com/
With more than 225 covers to date David Moratto brings his unique graphic design expertise to each cover project. The book’s interior design and cover is designed to the demographic profile of the reader.
98. Crowdspring – https://www.crowdspring.com/
Crowdspring is an innovative design resource. You pay one price (starting at $299) and you get dozens of custom designs that were made specifically for you. Crowdspring manually reviews every designer on their platform and constantly updates their profile score based on their skill. This encourages quality submissions. They also allow you to get feedback from your audience and the comments can be left as tags on the cover design itself. Crowdspring was founded by an intellectual property attorney so when they say you are going to get a custom design, they mean it. Crowdspring offers customer support (phone, chat, and email) to both clients and their creatives. This is helpful in ensuring a streamlined process. Crowdspring also offers a 100% money-back guarantee (they will refund ALL fees). Authors should take a serious look at Crowdspring.
99. Nathaniel Roy – https://www.nathanielroy.com/
Nathaniel Roy is a book designer, writer, collage maker, photo taker, and a few other things in Ypsilanti, Michigan.
100. Rocking Book Covers – https://www.rockingbookcovers.com/
Adrijus specializes exclusively in self-publishing book covers for indie authors and small presses who want a professional, market-tested expert (11 years in the industry) without paying $1000+ for a book cover. Whether you’re publishing on Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, or going wide, his entire business is built around helping indies compete with traditionally published books.
You can and should spend a few hours going through all of these web sites. You’ll be glad you did. I know I was enlightened myself in creating this list of book cover designers.
The Bottom line: Get involved early in the entire book publishing design process and get at least several creative concepts for the front cover, back cover, and spine. Don’t let it be the ‘last thing’ you do.
And finally, the most important rule in book publishing and marketing – Know Your Reader! All books have a target reader, and, in all genres, there are varying degrees of readers. Targeting the reader who is most likely to purchase your book is critical. Authors who know the demographics of their readers are equipped to assemble the fonts and graphics best able to grab the reader’s eye and instantly convey the message that “this book is for you.”
Book publicist Scott Lorenz is President of Westwind Communications, a public relations and marketing firm that has a special knack for working with authors to help them get all the publicity they deserve and more. Lorenz works with bestselling authors and self-published authors promoting all types of books, whether it’s their first book or their 15th book. He’s handled publicity for books by CEOs, CIA Officers, Navy SEALS, Homemakers, Fitness Gurus, Doctors, Lawyers and Adventurers. His clients have been featured by Good Morning America, FOX & Friends, CNN, ABC News, New York Times, Nightline, TIME, PBS, LA Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Woman’s World, & Howard Stern to name a few.
Learn more about Westwind Communications’ book marketing approach at https://WestwindBookMarketing.com or contact Lorenz at scottlorenz@westwindcos.com or 734-667-2090 or fill out the form below. Follow Lorenz on Twitter @aBookPublicist. Want help titling a book? Check out Scott Lorenz’s new award winning, bestselling book: Book Title Generator- A Proven System in Naming Your Book www.BookTitleGenerator.net.
Would you like help promoting your book?
If so, tell us a little about your book. What is the title? Do you have a publisher? What is the publish date? How many pages is your book? What is the cost? Do you have web site? What is your specific goal I.E., to make money, raise awareness, get the attention of an agent or publisher, sell the story to a movie or TV studio or something else?
Submit the form below with this information and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you!
by Scott Lorenz | Author Advice, Blog, Book Events, Book Marketing, Book Promotion, Book Publicity
To sell your book or product, you have to do whatever it takes to create a buzz. As a book publicist, I need to stay current with my media connections so that I can pitch their topics when they tie into breaking news. One resource I’ve clued into is the National Publicity Summit.
I attended this event to meet the media once or twice a year for years and have gotten clients booked on Fox News, CNBC, NPR and in a number of national magazines as a result. Since the pandemic it is now a virtual event that is held by ZOOM. It’s still very effective and a good use of time and money.
1. Change your PR mindset. Become a news-junky and learn to tie in current events to your own topic. Get magazines like O, The Oprah Magazine or Woman’s Day, watch shows like Good Morning America. Study how they present their stories and guests and think about how you could fit into their format.
2. Develop one-sheeters to give to the media you meet. These are one-page documents, printed in color and represent your pitch, show ideas and contact information. The Summit staff assist you on creating this ahead of time. At the end of your pitch time, you hand the media person your business card and I recommend stapling this to your one-sheeter.
3. Develop more than one pitch or story idea. I have found that when I’m pitching the media, not every idea will fly. When I come to the Summit armed with a variety of show possibilities, this lets me easily get into a positive conversation with the media. If they don’t like my first idea, I try a backup.
4. Be yourself. Be authentic and have open, frank conversations with the media. The media are looking for real people who will represent their areas of expertise and who their audiences can relate to.
5. Look your best. The media attend the Summit time and again because not only do they get to not only hear pitches, but they also get an idea about how you might look on TV. I know that a lot of Summit attendees get advice from image consultants. Check out my article on my blog “How to Look and Sound Good on ZOOM.”
6. Take the pressure off the immediate “hit” and focus on building a relationship with the media. Think strategically and long-term. You probably have more than one book you’re going to promote in the future. Sure, you want to appear on their show or in their magazine but think about the media as people doing their jobs. How would you build a personal relationship with an important person in your life? Treat the media the same as you would a respected colleague. If you get the media to like you, they will follow your career and continue to work with you as long as you have a good story. As a direct result of the Summit, I can call ABC’s The View and pitch them anytime. That’s priceless.
7. Come to the Summit open to what may happen with your fellow attendees. I’ve gone to these events thinking that I’d just go for specific goals with the media. Because I had put myself ‘out there,’ I’d get into conversations with other attendees as we waited, I’ve gotten new clients, joint venture partners and other strategic alliances. The attendees at this event are the superstar authors of tomorrow.
The Bottom Line: You need the media to get the word out about your book. In the book marketing and book publicity business, I know that you have to connect with the media before they will “buy” what you are pitching. The virtual PR Summit fosters that connection to be made.
I’m such a fan of the National Publicity Summit that I am now an affiliate for it. If you are interested in attending, please check out this link.
Book publicist Scott Lorenz is President of Westwind Communications, a public relations and marketing firm that has a special knack for working with authors to help them get all the publicity they deserve and more. Lorenz works with bestselling authors and self-published authors promoting all types of books, whether it’s their first book or their 15th book. He’s handled publicity for books by CEOs, CIA Officers, Navy SEALS, Homemakers, Fitness Gurus, Doctors, Lawyers and Adventurers. His clients have been featured by Good Morning America, FOX & Friends, CNN, ABC News, New York Times, Nightline, TIME, PBS, LA Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Woman’s World, & Howard Stern to name a few.
Learn more about Westwind Communications’ book marketing approach at https://WestwindBookMarketing.com or contact Lorenz at scottlorenz@westwindcos.com or 734-667-2090 or fill out the form below. Follow Lorenz on Twitter @aBookPublicist. Want help titling a book? Check out Scott Lorenz’s new award winning, bestselling book: Book Title Generator- A Proven System in Naming Your Book www.BookTitleGenerator.net.
Would you like help promoting your book?
If so, tell us a little about your book. What is the title? Do you have a publisher? What is the publish date? How many pages is your book? What is the cost? Do you have web site? What is your specific goal I.E., to make money, raise awareness, get the attention of an agent or publisher, sell the story to a movie or TV studio or something else?
Submit the form below with this information and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you!
by Scott Lorenz | Author Advice, Author Spotlight, Blog, Book Marketing, Book Promotion, Book Publicity, Marketing a Book, Promoting a Book, Social Media, Writing a Book
By Scott Lorenz
Westwind Communications Book Marketing
Social media is a dominating force that can make or break your career as an author in almost every aspect. Besides PR, social media works well to promote a book to a large and varied audience. For example, take a look at the popularity of Holly Madison’s book Down The Rabbit Hole, which hit the top of the New York Times Best Seller List a few years back.
Holly Madison, the ex-Playboy bunny, reality show star, mother, wife and ex-girlfriend of Hugh Hefner made quite an image for herself and her book on social media with an at-the-time, 1.38 million Twitter followers. On Twitter her hashtags were #downtherabbithole and #hollymadison. According to ritetag.com the hashtag #hollymadison had 2.42K potential views per hour. The hashtag #downtherabbithole had 3.78K potential views per hour!
So what is the intriguing factor for authors about social media? Social media allows direct communication to thousands or even millions of followers (all at no cost) and is credited in great part for making Down The Rabbit Hole an instant success. Using social media also allows authors to meet a whole new audience of readers and gain new ideas for books from the social community.
In an article by Chuck Sambuchino, of Writer’s Digest, Grammar Girl creator Mignon Fogarty said, “I think you really have to enjoy interacting on social networks or you won’t do it well or stay with it. You can’t force yourself to do it; you have to find the things you like and do those even if they aren’t the most popular. For one person it might be Twitter, for another LinkedIn, for another YouTube, for another podcasting, and another blogging.”
Estelle Maskame, Bestselling author of Did I Mention I Love You, (DIMILY) became an Internet sensation by using social media and gained 123K followers on Twitter @EstelleMaskame. With the help of her friends and Wattpad, Estelle’s book reached four million hits on Wattpad. “Using social media to promote my work means that I’ve got a close connection with my readers, especially now, because they’ve been with me since the early days. In a way, we’re all in this together, and ever since the start, I’ve always loved going on Twitter to interact with them,” said Maskame.
Other authors who have successfully used social media to gain recognition for their work include Paulo Coelho. Coelho used Facebook and Instagram to stay in touch with his readers and promote his work by sharing quotes and photos of his life and trips he has been on. The Alchemist spent 270 weeks on the New York Times Best Seller List with the help and use of social media. According to a Wall Street Journal article, while doing research for his new book Adultery, Coelho’s fans shared over 1,000 emails with personal infidelity stories. Talk about intimate communications!
Margaret Atwood, a Man Booker prizewinner, has made extensive use of digital platforms. Atwood is an avid tweeter with her fans and has a knack for posting creative insight about her latest work. She also used Wattpad to collaborate with another author to create a serialized zombie novel. For aspiring authors, Atwood ran a contest encouraging them to try fan fiction.
With social media, authors have a chance to succeed. Using social media for your work is important because of the vast attraction of readers you’ll get to engage with. There are quite a few social sites to post your work on and get feedback on your book before and after it is published.
The Bottom Line: Anyone can use social media to promote their work; it’s so easy even a bunny can do it.
Book publicist Scott Lorenz is President of Westwind Communications, a public relations and marketing firm that has a special knack for working with authors to help them get all the publicity they deserve and more. Lorenz works with bestselling authors and self-published authors promoting all types of books, whether it’s their first book or their 15th book. He’s handled publicity for books by CEOs, CIA Officers, Navy SEALS, Homemakers, Fitness Gurus, Doctors, Lawyers and Adventurers. His clients have been featured by Good Morning America, FOX & Friends, CNN, ABC News, New York Times, Nightline, TIME, PBS, LA Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Woman’s World, & Howard Stern to name a few.
Learn more about Westwind Communications’ book marketing approach at https://WestwindBookMarketing.com or contact Lorenz at scottlorenz@westwindcos.com or 734-667-2090 or fill out the form below. Follow Lorenz on Twitter @aBookPublicist. Want help titling a book? Check out Scott Lorenz’s new award winning, bestselling book: Book Title Generator- A Proven System in Naming Your Book www.BookTitleGenerator.net.
Would you like help promoting your book?
If so, tell us a little about your book. What is the title? Do you have a publisher? What is the publish date? How many pages is your book? What is the cost? Do you have web site? What is your specific goal I.E., to make money, raise awareness, get the attention of an agent or publisher, sell the story to a movie or TV studio or something else?
Submit the form below with this information and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you!
by Scott Lorenz | Author Advice, Blog, Book Marketing, Book Promotion, Book Publishing, Marketing a Book, Promoting a Book, Television, Writing a Book
By Scott Lorenz
Westwind Communications
With hard work, perseverance and a little luck, your book could be “Cruisin” with Smokey Robinson to the bestseller list and you will be “Dancin’ in the Streets” with Martha and the Vandellas.
Who doesn’t love the music of Motown? Smokey Robinson, Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, Gladys Knight, The Temptations, Lionel Richie and The Four Tops – their classic songs have entertained people from all walks of life for over 50 years.
I recently noticed that the titles of some of the biggest Motown hits also suggest some important themes that can help guide authors to improve their careers. Let’s have a look:
“What’s Goin’ On” (Marvin Gaye) advises you to educate yourself on what is going on in the publishing industry. It’s a moving target; what worked last year might not work today. It’s imperative that authors keep abreast of the changing publishing industry by reading books and magazine articles, going to book fairs and festivals and attending writer’s conferences.
“I Heard It Through The Grapevine” (Marvin Gaye) tells you to use today’s version of the grapevine, social media such as Twitter and Facebook, to promote your literary work. Authors should be sure to stay up to date about what others are saying about them, their work, and what their competitors are publishing as well. Be sure to keep your page updated and have frequent interaction with your followers to retain their interest.
“Respect” (Aretha Franklin) reminds you to treat others the way you want to be treated. Share resources and knowledge with fellow authors. Respond to comments and questions on social media. Take on a mentee. Be kind. Network. Respect the time and effort you’ve put into your craft and help others to do the same.
“Shop Around” (The Miracles) advises you to “shop” for the best book publisher, publicist, and others who can help make your book a success. This is not similar to shopping for commodities at the mall or grocery store; you should go with the person who provides the best quality for your needs, rather than the one with the lowest price. An investment in good editing, good book cover design and good marketing will help create a solid foundation in the long run.
“Signed, Sealed, Delivered” (Stevie Wonder) When signing a publishing deal make sure to look over the fine print, and ask questions about the contract. You, as the author, do not want to be obligated to terms that you were not aware of. Remember, “Ain’t Nothin’ Like the Real Thing” (Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell) so make sure you ask a lawyer to look over the contract before you sign.
“It Takes Two” (Marvin Gaye and Kim Weston), and “Rescue Me” (Aretha Franklin). Don’t be afraid to ask for help because publishing and marketing a book can be a nerve-wracking and overwhelming task for a first-time author. Do not wait until you need a rescue before calling in the professionals. As a book marketing expert, I’ve seen many authors make costly decisions that have to be rectified, which include bad titles, bad covers, bad editing, or lack thereof. “Stop in the Name of Love” (The Supremes) for your book.
“Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” (Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell) inspires you to be steadfast and resilient in order to be successful. For example, 100+ publishers rejected Mark Victor Hanson, author of Chicken Soup for the Soul, but he had the tenacity to keep searching for someone who would publish him.
The Bottom Line: “You Can’t Hurry Love,” (The Supremes). Success will not happen overnight and it’s not always easy as “ABC” (Jackson 5). But it doesn’t have to be a “Ball of Confusion” (Temptations.) With hard work, perseverance and a little luck, your book could be “Cruisin” with Smokey Robinson to the bestseller list and you will be “Dancin’ in the Streets” with Martha and the Vandellas.
Book publicist Scott Lorenz is President of Westwind Communications, a public relations and marketing firm that has a special knack for working with authors to help them get all the publicity they deserve and more. Lorenz works with bestselling authors and self-published authors promoting all types of books, whether it’s their first book or their 15th book. He’s handled publicity for books by CEOs, CIA Officers, Navy SEALS, Homemakers, Fitness Gurus, Doctors, Lawyers and Adventurers. His clients have been featured by Good Morning America, FOX & Friends, CNN, ABC News, New York Times, Nightline, TIME, PBS, LA Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Woman’s World, & Howard Stern to name a few.
Learn more about Westwind Communications’ book marketing approach at https://WestwindBookMarketing.com or contact Lorenz at scottlorenz@westwindcos.com or 734-667-2090 or fill out the form below. Follow Lorenz on Twitter @aBookPublicist. Want help titling a book? Check out Scott Lorenz’s new award winning, bestselling book: Book Title Generator- A Proven System in Naming Your Book www.BookTitleGenerator.net.
Would you like help promoting your book?
If so, tell us a little about your book. What is the title? Do you have a publisher? What is the publish date? How many pages is your book? What is the cost? Do you have web site? What is your specific goal I.E., to make money, raise awareness, get the attention of an agent or publisher, sell the story to a movie or TV studio or something else?
Submit the form below with this information and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you!
by Scott Lorenz | Author Advice, Blog, Book Marketing, Book Promotion, Book Publicity, Book Publishing, Marketing a Book, Promoting a Book
By Scott Lorenz
Westwind Communications
Over the years many authors have complained about the time, energy, harassment, and money required to get bookstores to stock their book. They bemoaned the fact that there was not a better way and dealing with bookstores seemed like a necessary evil to be endured, and endured and endured again.
Well, now there is a better way and authors who don’t want to invest themselves or their money in bookstores have another choice. I will wait until the loud and wild applause subsides before continuing.
A business associate and friend, Brian Jud, has come up with an alternative, revolutionary method to help authors sell their books to non-bookstore buyers on a non-returnable, commission basis.
Instead of dealing with dozens of bookstores, the author can instead tap into thousands of sales persons to sell their books to buyers in schools, corporations, associations, and government agencies.
Writers working with Brian Jud’s Premium Book Company, LCC, will have their books shown in a catalog used by 65,000 commissioned sales people to sell to buyers, on a non-returnable basis, with whom they have a relationship. When an order is taken the seller buys the book from the author at 60 percent off the list price and the seller pays the shipping charges.
Writers who sign up with Premium Book Company will:
- Have sales representation to non-bookstore buyers for as long as the book is in print.
- Have their book displayed on the company’s search engine accessible by even more sales people.
- Pay a one-time set up fee of $250 for the first title, $175 for the second title and $125 for each additional title added to the catalog.
- Have an option of buying quarter-page, half-page or full-page ads in the catalog.
- Be able to exhibit books at major premium shows.
- Have access to video tutorials which show how authors can tap the non-traditional book store market.
In effect, the author hires a national sales force of 65,000 for $250. “We know who and where the buyers are, and what they want, and so are equipped to do all the selling and negotiating for the writer,” Brian tells me. “The author gets incremental revenue without having to do any of the selling. And once the one-time catalog set-up fee is paid we sell on a commission-only basis.”
The advantage to his approach is that the author can focus on writing and appearing at book signings or seminars and leave the selling to others. So there should be a shorter time between books which allows the author to build his reputation amongst readers even faster. I share the same advice with writers about why they should hire a professional PR firm to market their books.
While a good idea in general, attending book fairs and exhibits also can rob authors of valuable time that could be spent researching and writing their next book. It is necessary, of course, for authors to attend book signings but there is no reason why they should not rely on the Premium Book Company to represent them and display their book(s) at trade shows, conferences, and book fairs.
If you want to know more about this unique sales approach and how it might benefit you personally contact Brian Jud at BrianJud@bookmarketing.com. He’s a busy guy but he had time to talk with me so I’m pretty sure he will take time to talk with you. You can also check out his website at: http://premiumbookcompany.com/
I would not want any writer, however, to misinterpret my comments about traditional book stores with selling books, especially digital books, at online book outlets. Any author seeking to be a best seller needs also to make their book available on amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, and similar online outlets and hire a professional PR firm to make sure readers know the book is available.
The Bottom Line: Check out the non-bookstore option because once a book is sold into this channel its stays sold unlike the traditional bookstore channel where books are ‘sold’ on consignment.
Book publicist Scott Lorenz is President of Westwind Communications, a public relations and marketing firm that has a special knack for working with authors to help them get all the publicity they deserve and more. Lorenz works with bestselling authors and self-published authors promoting all types of books, whether it’s their first book or their 15th book. He’s handled publicity for books by CEOs, CIA Officers, Navy SEALS, Homemakers, Fitness Gurus, Doctors, Lawyers and Adventurers. His clients have been featured by Good Morning America, FOX & Friends, CNN, ABC News, New York Times, Nightline, TIME, PBS, LA Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Woman’s World, & Howard Stern to name a few.
Learn more about Westwind Communications’ book marketing approach at https://WestwindBookMarketing.com or contact Lorenz at scottlorenz@westwindcos.com or 734-667-2090 or fill out the form below. Follow Lorenz on Twitter @aBookPublicist. Want help titling a book? Check out Scott Lorenz’s new award winning, bestselling book: Book Title Generator- A Proven System in Naming Your Book www.BookTitleGenerator.net.
Would you like help promoting your book?
If so, tell us a little about your book. What is the title? Do you have a publisher? What is the publish date? How many pages is your book? What is the cost? Do you have web site? What is your specific goal I.E., to make money, raise awareness, get the attention of an agent or publisher, sell the story to a movie or TV studio or something else?
Submit the form below with this information and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you!
by Scott Lorenz | Author Advice, Book Events, Book Marketing, Social Media
By Scott Lorenz
Westwind Communications
One creative way to get publicity for your book is to tie it to a holiday or special event. You’ll be able to reach out to the media who often need a ‘reason’ to showcase your book right now. Furthermore, you may be able to reach your audience on a more personal level by promoting your book alongside a national holiday, theme month, or cause. There are thousands of holidays that celebrate various concepts as well as traditional holidays that can be used to market your book; you just have to find them.
There are a couple of terrific websites that are perfect for authors by providing a searchable list of national days of ‘this or that’ for every day of the year. On Days of The Year site, I searched ‘book’ and found dozens of relevant days. For example, November 1st is National Author’s Day. Who knew? The site provides background about who started an event, when it started and just enough info for you to tie your book in to the holiday.
Another site is Holiday Insights. They have listings for each day of the month. There are plenty of examples I could enumerate but check it out and see for yourself. With so many possibilities, finding holidays that can be linked to your book will be no problem. Check them out at these links: https://www.daysoftheyear.com/ and https://www.holidayinsights.com/
How do you tie your book into a national month like Breast Cancer Awareness month? I once promoted Jackie Miles, author of Cold Rock River, during Bipolar Disorder Awareness Month because she was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. I also tied a promotion of a horse rescue group into the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont races because the country is focused and interested in horses during that time of year.
I also once got television and newspaper coverage for a dentist when we came up with a sugar-free Easter basket. We offered parents tips on how to give non-sugar-filled treats over the holiday and received tremendous exposure by doing so. This would be a perfect technique for a dentist with a book as well.
I also promoted a book about sports clichés tapping into the season of each sport and the author’s commentary and collection of clichés about that sport during its season.
For example, we pitched sports writers about football during the time they are covering it and baseball during the summer months. I know it may sound basic, but people don’t want to hear about hockey in the summer, so you have to tailor your pitch and timing accordingly.
In my experience, subjects such as military books and novels do very well before anniversaries of dates of military and historical events like Memorial Day, July 4th, D-Day, Pearl Harbor Day, 911 etc.
Books on the topic of overcoming breast cancer will see increased sales during October due to Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Simply think about the subject matter of your book or any cause that is close to you, personally, and promote your book alongside the specific occasion, cause, or holiday.
Other holidays and cause or theme months to consider include:
- January
- New Years
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- Chinese New Year
- February
- Black History Month
- Groundhog Day
- Valentine’s Day
- President’s Day
- Ash Wednesday
- March
- Women’s History Month
- Read Across America Day
- St. Patrick’s Day
- First Day of Spring
- April
- Autism Awareness Month
- Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month
- April Fools Day
- Easter (Sunday)
- Earth Day
- May
- National Pet Month
- Social Media Month
- May Day
- Cinco de Mayo
- Mother’s Day
- Armed Forces Day
- Memorial Day
- June
- LGBT Pride Month
- D-Day Anniversary
- Father’s Day
- First Day of Summer
- July
- Independence Day/ 4th of July
- August
- Friendship Day
- “Back to School”
- September
- Labor Day
- Grandparent’s Day
- Patriot Day (9/11)
- International Day of Peace
- First Day of Fall
- October
- National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
- Columbus Day
- Sweetest Day
- National Boss Day
- United Nations Day
- Halloween
- November
- Veteran’s Day
- Thanksgiving
- December
- Pearl Harbor Day
- First Day of Winter
- Christmas
- New Year’s Eve
The Bottom Line: Find a way to tie your book to special events or holidays and you’ll increase your chances of getting media coverage.
Members of the press are looking for unique and interesting twists on every holiday. Create the angle that will entice them to interview YOU!
Book publicist Scott Lorenz is President of Westwind Communications, a public relations and marketing firm that has a special knack for working with authors to help them get all the publicity they deserve and more. Lorenz works with bestselling authors and self-published authors promoting all types of books, whether it’s their first book or their 15th book. He’s handled publicity for books by CEOs, CIA Officers, Navy SEALS, Homemakers, Fitness Gurus, Doctors, Lawyers and Adventurers. His clients have been featured by Good Morning America, FOX & Friends, CNN, ABC News, New York Times, Nightline, TIME, PBS, LA Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Woman’s World, & Howard Stern to name a few.
Learn more about Westwind Communications’ book marketing approach at https://WestwindBookMarketing.com or contact Lorenz at scottlorenz@westwindcos.com or 734-667-2090 or fill out the form below. Follow Lorenz on Twitter @aBookPublicist. Want help titling a book? Check out Scott Lorenz’s new award winning, bestselling book: Book Title Generator- A Proven System in Naming Your Book www.BookTitleGenerator.net.
Would you like help promoting your book?
If so, tell us a little about your book. What is the title? Do you have a publisher? What is the publish date? How many pages is your book? What is the cost? Do you have web site? What is your specific goal I.E., to make money, raise awareness, get the attention of an agent or publisher, sell the story to a movie or TV studio or something else?
Submit the form below with this information and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you!
