Why can't the "evangelical" publishing houses come up with a name? EGADS! They came out of the gate in 1950 abusing the label "Christian" fiction when the work they put out (according to their own words) was "targeted" fiction for their store visitors ONLY (the then Baptist Bookstores and now Lifeway, Mardel's etc . . .) and not fiction that would appeal to ALL readers who fit under the umbrella Christian. Even today they mark their demographic as evangelicals and SOME Catholics. Not sure what that is about. Weird huh?
The label seems to be mutating now into ALL kinds of different things to thoroughly confuse anyone who is interested. Here are some examples:
Edgy Christian Fiction
Mainstream Christian Fiction
Family Friendly Fiction
and the list goes on and on and on with new ones popping up every day.
What's wrong with just picking a name and sticking with it? Can you imagine if Harlequin had the same problem? LOL We might be seeing markets like:
Mainstream Romance Almost
Scripted Romance
The First Kiss Always Happens on Page 32 Romance
Romance You Don't Have to Predict So You Can Enjoy the Story
But Harlequin doesn't have this problem. Their branding says it all. They have a HUGE readership and will keep it because some folk LOVE that style of writing. Take note "evangelical" publishers. PLEASE! You're driving me crazy.
And for the record, if C. S. Lewis actually started his writing career today, no Christian publisher would take him but of course he would soar in the general market as that's the market he wrote for. I suspect he'd be as ardently against such publishers being wishy-washy about their branding as I am. I suspect he'd be more like William P. Young in telling them to buzz off once they actually came to him after turning him down BEFORE his "own" marketing efforts garnished him a significant number of sales.
Showing posts with label Ingram Spring Arbor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ingram Spring Arbor. Show all posts
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Christian Small Publisher Book of the Year Award
Below is a fine example of what everyone should know about anything labeled "Christian" when it comes to publishing.
Nothing can be grander for an author than to learn their work appeals to an audience they never knew existed. At the same time nothing could be more disconcerting than to be collectively ignored by each and every publisher and media outlet that serve that audience.
Even the awards for books written for this specific audience are geared to "weed out" undesirables or rather those authors who dare to write outside CBA's restrictive guidelines that target a denomination instead of embracing the fact that we all serve the same God.
Yes, like many awards labeled "Christian" I considered entering this one (why wouldn't I? I are one.) I went straight to eligibility and found this:
Wow! They even went a step further to define "Christian market place." Even took it one more step further to say that CBA, an exclusive trade organization (because member publishers and bookstores have to pay fees to belong) actually serves a specific audience of Christians and not all Christian readers.
For those who are new to my blog, I'll briefly lay out my experiences with attempting to gain marketability in the "Christian Marketplace." I was told that all I needed to do was have my books approved by Ingram's Spring Arbor. I did that. Keep in mind, I don't write for CBA's audience. Didn't even know what a CBA was until their audience started raving about my books. The next thing I learned was that Spring Arbor approval isn't what it's cracked up to be. Large Christian Bookstores do not order books based on Spring Arbor approval. They only order books from publishers who serve their "target" audience.
In the past they only ordered books from CBA affiliated publishers but have moved a tiny minuscule nudge to allow books from non-affiliated "targeted" publishers. I've since had my books "unapproved" by Spring Arbor.
The conclusion is that based on the eligibility rules, the winner will be the same old same old. Tacking the label "Christian" on simply marks it as "targeted" work which is fine if that's what you enjoy reading. Just don't think it represents titles that appeal to general market readers, Christian or otherwise.
Aw, you probably didn't anyway. Most folks already know. ;D
Nothing can be grander for an author than to learn their work appeals to an audience they never knew existed. At the same time nothing could be more disconcerting than to be collectively ignored by each and every publisher and media outlet that serve that audience.
Even the awards for books written for this specific audience are geared to "weed out" undesirables or rather those authors who dare to write outside CBA's restrictive guidelines that target a denomination instead of embracing the fact that we all serve the same God.
Yes, like many awards labeled "Christian" I considered entering this one (why wouldn't I? I are one.) I went straight to eligibility and found this:
Books must be Christian in nature, promote the Christian faith, and intended for the Christian marketplace. The Christian marketplace is defined as the marketplace that is served by CBA member retail stores
Wow! They even went a step further to define "Christian market place." Even took it one more step further to say that CBA, an exclusive trade organization (because member publishers and bookstores have to pay fees to belong) actually serves a specific audience of Christians and not all Christian readers.
For those who are new to my blog, I'll briefly lay out my experiences with attempting to gain marketability in the "Christian Marketplace." I was told that all I needed to do was have my books approved by Ingram's Spring Arbor. I did that. Keep in mind, I don't write for CBA's audience. Didn't even know what a CBA was until their audience started raving about my books. The next thing I learned was that Spring Arbor approval isn't what it's cracked up to be. Large Christian Bookstores do not order books based on Spring Arbor approval. They only order books from publishers who serve their "target" audience.
In the past they only ordered books from CBA affiliated publishers but have moved a tiny minuscule nudge to allow books from non-affiliated "targeted" publishers. I've since had my books "unapproved" by Spring Arbor.
The conclusion is that based on the eligibility rules, the winner will be the same old same old. Tacking the label "Christian" on simply marks it as "targeted" work which is fine if that's what you enjoy reading. Just don't think it represents titles that appeal to general market readers, Christian or otherwise.
Aw, you probably didn't anyway. Most folks already know. ;D
Thursday, January 27, 2011
On-line Christian Stores - Clueless!
It would seem to me that if you're in business then you should know a little bit about the business you're in. I realize that in a perfect world . . .
So I'll lay the scenario out. Initially I wrote a book. Based on grand reviews and a few higher-than-low placements on particular lists that tout the best in horror and fantasy fiction, it has done fairly well and is still doing well. As a surprise to me, I garnished readers from a very unique group of Christian readers. As a result I sought to market to these readers as well once I learned they had their own bookstores it seemed, on-line and otherwise. The best way to do this, according to things I READ, was to have your book approved by Ingram's Spring Arbor. I actually talked to my publisher, Ingram's Lightning Source, to verify that what I learned was correct, that my books, if approved, would be available to the Christian market. "Oh yes," was their reply, though I'm certain now their fingers were crossed when they said this. They may have even smirked but it's hard to tell when on the phone.
You see, Ingram has one definition for Christian market and the Christian Booksellers Association who sold Spring Arbor to Ingram (see other post concerning dates) has a completely "nuther" definition. CBA defines the Christian market as those books that target their core market readers. Ingram's Spring Arbor defines Christian market as, well, any book that is about, has to deal with or otherwise sort of points to a religious theme for ANY faith that operates under the broader label Christian. Ironically however, Spring Arbor is a CBA member, a privately owned company is a fee-paying member. Okay. Whatever.
In spite of this, Brick & Mortar Christian bookstores or rather once-upon-a-time Baptist bookstores, still only place books in their store that are either from CBA affiliated publishers or publishers who proclaim they write for the same very targeted audience CBA pegs.
On-line Christian Bookstores are a leeeetle more forgiving and a leeeeetle more concerned with doing things right only they seem not to know what that is. To that I say, get a clue or drown in your ignorance.
When I found that my Spring Arbor approved book was showing up in on-line bookstores that clearly only pulled from Spring Arbor and not Ingram themselves, I rushed like crazy to have it unapproved. I was losing general market readers who thought I wrote targeted Christian fiction!!! YIKES!
Just yesterday I saw the once Spring Arbor approved edition of Never Ceese on an on-line Christian website. I called them to ask them what was up. Mock conversation follows:
Sue: Can you tell me how my book is showing up on your site please? In other words, are you showing it as available through Spring Arbor.
Guy: Yes. It's available through Ingram.
Sue: Yes, I realize that. But do you show it showing up in Spring Arbor.
Guy: Spring Arbor is Ingram.
Sue: Yes, Spring Arbor is Ingram's Christian arm but do you show my book as available through Spring Arbor as I had it unapproved so this wouldn't happen.
Guy: Well we pull books from many distributors.
Sue: None of whom should distribute my book as my distributor is Ingram. But just to clarify could you share who some of those other distributors are?
Guy: (rattles off a wide variety of distributors who only distribute targeted Christian fiction for that CBA market all of whom I know because I know all these distributors.) . . . and Ingram.
Sue: You said Ingram. Did you mean Spring Arbor?
Guy: (that classy line again) Ingram is Spring Arbor.
Sue: What I wanted to say--ARRRRGGGGGHHHHH!!! What I said instead - "You're telling me you list books that are in Ingram's system that haven't been approved by Spring Arbor.
Guy: Yes. We automatically pull from Ingram.
Sue: Ah, but if that were true then you'd be showing the newer edition of Never Ceese as it too is with Ingram. So basically you only "automatically" list books from Spring Arbor which is fine but you should at least have a working knowledge of who Spring Arbor is. And by the way, my book is no longer approved by Spring Arbor and if someone called to order this book through you, you won't be able to get it for them EVEN though it is still in Ingram's system.
Guy: Well we could ban your book if you don't want it showing up on our book site.
*I'm not lying. This is what this guy said. LOLROFL*
Sue: I just don't want my book showing up on sites where ONLY targeted fiction is listed if not primarily and I've gone through the process of fixing this. It's clear the process isn't complete yet so I'll now call Lighting Source.
Conclusion: LSI did unapprove my book as asked and verified that I was correct in my thinking about Spring Arbor and Ingram, that they were separate. So if you don't want your work associated with that targeted market of Christendom who uses the broader label of "Christian" to define everything they put out then you best stay away from Spring Arbor. Otherwise your general market readers will avoid you like the plague. Fortunately I had my general market following first. *Sue wipes forehead with hand.* Whew!
So I'll lay the scenario out. Initially I wrote a book. Based on grand reviews and a few higher-than-low placements on particular lists that tout the best in horror and fantasy fiction, it has done fairly well and is still doing well. As a surprise to me, I garnished readers from a very unique group of Christian readers. As a result I sought to market to these readers as well once I learned they had their own bookstores it seemed, on-line and otherwise. The best way to do this, according to things I READ, was to have your book approved by Ingram's Spring Arbor. I actually talked to my publisher, Ingram's Lightning Source, to verify that what I learned was correct, that my books, if approved, would be available to the Christian market. "Oh yes," was their reply, though I'm certain now their fingers were crossed when they said this. They may have even smirked but it's hard to tell when on the phone.
You see, Ingram has one definition for Christian market and the Christian Booksellers Association who sold Spring Arbor to Ingram (see other post concerning dates) has a completely "nuther" definition. CBA defines the Christian market as those books that target their core market readers. Ingram's Spring Arbor defines Christian market as, well, any book that is about, has to deal with or otherwise sort of points to a religious theme for ANY faith that operates under the broader label Christian. Ironically however, Spring Arbor is a CBA member, a privately owned company is a fee-paying member. Okay. Whatever.
In spite of this, Brick & Mortar Christian bookstores or rather once-upon-a-time Baptist bookstores, still only place books in their store that are either from CBA affiliated publishers or publishers who proclaim they write for the same very targeted audience CBA pegs.
On-line Christian Bookstores are a leeeetle more forgiving and a leeeeetle more concerned with doing things right only they seem not to know what that is. To that I say, get a clue or drown in your ignorance.
When I found that my Spring Arbor approved book was showing up in on-line bookstores that clearly only pulled from Spring Arbor and not Ingram themselves, I rushed like crazy to have it unapproved. I was losing general market readers who thought I wrote targeted Christian fiction!!! YIKES!
Just yesterday I saw the once Spring Arbor approved edition of Never Ceese on an on-line Christian website. I called them to ask them what was up. Mock conversation follows:
Sue: Can you tell me how my book is showing up on your site please? In other words, are you showing it as available through Spring Arbor.
Guy: Yes. It's available through Ingram.
Sue: Yes, I realize that. But do you show it showing up in Spring Arbor.
Guy: Spring Arbor is Ingram.
Sue: Yes, Spring Arbor is Ingram's Christian arm but do you show my book as available through Spring Arbor as I had it unapproved so this wouldn't happen.
Guy: Well we pull books from many distributors.
Sue: None of whom should distribute my book as my distributor is Ingram. But just to clarify could you share who some of those other distributors are?
Guy: (rattles off a wide variety of distributors who only distribute targeted Christian fiction for that CBA market all of whom I know because I know all these distributors.) . . . and Ingram.
Sue: You said Ingram. Did you mean Spring Arbor?
Guy: (that classy line again) Ingram is Spring Arbor.
Sue: What I wanted to say--ARRRRGGGGGHHHHH!!! What I said instead - "You're telling me you list books that are in Ingram's system that haven't been approved by Spring Arbor.
Guy: Yes. We automatically pull from Ingram.
Sue: Ah, but if that were true then you'd be showing the newer edition of Never Ceese as it too is with Ingram. So basically you only "automatically" list books from Spring Arbor which is fine but you should at least have a working knowledge of who Spring Arbor is. And by the way, my book is no longer approved by Spring Arbor and if someone called to order this book through you, you won't be able to get it for them EVEN though it is still in Ingram's system.
Guy: Well we could ban your book if you don't want it showing up on our book site.
*I'm not lying. This is what this guy said. LOLROFL*
Sue: I just don't want my book showing up on sites where ONLY targeted fiction is listed if not primarily and I've gone through the process of fixing this. It's clear the process isn't complete yet so I'll now call Lighting Source.
Conclusion: LSI did unapprove my book as asked and verified that I was correct in my thinking about Spring Arbor and Ingram, that they were separate. So if you don't want your work associated with that targeted market of Christendom who uses the broader label of "Christian" to define everything they put out then you best stay away from Spring Arbor. Otherwise your general market readers will avoid you like the plague. Fortunately I had my general market following first. *Sue wipes forehead with hand.* Whew!
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Author Sue Dent, HELP!
Well for some reason I can NOT figure out some do come to me to ask, "How do I get where you are in publishing?"
Why anyone would WANT to be where I am in publishing, flat broke with no hope of making any money at all off my writring (zero sells for the past hmmm, oh I stopped counting) except for the books I sell myself which are few and far between, is BEYOND ME! But hey, misery loves company and the more the merrier. If you choose my lifestyle I'd be more than happy to tell you how to get here. Oh, it will all come out good in the end. ;D
Okay so here's the premise for a series of blogs, (I know I just won't shut up) about the BEST way to proceed if what you want is to be like me. And who wouldn't want that!
Here's the skinny:
Sue,
Because I know this is a LOADED question, not to mention you dedicate so much of your blog to it . . . but any thoughts on how to go about actually choosing a "good" way to self publish, such as who to choose to print the work, etc.?
Since my work is definitely not "christian" fiction in any way, I won't need to worry about all of the CBA nonsense, thankfully. But I obviously still want to choose a venue that will allow me to have some (if any) say over where my books can be shelved, although I don't have a particular aversion to trying out the "traditional" publishing route, I want to have a solid self publishing path in mind since it's so damn hard to get published in the first place!
I'm trying to do all of my research now so that when the edit is finished, I have some direction as to where to head next. ;) So any thoughts are welcome.
So there you have it. There is a LOT on my blog already but sometimes it helps to follow an author along. And since this author has listened and followed the first step, seeking and finding an excellent PROFESSIONAL editor and understanding that this is the biggest investment an author should make and not PAYING for advertising, then I think it would only be nice of me to tell her where I went next etc . . .
So follow Rachel and I along on Rachel's publishing journey and you will see that I do indeed know what I'm talking about whether anybody wants to HEAR it or not. ;D
Why anyone would WANT to be where I am in publishing, flat broke with no hope of making any money at all off my writring (zero sells for the past hmmm, oh I stopped counting) except for the books I sell myself which are few and far between, is BEYOND ME! But hey, misery loves company and the more the merrier. If you choose my lifestyle I'd be more than happy to tell you how to get here. Oh, it will all come out good in the end. ;D
Okay so here's the premise for a series of blogs, (I know I just won't shut up) about the BEST way to proceed if what you want is to be like me. And who wouldn't want that!
Here's the skinny:
Sue,
Because I know this is a LOADED question, not to mention you dedicate so much of your blog to it . . . but any thoughts on how to go about actually choosing a "good" way to self publish, such as who to choose to print the work, etc.?
Since my work is definitely not "christian" fiction in any way, I won't need to worry about all of the CBA nonsense, thankfully. But I obviously still want to choose a venue that will allow me to have some (if any) say over where my books can be shelved, although I don't have a particular aversion to trying out the "traditional" publishing route, I want to have a solid self publishing path in mind since it's so damn hard to get published in the first place!
I'm trying to do all of my research now so that when the edit is finished, I have some direction as to where to head next. ;) So any thoughts are welcome.
So there you have it. There is a LOT on my blog already but sometimes it helps to follow an author along. And since this author has listened and followed the first step, seeking and finding an excellent PROFESSIONAL editor and understanding that this is the biggest investment an author should make and not PAYING for advertising, then I think it would only be nice of me to tell her where I went next etc . . .
So follow Rachel and I along on Rachel's publishing journey and you will see that I do indeed know what I'm talking about whether anybody wants to HEAR it or not. ;D
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)