Well it seems that when you become a grand author such as myself, meaning that if your name shows up on the internet more than a few times, before long you MIGHT be asked to give a book endorsement. I must say that I've had a few ask already but so far only from authors who are writing for the targeted market of Christians that CBA (a trade association who charge publishers a fee to belong and writes exclusive "Christian" fiction) serves.
WHY?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Do these authors NOT read my blogs? Do they NOT read anything about me. Why would I ever endorse a book written for a targeted market I've NO interest in reading?????? Do you think I'm going to suddenly LIKE the agenda based, restrictive and awkward writing styles?
No! I won't! EVER!!!!!! I don't write for that market and while I see nothing wrong with creating stories for targeted markets, I DO see very much wrong with NOT sharing who your target market is and claiming a broad label to identify your work with thus making things so very confusing.
EGADS!!!!!
Do your homework!!!! My stories often have the label Christian attached to them because my stories boast a theme that appeals to CBA readers. That certainly doesn't mean I write the kind of fiction those publishers put out.
Furthermore, if you knew anything about me you'd know not to ask for an endorsement if you're writing for that targeted market. So maybe you're new to all this and don't know this about me. Fair enough. But a little googling will set you straight right away.
Really! I promise you it will.
I am NOT the one to ask for endorsements if you write for an affiliated publisher or a publisher who targets that CBA or ECPA audience. I can assure you of this!
Showing posts with label general market. Show all posts
Showing posts with label general market. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
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
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
What being flagged for the Christian market means.
******Repost for my non-affiliated Christian author friends. Boring to anyone else***
I try to provide information to new authors as I go through things myself. One thing I'm able to share now is just what being flagged for the Christian market means.
Some facts:
* Ingram/Spring Arbor is the main line of distribution for the Christian market.
* An author does not have to be published by a CBA or ECPA affiliated publisher to have their work considered and deemed Christian.
But does being flagged for the Christian market by Ingram/Spring Arbor mean immediate distribution into any of the bigger Christian Booksellers stores? Of course not. Neither does having distribution through Ingram mean you get into any of the bigger general market bookstores.
However, without having Ingram/Spring Arbor distribution or rather being flagged for the Christian market, no Christian Book Store on-line or otherwise can even order your book.
Before you rush right out to submit your book to Ingram/Spring Arbor you might consider this. While Ingram/Spring Arbor will bring books into distribution that aren't affiliated with the two gatekeeper associations created by Christian Book Stores in the 1960's to make sure the work put out didn't offend their market, they can't guarantee you anything.
If you check with the larger Christian Book Sellers such as Lifeway and Mardels you'll find that while they do get distribution through Ingram/Spring Arbor they'll recheck any title that comes into their store for acceptance by their conservative evangelical market. Lifeway even goes as far as to question books provided by CBA and ECPA affiliated publishers, the very associations they helped spawn in the 1960s.
Bottom line, pay attention. If some of your readers come from that targeted market CBA and ECPA serve and you want to get to those readers where they shop, submit your book to Ingram/Spring Arbor. Though most bigger Christian booksellers won't put it on their shelf, at least they can order it if a customer ask for it.
It's also helpful to remember that all bigger Christian Book Sellers do target a particular Christian market and not the broader Christian market. That's why they subject all books coming in to another round of scrutiny before they even think about putting anything on their shelf. Books published by the bigger CBA and ECPA affiliated publishers like Thomas Nelson, Zondervan, Bethany House, Nav Press, David C. Cook do automatically go on the shelves though Christian Books Sellers won't hesitate to pull them if a customer says something. And yes, one customer can actually make a difference.
Some comments made somewhere else where I posted this and my responses:
C. says - Great information Sue! Thanks!
God bless!
C.
Sue says - Thank you C. I find it extremely interesting how little authors actually know about Ingram/Spring Arbor. I know I was clueless. I actually thought once I was in, I could finally do signings at my local Lifeway. Nope. Lifeway is exclusive to their own specific niche market. But at least a customer can get your book if they want to order it if you have distribution through Spring Arbor.
Now I learn all of the bigger Christian Book Sellers are like this, exclusive to a specific Christian market. CBA and ECPA affiliated publishers have to be getting worried as now it seems the larger Christian Book Sellers are even turning on them! YIKES! What is the world coming to. :)
D. says - Info from someone who has been down the road - totally the most valuable info I have seen in a long time.
Sue says - Thank you D. :) I wish I could say I knew it all. I also wish I could say that what I've learned doesn't make me wonder why CBA and ECPA affiliated publishers believe they are the Christian market. They're a large part of it yes, if money has anything to say about it but that's it.
And now these affiliated publishers who wanted to fill affiliated Christian book stores with their targeted fiction (so their readers could find them of course,) are leaving Christian bookstores in droves. And they don't want their work in the Christian section the general market bookstores now provide, they want their targeted fiction mixed in with the general market fiction. Can you say running around in a big OL' Circle?
CBA and ECPA affiliated publishers are breaking their necks to say they don't write targeted fiction. Michael Hyatt can't seem to say it enough lately. Yet they do. It's the audience they were created to serve. Sure. They've loosened up a little, gotten a little "edgier" if you will. (I personally hate that word) but they still write for a targeted audience and should be in the Christian section and nowhere near the bookshelves where general market fiction sits.
What are markets for if not to help readers find things?
I try to provide information to new authors as I go through things myself. One thing I'm able to share now is just what being flagged for the Christian market means.
Some facts:
* Ingram/Spring Arbor is the main line of distribution for the Christian market.
* An author does not have to be published by a CBA or ECPA affiliated publisher to have their work considered and deemed Christian.
But does being flagged for the Christian market by Ingram/Spring Arbor mean immediate distribution into any of the bigger Christian Booksellers stores? Of course not. Neither does having distribution through Ingram mean you get into any of the bigger general market bookstores.
However, without having Ingram/Spring Arbor distribution or rather being flagged for the Christian market, no Christian Book Store on-line or otherwise can even order your book.
Before you rush right out to submit your book to Ingram/Spring Arbor you might consider this. While Ingram/Spring Arbor will bring books into distribution that aren't affiliated with the two gatekeeper associations created by Christian Book Stores in the 1960's to make sure the work put out didn't offend their market, they can't guarantee you anything.
If you check with the larger Christian Book Sellers such as Lifeway and Mardels you'll find that while they do get distribution through Ingram/Spring Arbor they'll recheck any title that comes into their store for acceptance by their conservative evangelical market. Lifeway even goes as far as to question books provided by CBA and ECPA affiliated publishers, the very associations they helped spawn in the 1960s.
Bottom line, pay attention. If some of your readers come from that targeted market CBA and ECPA serve and you want to get to those readers where they shop, submit your book to Ingram/Spring Arbor. Though most bigger Christian booksellers won't put it on their shelf, at least they can order it if a customer ask for it.
It's also helpful to remember that all bigger Christian Book Sellers do target a particular Christian market and not the broader Christian market. That's why they subject all books coming in to another round of scrutiny before they even think about putting anything on their shelf. Books published by the bigger CBA and ECPA affiliated publishers like Thomas Nelson, Zondervan, Bethany House, Nav Press, David C. Cook do automatically go on the shelves though Christian Books Sellers won't hesitate to pull them if a customer says something. And yes, one customer can actually make a difference.
Some comments made somewhere else where I posted this and my responses:
C. says - Great information Sue! Thanks!
God bless!
C.
Sue says - Thank you C. I find it extremely interesting how little authors actually know about Ingram/Spring Arbor. I know I was clueless. I actually thought once I was in, I could finally do signings at my local Lifeway. Nope. Lifeway is exclusive to their own specific niche market. But at least a customer can get your book if they want to order it if you have distribution through Spring Arbor.
Now I learn all of the bigger Christian Book Sellers are like this, exclusive to a specific Christian market. CBA and ECPA affiliated publishers have to be getting worried as now it seems the larger Christian Book Sellers are even turning on them! YIKES! What is the world coming to. :)
D. says - Info from someone who has been down the road - totally the most valuable info I have seen in a long time.
Sue says - Thank you D. :) I wish I could say I knew it all. I also wish I could say that what I've learned doesn't make me wonder why CBA and ECPA affiliated publishers believe they are the Christian market. They're a large part of it yes, if money has anything to say about it but that's it.
And now these affiliated publishers who wanted to fill affiliated Christian book stores with their targeted fiction (so their readers could find them of course,) are leaving Christian bookstores in droves. And they don't want their work in the Christian section the general market bookstores now provide, they want their targeted fiction mixed in with the general market fiction. Can you say running around in a big OL' Circle?
CBA and ECPA affiliated publishers are breaking their necks to say they don't write targeted fiction. Michael Hyatt can't seem to say it enough lately. Yet they do. It's the audience they were created to serve. Sure. They've loosened up a little, gotten a little "edgier" if you will. (I personally hate that word) but they still write for a targeted audience and should be in the Christian section and nowhere near the bookshelves where general market fiction sits.
What are markets for if not to help readers find things?
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Caution: advert!
Shameless self-promotion seems to be an avenue that works well for many authors. I can't say that I'd never do this as I'm quite good at it. To be fair however, my shameless self-promotion didn't get my debut novel Never Ceese short-listed for a Bram Stoker award for Superior Achievement in a First Novel nor did it get me voted book club choice for the month of April 2007 at the American Christian Fiction Writers association. Thanks to all who loved my story and made this possible. ((hugs))
Honestly, in retrospect, I can't even say that shameless self-promotion was actually necessary. Better safe than sorry though. ;)
So onto the sequel, Forever Richard. With such a grand start with my first novel (okay it took me a little over a year and a half to get where it is now,) I decided to forgo a little of the shameless self-promotion on my second book. Surely those readers who were so taken, according to reviews, would read Forever Richard and report with equal zeal. Perhaps the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance** would allow me to tour again since my first novel hit number one on Tecnorati the first time they allowed me in.
While reviews are coming in, and thank-you very much for those who've left one, I'm hard pressed to say shameless self-promotion isn't necessary. However, despite what one thinks, shameless self-promotion takes time and I'm a bit busy writing my third installment in my Thirsting for Blood Series, Cyn No More.
Do remember that even though many of my readers are from the niche market CBA and ECPA publishers serve and is oftentimes called Christian Fiction, a term used to define work put out by affiliated publishers, my work is not targeted fiction. There's your incentive to run out in buy it.
It's written to appeal to everyone. Granted it probably won't but I try. :)
I do apologize once again to my CBA and ECPA readers but until the bigger Christian Booksellers (affiliated stores) open their doors to anything other than targeted fiction, you won't find me in those outlets, on-line or otherwise. Smaller Christian bookstores seem to be fine with placing my books but they certainly won't unless people are asking.
Funny how that works.
So say it once, say it twice, say it three times but more that that, buy my books.
Forever Richard and Never Ceese and soon to be released Cyn No More. You won't regret it, I promise. :)
**Anyone can tour CFBA but now it costs $500 and you have to provide books to what could end up being close to 50 bloggers. When I toured I simply had to provide the books. The other stipulation is that if an author isn't affiliated (ahem, that would be me) the book will be evaluated for "appropriateness" according to CBA and ECPA standards or in my case re-evaluated as Spring Arbor has already deemed both of my books "appropriate" for the Christian market. So even if the money wasn't an issue (of course the money is an issue,) having my work re-evaluated when it's already been deemed "appropriate" is.
Honestly, in retrospect, I can't even say that shameless self-promotion was actually necessary. Better safe than sorry though. ;)
So onto the sequel, Forever Richard. With such a grand start with my first novel (okay it took me a little over a year and a half to get where it is now,) I decided to forgo a little of the shameless self-promotion on my second book. Surely those readers who were so taken, according to reviews, would read Forever Richard and report with equal zeal. Perhaps the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance** would allow me to tour again since my first novel hit number one on Tecnorati the first time they allowed me in.
While reviews are coming in, and thank-you very much for those who've left one, I'm hard pressed to say shameless self-promotion isn't necessary. However, despite what one thinks, shameless self-promotion takes time and I'm a bit busy writing my third installment in my Thirsting for Blood Series, Cyn No More.
Do remember that even though many of my readers are from the niche market CBA and ECPA publishers serve and is oftentimes called Christian Fiction, a term used to define work put out by affiliated publishers, my work is not targeted fiction. There's your incentive to run out in buy it.
It's written to appeal to everyone. Granted it probably won't but I try. :)
I do apologize once again to my CBA and ECPA readers but until the bigger Christian Booksellers (affiliated stores) open their doors to anything other than targeted fiction, you won't find me in those outlets, on-line or otherwise. Smaller Christian bookstores seem to be fine with placing my books but they certainly won't unless people are asking.
Funny how that works.
So say it once, say it twice, say it three times but more that that, buy my books.
Forever Richard and Never Ceese and soon to be released Cyn No More. You won't regret it, I promise. :)
**Anyone can tour CFBA but now it costs $500 and you have to provide books to what could end up being close to 50 bloggers. When I toured I simply had to provide the books. The other stipulation is that if an author isn't affiliated (ahem, that would be me) the book will be evaluated for "appropriateness" according to CBA and ECPA standards or in my case re-evaluated as Spring Arbor has already deemed both of my books "appropriate" for the Christian market. So even if the money wasn't an issue (of course the money is an issue,) having my work re-evaluated when it's already been deemed "appropriate" is.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Cyn No More
So Cyn No More looks to be the official title for the third installment of my Thirsting For Blood series. Any comments *be nice* on how that sounds? Of course, you have to be nice or else I'll lovingly delete your comment. Oh the power of being in charge of ones own blog. :)
Saturday, April 25, 2009
The Christian Ghetto.
Lovely term, isn't it? I didn't create it though. I'd never even heard the phrase until I started trying to find more ways to get my books to a particular audience of readers who seemed to be enjoying my work.
I found the term to be a bit derogatory and offensive and researched to learn more. Apparently the term came about as a way to define writing, music, art etc . . . overtly dealing with the Christian market--for the Christian market, Catholic,protestant, you name it.
In the writing arena, fiction produced by the larger Christian publishers, or rather work produced by CBA and ECPA affiliated publishers (and a handful of other publishers who produce fiction for other Faiths not covered by CBA and ECPA) fit this bill. The fiction these publishers turn out is not designed to appeal to general market readers thus the term Christian Ghetto.
In the beginning I was thrilled to have the support of CBA and ECPA market readers and I'm still thrilled. I simply want to make certain it's understood that my work is simply general market fodder equally enjoyed by readers from a very specific market.
Readers interested in both Never Ceese (the re-published paperback ISBN# 9780976994701) and Forever Richard (autographed copy available at www.TheWritersCafe.com) can find my books where ever books are sold. As an added bonus, because of the attention my stories have received from readers of the Christian market, my publisher and I have submitted and qualified for distribution through Spring Arbor.
I found the term to be a bit derogatory and offensive and researched to learn more. Apparently the term came about as a way to define writing, music, art etc . . . overtly dealing with the Christian market--for the Christian market, Catholic,protestant, you name it.
In the writing arena, fiction produced by the larger Christian publishers, or rather work produced by CBA and ECPA affiliated publishers (and a handful of other publishers who produce fiction for other Faiths not covered by CBA and ECPA) fit this bill. The fiction these publishers turn out is not designed to appeal to general market readers thus the term Christian Ghetto.
In the beginning I was thrilled to have the support of CBA and ECPA market readers and I'm still thrilled. I simply want to make certain it's understood that my work is simply general market fodder equally enjoyed by readers from a very specific market.
Readers interested in both Never Ceese (the re-published paperback ISBN# 9780976994701) and Forever Richard (autographed copy available at www.TheWritersCafe.com) can find my books where ever books are sold. As an added bonus, because of the attention my stories have received from readers of the Christian market, my publisher and I have submitted and qualified for distribution through Spring Arbor.
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