By Janice Robeson

“Except a living man there is nothing more wonderful than a book! A message to us from the dead–from human souls whom we never saw, who lived perhaps thousands of miles away; yet these, on those little sheets of paper, speak to us, teach us, comfort us, open their hearts to us as brothers.”

~ Charles Kingsley

With the advent of E-books and E-readers, debates are raging across the internet about the future of traditional books. While it is true that people are buying more digital readers and Amazon announced in July that they sold 143 e-books for every 100 hardcover books over the previous three months—this is not the end of the story.

Here is a statistic from the Association of American Publishers:

New York, NY, August 19, 2010—

“Adult Paperback sales increased 0.9% for the month ($133.7 million) but increased by 12.1% for the year so far.”

E-books actually seem to be spurring more sales of paper books! When books are available online, more people become aware of a particular title, may read the digital version, and then go out and buy the paper book to add to their collection.

What is happening with paper books? Are e-books going to take over and make paper and ink a thing of the past?

I scanned several articles online and the recurrent theme was this… “E-books are portable, lightweight and cheap (after the initial investment for the reading device), offer capacity for downloading numerous titles to your reader, and are interactive. However, the very things that make them attractive can be a disadvantage at the same time.”

Let’s do a comparison list for starters:

Digital Books

• Portable
• Lightweight
• Cheap
• Hold numerous titles
• Interactive
• Good for research
• Device is a moderate cost

Paper Books

• No power needed
• Low maintenance
• Cheap
• Colorful
• Portable
• Low risk for theft
• No distractions
• No risk for new technology making it unreadable.

The controversy continues with discussions about how the digital version is affecting people’s attention span. When reading an e-book, there are many distractions online. This costs you time and interferes with the concentration required to think about what you read.

In one study, workers switched tasks about every three minutes and took over 23 minutes on average to return to a task. If this happens to adults; what about children?

A cognitive neuroscientist stated her concern about a child’s brain…

“that it would not learn to go deeper into the text after the first “decoding” but would rather be pulled by the medium to ever more distracting information, sidebars, etc.”

Because children already have a shorter attention span, digital reading may turn out to be more of a deterrent than a help for their reading development.

E-books are great for non-fiction, current news topics, and in-depth research, but when it comes to novels, poetry and children’s books, paper rules the day. Who likes to curl up in bed with a lighted screen on an electronic gadget?

**From Naomi quoting a fellow blogger in the Jewish Publication Society Blog 7 22 09:

“Reading is a sensory experience in addition to being a way to gather information and to be entertained. A sterile file of book disks in no way can compare to browsing a used bookstore with every corner crammed with books, redolent with the slightly musty smell of old print, coffee and prowling store cats. Nor can it compare to the fresh ink smell of new books and the artistic dust jackets…”

I couldn’t agree with you more, Naomi!

Janice Robeson is the receptionist at WinePress Group and also handles copyright registration and outgoing mail/shipping. She enjoys becoming acquainted with each WinePress author and hearing their particular story.

By Abigail Davidson

As a publicist for WinePress, I have worked with authors all over the world, from close-to-home places like South Carolina, New York, and California to soldiers in Iraq to authors in South Africa and Germany.

Each author has a unique story to tell — a story that often crosses over national boundaries into the whole world.

In our modern world there are many ways to communicate your book to a world-wide audience. Here are some tips for both the publicity and the distribution of your book to your Christian brothers and sisters around the world.

1) World Wide Web:

As its name proclaims, the World Wide Web (www) is an international authors’ open door to a plethora of excellent publicity. Blog tours, in which multiple bloggers post a review of your book on the same day, is an excellent way to tap into a huge readership in one fell swoop.

Book reviews from digital magazines, Christian news websites, and more gives authors the opportunity to have a world-wide audience in a very important way.

With the addition of venues like BlogTalkRadio you are even able to land interviews that can be heard internationally.

2) Website:

Websites are a must for any author who desires to be taken seriously. This also makes the author’s book accessible to an international audience.

3) International Distribution:

Authors need to make sure the publisher they distribute with provides international distribution. It will do no good to advertise to an international audience if they cannot buy your book in their area or online.

4) ICRS:

The International Christian Retail Show is held in the USA annually. It’s a place for retailers, publishers, and media to look for the new product available to their companies. International publishers attend and we have seen several of our authors offered a translation from countries around the world such as Korea, Portugal, and India.

5) Multiple Translations:

If your audience spans the globe you may want to consider adding options for translation. WinePress offers translations in many different languages and this widens your market.

6) Missionary Groups:

Consider offering your book to missionaries, missionary support groups, or missionary-minded churches if appropriate. You may even consider offering your book at a discount to help this ministry.

International authors can reach an audience in the US and abroad, with these tips. You can also partner with WinePress to help you tell the world about your book!

Abigail Davidson has worked with WinePress Publishing since February of 2005. She helps promote WinePress authors through radio, television, print and Internet.  She enjoys helping authors build strong publicity campaigns and platforms.

Look on your desk or in your purse. How many pens do you have with a business name and phone number imprinted on them? Millions of people just like you may not know where these products came from or how they got them, but they use them all the time.

Promotional products can range from printed paper materials like scratch pads, bookmarks, to plush toy animals or tools. They’re a great way to influence people to remember you.

As an author, you can remind people of your book through bookmarks, business cards, or any number of creative creations. There are many ways to spread the message, service, or product you offer.

Authors are particularly very creative with promotional products to match their books. Though bookmarks or postcards provide great introductions, you can expand your reach with additional creative products that showcase your book.

As an example, we have an author who wrote a book on finances. She offers a calculator and piggy bank to help parents teach their children financial responsibility.

Another author has a children’s book and commissioned one of the characters to be made into a plush toy.

Three things you need to put promotional products into your readers’ hands:

1. Brainstorm

Make a list of ideas of things that might relate to your book. With over 750,000 products to put your name or book title on, there will be just the perfect item for you. Choose fun, interesting, or practical products that support your message.

2. Demographics

Narrow down the list of the people you want to reach. Are they home makers, church goers, college students, or business professionals? Consider where they will be when they need your product the most and might pick it up when that time comes.

3. Consultation

Use a great company with a good reputation that can offer you many different choices and help you find the right product for your book. There are many companies to choose from online and off, but a pen or a mug may not be the right product for you. Talking with an expert can help you come up with creative ideas that will draw attention to your book and keep you in the forefront of your audiences minds.

After years of helping authors creatively market their books, WinePress Publishing established Notation Printing & Marketing Group . Since 2007, Notation has helped authors, small businesses, and organizations build strong marketing campaigns and brands. Their marketing experts love to brainstrom ideas for promotional products and programs that generate results.

Your job, as a writer, is to take the reader and bring them into the story. If you have any weakness in developing your plot, characters, or setting,  you would benefit from a screenplay critique.

Triggering Imagination

When you’re formulating your plot, there is one area that is always gray to the author: the readers’ imagination. There is no way to know exactly what your readers will experience when they read what you write. However, you can expand their imagination through good writing. A screenplay critique can help you develop your plot to make it engaging and realistic. Screenwriters know how to trigger certain emotions and imaginations.

“Growing” Your Characters

When the good guy always does good and the bad guy always does bad, doesn’t it make a story boring? There needs to be a struggle – characters that grow. However, if your characters change too much, there is nothing left for the reader to remember them by – they only remember the struggle. (Read Pride And Prejudice for an example of good character development.)

Bringing Your Scenes to Life

Finally, once you have your plot and characters developed, it’s time to bring the reader into the story, by creating vivid scenes.

How?

Simple. Write the scene how you envision it. Working with a professional screenwriter to find the right words for each piece can help you bring the scene to life.

Okay, so why do you need all of this when your goal is simply to reach people with your message? Because readers set aside preachy, boring writing, except in the case of devotionals and commentaries.

Poor writing = poor audience

If you have a message you want to tell people, but the writing is poor or not interesting, readers will not spend enough time to understand what you’re after.  Why not have a screenwriter help you strengthen your writing?

WinePress offers an exclusive service that helps authors with a great story launch to the silver screen. We partner with some of the best screenwriters in the industry help you improve your writing through a screenplay critique and coach you on how to transform your book into a screenplay.

For more information: From Story to Film, or give us a call at 1-800-326-4674.

Monday, August 30, 2010
10:30 a.m. Mountain Time

Eleanor Clark, author of The Legacy of Lord Baden-Powell, will appear on the Coffee Break Hour with host Sherry Kaiser. The show airs on KCMI 96.9 FM in western Nebraska and eastern Wyoming.

Wednesday, September 1, 2010
5:30 p.m. Central Time

Laura C. Bower, author of WordSpeak, will appear on the Dr. Gina Show on KJSL 630 AM TruthTalk with host, Gina Loudon. The show airs in St. Louis, Kansas City, and the surrounding areas.

CBN featured an excerpt from Chapter 5 of Living in the Overlap as part of their Spiritual Life, Bible Study and Theology section. Read it here.

Living in the Overlap: How Jesus’ Kingdom Proclamation Can Transform Your World clarifies a topic that many Christians find mysterious, exploring the challenges and benefits of living in a kingdom that is both “already” and “not yet.”

As Schaefer says, “We who live in the overlap are amphibious creatures, navigating two worlds simultaneously as we begin our transition from one to the other. We are Jed Clampetts, tasting the splendors of Beverly Hills without having lost our Ozark accents or our fondness for fried possum and crow gizzards. Like Jed, we should not expect a seamless transition.

You can find out more about Steve Schaefer and his thought-provoking book at www.livingintheoverlap.com.

Realizing the first few months after a book is published is critical for promotions, Els adopted what she calls the “Book of Acts” principle: Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the outer ends of the world as her campaign trail. She works diligently to promote her message, and now shares her effective marketing tips:

1.  Begin with a Media Campaign in your Community

“Most local newspapers, radio and television stations are happy to give an interview. Also, contact your local book stores. Even secular stores are open to carrying Christian books, but your first contact should be your Christian bookstore. Offer to do a book signing, and make the book a popular option for them to carry.”

2.  Branch Out Using the Same Technique

“‘Employ’ your friends as book sellers and offer them a percentage of the sale to reach their circle of influence. Connect with organizations that might be interested in your topic.

I offered my book to various organizations as a fund raiser. Because my book deals with adoption, abortion and healing from post-abortion syndrome, I was also able to market it through various pro-life organizations and adoption agencies. And, because I donate a certain amount to charitable organizations, many people are excited to help with this project.”

3.  Advertise Your Book

“An effective way to promote your book is through online advertising through blogs and Facebook. Thanks to WinePress, my book has been featured on many blogs and featured in book give-aways. This has connected me with people all across the United States.”

4.  Ask, “How does my book add value?”

“The number one thing we need to ask ourselves is, ‘How can my book add value to the others?’ If it’s all about us and our book, our success will be limited. Only when we begin to offer up our product as a tool to be used by others, will we find success.”

5.  Attend a Conference

“I found the ICRS 2010 to be a great inspiration. Connecting with other authors and so many people in the industry was great. I came home with renewed vigor to continue the process. Remember not to push yourself on people, but allow the Lord to arrange meetings.”

About Els:

Els and her husband Edward adopted their fifth child from Russia in 2006. She has combined her passion for writing and her heart for suffering children to produce this compelling novel, based on her personal experience in Russia.

About Ransomed:

Russia, 2003. An infertile couple seeks adoption, a grieving American businessman pours his life into homeless teens, and a wounded orphanage director is haunted by her past. Can they bring hope to the orphans, and find healing for themselves?

Related article:

‘Ransomed’ Novel Receives Favorable Review

Marty & husband John at ICRS

Involved in food pantry ministry since 2004, Marty Giradier felt God led her to write a book to encourage others in this ministry. She found a receptive audience at the International Christian Retail Show to her book, How Shall We Feed Them?

She had much to share about the blessings she received in attending and how after praying for God to set up some “appointments” for her He most certainly did:

God Appointment #1

Just before my book signing at 10:30 am, I went to a booth to wait in line for a book to be signed by an author.  As I am waiting, the man taking care of the booth asked me about my book (since I was wearing my Ask Me About My Book pin).

I told him about the book and he said “Oh, you need to meet my daughter-in-law, she is wanting to start a food pantry at her church.”

I agreed to meet her.  He called her over and we chatted for a few minutes exchanging ideas then I recommended that she come by and receive a book.  She was the first one in line.

God Appointment #2

A few minutes into the book signing pastor Doug Cherry came by to receive a book.  He explained that their church, Victory Christian Center in southern Illinois, would like to expand their ministry to include a food pantry.  He asked if I would pray for the ministry as well.

We stopped the book signing line and prayed together for the ministry right then and there.  Shortly after he came back by the booth and handed me the book Kalyn’s Secret, a book about his family, written by his wife and daughter.

God Appointment #3

My book signing carried over until noon.  I wasn’t quite sure why it took longer to hand out and sign my 150 books but John and I felt good about the book signing.  When we finished we headed to the mailing area to box up the books we had collected to mail home.

As we were headed down the aisle, John looked up and said, “Dr. David Jeremiah.” Dr. Jeremiah was kind enough to stop and shake our hands.  We spoke briefly as we knew he was in a hurry to leave.  I reached over and took one of my books and said, “Dr. Jeremiah, here I would like you to have one of my books,” and we parted ways.  That appointment was God’s timing.

Marty took advantage of each opportunity that came her way- which is one of the best tips to those attending ICRS!

Her practical book provides everything a church or ministry needs to begin a food pantry or revitalize an existing one. Resources include step-by-step plans for building a team, stocking the shelves, serving the food recipients, and more. Tear-out sheets aid in getting a pantry up and running quickly.

Marty Girardier founded the Cupboards for Christ ministry at her church to revitalize its food pantry ministry, and the program tripled in size over the next three years.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010
10 a.m. Central Time

Julie Ferwerda, author of One Million Arrows, will guest on “This is the Day,” a radio show serving the Chicago area.

About the Book

Is the world going to change your children…or are your children going to change the world?

Right here, right now, God is calling your family to join a mighty movement—one that bridges age, social status, cultures, nationalities, and languages.

• If you’re ready to help your kids live out God dreams…
• If you need inspiration for what’s possible through your family…
• If you want your family to go down in His-Story…

Accept the mission…and leave a mark for eternity.

All proceeds from this book are designated for international orphan ministries.

Anything can happen on talk radio – and it often does. Particularly when you’re a guest on a live call-in show.

Although callers are screened before they’re allowed on the air, many callers wander off track quickly, or they use the airtime as an opportunity to promote their particular philosophy.

Rabbit trails can be frustrating if you’re the guest author, because you’re on the line – along with the show’s host – to answer questions about your book. Some callers get so enamored with listening to themselves talk that you – the invited guest – get very little airtime.

Despite the fact that your guest appearance may turn out differently than you had anticipated, participating in a live call-in show is invigorating. Here are 8 tips for how to make the most of your experience:

When you guest on a live call-in show, make sure you have paper and pen in hand. Write down the caller’s first name when the host introduces the caller.

Listen carefully to the caller (even when the caller rambles), jot down the caller’s question(s), and make note of key “talking” points you can address.

When it’s your turn to respond, address the caller by name and reiterate the caller’s main point in one succinct sentence. You can say, “Susie, I hear you saying…”

Then respond to the question (or the caller’s implied question) concisely. If the caller rambles and you can’t make sense of what he or she is saying, you can respond, “Good point. That reminds me of…” and then bring the conversation back to the topic at hand.

Most callers just want to be heard. So listen carefully and empathetically.

At the end of the call, thank the caller warmly for participating.

Laura Christianson is the author of The Adoption Network, published by WinePress, and has been a guest on dozens of live radio call-in shows. Visit her at www.bloggingbistro.com.