Wham! Bam! Publishing The Strategic Marketing Plan for Authors and Publishers

by Janice M. Phelps & Joan E. Phelps

REVIEW:

Joan Phelps' background is in public relations and speech writing. Janice Phelps is the founder and editor-in-chief of Lucky Press (a mid-size publisher of titles on health, aviation, history, and self-help) and has worked on more than 150 books for the trade market, two of which won the Ben Franklin Award for independent publishing. Together, Janice and Joan Phelps draw upon their years of practical experience and personal expertise to present an effective "how to" guide for self-published authors and novice small press publishers seeking to successfully compete in the marketplace for the dollars of the reading public. Wham! Bam! Publishing: The Strategic Marketing Plan For Authors And Publishers offers . . . a variety of proven business techniques and resource lists applied to the business aspects of publishing (including the Midwest Book Review website). An ideal and highly recommended instructive introduction for those with no previous business or marketing experience, Wham! Bam! Publishing will walk the reader carefully through the business mission, vision, objectives, and strategies. Of special note are the chapters on book design, titling, and advice when dealing with writers. The invaluable appendices include: "Author's Marketing Input"; "Additional Business Tips for Authors"; "P.O.D. Publishing"; "A New Option for Childrens Books"; and a "How to Make A Book Checklist". –Book Review, April 2005.

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In today's competitive publishing environment, a publisher's success depends greatly on a coordinated game plan. This is true whether the publisher is a multi-million dollar company with thousands of titles, or an author patiently waiting at home for their first box of books to arrive from the printer. Publishers, self-publishing authors, and writers seeking a publisher must employ strategic planning techniques — develop actions and approaches to achieve targets — to maximize the best possible chance of achieving marketplace success. For readers who want to take the giant step from manuscript to marketplace, Wham! Bam! Publishing Volume I gives real-life tips for creating a "Strategic Marketing Plan" and working within complex, confusing and competitive publishing systems. The authors don't sugar-coat the reality, but provide readers with proven business techniques to apply to the business of publishing your book.

— More Reviews —

"Being the world's best author and having written the book of the century is not enough in today's tough marketplace. Just walk into any bookstore and take note of every title on the shelves — there is your competition. Janice and Joan Phelps made my books sell, now they share the knowledge of how it is done. Read Wham! bam! Publishing as carefully as you read the final draft of your book." –Chris Davey, author of the aviation series, "Will Turner's Flight Logs"

“Valuable information ... genuinely helpful. We hope that many authors and publishers find their way to your doorstep.” – Marcia and Steven Rogat, Authors of Spirit Journeys

 

You'll find lots of help in Wham! Bam! Publishing: Vol. 1

Associations and organizations
Author’s marketing input
Book clubs
Book signing point list
Business mission, Definition of
Categories, List of
Chain bookstores
Competition, How to check it out
Contests for writers
Digital printers
Discounts, Suggested trade
Distributors, Questions to ask of
Distributors, List of
Editorial calendars
Experts
Events information
Finding a publisher
Foreign book distributors
Fulfillment companies
Galleys
Gift marts
Helpful information
“How to Make a Book” checklist
Independent bookstores
Issues publishers must address
Magazines for writers
Marketing and advertising associations
Marketing timeline
Markets, Identifying emerging
Media addresses & information
Media etiquette
Media kits, What goes in them
Museums and specialty stores
Online information
Photographs within your book
PMA co-op program
Press kit, Creating a
Press release
Press releases, Placing a
Printing quote, Info to send for a
Pro forma, What to include
Production issues
Questions publishers must ask themselves
Resources for writers
Reviewers
RFQ (printing)
Search engines
Self-publishing authors
Selling seasons
S.M.A.R.T. strategies
Store locators
Tip sheet
Title, Tips for choosing a
Top book markets
Trade discounts
Writers magazines
Writers, Steps for

 

Table of Contents

Quick Find-it Guide
About the Authors
Preface
Introduction: The Business of Books
Chapter 1: Business Mission
Chapter 2: Business Vision
Chapter 3: Business Objective
Chapter 4: Strategy
Chapter 5: Especially for Writers
Chapter 6: Book Design
Chapter 7: Titling Your Book
Chapter 8: Implementation
Chapter 9: Action Steps
Appendix 1: Author’s Marketing Input
Appendix 2: Additional Business Tips for Authors
Appendix 3: P.O.D. Publishing
Appendix 4:An Options for Childrens Books
Appendix 5: “How to make a book”
About the Authors

 

About the Authors: Janice M. Phelps, (she was married in 2007 and her name is now Janice Phelps Williams) is the founder and editor in chief of Lucky Press, LLC — which publishes titles on health, aviation, history, and fiction — has more than a decade of experience in publishing. She has acted as project editor on more than 150 books for the trade. Her author and client list includes a New York Times best-seller, a former Olympic athlete, three professional speakers, the world's top female bodyguard, a former UPI worldwide correspondent, several prominent physicians and two alternative health experts, among others. Her clients include two winners and two finalists of Ben Franklin Awards. Her services are recommended by publishing experts Dan Poynter and John Kremer. Janice holds a BFA degree from Kent State University.

Joan E. Phelps, recently left corporate life as a public relations manager for a Fortune 500 financial services organization, where she also served as a speechwriter for executives. Joan took early retirement to handle brand and marketing functions for Lucky Press, and is also a book marketing, crisis communication and PR consultant. She holds an MBA from Ashland University and a BA in Arts Management from Capital University.