Writers Tricks of the Trade Volume 6 Issue 3 | Page 19

HOW TO GET A BOOK DEAL WITH A PUBLISHER (Cont’d)

Many people think they will start speaking or building their publicity platform
once their book comes out. Don’t wait! Publishers consider this strategy to be
meaningless. They want to see your real numbers now. If you don’t have real
numbers yet, there are many people who can help you build your publicity, like Jill
Lublin, www.JillLublin.com, who helps people create their national publicity
strategy.
Here are other questions publishers ask: after reviewing a book proposal I had
polished for David Couper for Outsiders on the Inside, an Acquisitions Editor at
Wiley asked:


Where has the author spoken in the last year?



What was the size of each audience?



Where is the author speaking in the next 6 months?



What is the projected size of each audience?

Good golly, Miss Molly – they’re after real numbers! Although David was
speaking and had the numbers to prove it, he ultimately went with a different
publisher, www.CareerPress.com.
Prove your publicity platform, write a great book with differentiation, and speak
to a topic that is current with a sizable market, and you’ve got a potential winner on
your hands.

Randy Peyser is
the founder of
www.AuthorOneS
top.com,
a national
publishing
consulting firm
providing
services for book
editing,
ghostwriting, and
help finding
literary agents
and publishers.

Randy Peyser has a high success rate of helping people find a literary agent or
publisher for their books. Contact her at http://www.AuthorOneStop.com.

WRITERS’ TRICKS OF THE TRADE

PAGE
11

MAY - JUNE 2016