It’s January and it’s Monday. Beginnings make me feel like it’s time to hurry up and get moving. I’m a morning person (when I’ve slept well) and mornings make me feel that way, too. Hurry up! Go running and eat breakfast and hurry to your computer! So much to do! (Or on more embarrassing days – Hurry and get to your computer! What do you mean it’s dinner time? I haven’t even taken a shower, let along exercised or anything else!)

There’s so much to do because there’s so much to learn. I spent all day last Thursday just trying to read through some of the online group posts about writing and publishing and self-publishing, and then clicking the links to the great posts those people had found, which led to more links and reading more posts. Sheesh! How’s a girl to get any writing done?

But there’s a lot more to being a 21^st century author than there was to being a 1950s author. Not only do you have to learn a lot, you have to do a lot. I took Kristen Lamb’s class on Becoming a Brand two weeks ago and now I’m trying to do everything I’ve been learning about. I’m following more people on Twitter and Facebook, retweeting and replying, and commenting on blogs. I think I did a week’s worth of social media in one day.

I saw some immediate results (I tripled my Twitter followers and got my own blog up and rolling again), so I downloaded the Kindle samples of both of Kristen’s books, Are You There Blog? It’s Me, Writer and We Are Not Alone: The Writer’s Guide to Social Media. I loved the samples, so I bought the books. I’m reading both at the same time now, and trying to apply something new every day. Wow.

There are a gazillion great blogs out there and I read a lot of them last week! (This week, I swear, is going to be more about writing and balance.) Instead of trying to explain everything I read, I’ll just give you some short descriptions and you can decide what you can use.

Oh, and in case I lose you somewhere amongst all these links, let me remind you that Author Crush Month starts on Wednesday! Yay!! We love Author Crush Month, and we know you do, too! We’ve got some really great guests this month talking about their process, their craft, their journey. Be sure to stop by every Monday, Wednesday and Friday in February.

Also, we will have a special guest joining us on the first Tuesday of every month beginning in March. You’re going to love her! (You might even already know her!)

And tune in tomorrow as we welcome Janice Cantore to talk with us about her new book, Accused. If you remember, Janice has been struggling to sell her books with a small press but last summer signed a 3-book deal with a major publisher! Her new book releases February 1^st. Woo-hoo!

And now to my list o’ links:

Elizabeth Spann Craig explains how she uses Google Calendar to stay organized

An online self-publishing conference! I’m waiting by my Inbox for an email with details about registration costs.

The CEO of Smashwords gives us his thoughts on self-publishing in 2011

A Smashwords blog post about the Amazon Select program

I took an awesome online class in November about helping your brain work better, and the teachers wrote this guest post

I’m signed up for another online class next month on how to write cozy mysteries, and here is an article by the teacher (I’m hoping it will help me bring my superhero romantic comedies up a level)

A great craft post from Jody Hedlund on how to make your book play out like a movie

Another self-published author, PJ Sharon, shares her 2011 numbers

From Kristen Lamb’s blog, What’s the Problem with FREE?

Sharpen Your Blogging Habits, a 4-part series from Kristin Nador

Which could lead you to this brilliant post on creating better tag lines for your blog  (I just changed my tag line for my own blog. What do you think? Better? Not quite right yet? I’d love to hear your thoughts on it!)

From Bob Mayer, a post that explains why I’ve never dreamed of being on a bestselling list, I dream of selling books for the rest of my life 

From Writer Beware, The Fine Print of iBooks Author, free software from Apple to create ebooks that can only be sold in the iTunes store

And the blog author’s reply to common misconceptions about what he wrote

Books I’m reading: Are You There Blog? It’s Me, Writer; We Are Not Alone: The Writer’s Guide to Social Media; Dollars and Sense: The Definitive Guide to Self-Publishing Success

          Last month, I had the wonderful opportunity of reading an advance copy of Kathy Tyers latest release, “Wind and Shadow,” which continues the family saga begun in the previous Firebird series. These stories take place in an inter-planetary world, known as the Whorl, where one small, conflicted race safeguards a holy prophecy of the Word to Come. The holy books of Thyrica, home of a genetically-enhanced race of telepaths, predict the coming of One who will destroy all evil.

          In “Wind and Shadow,” the sons of Firebird and Brennan Caldwell, possible heirs to the prophecy, find themselves in conflict with remnants of the unethical, unscrupulous faction their parents supposedly defeated. The now militarily occupied world of Mikuhr is in a state of barely contained unrest. Kiel Caldwell, Thyrican priest-in-training, answers an official request for assistance from Wind Howath, the Mikuhran-born, Thyrican raised and trained ambassador. When the priest is abducted, the nearest military unit, commanded by Kinnor Caldwell, is dispatched to investigate and contain the situation. Both men along with Wind and those people influenced or inspired by them are forced face personal demons and to make choices that will affect the future of many for generations.

          Kathy Tyers has created yet another rich, compelling story, with a world peopled with interesting characters and conflicts. “Wind and Shadow is a stand-alone story, chronicling the conflict and doubts, defeats and victories of Kiel, Kinnor and Wind. Knowing the history of Mikuhr, the Caldwells and other characters of Thyrica and Mikuhr may enrich the story experience for a reader, but it is not a necessary prerequisite. A reader could read and enjoy “Wind and Shadow” and never read the previous three books in the Firebird trilogy. Kathy Tyers weaves and layers the backstory and information from the previous Firebird books throughout “Wind and Shadow” in a way that tantalizes and informs and entices the reader to continue turning pages to the end.

          “Wind and Shadow” is published by Marcher Lord Press, the only publisher devoted to exclusively publishing Christian speculative fiction. In business since October 2008, Marcher Lord Press has succeeded in creating, maintaining and growing the market for speculative fiction that entertains from a distinctly Christian worldview. “Wind and Shadow” one of five titles released this October, is yet another example of the quality stories published by Marcher Lord Press.

I spend a lot of time talking to writers about books and writing. I can get on a Skype chat with Kitty and Stephanie and we can spend many happy hours discussing the finer things of plot points and voice and character arcs.

But when my husband is having trouble falling asleep he asks me to talk about writing. It started off as a joke, but in reality, talking about the latest behind-the-scenes YA controversy puts him under like nothing else.

Last year I signed up for a book club and I’m the only writer in the bunch. I also belong to a large homeschool support group, and if you know anything about homeschoolers, you know they love books.

I’ve been noticing some similarities, but more interesting to me, differences among my writer friends and my reader friends.

Readers aren’t that interested in the behind-the-scenes stuff. The odd tidbit here and there they find interesting, but if you talk too much, their eyes tend to glaze over. One example, at my last book club meeting we were reading The Yada Yada Prayer Group by Neta Jackson. I just so happened to have a copy of the BOOK PROPOSAL that sold the book. (Don’t ask me how I got it…don’t remember, it’s just one of those things that I picked up somewhere!)

No one wanted a copy. No one even wanted to take home the copy I brought. My reader friends thought various parts were interesting and it provided additional information for our discussions (like the meanings of the character’s names). But that was it. Had this been a group of writers, we would have been making photocopies and spending the rest of the evening analyzing it.

Readers are intensely loyal to their favorite authors. Even when those authors bomb. In book club we were reading one book that I could not even finish. This was a book that appeared to be pushed through the pipeline at the last minute. The writing was poor, the editing was poor. I wasn’t the only one who found editing mistakes—content editing mistakes—not just a missing comma or a misspelled word. But the author has written a ton of books. We all made excuses for this particular book and assured each other that her others were better. (I have to admit I really like this trait in readers. Grace when we happened to slip up is a good thing.)

Readers know when a book works. (And when it doesn’t work!) They may not know all the ins and outs on why it works, but the good books stand out and make readers happy. Very happy.

Parents DO care what their children read. They wish that authors would support the morals they are trying to instill in their kids. I learned this both from book club and from my homeschool group. One of the ladies I know whose granddaughter, a teenager, is struggling with all that teenage angst, made the comment that “there is just no support” meaning, she was feeling the culture pressing back on everything she was trying to help her granddaughter navigate. She was talking about more than just books—movies, TV shows, clothing, etc. But you get the gist. Another mom wrote to our email loop asking for book suggestions for her daughter. She said she and her newly 13-year old daughter went to the YA section at the library and she “just about had a heart attack” when she saw the books available in the youth section.

Characters are real to readers, too! The gals in my book club talk about characters like they are living people with histories (backstory!) and hopes and dreams (motivation!). However, readers talk about character in a slightly different way that writers do. I’m still trying to put this nuance into words, because it is so slight and when I think about it, the thought slips away. It may only be the difference of coming at a character from the back end (deconstruction) VS the front end (construction.)  Whatever it is, I’m learning a lot about effective character development by just sitting back and listening in book club.

 In all, I love how enthusiastic readers are. They love books as much as writers do and that’s a great thing!

I have a weird routine and I’m curious to see how many of you writers also have this odd behavior. I’m guessing there are more like me out there. Incredibly, my husband does the same thing, which I discovered on our honeymoon in Alaska. (Is it possible to be too compatible?)

What is this weird routine? Visiting libraries while on vacation. Bookstores too, but there’s something about a library.

I’m thinking about it this week because Kitty is in New York for RWA and I’m really hoping she visits the New York Public Library (and gets her picture taken with a lion.) If I ever go, I have an unanswered research question that I just know I could find the answer to in those shelves.

On my first visit to Phoenix I made my friend take me to the ASU library so I could research a book I was thinking about writing. She thought I was crazy, but I bought her an ice cream and told her we might see some cute guys. By the time we found the library I only had time to pull up the card catalogue and drool over all the books I could have taken out. I don’t remember if she spotted any cute guys.

On another girls weekend to Leavenworth, WA, a cozy Bavarian town, I found a little library to poke my head into for a bit. My friends indulged me while I perused the kid’s section.

One of our favorite libraries that we visit on vacation has a room designated for Friends of the Library book sales. We travel with an empty suitcase inside my big suitcase so that we don’t have to hold back if we find any treasures. We’ve always come home with something.

When our kids were preschool age, we included library story times into our plans. I liked seeing the variety of kids programs out there. One year we came across a fantastic storyteller and I still have the handouts she gave me.

And I suppose, if you are published, this visiting-libraries-routine could be added to your marketing plans–have bookmarks, will travel! 

If you have not tried this, I encourage you to check out libraries in the towns you visit this summer. See what regional flare they have; what different variety of books they carry. And bring some pocket change. You might stumble across a ten-cent book sale.

In his last guest blog of the month, Davis Bunn shares what’s coming up in his writing life. If you haven’t tried his books yet, start with book 1 of his Storm Syrrell Adventure series, Gold of Kings. Or try the Acts of Faith series beginning with The Centurion’s Wife. We hope you enjoyed our time together this month! Thanks again for joining us, Davis!

One of the nicest things that has come from regular blogging is having readers write back saying that they are committing to pray regularly for me.  These gifts of prayer and encouragement mean the world.  In return, I would like to share with you a bit of what I am working on now.

I have wondered whether this is something that should be included in my online connections.  This is all very new to me, and in time I hope to shape a structure where my readers and friends will know what to expect when they log onto my sites.  Right now, I am still trying to define parameters.  So your response to this in particular would be helpful.

The problem is, my current work, where my creative heart is most focused, will not appear in print for another ten months.  With some publishers it is even longer.  Simon and Schuster wants to have my books in house for over a year prior to publication.

Right now I am working on a new story, and a new series concept, for Bethany House Publishers.  Janette is probably retiring after this current work, due to her health.  I have been in discussions with BHP for some time over a new idea, and they have urged me to begin work this summer.  This initial story, what I am deep into first drafting right now, is entitled Lion Of Babylon. The concept for the series is as follows.  I would love to hear what you think.

A leading trend in the Christian faith is the explosive growth in the number of believers in Africa, Asia and Latin America.  Researchers predict that by the year 2050, only 20% of the world’s three billion Christians will be non-Hispanic Caucasians.  This phenomenon of global Christianity, as it moves beyond European and American traditions, provides a compelling background for a series of contemporary suspense novels.

Each new story will highlight a distinctive moral message, centering on the example and teachings of Jesus.  Such a series will help promote inter-faith understanding within the US, along with a willingness to learn from other communities and cultures.  It will also bring to life in fictional form some of the global social issues which are increasingly addressed by church leaders such as Rick Warren and Jim Wallis.  The stories will blend elements of mystery, romance, political intrigues and spiritual power with unforgettable international settings.

The first of these stories, entitled Lion of Babylon, will deal with the theme of RECONCILIATION.  Set in contemporary Baghdad, the message of Jesus as an instrument of peace is upheld.  The distinctive contributions of Christian-Muslim dialogue help to save lives and re-build communities.

Sean Venture is a skilled but somewhat defiant security expert, based with the US Department of State’s intelligence operations.  He is unexpectedly dispatched to the Green Zone in Iraq – the heavily-guarded hub of American activities in Baghdad.  Their chief of security has vanished.  Acting with utmost speed and secrecy, Venture’s task is to locate the officer before news of his demise threatens both the stability of the region and the credibility of US strategy.  Soon they receive an ominous warning from the son of one of the leading Ayatollahs.  Could it be that the kidnappings are not random incidents – but somehow interconnected in a sinister scheme?  If so, who is behind it and how can they be stopped?

Davis Bunn, a professional novelist for twenty years, has sales in excess of six million copies in sixteen languages.  He has appeared on numerous national bestseller lists, and his titles have been Main or Featured Selections with Doubleday Bookclub, Literary Guild, Mystery Guild, Word Bookclub, Guideposts, and Crossings Bookclub.  He is known for the diversity of his writing talent, from gentle gift books to high-powered thrillers.  Davis has received numerous accolades, including three Christy Awards for excellence in fiction.  He currently serves as Writer-In-Residence at Regent’s Park College, Oxford University.  He is a sought-after lecturer on the craft of writing.

Today Davis Bunn, in his second of four Tuesday posts this month, offers a professional’s opinion on writers conferences and lists some of the best ones for Christian writers.

The most important advice I can possibly offer a Christian author is this:  Attend one of the major five-day Christian writers’ conferences.  Seven are listed here.  I have selected these because they are large enough, and so well-established, that every major publisher and agent will attend at least one of these each year, and perhaps more.  This is a crucial component of a successful conference.  Do not be swayed by one that is quicker, closer, or cheaper.  You need to have the connection to the commercial world, and see your work through the eyes of those people who have the power to offer you a contract.

There are a number of significant differences between one of these Christian conferences and the mainstream conterparts.  Most of these began as church-based ministries, and ALL of them see their work as a service to our Lord.  The same is true for the teachers.  We come in order to serve God and further the Kingdom’s work.

The days are basically split in two.  In the mornings are ‘major tracks’, ongoing classes designed to cover the basic nuts and bolts of your chosen direction—fiction, non-fiction, song and poetry, magazine articles and greeting cards, and screenwriting.  The afternoons are focused upon the commercial side of the writing world—meetings with agents and publishers, classes on pitching and presentations and marketing, and so forth.

Two other advantages come from attending such a conference.  The first is, you have the opportunity to discuss your work with other authors, and know what it means to translate a private dream into a commercial reality.  The second is, you are granted a set of realistic expectations and tools for change.  Both of these are vital components to growth and success.

The main Christian writers conferences are as follows:

The American Christian Fiction Writers Conference, each September, location varies

www.acfw.com/

The Write to Publish Conference, Wheaton College, Illinois, each June

www.writetopublish.com/

The Christian Writers’ Guild Conference, Colorado, each February

www.christianwritersguild.com/

The Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference, Santa Cruz, California, every April

https://mounthermon.org/blog/writers/2010/05/2011-writers-conference-april-15-19/

The Blue Ridge Christian Writers Conference, each May

www.lifeway.com/lwc/files/lwcF_2008_BRMCWC_Brochure.pdf

or www.brmcwc.com/ and click on “About the Conference”

The CLASS Christian Writers Conference, formerly called the Glorieta Christian Writers Conference, New Mexico, each October

www.classeminars.org/Events/Writers-Conference/

and The Florida Christian Writers Conference, each February

www.flwriters.org/

Davis Bunn, a professional novelist for twenty years, has sales in excess of six million copies in sixteen languages.  He has appeared on numerous national bestseller lists, and his titles have been Main or Featured Selections with Doubleday Bookclub, Literary Guild, Mystery Guild, Word Bookclub, Guideposts, and Crossings Bookclub.  He is known for the diversity of his writing talent, from gentle gift books to high-powered thrillers.  Davis has received numerous accolades, including three Christy Awards for excellence in fiction.  He currently serves as Writer-In-Residence at Regent’s Park College, Oxford University.  He is a sought-after lecturer on the craft of writing.

Shonna and I first met Davis Bunn when he was teaching fiction writing at the Glorieta Christian Writers Conference. A gentle sense of humor and a passion for writing are part of what I think makes him a great writing teacher. Books like The Great Divide are what I think makes him a great writer. I hope you enjoy his encouraging posts every Tuesday this month!

In December, my third book in the Biblical trilogy with Janette Oke (The Damascus Way , Bethany House Publishers) will be released.  Because of Janette’s health issues, this may be her last book.  We have worked together for almost ten years.  It is a hard moment to face.

Working with Janette Oke has granted me a rare opportunity for an author.  Nowadays an author is ‘packaged’ by the publisher.  The crowded market, and modern readers’ tastes, demands this.  This is far more than a general concept, or some vague agreement between author and publisher.  My New York mainstream publishing contracts will go so far as to state the type of books to be written (as in, contemporary suspense-drama), and then name the principle character (as in, ‘A Storm Syrrell Mystery’).

This is done in order to give the sales and marketing people a focal point for their efforts, both on the current project, and for the future.  Oftentimes people ask if writing under these restrictions could possibly harm the creative flow.  I have trouble answering this.  What I am tempted to say is, not as much as not having a publisher.

I come from a business background, something I will talk about at a future date when I discuss how I came to be a writer at all.  So for me, the issue is how to work in tandem with the entire publishing team.  The sales and marketing staff have a very tough job.  If part of my responsibility is to be packaged in this way, so be it.

Even so, working with Janette has been a wonderful gift of freedom.

Janette has a remarkable ability to capture the soft strands of emotional story.  She can perceive a woman’s heart better than any author I know.  There are many times when I have sent her part of a new manuscript, and watched her insert her own scenes, and be amazed at how perfect they draw out the feminine side of the drama.  And at the same time I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that I could not have come up with what Janette has done.  Not in a hundred million years.

The one bit of advice I would offer any author considering a joint project is this:  Wait until your own personal voice is well established before linking yourself with another writer.  The critical issue is that writing together requires enormous flexibility.  In this way, it is much like a marriage, where you accept and endure changes you would never go through alone. And yet it can be an enriching process, so long as you are able to hold on to your core values and direction.

The same is true in a writing partnership.  You must adapt, you must sacrifice, and you must change.  The vital issue going in is for you to have a clear awareness of who you are, what your ‘voice’ is, and where your boundaries are.  What can you change and still remain true to your calling?  When you know this, the other issues, the non-critical components of your story, can be refashioned in utter safety.

Davis Bunn, a professional novelist for twenty years, has sales in excess of six million copies in sixteen languages.  He has appeared on numerous national bestseller lists, and his titles have been Main or Featured Selections with Doubleday Bookclub, Literary Guild, Mystery Guild, Word Bookclub, Guideposts, and Crossings Bookclub.  He is known for the diversity of his writing talent, from gentle gift books to high-powered thrillers.  Davis has received numerous accolades, including three Christy Awards for excellence in fiction.  He currently serves as Writer-In-Residence at Regent’s Park College, Oxford University.  He is a sought-after lecturer on the craft of writing.

Our friends Eric and Nina are visiting us this week from California. Their time with us is only half over and we’ve already had so much fun, so many laughs, and some really awesome conversations. Some of those conversations have revolved around starting a business, which Nina has just done. In 1997, I was praying for God to help me find a way to get more writing done, and a few days later I was fired from my job! Suddenly I had all the time in the world! I filled out some paperwork with the state and there I was, the owner of a little writing business.

A friend of mine who ran a successful writing business mentored me. My husband encouraged me and told his friends. I went to networking meetings in my town and talked to other business owners. Soon I had a client, then two, then half a dozen. I was on my way!

Since switching to writing only fiction a few years ago, my writing “business” has petered out to the point that I made $0 last year. (That means I’m not doing any “business”!) Lately I’ve wondered why it seemed so much easier when I first started than it does now. Partly, it’s a different product. I stopped working on business writing when we moved to Australia the first time. I focused solely on writing fiction and only spent time with fiction writers. Over the last five years, my confidence and work habits have eroded. Is there a cause and effect link there?

This week in one of my daily Motivation in a Minute emails, there was this quote: If you want to soar with the eagles, you need to associate with eagles!

It occurred to me that talking to Eric and Nina (who work in other industries) was vastly different from the email conversations I read or participate in on various writer loops and groups. While most writers on these loops talk like they’re hanging in there, not giving up, celebrating the little steps forward, etc. (positive), there is still a cloud hanging over all the groups that adds a negative feeling of “lack” to the conversations. The feeling that there aren’t enough contracts for all of us, that the economy is going to negatively affect us all, that we can’t all see our dreams come true.

Perhaps part of the problem is that we are too many chickens clucking around here on the ground together. Sure, finding a successful working writer to mentor you might be difficult, but there are other eagles you can learn from.

Join Toastmasters so you can be a better speaker when you’re promoting your book. Check out web sites for business organizations in your area like the Chamber of Commerce and find out when they have networking lunches. (I remember we had the Lions Club and Kiwanis in my home town.) Find places where successful business people get together and see what you can learn from them.

“If you want to soar with the eagles, you need to associate with eagles!”

Who amongst your friends is successful in their work? Ask them what they think are the keys to their success. Compare their answers and see how the common elements can be applied to your own work.

It’s great that there are so many writers’ groups out there encouraging and supporting each other. I don’t know if I’d have made it this far without them. But think about what negative vibes you may be getting as well and ask yourself how that may be affecting you. If you’ve come to subconsciously believe that this is a long hard road that may not end in publication – you’re probably right! But if you’re getting the impression from those you hang around with that there is enough pie for everyone, if you believe that is true, you’re probably going to find yourself with a piece of the pie soon.

I met Lucy Abarcia at the Romance Writers of Australia conference this year in Sydney. In order to serve the members of RWA with what they need, she brought a miniature version of her bookstore, EVER AFTER, an hour north of her location in Wollongong up to the conference in Sydney. I was impressed with both her willingness to work so hard to help us out and her great selection of writing books!

People often ask me what made me open my own romance bookstore and I always say the same thing…I hated my old job in retail but I enjoyed interacting with people and LOVED reading romance novels.

I’ve been a romance reader since I was around 13 and have always secretly wanted to have my own bookstore. Of course, I’ve spent half my life in the closet, so no one knew I wanted to have my own “romance” bookstore—I would have been so embarrassed. Why? Well, you all know the stigma attached to the genre and I was one of the shy ones. Even my family didn’t realise I wanted a “romance” bookstore and, when I told them what I wanted to do, well, they all had doubts that I would succeed. They all changed their minds when RWA asked me to run the bookstall three years ago for the Sydney conference. Mum and my oldest sister gave me a hand that weekend and they couldn’t believe the amount of writers that attended, not to mention the sales we made that weekend! It was a real eye-opener.

This year, when I was asked to do it again, I was excited but, at the same time, a little overwhelmed (it is a big job). I knew people would want new craft books, so it took awhile to organise and it didn’t help that I decided to go to the U.S. six weeks before (attending RomCon and the national RWA)! Silly me! But I have great staff and they knew what to do. We’re only two hours away from Sydney, so the logistics of getting everything up there isn’t a big pain and, financially, we do very well but, boy, the ordering and paperwork is a nightmare.

I love going to conferences! The atmosphere is electric and I become such a fan-girl. It’s loads of fun. I love chatting with aspiring and published writers, and even other booksellers (most of the time we meet sitting outside the publisher signings) and this year was no different. I adore reading debut novels, so when I meet someone who has a book coming out, I always ask for an ARC (advanced reading copy).

I cannot tell you how important it is for an author to promote themselves by sending out ARCs…if other booksellers are like me, it will make a huge difference in sales if we read an ARC and like it. It’s exciting being able to tell people that a new author will totally blow their minds with their debut novel. It’s happened here many times and there are many authors that owe a lot to booksellers for their constant vigil for an entertaining romance novel.

Lucy Abarcia is the owner of Ever After, a romance book shop in Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia. You can browse the store at http://www.everafter.com.au/ where you can find information on book signings, book club meetings, and more.

I’m loving this series we are doing on librarians and booksellers—they add a new perspective for us. I’ve known Cathy Sorensen for years and years. We lost touch, but reconnected on Facebook. I was thrilled to learn that she has her own little bookshop, Sorensen Books, in Victoria, B.C., Canada. She’s even online, so please support this independent bookstore. What makes me laugh about Cathy’s post is that she is obviously a bookseller. Note that she is hand selling even here! Yes, a good bookseller is a writer’s best friend.

I sell new and used books and have been selling books for 20 years. There isn’t much space in my 900-square-foot store for books that don’t sell.

I sell a lot of children’s books. They are allotted two prominent bookcases right in the centre of the shop. For me to order a children’s book, the artwork is admittedly the biggest draw. The books are paraded before me in catalogues with usually only the briefest synopsis of the content and the front cover image. Believe it or not, your book design and cover are important. People are drawn to lovely artwork, fonts, paper, French flaps* and texture. Don’t take the time to write something and wrap it in a boring package. Presentation matters. If you are not an artist, do not do the artwork yourself.

When writer Tim Beiser teamed up with artist Rachel Berman, they created a marvelous children’s book. Bradley McGogg the Very Fine Frog not only had a delightful story but also stunning artwork to match. I recommend this book to customers all the time and children love the rhymes and the images.

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Which books sell the best in my shop?

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1. Promoted books. The more press your book gets the better: talk radio programs, face out presence in the bookshop, poster ads. If I like your book I will hand sell it to customers over and over again.

2. Well edited books. A good editor is hard to find and essential. They look at your work in a technical way finding errors both in grammar and factual accuracy. Don’t self edit, you are not an editor. Poorly edited books with factual errors are scorned by book critics and rejected by publishers. Hopefully, if you have a publisher, you won’t have to worry about this.

3. Interesting subject matter. One of my best-selling books is a self-published book written by Ken Roueche about the history of the neighbourhood of Fairfield in Victoria, B.C. Not a history of the city, just one community.

This books also sells because it is well promoted, hand sold by the bookseller and skillfully edited. The artwork on the cover was soundly chosen. Robert Amos, the artist, lives and paints in Fairfield and locals instantly recognize his work. All these factors contribute to the success of Ken’s book.

With the days of the eBooks now upon us, trying to sell an actual book is becoming more difficult and publishers and booksellers are looking for quality, originality and distinctiveness, something that sets your book apart.

*(Glossary: French Flaps (from everything2.com) A book with French flaps indicates a trade paperback with long covers which are folded inwards. This gives the book a more expensive look, creating the half assed illusion of a hardback. The flaps make the front of the cover seem thicker, although not as thick as a standard hardcover book, and additional information can be printed on them, such as the plot synopsis, blurbs and the author’s picture and/or biography. )

Cathy blogs at: http://victoriabcbooks.wordpress.com/