Author Branding & Marketing ...It all boils down to this

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The winner of the Book Give-Away Challenge is Manuel Palomas from Madrid, Spain! Congratulations to him. For a limited time only take advantage of the discount associated with the Challenge. Click here to go to the website to apply the 60% discount. (The book is just $3.99!) Follow the prompts for purchase. Enter discount code: W8H8QYK8. Please note that this discount code only applies to purchases on Createspace NOT on Amazon.
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Years ago, a close friend of mine gave me the gift of a book of poetry by Pablo Neruda. Veinte poemas de amor would become one of my favorite books and I would go on to read Cien sonetos de amor and other works by Neruda, a Chilean poet. He is best known for his love poems and, in them, he plays with language; he incorporates humor; and he takes up themes of human sexuality.

What compels me to continue reading Pablo Neruda and what I find particularly unique are his voice and his ease & comfort with language. He earned my loyalty not only because of his skill and because he is known as a famed romantic poet, but because his voice is so very distinctive. I would cite a favorite verse, but his voice gets lost in translation.

How important is an author's voice? It defines his or her brand. It's that thing that gets me up in the middle of the night to open that book just to read what the author has to say next. It keeps me coming back. As a reader, I think that I crave consistency of voice and style. I look for those elements which are emblematic of an author's ability and which leave an impression. These elements create an author's brand.

This brings us to brand awareness raising & marketing which put the brand in front of the reader. They also refer to the packaging and the tools that promote a product's finest attributes. Online, I use tools including email, websites, blogs and social media to endorse my book and myself as an author. Brand building is closely associated with the look, feel and overall experience a potential customer has on online platforms. Is it a customer experience that people want to talk about? If so, that's brand building.

As I build my brand, it is critical that I know my audience in order to effectively market my book. Some say that I should have one person in mind that typifies my ideal reader and for whom I am writing. Furthermore, they say that I should keep in mind what s/he reads, where s/he hangs out, who s/he is. If I've done my job as a writer and as a marketer, my book will find its place.

An important feature of lifting a brand is distinguishing oneself as capable of producing high-quality work. Pablo Neruda  has won countless literary prizes. These have helped to establish his name. On the heels of earning a place as a semi-finalist in the New Millennium Writings 2010 poetry competition for my work, I plan to enter new work into poetry competitions in an effort to further demonstrate my marrow.

The most tangible evidence that my brand, though in its infancy, is emerging is the percentage of repeat buyers I have. Roughly 50% of customers who bought A Dawn Run Hot with Morning are returning customers. My "super fans" have returned! And there are a great number of new fans on board too!

In the spirit of my "super fans," I am posting some of their comments & reviews:

"Outstanding poetry! I couldn't put the book down." - Ruby (Retiree)

"Loved the book! Kudos. Keep writing. You have a gift!" - Shirley (Teacher)

"I love your scarcity of words. It’s provocative. It allows the reader to enter into the experience to make it his/her own...I had no idea about the art! It is wonderful. Your art may be as popular as your poetry...I am so pleased." -Toni (Administrator)

"I loved the combination of words and images." - Geraldine (Artist)


"Your book is great. Quite inspiring." - Laura (Retiree)

"I am fascinated by your book. I love the poetry, especially the sections on Grace & Spain...You're really talented! Keep it up!" - Kathy (Retiree)

"...You write with such simplicity and such power. Maybe that will be your thing. You'll  be the next Maya Angelou!" - Georgia (Bookstore Owner)

"I think that I will read some of your poetry for my class." - Elva (Speech & Oral Presentation Teacher)

"Your poetry is off the chain!" - Lea (Entrepreneur)

The E-book Debate Continued...

In an earlier blog post, I took you step by step through my reasoning as I considered whether or not to turn my latest book, A Dawn Run Hot with Morning, into an e-book. (Click here to see the previous post.) The findings of a recent Bain & Company report add fuel to the debate and seem to point me in one distinct direction.

According to the October 2010 report, 15 - 20 % of the world's population in the US, Europe and Japan will own e-readers (e.g. a Kindle or a Nook) by 2015. Given that these projections are not huge, I might be content to continue to simply publish paper versions of my book. The idea that I publish paper only is made somewhat more attractive by the fact that the first wave of e-reader owners are men ages 20 - 35. I hope to reach this audience; my first book, Contemplating Eve, sold 75% of books to women ages 40 and up. I did not reach a younger audience likely due to the pricing of the book. (Click here to read the blog post on this topic.) An e-book, given its low pricing, might provide just the right opportunity to reach a wider audience.

That said, according to the report, people who read voraciously do maintain their attachment to paper books. So, am I smart or am I complacent not to publish an e-book? According to Bain & Company, much is at stake for publishers and authors with the "migration to digital publishing". With the rise of virtual distributors like Amazon, profits are being redistributed, roles are reversing and there is an “evolution” in the way content is being created.

The reality is that the winds of change are blowing swiftly through the publishing world. Although the changes will not cause an industry-wide shock the way the introduction of digital formats did to the music industry, publishing has little time to prepare for the demand. The migration is important to the publishing industry because e-books will represent 20 - 28% of profits in the medium-to long-term.

While best-selling authors gain bargaining power and can earn an increased share of the profits, Bain & Company notes that emerging writers should find a publisher to handle marketing until the author's brand is established. At that point, the author could become a free agent, much like Paulo Cuelho, who recently gave exclusive distribution rights for international online sales of 17 of his last books to Amazon.

As for me, I'm moving in the direction of an e-book. And while it would be nice to have an expert to manage the many facets of marketing necessary for stellar book sales, that prospect is not on the radar at the moment. Publishing an e-book continues to be something that I research. I continue to grow my fan base through this blog, through Twitter and with my Facebook page. Next is a migration to an e-book.
 
Tell me your thoughts. Do you own an e-reader? Which would you prefer to purchase, the $2.99 e-book version of A Dawn Run Hot with Morning or the $9.99 paper version?

Book Trailer

 Click here to view the New Trailer

                                                                Now available on Amazon!
                                                                            Buy it now!

"This is a great piece of work. The very talented January Nicole Wilson's poetry captivated me from the first verse. She has assembled a profound and inspirational collection -- even better than her previous book, Contemplating Eve. And don't miss the artwork, which includes some very evocative pieces. I highly recommend it."      -Xavier Martin, Editor & Consultant

"After reading Contemplating Eve, I had to have A Dawn Run Hot with Morning. I loved it! Collectively the poems encapsulate life. They paint pictures of irrepressible joy and hope, the shock of unexpected but inevitable darkness, and acknowledges those who help us embrace an imperfect world."       -Lolethia Kibble, Educational Administrator

"What an extraordinary writer!"     -LaVerne Holmes, Entrepreneur

Africa as muse...

What follows is a proofread but unedited account of three months spent in Ghana, West Africa. Feel free to comment on this early draft of an essay which appears in my third book of poetry, The Lily & The Aster.

My feet find new

Rhythms on

Foreign soil. 

"The best thing about going to Ghana was coming home.” This is what I said to my brother half-seriously upon arriving home from the airport. Indeed it had been a tough three months working in Kumasi, Ghana, but I could not deny that the friendships I developed and the many discoveries I made had changed the course of my life. It also changed the way I looked at poverty in Africa. 

Imagine attending graduate school in the bustling and sophisticated city of Washington, DC and stepping off of a plane, after an 11 hour flight into a largely rural country for a three month internship working for a not-for-profit microfinance institution. I experienced culture shock on a number of levels.

Despite the hard months I spent adjusting to the fundamentally different culture, food and language, I made the best decision possible in choosing to work in Ghana.

Although my trip to Ghana had been an adventure, I was glad to be home. What I failed to realize in my exasperation upon arriving home, was that the trip had a positive impact on me. New insights inform my poetry and, more broadly, my daily life.  This essay follows me through a typical day in the field with microfinance clients in Ghana in the final month of the trip. The essay captures many of the discoveries and insights I made during my time in Ghana.

The year was 2006. It was the rainy season. I woke up next to a dear friend, Sam, a friend I had made since I arrived in Kumasi. Ghana was the land of possibility. Each day brought new insight. On this particular day, I had to go into the office before heading out to the villages on the outskirts of the city. So, I dressed. I left the apartment with Sam and climbed into a "tiki-taxi," a coupe with a tiny back seat. The taxi driver found a way to accommodate four adults, anything to make some extra money. It was a cozy ride to the office, but it suited our needs. We were in a rush.

Along the way, I remarked upon how differently I saw the people in cars and pedestrians that we passed by every day. I had a general knowledge about the people around me that I did not have upon arriving in Ghana.

On our way to the office, we passed tro-tros, 1970s mini-vans used as local buses, and pedestrians dressed in either second-hand clothes from the United States or traditional garb. (While in Ghana I learned quickly that donated clothes, vehicles and other items from the States ended up here. Nothing was thrown away.)

The streets were also populated with women transporting pails full of clothes or food on their heads. I asked Sam, why I did not see more laughter, more smiling faces. "Kumasi is a city of hard working farmers on their way back from rural areas. There is a different standard of beauty here. One you

can only appreciate by living here.” he responded. “Dirt on the hands or dirt on the clothes signifies a hard day’s work. It is a sign of strength and conviction. Too much smiling or laughter can be the sign that one takes his work lightly. It reflects a lack of seriousness.  Laughter is a feature of the personality that is reserved for the home.”

Once we arrived in Ahodowo, our destination, I made sure to tip the cab driver generously. I had been given a large stipend for eating - one larger than I could fathom using in three months - so, I wanted to share what I had with hardworking Ghanaians who provided their services to me. I thought that perhaps they could stretch a cedi further than I could.

Just outside the office, I could not help but notice the marked contrasts in the marketplace. On the one hand, men in well-pressed suits were lined up at food stands. They were the professionals - the doctors, the lawyers and the accountants, who received regular paychecks and who lived in gated communities far away from the city center. These men shopped for food where nearby sewage ran in the open and behind which the neighborhood’s children chased goats for sport. Meanwhile market women, eager to sell their wares, stood, and sometimes squatted, at food stands, their children hidden in the shadows. These market women were a neighborhood’s most important business people; these were the entrepreneurs, who wielded significant political power. Here in this city center, conspicuous wealth was juxtaposed to wretched poverty.

To get at the stories of the men in well- pressed suits and eager market women, I had to scratch beneath the surface. I had to ask the right questions to get at the stories that belied quick judgment. Such questions are critical to any travel experience and brought me a step closer to understanding the unfamiliar world which surrounded me.

What awaited us at the office was an unexpected lecture from my co-worker, Gyan. Upon seeing a photograph from my visits with local farmers in nearby villages, he had the following insights to share about the photograph:

"Ah," he said. "The image of poverty." He paused to take a closer look at the photo. "You must not forget that this woman is a farmer and an Ashanti. She does not wear her wealth." He looked at me intently, as his voice rose, "This farmer may own 25 acres of land covered with palm trees, which are a precious commodity. But you see something different. You have no idea. She may be a powerful sorcerer! You are no judge of this woman’s power."

I had learned that what Gyan said was true. One could not judge a person by his or her outward appearance or according to a Western standard. But it is more difficult than it might seem to step out of oneself and to see the world through the eyes of another, whose daily existence, as a farmer, as a mother, as an Ashanti bears little resemblance to one’s own.

After an enlightening early morning lecture, our driver took us in the not-for-profit organization’s SUV (standard for driving the "unfinished roads" and inter-regional highways, full of potholes and sometimes paved, oftentimes not) to our destination.

Our job, that is, Sam and I’s job, was to assess the adequacy of financing provided to local farmers by our not-for-profit. We worked for a large microfinance organization that made small loans to women farmers. These small or micro-loans funded small businesses related to harvesting or selling agricultural goods.

We arrived in Wassa West, just outside of Kumasi, to find a group of 30 women and a male translator seated in chairs in the vacant space outside among the village's mud houses.  Each woman in the village spoke her native Twi, while a young man translated for Sam and I who spoke English.

The group was one of farmers and their product was palm oil made from the palm nut, which is used particularly in chocolate. We spent one day assessing the effectiveness of the small loans administered to them which would finance equipment, materials and other goods related to raising and producing palm oil.

Sam and I were employed by a local not-for-profit microfinance institution. What distinguished us from mainstream banks was our clientele, who were poor farmers, and the low interest rates charged for small loans. This is microfinance. It is a tool used to fight poverty in that it provides women with the working capital to finance business activities, like buying seeds and equipment.

Every woman deserves a livelihood, a way to enhance her means, a job. This is where global change begins. If every woman (or group of women) in the developing world had access to a small loan to start a business and could gain the training to sustain it, the developing world would be a different place. Lending to this underprivileged population is a complex proposition, however, because it requires the same respect, trust and proximity that traditional banks refuse poor women. But, as you will see, the returns can be tremendous when serving this population.

The group of farmers Sam and I met with was, understandably, a determined group. The group knew exactly what it wanted and asserted its will. Women spoke firmly about the limitations of the financing they received. They noted that their assets, production equipment and 15 acres of land, might serve as collateral to fetch them a larger loan over a longer time period. A larger loan would better suit their needs.

A larger loan would allow the farmers to replace their outdated equipment, to purchase a new truck for transporting goods, to meet growing demand for their goods across Ghana and across the world and to ride out a sparse harvest or low sales during the rainy season. The problem was that my organization did not offer larger loans than the one the farmers had received. This was a matter I addressed in my assessment of the financing program.

Ultimately, over the years, the social impact of profits generated from the group’s small agribusiness in Wassa West helped send children to secondary school and to college. (This in a country where completing primary school is an educational and financial challenge for children and families.) Women in the group helped pay the bills, offered more nutritious meals to their families and were less dependent on their husbands.

With this in mind, I approached the assessment with a certain optimism. The impact financing had and could have for farmers and their families was inspiring. If the not-for-profit I worked for could remain self-sufficient, it could continue to provide low-interest loans to a population in need of hope. If it were a wise and dynamic organization, it would transform to better meet the needs of its clients. Eager lessons I would take with me on a trip to Guatemala.

I took photos of the group of farmers once we were finished with the interviews and focus groups. And I heard a familiar word from one woman, "obruni", meaning white person or foreigner. As a native explained to me later, the attitude among the villagers, and one woman in particular, was that taking photos is not something an "Ashanti" or "African" person might do. It is simply not tolerated culturally and was a sign of just how foreign I was.

After visiting numerous groups of women farmers, we set out late in the afternoon for Kumasi. Sam, the driver and I arrived late, but just in time for dinner. Sam and I finally had some private time. We visited an Ivorian restaurant. We shared a plate of fried fish with fresh vegetables and atieke (a starch which resembles cornmeal.)

Kumasi was a city of contrasts. Ghana was the land of possibility. "Africa to me" was a place of old stories. A place where women, heads heavy with water-filled urns, stood statuesque on the bank of a river exchanging local gossip with women from neighboring villages. This is a simple yet familiar image, but also one that tells an old story that is common across the continent of Africa. This story hints at a rich culture; this is not a story of poverty.

While when I arrived in Kumasi I shuttered at such an image or, more, at the idea of women drinking unclean drinking water, I soon came to share the perspective of locals. One woman from a nearby village put it this way: “We are our households’ local newscasters. We listen to and share the latest news with friends, family and others we might stumble upon along the way to a watering hole.” Upon leaving Ghana, I decided that this was exactly the way things are supposed to be.

Conversations with the Editor / Xavier Martin / Editor of A Dawn Run Hot with Morning

On Wednesday, I conducted an interview with Xavier Martin, the editor of A Dawn Run Hot with Morning. He sat down with me and I asked him a few questions about the book and about his background:


JW: What was your first impression of the manuscript?

XM: I was amazed at how much you've grown as a writer since your first book. You have better developed your style. Your style has become recognizable and distinctive. Your poems have even more personality. And you accomplish an admirable feat. In A Dawn Run Hot with Morning, you create a compelling narrative with just 50 poems. What a great piece of work.


JW: What did you think of the narrative?

XM: A Dawn Run Hot with Morning is something of a "montana rosa," as it navigates through different emotional states. There are ups and downs we experience in reading A Dawn Run Hot with Morning, but the book's message is one of an unrelenting sense of hope. It's provocative. The poems "Survivor" and "The Healing Wing" are great examples. They are about transcendence and they reveal the undeniable power of human will. I think that this message is at the core of your book.


JW: What makes a good poem?

XM: As a reader, I prefer free verse. It's an open form and has the least amount of structure. It leaves more to the imagination. I like a poem whose style allows for multiple interpretations, one where the reader can bring his or her own "story" to the poem. The rhythm or musicality of a poem really adds something. Finally, I need to have a strong sense of the poet's voice. It allows me to connect with the poet - really feel something.



JW: What is your favorite poem from A Dawn Run Hot with Morning?

XM: "The Hug" and "Survivor" are two of my favorites. Two contrasting themes, two different styles. "The Hug" is simple yet meaningful. Using vivid imagery, it tells the story of a little girl at the beach who is enchanted by her surroundings. It captures the magic of summer and the daring and innocence of youth. You perfect the art of making small things special with "The Hug".


In "Survivor", the narrator lives despite a metaphorical fall through a mysterious trap door. We know there is triumph in the end because the "battle['s] fought and won". The scars from the event are merely the evidence of the life-changing fall, but they do not define her. Repetition and vivid imagery define this work.


JW: What defines my literary style?

XM: What defines your literary style is the use of alliteration; your poetry has a beautiful cadence; the ample use of imagery; your writing is evocative rather than simply being descriptive. Each of these elements make your writing easy and pleasant to read.



JW: We worked on a number of key poems together. Which ones were the most memorable?

XM: "The Healing Wing" is most memorable. As I recall, we had a long conversation. We compared Pollock's and Kandinsky's work to your own. We discussed the ambiguity of images in your text. You create a contradiction with the bird at the center of "The Healing Wing". Ambiguity is another a key feature of your style and it is one that I think you should continue to develop.

"Unbearable Brightness" and "Past Grieving" are remarkably autobiographical. They are precise depictions of the trials you've been through.

"Overnight" has great rhythm and musicality. It tells a love story in few words. It was fun to play around with the order of the words and phrases to make new meaning.

"Contradictions of Home" is sort of a lost work that didn't make the final cut. It underwent multiple revisions, but it was cut out because it could not stand on its own. Clearly, this poem needs a period of incubation - it's a work in progress not yet ready for publication.




JW: Did you have a vision in mind when you made comments on the poems?

XM: I worked hard toward executing your full artistic vision.



JW: You know me fairly well. How did this affect our work together?

XM: We were open, patient and forthcoming with our comments. I was familiar with the ideas and subject matter of the text. As a result, I was fully aware of what you were trying to communicate. I made every effort as editor to deliver your message.


JW: Who is your favorite poet? Why?

XM: Mario Benedetti. He writes poetry about the small things in life. I like his use of irony. Also, his voice is pleasant, humble and honest. You should look at some of his haiku.


JW: Finally, why did you take on this project?

XM: I liked reading the first book, Contemplating Eve, so much that I thought it was important to get involved on A Dawn Run Hot with Morning. I have such a passion for literature; I read so much that I thought this project would make the perfect challenge. I know a good poem when I see it and I knew that after reading the manuscript the first time that I wanted a hand at helping you to articulate your vision. Your poetry is so good and the feedback so far has been glowing. I wish you nothing but the best.


[Looking to read more on A Dawn Run Hot with Morning? There is so much more to discover. Please see the blog archive for 10 additional blog posts which feature some of the poetry & more background on creating the book.]

The Changing Face of the Book World

Borders Bookstores are closing across the country. Amazon announces that it is selling more e-books than print copy books. The face of the book world is changing.

It seems that Amazon is leading the charge. And it is no surprise. Amazon is the leader in e-book titles at slightly under one million and has launched among the best-known on-demand publishing companies.

Amazon began buying up small, large and independent publishing houses years ago with the shock that came with the emergence of the internet. Many publishing houses, facing financial trouble, looked to the buyer for relief. It comes as no surprise that Amazon should have its finger on the pulse of the industry given its close ties with the publishing world.

The Wall Street Journal suggested that self-publishers were cutting into profit margins for traditional publishers and noted recently that they are 'short-circuiting' the way that traditional publishers do business. Amazon certainly provides an avenue for self-publishers to be successful. The company is a fierce competitor. Perhaps the company's relative success is evidence of a fruitful competitive strategy.

Borders has had its financial troubles for years and will close the doors at hundreds of stores in the weeks to come. Barnes & Noble is looking for a buyer. If the publishing world's traditional means of distribution continue to change then the landscape for publishing and for books will look very different in a decade.

The internet was a shock to the publishing world just the same as the e-book is today. It is a game changer. And it should be interesting to see how things unfold.

Just Published: A Dawn Run Hot with Morning

Well, it's done! I am pleased to announce that A Dawn Run Hot with Morning is published and is now available on Amazon. Click on the link to Amazon to view the book details, reviews and purchasing options.

A Dawn Run Hot with Morning is my second book of poetry. I worked even harder on this book than I did the first by taking great care with poem selection and partaking in a rigorous editing process. Although the previous anthology, Contemplating Eve, includes ten years of meditative poetry and artwork collected and assembled in a few short months, A Dawn Run Hot with Morning reflects an intensive nine-month journey to create just the right book.

The book cover captures the essence of A Dawn Run Hot with Morning. The painting depicts the hot sun burning off morning vapor over a pond at dawn. I get my creativity from my father, who completed the painting years ago.

Xavier Martin was the chief editor on the project. He helped me to tie the book together with the selection of a few key poems. We labored over every word to ensure consistency.

In this book, I pause to reflect on love, self and well-being. I honor family and strong, bold women role models in my life. In my previous work, Contemplating Eve, the world is a canvass for many adventures in love and in travel. This second book is grounded in a different reality. The season is fall, summer blossoms and summer romance are wilting, and questions about self arise. Laughter and good friendships get me through the tender spot with family enabling me to conquer all over time.

At 104 pages, approximately 50 poems and 12 images, A Dawn Run Hot with Morning, is a slim volume packed with countless lovely and enriching moments. Buy your copy today!

(**A Dawn Run Hot with Morning will be available worldwide within a few short weeks of this blog post. Be sure to check your country's local Amazon website.)