Another Look Inside A Dawn Run Hot with Morning (The Poetry III)

Welcome back! I have just one more poem in this series of glimpses on to the pages of A Dawn Run Hot with Morning. (Click here to see other poems in this series.) Thanks for tuning in. Enjoy!

 

Laughter

You arrive

Carrying a single flower

A daisy

The sun-kissed kind

It had been your decision

You knew that this was right

And I am happy to see you

Then before I could turn to leave

There was a flutter inside

A feeling of elation

An eruption of happiness

A smile across your lips

An utterance, a cry

There is laughter

There is rejoicing

Publishing Your Work in a Literary Magazine

There are many advantages to submitting your work to a literary magazine or journal for possible publication. Although your entire manuscript may not be published, perhaps your best work will be represented in the pages of a major publication. Submitting your work to a literary journal is less arduous and less time consuming than publishing with a traditional publisher. Typically, you can have news concerning the status of your work within a few months of initial submission. While the competition is as stiff as it is in traditional publishing, there are many, many publications to choose from. New Pages compiles a listing of literary magazines, each with annual deadlines for poetry, short fiction, essays, etc. Take a look at the list and consider submitting some of your work.

The benefits of being published in a literary magazine are many. First, publication means that your work is being acknowledged by a notable literary community of writers & editors. It also means that your work is being selected among many other talented writers. Literary magazines and their literary reputations vary, but you can be sure that, whatever the publication, being published is a milestone. It can also be an important marketing element if you plan to self-publish. Along with reviews, noting that you received honorable mention in a writing competition in your latest book can be beneficial in demonstrating just how your work stacks up.

Finding the right fit for your work is important. In order to get a sense of the style of work published and the tastes of judges, do your research. Compare online and subscribe to a magazine. Often a magazine’s editors will allow you to submit your work, for a small reading fee, and obtain the magazine at a discount, this is a valuable arrangement. Take advantage of it where you can.

Last year, I submitted my poetry to three literary magazines for the first time in years. My poem, “The Return” (which you can read in an earlier blog post), made it to the semi-final round of the 2010 New Millennium Writings annual poetry competition. This detail is listed on the cover of my latest book A Dawn Run Hot with Morning. I posted the information in a previous blog (as detailed here), as well as on my Facebook Fan page. I plan to tweet the information soon. Finally, I have communicated the information to key customers & reviewers. Being nearly published in a major literary magazine is as much news as being published, in this case!

In addition to making news, I received an annual subscription to New Millennium Writings literary magazine, as well as a host of others. It has been a great pleasure and a tremendous boon reading the work of my peers. Interviews with competition judges, as well as excerpts of their poetry are also included within the pages of the magazine. Better armed with greater knowledge about the competition, I can make more informed selections when I submit my poetry next year.

Another Look Inside A Dawn Run Hot with Morning (The Poetry II)

In two recent blog posts in the last few weeks, you got a look inside A Dawn Run Hot with Morning first at the Introduction and later at some of the Poetry. As promised, here is a third blog post that takes yet another look inside the book. Get a look at more of the Poetry that will appear on the book's pages. Enjoy!

Compassion


So moved,
you reached for my hand.
Although startled, I remain here
disarmed
by the gesture,
as I give you mine.
And your face is the picture of sincerity.
I see so plainly the mirror, the reflection to my anguish in your eyes.
Your daring empowers my resolve and leads me to smile.

Meditation


I journey within to the confines
of emotion, of memory, of consciousness
I have found a stillness here
I have quieted my mind only to
Navigate the topography of inner peace
I am here, I am present

As I chant my mantra with every breath:
―Ham-sa
I hold on tightly to moments of solitude
The past and the future drop away
A unified consciousness emerges
Soundless reverberating unity
Inwardly, I howl of freedom

The Power of Now


We are hopelessly nostalgic
Gently caressing the finest moments of
Yesterday.
Like a musician harbors the soaring high note
We bend time for the expressed
purpose of being.
But like pending judgment,
the future awaits us.
Embrace the supreme power of now.
Hear it beckon your every impulse.
Know that the present is yours to define.
Expand it.
Multiply it.
Deliver it.

I hope that you enjoyed your third look inside A Dawn Run Hot with Morning. Please join me for future blog posts featuring the Poetry inside the book and new chronicles in self-publishing and book promotion.

Understanding & Selecting a Price Point

There are a few crucial points to take into account when pricing a self-published book. First, keep in mind your target audience. Who is your target audience? How much can your target audience afford to spend on your book? What are they willing to pay? Second, decide on a strategy that is appropriate given the attributes of your book. Will you aim for high volume sales? Or do you have a high-quality/specialty book produced at a higher cost? Third, what sort of royalty should you expect? Have you done some research to find out the average royalty an author at a big publishing house can expect? How about a self-published author? Fourth, do a price comparison. Go to a bookstore and look at books of the same genre and of similar page length and quality. Determine an upper limit and a lower limit for your book price. Finally, to the extent that you can control the price of your book, try not to alienate readers with your price point.  A price that is too high can put your book out of reach for some consumers. These are a few of the factors you should consider before arriving at a price.  I learned these lessons in pricing my first book.

I wrote Contemplating Eve expecting it to reach a mixed audience, ages 18-45. Surprisingly, 75% of all sales were to women ages 40-85! Here’s what happened:

I noticed that in sales to friends and family on Facebook, the youngest market segment described was distinctly absent as buyers. At my book launch, there were four people who declined to buy a book noting that the price was too high. (3 out of the 4 were notably under 40.) Overall, whereas the youngest market segment purchased a very small portion of total books sold, women ages 40+ purchased anywhere from 1 to 9 books for themselves, friends and family. Based on this data, I believe that the price was too high for young people.

So what is the price? It is currently selling on Amazon for a discounted price of $27 but is listed at $35. How did I arrive at that price? Well, the book is manufactured for $13. From there, a listing on Createspace (the book printer/manufacturer) requires a book price of at least $20, but a listing on Amazon requires a price of at least $25, and to take advantage of Expanded Distribution (which places the book in libraries, bookstores and online outlets) requires that the book be priced at $34. I faced a dilemma, on the one hand, I wanted my target audience to have the chance to purchase online, on the other hand, I wanted the price to be affordable. But because I choose to sign up for all three sales channels, I was forced to select the highest price or lose money on each book sold. Ultimately, I priced the book at $35 for a $1 royalty for books sold through Expanded Distribution sales channel. As you will note, I had limited control over pricing.

My sense is that the reason Contemplating Eve was priced this way is evidence of economies of scope. The book was priced as such not for high-volume sales, but differently because it was of a differing quality. Contemplating Eve  is a 176 page full color poetry anthology complete with 70 poems and 30 pieces of artwork. It could not be priced like the high sales volume books because it is made at a higher cost. That said, I should note, that even the highest priced poetry anthologies were priced at $20 at Borders. Sure enough, initially, when I approached a smaller book retailer with the book at this price, she assumed the book would not move and refused to shelve Contemplating Eve.

 

So here is what I discovered, Createspace may not be the most economical color book printer for self-published authors. I have been advised that Author House, Xlibris and Lightning Source may be cheaper printers. While the quality of printing is extremely high with Createspace, the cost to manufacture and distribute the book makes the price prohibitive to some. Createspace does low-cost high volume sales best. In this case, the self-published author has more control over price.

My next book, A Dawn Run Hot with Morning, will be a book of poetry composed of drawings and photography in black and white. There will be 40% fewer pages.  The book will be manufactured at $2 each. As a result, I can access Expanded Distribution and net better than $1.00 in royalties from this sales channel and sell the book for just $10. I plan to make it up to the younger market segment with this new price. In fact, I plan to give away at least 7 free books! Check back for details.

In closing, price selection may or may not be in your control, but, to the extent that it is, consider your audience. If the price is not in your control, use my guidance to shape your expectations in terms of sales.

Another Look Inside A Dawn Run Hot with Morning (The Poetry I)

In a recent blog post, you got a look inside A Dawn Run Hot with Morning at the "Introduction."  As promised, here is another look inside the book. Glimpse some of the Poetry that will appear in the book's pages. Enjoy!

Dawn

 
As I rise, I ponder
The newness of morning
and the transience of day.
In these quiet waking hours,
a dawn runs hot with morning.
And the day moves
like the warm earth odor of fall
that sits on the breeze
and scatters all memory of summer.
This is the breeze that curls toes
and unfurls well-being.


The Hug


She stood up on the sand, walked in the
direction of the water, spread her arms wide
and embraced the sky.

She turned her head upward, admired each
buoyant cloud, took in the sun’s rays and was
heartily affected by the deeply bright blue of
the sky.

When she was satisfied, she turned back to
her family beaming.

She sat back down on the summer blanket
flush with love.



The Night Moves


The moon is love and the night moves.

Close the door--
aching surprise mounts this eve.
Blessed sun will crawl across the horizon.
Heed your will as the darkness bends strangely toward the day.
Whisper to me the songs of your solitude.

The moon is love and the night moves.


Copyright © 2010 by January Nicole Wilson
 
Now that you have read some of the Poetry, you might be curious to see even more of the Poetry that is inside the cover of A Dawn Run Hot with Morning. Stay tuned. There is yet another look inside to come.

 

The Building Blocks for Effective Book Marketing

Before my first book of poetry, Contemplating Eve, was published, I had fundamental questions about the best ways to promote the book and, ultimately, to sell it to customers. What was the market for poetry? Who would buy the book? How would it be distributed?  I feared that, without a traditional publisher, it would all be up to me.

After doing some reading in varied publishing journals (e.g. Publisher’s Weekly), I became discouraged. The demand for books was flat. Even the best poets could expect to sell only a few thousand books, that is, with a major publishing house behind him/her.

I was a novice, so I looked to my Publishing Consultant for advice. She had 12 years of experience with digital publishing at Gladstone Publishing.  The first piece of advice that she gave me was to be sure that everyone I knew was aware that I had published a book. The second thing I learned from her was that I should construct a website to establish a ready information source & a place to purchase my book for those in my social circle; moreover, I should build a blog to create a buzz around all of this work. Finally, she reminded me that, I should stick to my immediate social circle at the start. 

I listened carefully to her advice. I created a Facebook Fan Page for Contemplating Eve, which includes compelling content for fans, such as, favorite poetry from the book and from established poets, updates as the book developed and background information about the publishing process. I am also building this blog, which chronicles my experiences with digital publishing through lessons learned with the first book and through current adventures with the second. I am constructing a website (a work-in-progress) that will enable customers to purchase the book directly from me (which will mean lower prices for them). Further to developing a strong presence online, I completed my own Author’s Page on Amazon and my book is available for sale on at least a dozen different websites, including Amazon, Gladstone Publishing and Ebay.  

I had a Book Launch to celebrate the release of Contemplating Eve in October 2010. It was held at Rainy Faye Bookstore. To publicize the event, press releases were sent to local newspapers. Full articles concerning the event appeared in the Hartford Courant and the Fairfield County Weekly (print editions). Flyers for the event covered community buildings in two towns. I utilized Facebook and LinkedIn to get the word out.

I have expended a tremendous amount of time and energy on the project of marketing Contemplating Eve. So was it worth it? The answer: Yes, but these investments have and will foster the long-term development of my brand as an author. I do not anticipate a large immediate return, although it is feasible that these marketing efforts account for 25% of sales. That said, I have had greater success using other methods.

The secret to my success (which is no secret really) has been communication through word of mouth.  For me, word of mouth means that when a friend or a family member reads Contemplating Eve and enjoys it, he or she passes the book on or tells a friend, he or she tells a friend and the chain continues from there. It is these recommendations that lead to sales. This is a great form of marketing that has a life all its own. I have found it to be most effective. It accounts for 60% of all sales. (THANK YOU friends and family!) Word of mouth marketing is a great place to start before reaching out to the larger public. 

Word of mouth marketing may involve technologies like email and social media, but these tap into existing social networks (relationships) to be effective. Simply using social media does not sell books; these media are just tools to get the word out there. Find the media that works best for you, that taps into your target market. The reality is for many self-publishers that one may not know who his/her target market is until one's book gets out there and sales take on a life all their own. For instance, I could not have predicted that 75% of all sales would be to women ages 40 to 85. I certainly have sold books to men and to younger women, but without a meaningful, market study, I would have predicted a younger demographic, in addition, to an older one. (Selecting a price point is a topic for a future blog. But, at $25 per book, I priced myself out of the market for younger buyers. I plan to make it up to them by pricing my next book at $10! Find out how and if I am able to manage that in an upcoming blog on pricing.)

To conclude, every self-publisher has a different approach, but keep in mind three key pieces of advice that have been central to my book sales: 1) Make sure everyone you know is aware of your book; wide outreach on land and online is important. 2) Use a website, a blog and social media to get the word out about your work. Be sure to establish yourself as a compelling information source for online readers. 3) Finally, know that the people who know you best will likely be your best customers. And that’s where everything starts.

"The Return" in Semi-Finals of New Millennium Writings 2010 Poetry Competition

Last year, before my poetry manuscript for Contemplating Eve was published, I selected three poems to submit to New Millennium Writings for publication. New Millennium Writings is a prominent literary magazine with writers such as Nikki Giovanni (poet & faculty member at Virginia Tech) as contest judge. I submitted my writing to this magazine because I wanted acknowledgment for my work from the literary establishment  before self-publishing.

Initially, I decided not to publish with a big publishing house because of the lengthy selection process and the high level of competition. Every writer in the world wants to publish with one of the "big 6."  And, so did I.

But, I wanted to publish in six months (rather than three years), to have full creative control and the promise of better than meager royalties. Self-publishing offered just this chance.

I entered the New Millennium Writings contest in order to gain acknowledgment from established writers & editors and to earn greater recognition as an author. Now, a year later, I just learned that "The Return," a poem that appears in Contemplating Eve, earned a place in the semi-final round in last year's New Millennium Writings' annual poetry competition. It was selected, one of few, among 1200 submissions.

The editor of New Millennium Writings, Don Williams, noted this to me as a semi-finalist in his letter:


"The quality in our contests is high, and you should be proud 
of your accomplishment. I am."

I am pleased that I made it so far in this competition. Here's last year's poem:

The Farmer II

The Return

 

We must return
There must be an exodus
We are too rich, too might a force to
Remain here
I want to see the day
A day when the water returns to the sand
The deserts
We are all on loan here.


The Sahara was fertile
Once
Grew tall trees and grasses
It was called the Sahel
I wonder where deserts come from.

Maybe we belong back there
Maybe this is my story
This is my journey
Back from where we left
None by choice

Sold and stolen
Sold and stolen
Sold and stolen
How many times?

I am Guinea
I am woman
I am country
I am money
The puzzle pieces fit together.

And, maybe I am the water
Maybe I make it rain
Flow---
If I word it correctly
If this is so, then
I think I know where I belong.

If I am Guinea and I am water, then
I wonder where deserts come from.

Sold and stolen
Water
An ever so precious commodity
Ever so cheap
Commodity

Commodity fetishism
is a shame now
is it not?
Now, that is justice clearly stated.

And, the deserts miss the rain.