Front Matters with Guest Blogger Susan Lindsey

Preface or prologue? Foreword or introduction? How much do you know about the stuff that comes before “the real book”? Let’s break it down. Foreword: Prefatory comments for a book. A foreword is written by someone other than the author. The foreword (not foreward or forword) is styled like the rest of the text and typically is only a page or two …

Books are Perfect Holiday Gifts

It’s almost holiday gift-giving time, and you’re probably thinking about the search for the perfect, thoughtful gift for clients, friends, colleagues, and family. In thinking through my favorite gifts, among them are the books I’ve received. Reasons to Give a Book This Holiday Season There are so many reasons that a book is the perfect gift. Consider these: Books can …

In the studio: what every author needs to know when creating video footage

This past month I had the opportunity to travel to Greenville, South Carolina with my NSA Mastermind group and work with Chuck Gallagher in his remarkable video studio, VTA. Jeff Nally, Meredith Oliver, Chuck and I worked together to create multiple clips that we plan to use on our websites and on social media. We were incredibly productive (and had …

Vanity Publishing?

It wasn’t that long ago that self-publishing was called vanity publishing. Authors who couldn’t find a publisher willing to put their books in print were thought of as vain if they stopped to paying for a publisher. But times have changed, and today it is nearly impossible for a new author to find a publisher unless he/she has thousands of …

The Double Dog Dare

Have you ever been “double dog dared?” Plantation Swim Club in Louisville, KY, has a 32-foot diving board that has been legendary for more than 50 years. As kids we would talk about the high-dive, and we would “double dog dare” our friends to commit to making that dive. As a kid, I had promised myself that if I ever …

Successful Book Marketing Requires a Splash of Passion with Stephanie Feger

Passion is to an author as relaxation is to a beach; determination is to a marathoner; and curiosity is to a young kiddo. They are synonymous. They are one-in-the-same. If you have kids, you know they are filled with more “why” questions than you thought possible. All it takes is the sound of the ocean to cause most people’s inner …

Dear Article Writers:

First of all, thanks so much for writing content for my publication. Whether you know it or not, you are a lifesaver. My publication needs to be fed content on a regular basis, and you have been great about continuously feeding the beast with meaty content written in interesting and compelling ways. Secondly, you drive me crazy. I’m a volunteer, …

Double-Dipping: Selling Books While Speaking

You’re an author and you’re a speaker. How do you sell more books when you are asked to speak? When you book the engagement, ask the meeting planner if it doesn’t make sense to extend the value of the program by pre-ordering a book for every attendee. It often does make sense, and allows you not only generate more revenue, …

What No One Told You About Becoming An Author

You’re an author! Congratulations! You are now a part of an elite club, and there are some rules that you need to know now that you’re a member. Not that you have to follow all these rules; but some of these rules will allow you to boost sales and help you fully enjoy the benefits of membership. When someone buys …

Writing as a Reinvention Strategy

Maybe you’ve been working as a practitioner inside an organization and you’ve been dreaming about the day you might hang out your shingle and become a consultant or speaker. Or maybe you’ve been working in one lane (as an HR consultant, for example) and are itching to change lanes and try something new (say, as a book coach). How do …