Welcome to week six of the Christian Author Bootcamp! This is a ten week book promotion blitz created to help you whip your publicity plan into shape. This week your challenge is to create an email signature. It’s a simple, but powerful task to help you get the word out about your book.
Welcome to week five of the Christian Author Bootcamp! This is a ten week book promotion blitz created to help you whip your publicity plan into shape. This week your task is creating a speaking sheet. As an author you are most likely an expert in something. As an expert you have an opportunity to take part in speaking engagements that not only allow you to share your expertise but also to promote your book.
Remember to include a brief bio, information about your book, contact details and a few options for topics you are willing to approach. Here is an example of a speaking sheet for author Mimi K.
Have you always wanted to publish a book? Now you have no excuses! In honor of their recent launch, Ink Swift is giving away a free publishing package to one lucky person. Just fill out the form at InkSwift.com for your chance to win this prize valued at $995. The Ink Essential publishing package includes:
Custom Cover Design
Professional Formatting
Online Retail Distribution
eBook Format and Distribution
ISBN Assignment
25 Complimentary Copies
50% Discount on Reorders
Much More!
A winner will be chosen at random on our about June 30 at the International Christian Retail Show, so get your entry in right away! For a copy of the official rules email tlowry [at] inkswift [dot] com.
More books are being self-published than ever before, according to statistics just released by RR Bowker. In 2009, a whopping 764,448 titles were self-published. The number of books traditionally published fell to 288,355. Self-publishing is a great way for new authors who want to jump into the marketplace and now there is a new option offering more books, perks and control than the competition.
Ink Swift, a division of Emerald House Group is committed to helping writers achieve their dreams of becoming published authors without sacrificing any quality or control. “I’ve heard from so many authors who tried the self-publishing route and were very disappointed,” says company COO Timothy Lowry. “They ended up with an inferior product and very few books in their hands to sell. We created Ink Swift so authors interested in self-publishing would have a better option.”
In honor of the launch of InkSwift.com, all customers will receive a free book trailer video with the purchase of any package. This incredible marketing tool will be professionally produced by a media expert with more than a decade of industry experience. The video will be created with the goal of capturing the author’s audience. This limited time offer is valued at over $200.
Ink Swift offers three package levels, with prices starting at just $995. Authors can choose from Ink Essential, Ink Select or Ink Premium. “To ensure a custom experience, authors are able to add on services like websites, press releases and publicists,” explains Lowry. “We want to make sure people are getting exactly what they want.” So if you’re considering self-publishing, we suggest you check out Ink Swift.
Voting is now open for the 2010 Christian Small Publisher Book of the Year Award. The competition launched in 2004 to bring attention and awareness to lesser-known books produced by small publishers. There are eight categories open for voting:
Fiction
Biography
Christian Living
Relationships/Family
Bible Study/Theology
Children’s Book 4-8 years
Children’s Book 8-12 years
Young Adult (12+ years).
Voting will remain open until March 31, 2010. Readers can vote online now at www.christianpublishers.net/10votes. Voting on the Book of the Year Award is open through March 31, 2010. The winners will be announced on April 15.
Christian publishing house Thomas Nelson called off its Open House for Christian retailers for the second time in a year. They’re blaming the economy for holding off on the event that was originally supposed to be held at the company’s headquarters in Nashville in April 2009. Earlier this year Thomas Nelson pushed the event to 2010 but has now decided that it will not happen next year either.
Thomas Nelson told ChristianRetailing.com that program would have put too much of a financial burden on the company and on retailers who would have to be away from their stores to attend the open house. The open house idea started in 2008 when Thomas Nelson said it would no longer participate in CBA’s winter show because it would be more cost-effective to instead bring retailers to them. About 100 retailers were invited to Nashville for the open house and all of their expenses were paid for.
We told you earlier this year about Christianity Today International’s move to shut down several publications, including Today’s Christian Woman. Today the magazine’s editor, Ginger Kolbaba announced the launch of a new website:
…But now after more than three decades of ministry, our parent company, Christianity Today International, has made the very difficult decision to cease publication of Today’s Christian Woman magazine and its blogs.
While I’m saddened to see this award-winning publication end, I’m thrilled by a new resource that we’ve created called Kyria. Named after the “chosen” or “honored” woman John writes to in 2 John, Kyria is a web-based magazine and ministry that’s for women who want to use the gifts and influence God has given them to grow deeper in their faith, to disciple others, and to shape the church and change the world.
Starting later this week, both the Editors blog and the Walk with Me blog will take you to our new site: the Kyria blog. There you’ll find women discussing issues of spiritual formation, missional life, women’s ministry, hot topic, current events, book reviews, and much more.
Our entire staff has loved ministering to you and walking this path of faith alongside you. Thank you for your loyal and faithful readership. We’ve appreciated getting to know you. And we look forward to continuing to minister to you through Kyria.
We’re excited to see Kyria and look forward to its launch, although we will miss Today’s Christian Woman.
Are you a fan of Christian publishing? Whether you’re a published author, aspiring author, publisher, editor or anyone with an interest in Christian publishing, we invite you to become a fan of Christian publishing on Facebook! We just launched this group this week and already have over a dozen people joining the fan club. We will use this as a place to keep you posted on events and industry news. If you have an event you’d like to promote to this group, go ahead! Be our guest!
This Sunday hundreds of Christian authors, publishers, literary agents, and retailers will descend on Denver, Colorado for the 60th annual International Christian Retail Show. While some wonder whether the show will be successful after the dismal showing at the Christian Book Expo last spring, most of the biggest names in Christian publishing will still be turning out for this annual event. For a complete list of those registered to attend visit ChristianRetailShow.com. Christian Publishing Tips will be there to bring you the news and highlights of the event. Visit CPT throughout July 12-15 for exclusive details of this year’s International Christian Retail Show.
Last week we asked what you thought about the fact that Kate Gosselin has a book coming out this fall from Christian publisher Zondervan. The book, called “Love is in the Mix”, is described on Zondervan’s website as an “inside look at one of America’s most famous close-knit families.” Although the publisher’s description of “Love is in the Mix” still shows a November of 2009 release date, Zondervan’s CEO is quoted in the New York Post as saying that date may change. Maureen “Moe” Girkins, CEO of Zondervan, says they plan to “work with Kate to reassess the schedule for her next book.”
According to the comments we’ve received, many people feel the book should be shelved indefinitely. Both of the previous Kate Gosselin books that Zondervan published were bestsellers.
RT @newerakara: Looking forward 2 signing my new book, "Are You Keeping a Secret?" at booth 2121 (Winepress) Tues 9am at #ICRS! See u there! http://twitter.com/christianpubtip2010/06/29
RT @AngeStar: First full-I mean FULL-day of #icrshow & great 1! Meetings books etc.Must go to popcorn cart &see Like Dandelion Dust trailer. http://twitter.com/christianpubtip2010/06/29
Christian publishing house
We told you earlier this year about Christianity Today International’s move to shut down several publications, including Today’s Christian Woman. Today the magazine’s editor, Ginger Kolbaba 
Are you a fan of Christian publishing? Whether you’re a published author, aspiring author, publisher, editor or anyone with an interest in Christian publishing, we invite you to 
This Sunday hundreds of Christian authors, publishers, literary agents, and retailers will descend on Denver, Colorado for the 60th annual International Christian Retail Show. While some wonder whether the show will be successful after the dismal showing at the 
