Can A Writer Get Discovered Like Ferris?

 

 

Ferris, named after the movie character Ferris Bueller, trotted off a giant truck that had just landed in a Wal-Mart parking lot some 45 minutes from my house. The then four-year-old black lab sprinted through the rain, exhausted from a 24-hour trek from Oklahoma. He came right up to us and then climbed up into our Buick Enclave SUV.

 

It was love at first sight.

 

He was rescued and was ours to hug, nuzzle, spoil, and confess our secrets to.

 

Ferris immediately filled a void of heartbreak, having lost our 95-pound bulldog months earlier.

 

He now celebrated his one-year anniversary with us this past week, on May 23^rd. A dog with no history or seemingly any faults, he just immersed himself into our lives. A family of four gives him attention, snacks, and walks. He only knows covid to be the norm, with everyone home around the clock.

 

He’s not like most dogs that I’ve had.

 

For one, he is so polite. He never jumps up for food at the table and he rarely barks. He is well-mannered and just enjoys rolling over for a big, belly rub. We took a 78-pounder and fattened him up to 95 pounds.

 

He enjoys big walks, tail wagging constantly. His disposition is like that of a horse, readying himself for a big race.

 

Ferris was adopted. We saved him – and he saved us. He is my sixth permanent dog. There was Brandy the basset hound, whom I didn’t get until I was 27. Then there was Buzz, and Lulu, two crazy pugs. Daisy, the English bulldog was next. Then Jackson the American bulldog. (We also fostered two dogs, each for a few weeks apiece, Peanut and Minnie). It seems like they have never left me, always by my side. And now Ferris is there, every step of the way.

 

You never forget a pet, especially a dog.

 

Ferris reminds me that we’re not alone in this world. We help one another and take care of each other. It is our simple exchange of friendship and love that encourages me to give him more attention – and treats.

 

I don’t have a book marketing message here, other than when one has love and support, certainly from humans, but also from animals he or she feels blessed. We can write anything and market anything knowing we have this happy, innocent creature by our side, waiting for us to need him and him to need us.

 

Writers can get adopted – or discovered – like Ferris. They just need a matchmaker or advocate. We found Ferris listed online with a lab rescue organization. One cute photo and description is all that we needed to know he was the one for us. We adopted him over the phone, paid $500, and took ownership without really knowing what we were getting ourselves into.

 

Writers can market themselves in a similar fashion.

 

People buy books that are recommended by a friend or a trusted source/reviewer. They also buy if they like the cover, the back cover, description, or they feel like the content speaks to them.

 

Writers should be all over social media, posting all over the place as if they were trying to get adopted. Smile – and say something cute, provocative, informative, or crazy – and someone will take possession of your book.

 

Bark it up for your book!

 

 

Contact Brian For Marketing Help!!

Brian Feinblum, the founder of this award-winning blog, can be reached at brianfeinblum@gmail.com He is available to help authors promote their story, sell their book, and grow their brand.

Catch Up With These Posts 

Interview with Brian Feinblum. on a NYC Cable TV Station, About Books
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5kXwbYeKD8

Authors: Is Your Elevator Speech Taking You To The Penthouse – Or The Basement?

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2021/05/authors-is-your-elevator-speech-taking.html 

Boring Headlines Kill Books – Are You A Killer?

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2021/05/boring-headlines-kill-books-are-you.html

 

What’s The Secret To Marketing Your Book?

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2021/05/whats-secret-to-book-marketing.html

 

Book PR Workshop: Toronto Business Journal Interview With Book Marketing Guru Brian Feinblum

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNahiwP-BZI

 

   Why Do Most Authors Fail Their Dreams?

   https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2021/05/why-do-most-authors-fail-their-dreams.html

 

  Are Writers Heroes, Even The Unpopular or Unpublished?

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2021/05/writers-are-heroes-even-unpopular-or.html

 

Why Authors Must Give It Away To Sell Books

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2021/04/why-authors-must-give-it-away-to-sell.html

 

How To Get More Social Media Connections

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2021/03/follow-me-on-twitter-theprexpert.html

 

Great Book Marketing Podcast Interview With Savvy Book PR Pro Brian Feinblum

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2021/04/great-book-marketing-podcast-interview.html

 

About Brian Feinblum

Brian Feinblum should be followed on Twitter @theprexpert. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog ©2021. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids, and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog. His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent.  This was named one of the best book marketing blogs by BookBaby  http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs and recognized by Feedspot in 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. It was also named by WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” He recently hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America. For more information, please consult: linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum. 

Interview With Criminal Defense Attorney-Turned-Thriller Author T.L. Bequette

 

1.      What motivated you to write your book, to force you from taking an idea or experience and turning it into a book?  After twenty years of trying cases as a criminal defense attorney, I felt I was in a unique position to bring reality to the mystery and courtroom drama genre. Also, a significant part of the book follows the exploits of twin boys. As a father of teenage twins, I’ve gained some insight there as well. They would disagree, by the way.  

2.      What is it about and who is it for? Mystery fans will enjoy the twisty plot and surprise ending. Book clubs and readers of literary fiction will appreciate the realistic glimpse at the culture of the inner city and the story's illustration of the unique bond of twins. The humorous romantic comedy side-plot involving the self-deprecating protagonist will provide occasional comic relief from the heavy subject matter. As stated by Kirkus Reviews, “anchored by a likable hero, this zesty, addictive tale incorporates plenty of criminal hijinks and courtroom melodrama and will satisfy fans of suspense novels and literary crime dramas.”  

3.      What do you hope the reader will be left with after reading it? I hope readers will get a taste of the suffocating pressure of the snitch culture of the streets. Also, I believe the book promotes self-examination in posing the question of how far each of us will go to protect the ones we love.  

4.      What advice or words of wisdom do you have for fellow writers? If you love to write, keep writing for the sake of writing. If the goal is to publish, then keep after it. My journey to publication has taught me that there is a lot of luck involved. Before I found an independent publisher in New York, I accumulated a massive stack of rejections, as have many writers much more talented than I. So, don’t be discouraged. Keep in mind that literary tastes are totally subjective, not to mention the absurdity of selling your book to an agent in a one-page letter. Just keep writing, pitching and rewriting.  

5.      What trends in the book world do you see—and where do you think the book publishing industry is heading. I’m struck by the reality that until recently, before self-publishing, how many great pieces of literature must have never been printed. Now, it seems like the pendulum has swung the other way, so that self-publishing has been made it so easy, the market is flooded. I’m not sure what the answer is, but I think a market correction is likely.  

6.      What challenges did you overcome to write the book?  I suppose finding the time was the greatest challenge, although when I finally put pen to paper, I loved it so much I worked it out.  

7.      If people can buy or read one book this week or month, why should it be yours?  If you like twisty mysteries with some depth, this is your book. I’m a little uncomfortable about tooting my own horn, so I’ll quote the Kirkus review again: “A rigorous, thoroughly engrossing mystery from a writer with immense potential.” 

About The Author: T.L. Bequette is a criminal defense attorney turned writer. Located in Oakland, California, most of his practice involves defending accused murderers. His outlook on the criminal justice system’s need for reform, the unbalanced jury selection process, and his fight for those receiving harsher sentences than they deserve, is what fuels his writing. Bequette’s writing is inspired by his time in the courtroom where he has tried over 20 murder cases. His skill in delivering closing arguments and presenting the stories of his clients to the jury make him a master storyteller. Good Lookin’ is his debut novel and weaves his expertise from the courtroom into the page of a thrilling mystery. He holds degrees from The University of the Pacific and Georgetown Law School and serves annually on faculty of the Stanford Law School Trial Advocacy Clinic. For more, explore: https://tlbequette.com/.

 

 

Contact Brian For Marketing Help!!

Brian Feinblum, the founder of this award-winning blog, can be reached at brianfeinblum@gmail.com He is available to help authors promote their story, sell their book, and grow their brand.

 

Catch Up With These Posts

 

Interview with Brian Feinblum. on a NYC Cable TV Station, About Books
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5kXwbYeKD8

Authors: Is Your Elevator Speech Taking You To The Penthouse – Or The Basement?

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2021/05/authors-is-your-elevator-speech-taking.html  

Boring Headlines Kill Books – Are You A Killer?

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2021/05/boring-headlines-kill-books-are-you.html

 

What’s The Secret To Marketing Your Book?

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2021/05/whats-secret-to-book-marketing.html

 

Book PR Workshop: Toronto Business Journal Interview With Book Marketing Guru Brian Feinblum

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNahiwP-BZI

 

   Why Do Most Authors Fail Their Dreams?

   https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2021/05/why-do-most-authors-fail-their-dreams.html

 

  Are Writers Heroes, Even The Unpopular or Unpublished?

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2021/05/writers-are-heroes-even-unpopular-or.html

 

Why Authors Must Give It Away To Sell Books

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2021/04/why-authors-must-give-it-away-to-sell.html

 

How To Get More Social Media Connections

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2021/03/follow-me-on-twitter-theprexpert.html

 

Great Book Marketing Podcast Interview With Savvy Book PR Pro Brian Feinblum

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2021/04/great-book-marketing-podcast-interview.html

About Brian Feinblum

Brian Feinblum should be followed on Twitter @theprexpert. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog ©2021. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids, and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog. His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent.  This was named one of the best book marketing blogs by BookBaby  http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs and recognized by Feedspot in 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. It was also named by WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” He recently hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America. For more information, please consult: linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum. 

How Many Book Sales Are Needed To Hit A Best-Seller List?

 

 

Could your book be a best-seller?

 

It depends on the format/genre of your book, which list you hope to hit, and what you will do to earn a spot on a best-seller list.

 

So, how many book sales does it take to hit a list?

 

Could be 20,000.

Or 2,000

Or just 20.

 

It really depends!

 

Of all books and formats, Publishers Weekly says to be a Top 10 best-seller, you need to sell at least 18,006 units. At least that is what it took one week in April to make the last spot on the list. But that number fluctuates wildly by the week.

 

They use Nielsen BookScan to tabulate book sales. Other lists use different sources to register book sales.

 

On the other hand, Publishers Weekly has numerous best-seller lists. If you sold 2,674 copies of a Children’s Frontlist Fiction book, you became a best-seller in that same week in April. If you sold 5,960 copies in one week, you made the Hardcover Frontlist Nonfiction Bestseller list. It only took 4,328 units sold to net the final spot on the Hardcover Frontlist Fiction list.

 

For The New York Times, to hit one of their lists, you typically need to sell 10,000 – 12,000 copies in a given week.

 

USA Today has a lower threshold than the NYT, and The Wall Street Journal sometimes requires fewer sales than USA Today, though USA Today has more spots on tis list.

 

Sell 20 copies on Amazon? You could hit a best-seller list!

 

Amazon reassesses its bestseller lists every hour, across a zillion genres and subgenres and formats. In any given hour, thousands of books could temporarily hit a best-seller-list – and then disappear.

 

There is no legal term “best-seller.” Anyone can claim they have a bestselling book without hitting a best-seller list. For instance, someone who sells books could say “This is our store’s best-seller this week.” It could have sold 50 copies. It technically outsold all other titles at the store for a short period of time.

 

Probably, of all the best-seller lists out there, BN.com (Barnes & Noble) would be the easiest to make. Fewer people buy books on BN.com, than Amazon, so it takes fewer sales to outsell a book on their site.

 

There are many, many ways to pay and manipulate one’s way on to a best-seller list. There are also many organic or inspired ways to have sales generated at a clip that earns a spot on a best-seller list. Considering there are over 1.6 million new books published annually, hitting a best-seller list still has value and means something to most consumers, even some media.

 

Can your book be a best-seller? Absolutely – but it depends.

 

 

Contact Brian For Marketing Help!!

Brian Feinblum, the founder of this award-winning blog, can be reached at brianfeinblum@gmail.com He is available to help authors promote their story, sell their book, and grow their brand.

Catch Up With These Posts 

Interview with Brian Feinblum. on a NYC Cable TV Station, About Books
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5kXwbYeKD8

Authors: Is Your Elevator Speech Taking You To The Penthouse – Or The Basement?

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2021/05/authors-is-your-elevator-speech-taking.html 

Boring Headlines Kill Books – Are You A Killer?

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2021/05/boring-headlines-kill-books-are-you.html

 

What’s The Secret To Marketing Your Book?

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2021/05/whats-secret-to-book-marketing.html

 

Book PR Workshop: Toronto Business Journal Interview With Book Marketing Guru Brian Feinblum

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNahiwP-BZI

 

   Why Do Most Authors Fail Their Dreams?

   https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2021/05/why-do-most-authors-fail-their-dreams.html

 

  Are Writers Heroes, Even The Unpopular or Unpublished?

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2021/05/writers-are-heroes-even-unpopular-or.html

 

Why Authors Must Give It Away To Sell Books

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2021/04/why-authors-must-give-it-away-to-sell.html

 

How To Get More Social Media Connections

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2021/03/follow-me-on-twitter-theprexpert.html

 

Great Book Marketing Podcast Interview With Savvy Book PR Pro Brian Feinblum

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2021/04/great-book-marketing-podcast-interview.html

About Brian Feinblum

Brian Feinblum should be followed on Twitter @theprexpert. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog ©2021. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids, and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog. His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent.  This was named one of the best book marketing blogs by BookBaby  http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs and recognized by Feedspot in 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. It was also named by WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” He recently hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America. For more information, please consult: linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum.