Swenson Book Development, LLC was in the thick of publishing madness two weeks ago  – two members of our team, myself and Jill Swenson, checked out the trade floor and events at Book Expo America.  BEA is the place for movers and shakers of the North American publishing industry. From event interviews of famous musicians-come-authors to Harlequin Romance shilling for their latest salacious-covered paperback, from bustling New York convention centers to the intensity of a one-on-one in a publisher’s booth, Swenson Book Development LLC saw it all in an absolute blitzkrieg of a single day at the epicenter of the American publishing world. Jill Swenson and I started our day on an early morning bus from Cornell campus. It appeared many of the passengers were also attending BEA – drafts spread out over numerous laps, red pens at the ready. After a stint eavesdropping, watching, and whispering, “Is that him? I think it is!” we craned over the bus aisle to introduce ourselves to J. Robert Lennon, an Ithacan author and musician. Lennon was at the convention at behest of his publisher, Grey Wolf Press, and would be signing novels and shaking hands. As the five-hour bus ride from Ithaca to the Big Apple stop-and-goed through the traffic in Manhattan, Lennon and SBD, LLC decided to skedaddle through the heart of NYC together towards the convention center.  Jill and I dodged fanny packs and hot dog trucks at a record pace in Times Square – admittedly, we had an ulterior motive.            …

Cathryn Prince and Andrew Kessler came to Ithaca on the 10th and 11th of October for two book events. As authors of new titles related to Mars and meteorites, Prince and Kessler found Ithaca a town of stargazers and skywatchers. On Sunday, Bob Proehl hosted the authors for a reading and book signing at Buffalo Street Books. Cathryn Prince read an excerpt from A Professor, a President and a Meteor: The Birth of American Science. Andrew Kessler shared selections from Martian Summer: Robot Arms, Space Cowboys, and My 90 Days with the Phoenix  Mars Mission. Monday at noon, the Museum of the Earth hosted a special presentation by the authors. The room filled with families for this day of discovery in celebration of Columbus Day. Cathryn Prince shared what research Professor Bejamin Silliman of Yale College conducted in 1807 on how other people in other places and times had thought about meteors (Thunderstones) prior to the Weston Fall.  Andrew Kessler told the audience how he won the “nerd lottery” to gain unfettered access to Mission Control. The purpose of his book was to share the hard work of scientific discovery with those who might never get to know what mission control is like and  meet the scientists who are Earthling heroes. He showed this videoclip he used to promote his new book. That’s right. A movie trailer created to promote and publicize a new book. And not just one movie trailer but many. Both Andrew Kessler and Cathryn Prince are authors who have websites, Facebook Pages,…

Some professional writers have a Facebook Page. Others use Twitter or Tumblr. Many non-fiction authors have a profile on LinkedIn. But every author needs a website under their own domain name. “Why, oh why, must I also build a website and blog, too?” I often get this question from clients who seek publication of their book manuscripts. Here’s why. You don’t own your own real estate on any of these other social media platforms. When Facebook changes its policy or practices you have no control over how that affects your electronic presence. Likewise with Twitter and Tumblr. LinkedIn and Facebook now have stockholders who eagerly await new measures to monetize these platforms so they’ll get a return on their investments. The real reason to use these other means for connecting and engaging with others is to drive traffic to your site by pulling them with your writing. The nice thing about internet marketing of content is that you can pull readers instead of pushing your book. Many authors shy away from self-promotion because they fear becoming the used car salesman hawking HUGE deals with a megaphone. This broadcasting approach does not work in the blogosphere. Instead a writer needs to be true and authentic in their cyber-persona. And it is a lot easier to do that while you’re standing on solid ground. The website is an author’s homebase and provides the foundation for your book’s success. If you have accounts in social media, link them to your website and blog. You…