Reviewer's Tip - Advance Reading Copy - Part 4

One final suggestion for back covers.  We see this on some (but not all) advance reading copies.  At the bottom, near/beside the marketing campaign information, specifics on the book.  These include:

• Title
• Author
• Genre
• ISBN
• Book size
• Number of pages
• Number of illustrations
• Price
• Publication Date
• URL of books' website
• Contact information - name, phone, email of contact person

Finally, don't forget to add, if you can fit it in (and some of the 'Big Boys' put it in VERY tiny print), "Text is subject to change.  Before quoting anything in this book, please verify with the publisher/against the final bound book."  We've seen this blurb put on the back cover, front cover, and also inside, on the title page and even, occasionally, on the copyright page.

Next time, what should your front cover look like???

Reviewer's Tip - Advance Reading Copy - Part 3

Last time we talked about what should be on the back cover.  Today, we'll look at probably the most important item for your book's back cover - the marketing campaign.

As we mentioned earlier, we're taking examples from books the 'Big Boy's have sent us.  Whenever we get an 'Advance Reading Copy' from one of the mainstream, large presses, the back cover ALWAYS includes a summary of the book's marketing campaign.  Why?  To help sell the book to reviewers.  They want to know that the book has been given sufficient attention and a decent marketing budget so that it will get significant attention.  Afterall, why would a reviewer/review publication spend precious time on a book that's going to flop due to lack of promotional funds? 

Normally, the marketing plan is at or near the bottom of the back cover, typically blocked off in a text box or by some other means that makes it stand out.  Here are examples of what publishers have listed as part of their marketing campaigns (but are not limited to):

• National broadcast and print media coverage
• Online promotion
• 30-City (or more/less) national tour
• National radio campaign
• Blog tour
• E-card campaign
• Online video and e-mail notifications
• Author website (with website and/or blog url listed)
• School and/or library appearances
• Viral marketing to author promotional sites (children's sites, genre specific sites, etc.)
• Press releases to over 150 national/regional genre magazines/sites/book clubs, etc.
• Interviews in over 25 genre related publications (note: you should list the genre!)

Reviewer's Tip - Advance Reading Copy - Part 2

Back covers - hmmmm.... what to put on the back cover of an advance reading copy????  Remember, we're giving examples from the big, main, traditional (whatever you'd like to call them) presses.  The 'Big Boys' as I like to say.

Typically, at the top is a quote from somebody well-known in the genre of the book. The quote is a glowing, one or two sentence review. 

Next, there's a paragraph with a synopsis of the book.  It's going to be the most fun you've ever had; you'll learn more from this book than you learned in four years of college.  This is where you want to SELL your book. 

The third paragraph highlights the author.  Sell yourself here.  Why should the reader pick up your book?  You're an expert, right?  Refer to other books, your writing accomplishments, etc.  But please don't get carried away.  We once had a book where the author mentioned a writing award he received in elementary school!  Do you really think that will convince somebody to buy your book????

Next time, what else needs to be on the back cover?  Hint: think 'marketing campaign.'

Reviewer's Tip - Advance Reading Copy - Part 1

We see lots of newbie authors asking on various publishing lists what should be in 'Advance Reading Copies' of their books?  How should they be formatted, what about a glossary, or an index?  Does the layout need to be in final form?  Should it be bound like a proper book?  Can it be a finished copy with a sticker on the cover noting its status as an 'Advance Reading Copy'? 

I thought it would be helpful to discuss what some of the 'Big Boys' do with their advance reading copies.  First, let me say that it is all over the place!  From finished, properly formated, finalized covers to white covers with boring text and little "bubbles" that note "uncorrected proof - not for sale." 

Interiors, from the 'Big Boys,' tend to be finished, or pretty darn close.  The only time we see manuscripts in their original Word/WordPerfect form is from very small presses or self-publishers.  The big review journals may not like this, but at Feathered Quil, we understand the pressures small presses are under.  As long as the text is edited, we're okay with the format.  But watch out if the text hasn't visited with an editor!  We have to review what is in front of us, not what it will eventually (possibly) be like after being edited.  (And yes, we did once have an author argue that we should forgive all the errors because the book would "eventually" be edited!)

What about a 'Contents' page?  How can you possibly put together a list of chapters when content is, at this point, still changing from day to day?  Follow the example of a book I'm currently reviewing that's from an imprint of HarperCollins.  The book has 25 chapters.  All the chapters are noted by name on the 'Contents' page.  But where do those chapters begin?  All of them can be found on page "00."  Obviously the layout, while looking finished, is still in flux and the publisher does not want to wait any longer to get out the advance copies.  As a reviewer, I expect this and I certainly won't find fault with this in my review.  It's SOP (standard operating procedure).

Next time - just what should you put on the back cover of your advance printing???