Playing games instead of solving problems

We have satellite TV and recently experienced problems receiving local television channels. After repeated calls to customer service, they finally determined a tech needed to be sent to our house. Even though the issue is in their equipment, they wanted to charge a hundred dollars for the service call. I complained and they immediately cut the price in half. Rather than agree I told them I’d get back to them later. 

Filling my mailbox daily are offers from companies like AT&T U-verse and Charter Communications among others. Each is asking for my business and are giving special pricing. All, actually, are playing a zero-sum game. This is because each company at any time has dissatisfied customers. They know that if their offer hits my mailbox at the precise moment I’m having problems, chances are I’ll call. 

Before getting back to the satellite company I called another provider. During that call it occurred to me that my satellite service would rather lose me as a customer than give a “read deal.” Instead, they save their best for new prospective customers. They are, in fact, playing a zero-sum game of attrition where they have accepted the loss of customers, and rather than provide truly exceptional customer service use marketing to pull in the dissatisfied customers of their competitors. 

While their approach makes no common sense, it is how they have chosen to conduct business. 

As a result, I called my satellite company and told them “no thanks” and that I was taking my business elsewhere. 

Immediately they switched me to their “customer retention” department where I was offered tech service at no charge. 

But I declined telling the representative that I will await a new marketing program from them once the special rate with my new service expires. After all, it is how they themselves have determined they want to “play the game.”

But isn’t it sad that we as consumers have to play such games. Long gone are the days when companies wanted to keep their existing customers satisfied and, as a result, have longterm business relationships. 

It is now all about what we get in terms of a deal rather than the quality of the services we receive. 

Rather than now going into a commercial minute about how good the services are that Principia offers, I challenge you to think about any service you’ve had has been exceptional. No matter if it is the butcher, the baker, or the candlestick maker. Whose service have you experienced lately that was over the top exceptional? And what happened that made it so good?

By Dirk Wierenga, Principia Director of Publishing

In Publishing, many of the worst roads traveled lead to Bloomington, Indiana

An author friend called recently to say she had just received a call from West Bow Press which, she informed me, was a division of Thomas Nelson (a Christian publishing unit of HarperCollins Publishers which itself is part of Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp media empire). She went on to say that even though West Bow is a self-publishing company, Thomas Nelson regularly chooses books published by them for traditional royalty contracts. 

For those in the publishing world the mere mention of West Bow, or one of the other affiliates of Bloomington, Indiana based Author Solutions, brings shudders. While there are many successful stories involving self-publishing over the past several hundred years, big companies like Author Solutions imply, through their marketing, that the odds of success are much higher (and the tasks easier) than they really are. 

Having been involved in the publishing of hundreds of books, it is my experience that it takes something special to make a book a success. By something special I mean that the book has to command a niche or be seen as an essential tool by prospective readers. Sadly, books do not sell on their own. Simply floating a book out there into the marketplace will not yield positive results.

Often I look at a book much as I would an investment into a business startup. To find success see how well can you answer the following questions: 

Who exactly is going to buy your book? 

Saying a book will appeal to anyone age eight to eighty shopping in conventional bookstores is not a good answer. 

How will your book find its intended customer? 

A nonfiction book that has a distinct market niche that is easily googled often works. In fiction and memoir, because the genres are not search engine friendly, the ability of an author to hand-sell their book at events is paramount.  

Is your book content professionally edited and designed? 

For a book to have any chance of success the fundamentals of having a world-class cover design and top notch editing are essential.

Do you have the wherewithal to engage the marketplace?

Good publicity and promotion are costly endeavors if done by professionals and time-consuming if done by the author.

Is there an experienced team assembled to properly produce and market your book?

Having a publisher with a knowledgeable team that is experienced in all aspects of publishing cannot be overstated. 

One issue (among many) I have with large corporations like Author Solutions are that their support team generally has no real-world experience publishing successful books. One salesperson from Author Solutions’ imprint Author House once admitted he had worked at a fast-food restaurant just prior to being hired a month earlier. 

As a prospective author, you have worked very hard to research and write your manuscript. You only will have one opportunity to successfully release your book. Mistakes and poor design cannot be assuaged by attempting to use “brute force” to push a book onto an unsuspecting public. Readers today are far too sophisticated to purchase something that appears second rate. 

Whether you publish with us or with another publisher, be sure you are dealing with people who are straight shooters who explain all potential publishing options available to you. If a publishing program offers so-called packages, be wary. In my many years of experience I have yet to see a one-size-fits-all program that serves the author well. At Principia, when we evaluate an author proposal we use the same process as top New York City publishing houses. After all, doesn’t your book deserve the very best?

By Dirk Wierenga, Principia Media Director of Publishing and owner of Fox River Press

The strange journey of Pastor Jeremiah Steepek and his so-called flock of 10,000

Perhaps you’ve received the following in your Facebook page. “Pastor Jeremiah Steepek (pictured below) transformed himself into a homeless person and went to the 10,000 member church that he was to be introduced as the head pastor at that morning. He walked around his soon to be church for 30 minutes while it was filling with people for service, only 3 people out of the 7-10,000 people said hello to him. He asked people for change to buy food - NO ONE in the church gave him change. He went into the sanctuary to sit down in the front of the church and was asked by the ushers if he would please sit n the back. He greeted people to be greeted back with stares and dirty looks, with people looking down on him and judging him.

“As he sat in the back of the church, he listened to the church announcements and such. When all that was done, the elders went up and were excited to introduce the new pastor of the church to the congregation. "We would like to introduce to you Pastor Jeremiah Steepek." The congregation looked around clapping with joy and anticipation. The homeless man sitting in the back stood up and started walking down the aisle. The clapping stopped with ALL eyes on him. He walked up the altar and took the microphone from the elders (who were in on this) and paused for a moment then he recited, 

‘“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

“'The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

“After he recited this, he looked towards the congregation and told them all what he had experienced that morning. Many began to cry and many heads were bowed in shame. He then said, ‘"Today I see a gathering of people, not a church of Jesus Christ. The world has enough people, but not enough disciples. When will YOU decide to become disciples?’

“He then dismissed service until next week.

“Being a Christian is more than something you claim. It's something you live by and share with others.

Being a skeptic I Googled the pastor’s name and found the story had been totally made up and then disseminated over the Internet by many well-meaning people. 

When I posted it as a hoax on my own page, several people defended the story saying it was indicative of the behavior of many “church people.” 

While that may be true, my problem is the idea of planting a hoax story to get people to think (or feel badly). In my opinion, many Christians feel they “need” to evangelize and if it means making others feel guilty, so be it. But that is the same type of behavior many outside the church so dislike about overtly evangelical Christians. 

If, in fact, there is a God how dare we think that we can wrap our tiny human minds around a spirit so powerful. I figure if we follow the example of Jesus we are walking in tall cotton. 

What do you think of the hoax story about Jeremiah Steepek? Is it okay to broadcast an untrue story as truth to make a point? 

Dirk Wierenga, Principia Media Director of Publishing and owner of Fox River Press

Content is King

As an Apple person, who has exclusively used a Mac since the mid 1980s, I'm not a big Microsoft fan. However, back in 1996, Bill Gates famously predicted how the Internet would change our lives and, in doing so, uttered his quote, "Content is king." Below is the complete article. For those not interested in reading the article's thousand words, the first few paragraphs are telling. I am posting the article to affirm the importance of all the writers who create the content many often take fore-granted.

Courtesy: Forbes Magazine

Content Is King – Bill Gates (1/3/1996)

Content is where I expect much of the real money will be made on the Internet, just as it was in broadcasting.

The television revolution that began half a century ago spawned a number of industries, including the manufacturing of TV sets, but the long-term winners were those who used the medium to deliver information and entertainment.

When it comes to an interactive network such as the Internet, the definition of “content” becomes very wide. For example, computer software is a form of content-an extremely important one, and the one that for Microsoft will remain by far the most important.

But the broad opportunities for most companies involve supplying information or entertainment. No company is too small to participate.

One of the exciting things about the Internet is that anyone with a PC and a modem can publish whatever content they can create. In a sense, the Internet is the multimedia equivalent of the photocopier. It allows material to be duplicated at low cost, no matter the size of the audience.

The Internet also allows information to be distributed worldwide at basically zero marginal cost to the publisher. Opportunities are remarkable, and many companies are laying plans to create content for the Internet.

For example, the television network NBC and Microsoft recently agreed to enter the interactive news business together. Our companies will jointly own a cable news network, MSNBC, and an interactive news service on the Internet. NBC will maintain editorial control over the joint venture.

I expect societies will see intense competition-and ample failure as well as success-in all categories of popular content-not just software and news, but also games, entertainment, sports programming, directories, classified advertising, and on-line communities devoted to major interests.

Printed magazines have readerships that share common interests. It’s easy to imagine these communities being served by electronic online editions.

But to be successful online, a magazine can’t just take what it has in print and move it to the electronic realm. There isn’t enough depth or interactivity in print content to overcome the drawbacks of the online medium.

If people are to be expected to put up with turning on a computer to read a screen, they must be rewarded with deep and extremely up-to-date information that they can explore at will. They need to have audio, and possibly video. They need an opportunity for personal involvement that goes far beyond that offered through the letters-to-the-editor pages of print magazines.

A question on many minds is how often the same company that serves an interest group in print will succeed in serving it online. Even the very future of certain printed magazines is called into question by the Internet.

For example, the Internet is already revolutionizing the exchange of specialized scientific information. Printed scientific journals tend to have small circulations, making them high-priced. University libraries are a big part of the market. It’s been an awkward, slow, expensive way to distribute information to a specialized audience, but there hasn’t been an alternative.

Now some researchers are beginning to use the Internet to publish scientific findings. The practice challenges the future of some venerable printed journals.

Over time, the breadth of information on the Internet will be enormous, which will make it compelling. Although the gold rush atmosphere today is primarily confined to the United States, I expect it to sweep the world as communications costs come down and a critical mass of localized content becomes available in different countries.

For the Internet to thrive, content providers must be paid for their work. The long-term prospects are good, but I expect a lot of disappointment in the short-term as content companies struggle to make money through advertising or subscriptions. It isn’t working yet, and it may not for some time.

So far, at least, most of the money and effort put into interactive publishing is little more than a labor of love, or an effort to help promote products sold in the non-electronic world. Often these efforts are based on the belief that over time someone will figure out how to get revenue.

In the long run, advertising is promising. An advantage of interactive advertising is that an initial message needs only to attract attention rather than convey much information. A user can click on the ad to get additional information-and an advertiser can measure whether people are doing so.

But today the amount of subscription revenue or advertising revenue realized on the Internet is near zero-maybe $20 million or $30 million in total. Advertisers are always a little reluctant about a new medium, and the Internet is certainly new and different.

Some reluctance on the part of advertisers may be justified, because many Internet users are less-than-thrilled about seeing advertising. One reason is that many advertisers use big images that take a long time to download across a telephone dial-up connection. A magazine ad takes up space too, but a reader can flip a printed page rapidly.

As connections to the Internet get faster, the annoyance of waiting for an advertisement to load will diminish and then disappear. But that’s a few years off.

Some content companies are experimenting with subscriptions, often with the lure of some free content. It’s tricky, though, because as soon as an electronic community charges a subscription, the number of people who visit the site drops dramatically, reducing the value proposition to advertisers.

A major reason paying for content doesn’t work very well yet is that it’s not practical to charge small amounts. The cost and hassle of electronic transactions makes it impractical to charge less than a fairly high subscription rate.

But within a year the mechanisms will be in place that allow content providers to charge just a cent or a few cents for information. If you decide to visit a page that costs a nickel, you won’t be writing a check or getting a bill in the mail for a nickel. You’ll just click on what you want, knowing you’ll be charged a nickel on an aggregated basis.

This technology will liberate publishers to charge small amounts of money, in the hope of attracting wide audiences.

Those who succeed will propel the Internet forward as a marketplace of ideas, experiences, and products-a marketplace of content.

Given the predictions made by Bill Gates before Google existed and a decade before Facebook launched, how has the Internet changed your life? What changes have helped, which have hurt? 

Dirk Wierenga, Principia Director of Publishing and owner of Fox River Press

Kindle Fire and Nook Tablet undercut iPad but come with trade-offs

Kindle Fire and Nook Tablet undercut iPad but come with trade-offs

Paying for the newspaper on the Internet: The Gray Lady has pulled it off

A couple years ago I made the prediction that newspapers like The New York Times would soon be charging for their content. That prediction came to pass this year when it put up its paywall. Now if you want to read anything but the latest headlines in The Gray Lady (as The Times has historically been called by those who both love and hate it) you have to pay a subscription. Since The Times is seen as an industry bell weather, as more people opt to pay for its content, other newspapers and magazines are following its lead.

Gradually, over the next few years, the amount of reliable information for free over the Internet will diminish.

While this may be seen as bad news for the average online browser, it is actually a good thing. For the past decade, newspapers and periodicals have seen their profits erode as more and more people canceled paid subscriptions in favor of accessing information online for free. Yet, newspaper and magazine reporters, editors and photographers still expected to be paid.

Initially news and feature publications thought advertising would pay their overhead. But that didn't work because display and pay-per-click ads never generated anywhere near the amount required to keep them in business.

So now, as we travel back to the past, we will need to once again start choosing which publications we are willing to pay to access.

Personally if the choice is between paying to read my favorite newspapers and periodicals or to see them go out of business, I'll choose to pay.

The same is true for books. On occasion I may choose to download an ebook or audio book over a printed version, but I do expect to pay for the books I read.

Once all the best content is locked behind a paywall, what will be left on the Internet? Shopping, blogs, websites, email, etc. All manner of items people are willing to share for free. The Internet will remain free. Just don't expect authors, writers reporters and photographers to work for free. What we once willingly paid for we should once again support. Do we actually think that content should be free? If someone comes to our home to fix the plumbing we expect to pay. Same as when we go to the theater, see a concert or visit the zoo. When we receive a service we compensate those who provide it. Same for books, newspapers and periodicals.

When someone provides us with a service we reciprocate by paying. As the old saying goes, "ain't no such thing as a free lunch."

Don't Be Afraid to Fail

This short motivational video provides an important lesson for all us humans who sometimes fail.

First Follower: Leadership Lessons from Dancing Guy

"Bookish" just another crazy idea from drowning publishers?

The problem for the largest book publishers is that their control over the book market is waning. If predictions are correct, and the book industry follows the music industry, pretty soon it will be nearly impossible to find a full-service bookstore with a deep selection. A decade ago there used to be record stores with thousands of recordings to peruse. But those days are over. Long gone are major chains like Sam Goody and Tower Records. In their place are online sellers like Amazon and digital download applications like iTunes.

As a result the major book publishers are scared. Borders Books has declared bankruptcy, can Barnes and Noble be far behind? Not to mention the local independent bookseller.

Their solution, coming this summer, is Bookish. A place where book publishers, authors and readers can get together. On its surface, it would seem to be a good idea. But is it?




So far there are three major publishers involved: Simon and Schuster, Penguin Group and Hachette Book Group (Random House). They have not indicated whether the website will be open to all publishers, large and small, or just the major publishers. If they open the site to every publisher and it is well organized and easy to navigate—and fair to all—it could just work. But can a tiger change its stripes? The large multinational publishers have not demonstrated any inclination to work with others over the years. In fact, they have done their best to intentionally keep the playing field anything but level.

Going back to the music business. At one time, there were a handful of major record labels who controlled the sales and distribution of records. As a result they could pick which artists the public listened to and which records were purchased. But that all changed with the dawning of the Internet age and with it the ability for musicians to reach the public directly. The music business changed and the major record labels were left behind.

Will what happened to the major record labels happen to the large book publishers?

The very thought is keeping big publishers awake at night.

But, how do the major publishers suddenly begin cooperating when they have fought, tooth and nail, for so long to keep their grip over the distribution and sale of books? And do they allow other lesser-known small publishers a seat at the table when they have been instrumental in keeping they out of many of the markets?

What will happen with this latest initiative is unknown. But unless they open it up for all publishers and all authors, it will just be one more lame attempt at protecting something that will surely slip out of their grasp anyway.

Where were you when you first heard about the death of Osama bin Laden?

We all remember where we were on 9/11 when we were attacked. Now we hear about the death of Osama bin Laden. However, this time most of us were asleep since the news was not released until after 11 PM Eastern Time.

Interestingly, I had placed my iPod Touch on the bed stand. All of a sudden a light went on in the room. It was the iPod. One of the Apps on my iPod is CNN. At around 11 they issued an emergency bulletin which turned on the device. I immediately got up, turned on the television and heard the news.

Most people in the eastern portion of the United States, I'm sure, heard the news when they awoke this morning. But as we determine what technology each of us has access to (and how that technology can access us), it is interesting to ask the question about where we were when we first heard the news.

Seth Godin just returned my email—God is good!

Pretty much anyone in the blogosphere is familiar with Seth Godin whose daily emailed blog populates the inbox of hundreds of thousands with his incredible wisdom and breakthrough thoughts. Godin's books include bestsellers such as Unleashing the Idea Virus, Linchpin and the newly released Poke the Box. Long a proponent of building a crowd of followers through the Internet in order to market products and ideas, he recently dropped his own publisher so that he could sell directly through Amazon and other online channels.

Yesterday in his daily blog Godin commented on self publishing superstar Amanda Hocking, whose books are only available through Kindle and are selling over a hundred thousand downloads each month. It was his assertion that she did not need a publisher to thrive. Today, however, in The New York Times is an article about Hocking being in negotiations with traditional publishers to get a contract.

I wondered what Seth Godin thought about it and was surprised when he answered my email. His comment, "when people with $ can take bigger risks, it's smart business to use that leverage if it's important to you.


Wonderful advice and so true. 


Big media operates in its own world and is only open to those who have already proven they either don't need it—like banks only lending money to those who have no need—or who are wanting to leverage their own celebrity to earn maximum money. 


So what is a budding author to do?


Just as an actor must first prove her worth by taking any gig that opens up and is willing to sacrifice everything to start up her career, so too do authors. New and emerging authors must be willing to invest in their own writing career by promoting what they have written. There are no shortcuts. 


First, write what you know. 
Then promote what you write. 


How? It depends on your situation and what you have written. 


Are you comfortable with the Internet and related technologies? If not, either learn or find someone who can help. We live in a digital world and all communication comes through the Web, Apps or other new media. 


Is your topic something others are interested in? This is where many authors make their mistake. Instead of finding a niche audience they try to engage everyone within a broader market. That is something that can only work for the so-called big media conglomerates and well known authors. Instead look for a small audience that few are marketing to. This will allow you to gain a toehold so that you can establish yourself as a key player within that narrow niche. For example, if you are writing a how-to marketing book for small business, concentrate on a tiny sliver of that marketing pie. Something like "How To Market Non-Pasteurized Milk from Your Small Dairy Farm." Once you are able to establish credentials with a very small audience then you can widen your scope to include other areas within your niche (small dairy farms) or to reach others with similar businesses (example, small craft cheese producers or egg farmers marketing organic eggs might be similar markets to the non-pasteurized milk market). Bottom line, if you find a niche where few are concentrating their attention you can more easily own that market in terms of Internet search and ultimately for selling books, ideas or products. 


The days are over where people look to stores for new ideas or cutting edge products. Just trying to get established in conventional markets is far too expensive. Instead focus on where the competition is lacking by establishing whole new categories in terms of products, services and intellectual property. 

News Headline: Fight breaks out over e-books in Gaylord Michigan barber shop

While making the long trek north to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan last week I looked in the mirror and decided it was time for a haircut. Sixty miles south of the Mackinac Bridge is Gaylord which is a mecca for snowmobiles in the winter and golf during the warmer seasons.

Pulling off the Interstate I drove through the downtown and discovered City Barber Shop, an old fashioned barbershop that would remind one of Floyd's from the timeless Andy Griffith Show. I parked my car and went inside. There, sitting on their barber chairs, were three barbers: A young woman, a middle age man and a older man. The young woman showed me to her chair and we soon were all focused on CNN playing on a small TV at the front of the shop.

Soon we started conversing. The young woman asked where I lived and what I did for a living. When I told her I was in publishing immediately the three barbers began to banter. The middle age barber asked what I thought of Kindle. Before I could answer the young woman said there was no way she would ever give up printed books. That led to a full scale outbreak of back and forth, sometimes heated, conversation on the merits of e-books. I weighed in to say that I thought tablets such as the iPad were going to be bigger than the Kindle due to their ability to stream video and other technology innovations.

Two points were interesting about the exchange. First, it was taking place in a small town barbershop in northern Michigan. Second, the middle age man was so excited about reading using a electronic device while the young woman wanted to hold onto the printed book. Research has told us for years that the typical reader in the United States is female and that young women are far more interested in books than young males. In other words, since females are already reading they are showing their satisfaction with conventional books by their actions. Young men, on the other hand, are more likely to be interested in video games than books.

Therefore, if the tablet reading experience can duplicate some of the live action from video games then it is more likely young men will be interested in reading.

In marketing the goal is to widen or enlarge existing markets. We know women are already reading. To grow the book market the key will be making the experience more interesting to younger men through disruptive technology. The market is now wide open for those who innovate with the content available in their books. This year over a hundred tablet devices similar to the iPad will be introduced. Those authors and publishers who are early adopters in their respective niche will surely benefit.

Because it works so darn well

The other day I finally broke down and purchased a Starbucks travel mug. After trying several cheaper varieties over the years, and not being happy with any of them, it was time to buy something better. My new Starbucks mug is perfect for its intended use and I'm 100 percent satisfied with it.

I'm sure you can think of items you use every day that you may have paid a little bit more for but are so happy with its performance, you are glad you purchased it.

Looking around for other items that come immediately to mind would surely include my Mac and all the related Apple products, from the iPod to the iPad. When I purchased my first Mac it was in the mid 80s when the initial model was introduced. It was the first computer I could easily operate and remains the same to this day. In addition, every other Apple product seamlessly works with it. Sure, I could pay less for my computers and other electronics. But I can't believe I'd be as satisfied.

Another item within my reach is the case for my iPod touch from a little company in San Francisco called WaterField Designs http://www.sfbags.com whose tiny bag fits perfectly and is so functional.

The truth is that we rely on many products in our everyday life that help us in so many ways.

This is also true of the books we own. The books I turn to with regularity are those that reliably help or inspire me. I'm always picking up my copy of David Ogilvy's classic Ogilvy on Advertising because the advice he provided decades ago is still true today. Other books I've practically worn the covers off include Thomas Woll's Publishing for Profit (great information for budding publishers), David Burns' The Feeling Good Handbook (for help overcoming anxiety) and Roger Finke and Rodney Stark's The Churching of America (tells how the church spread from coast to coast as our nation grew).

What those and other books have in common is that the information they contain is as good today as it was years ago. They are timeless.

The point is that as formats change from printed books to electronic books, the same will always be true. A book that provides helpful information is valuable to its owner.

These are not books that one throws away. They do not grow old like bananas but instead age gracefully.

If you are a lover of books and the information contained therein, you can look to your bookshelf and immediately find those that have become reliable sources of information.

As an author it is vital that before you publish, you take another look at the contents of your book and ask the question: Is this information timeless enough to publish? Does it work darn well?

Selling Books is Hard Work!

An entire generation of authors have dreamed of one day sitting on Oprah's couch and talking about their book. Well forgetaboutit! Oprah's pulling up stakes, moving to LA and starting her OWN network. The couch will soon be gathering dust at the Smithsonian or in a warehouse somewhere.

Authors have long thought that bookstores are where their books will sell. Nothing could be further from the truth. Yes, certain books sell in bookstores (or in the book department of a megastore like Walmart or Target). But the books that sell in the conventional bookstore (or book department) are mostly bestsellers by well-known authors. These are not venues where lesser-known books sell.

Why?

Because for a book to sell people have to know about it. They are not going to find it in a bookstore if they are not looking for it. And the bookseller is not going to place a stack of your books on the front display unless your book is well-known.

So how ARE most books sold?

The most successful authors are themselves visible to the public in one way or another.

Successful authors appear at events, give talks, hold signings and are active on the Internet.

By doing so, an author begins to establish their public identity or platform. They also begin to attract a following.

What might an author's platform look like?

Let's say you have written a book about cycling in out of the way places (my obsession) and have titled your book, The Long and Winding Road (with apologies to The Beatles).

To establish your platform to support your book you might do the following:

• write a daily blog about your biking experiences
• talk to a local bike shop about giving a talk to riding clubs
• locate events where bike enthusiast's gather and contact the organizers about speaking opportunities
• submit articles to cycling publications
• make sure the content of your book is easily searchable on search engines
• contribute articles to cycling websites

Key to your success will be getting in front of people who are as excited about the topic of your book as you are. It makes sense when you think about it. 

What books do you buy? 

I'm sure you only purchase books that are of interest to you. If your book is about knitting find venues where those interested in knitting go. Since I have no interest in knitting, myself, any efforts spent on me are wasted. To sell a book on knitting one might better spend their time and energy on those who are feverishly excited about the topic. 

As your public profile grows in your topic area, so will your book sales. 

While it may seem like hard work, if it is time spent with people who are interested in the same things as you—then it is more joy than work.

Borders Books and Best Buy—do they matter anymore?

A quick glance of articles on business pages reveals that there are struggles for two large merchants: Borders Books and Best Buy. The former being having such dire issues with its cash flow that is in negotiations with its vendors to extend payments of its bills and the latter trying to reboot its business model.

While we certainly would not want to wish any ill will toward either of these fine companies, or toward their stockholders and employees, they represent the latest in the ebb and flow of big retailing. Remember Circuit City and Montgomery Wards? Both chains were once thought invincible yet, still, they have exited the scene.

The truth is that large retailers, like all organizations, have natural life cycles that eventually lead to their demise, extinction or being absorbed by someone else. Though it sounds ruthless, it is what happens in a free market society.

In the case of Borders their business model was rooted in the notion that people would continue buying books in brick n' mortar stores. They were slow at responding to opportunities to sell via the Internet having long since ceded that position to Amazon.com. Further, as mass merchants such as Walmart and Target heavily discounted the price of bestselling books, Borders could not compete without matching their price. Now as readers are beginning to switch to e-books, they are left without the capability of developing their own e-reader or tablet device. With their stock price tumbling they are left with the prospects of reducing their overhead along with closing a number of stores. But it may be a case of too little, too late.

As for Best Buy, their business model was all about generating weekly traffic for small items—such as Cd's and DVDs—in the hope of becoming the destination for all things electronic. That strategy worked well until demand for these high traffic producing products diminished. This was due to the customer having more convenient options such as downloading music to their mobile devices or having movies directly delivered to their door. Additionally, fierce competition from big box discounters such as Walmart for large ticket items like flat screen TVs and computers further reduced their profit margins. Looking forward, it is hard to see Best Buy continuing to hit the sales and profitability targets that made them a Wall Street darling.

While we hope both companies survive, in order to do so they will have to reboot their business models and redefine their niche. In the case of Borders Books, because they waited so long and are in a weakened position, this will be just that more difficult. However with Best Buy, since it is still a strong company, they have the luxury of time and resources on their side. Key for both companies will be to ramp up their customer service and product offerings to differentiate themselves from the competition.

The fact is that we live in a time when the convenience of purchasing products online has resulted in far too many stand-alone retail stores. Just take a drive around your own neighborhood or business district and see how many empty storefronts are littering the landscape. Do we actually need so many stores?

In the world of publishing we live with the same reality. In the past decade, due mostly to self publishing, the number of new book titles published each year has more than quadrupled. This as the same time as the overall demand for printed books has shrunk. Do we really need so many books? Or might some of the intellectual content being produced be better served through blogs, websites, iPad applications and e-books? Only time will tell as the best produced book content continues to be essential to readers while those books that are ill conceived—or poorly written, designed and edited—are left to the scrap pile of history.

Putting ones life on autopilot

Today I received a notice from Plaxo, the social networking site, that I can now send out so-called e-cards to my entire birthday list and plan them up to a year in advance. While I've never been much for Plaxo, since most of my "friends" are on Facebook, it does command a sizable following.

In thinking about the whole idea of preplanning the delivery of birthday e-cards it hit me that the notion of doing it represents the epitome of laziness; something perfectly designed for our overly automated lives. Now without even having to think about it I can have my birthday list managed for me so I no longer have to give it another thought. Perish the thought that someone decides to include ones own spouse or partner on the list only to forget about it when the special day arrives.

Okay, now what does all of this have to do with publishing?

It has been my experience that many authors put their own book on autopilot once it is published. They seem to figure that after their book is listed on Amazon and carried by some stores that their work is finished.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

The most successful authors I know work much harder after their book is published. Sadly, however, they are in the minority. Instead, more often than not, an author will give up on their own book once they hit an obstacle that looks overwhelming. Rather than go back to the emotion that drove them to write their book in the first place, they adopt a defeatist attitude. Almost as if they think something miraculous will happen if they walk away and leave their book to promote itself.

One of my Facebook friends is Christine Romans, the award winning CNN anchor and correspondent. Her newly published bestselling book, Smart Is the New Rich: If You Can't Afford It, Put It Down, is a terrific read that itself is hard to put down. Even though she has an international platform on CNN she continually is promoting her book. In fact Romans now hosts a new weekend show that shares the name of her book along with co-hosting the popular program Your $$$$$. Additionally she has placed her book cover alongside her photo on Facebook and each day posts new information on her page; often asking viewers for their opinions on an issue that corresponds with the content of her book.

The point I'm making is that even those with huge media exposure still take the time to tirelessly promote their own books.

As authors we write for a variety of reasons. Whether we are telling a story, informing others or sharing a passion, once our book is published it is time to share its content with others. We owe it to ourselves to make the effort of promoting our own work to those who would most benefit from it. Even the definition of the word publish is telling; to prepare and issue for public distribution, and to bring it to the public attention. The definition of publishing does not say: Once your book is published put it on autopilot.

Debunking Steinbeck's "Travels With Charley"

The line between fiction and nonfiction is often blurred. A good case in point is John Steinbeck's classic Travels With Charley. Earlier this year former Pittsburgh Post-Gazzette journalist Bill Stelgerwald hit the road to retrace Steinbeck's journey, 50 years after the iconic author made his journey. On his blog, Travels Without Charley, Stelgerwald finds much of what Steinbeck reported did not happen.

 This uncovering along with other celebrated cases, of late, including James Frey's notorious A Million Little Pieces, which was initially called nonfiction until it was uncovered that much of his book was fiction, have made publishers reassess what constitutes fiction and nonfiction. This is especially true in memoir and narrative non-fiction. As Stelgerwald alludes to, there can be good reasons for injecting fictional content into something that is supposed to be true. One reason is that finding true characters who are interesting to the reader can be a huge challenge. Another is that good writers know what elements are required to create good reading. In Steinbeck's case, he ventured out to find an America that did not really exist. Or, at least, one that was difficult to find. Since he was breezing across the country, traveling over 10,000 miles in less than 75 days, he did not have time to locate the characters he needed in the amount of time he had. So, like all good fiction authors, he made them up.

Should Steinbeck's book been identified as fiction. In my opinion, no. He did make the trip and the places he visited were also, for the most part, true. But, in order for him to tell the story as he envisioned it required him to invent certain characters and events. If there is any culprit it is the publisher. After all, they edited it and should have been checking for the need for permissions and any rights violations. We also do not know the story of what went on inside the publishing house. There may have been red flags raised by the editor that were ignored by the publisher. Or, perhaps, because it was John Steinbeck's work maybe they decided not to question him.

The important thing for our purposes is that facts need to be checked prior to publication and whoever is holding the rights (the publisher or author) should at least place a disclaimer on the copyright page. Often authors, especially those who self publish, overlook issues relating to the holder of rights and copyright as well as the need for professional copy editing whose job, in part, is to ask questions that help determine if there is culpability.

These days, where all have free access to information via the Internet, it is easy to copy and paste content from one website to another. Ultimately, however, that content is owned by someone who has the right to protect any copyrighted material where they own rights.

Had Steinbeck written his Travels With Charley in the digital age, his fictionalizing of content would have surely been discovered within days of publication.

Book Review: A Primer for Snuggling Up with the Creator

We all have times when we are wanting to talk with God but wonder how or cannot find the words. In Henry Baron's excellent book, Talking with God we are provided thoughts and reflections that bring us closer to a creator who is there to listen when we are in wonder, comfort when we are in need and a companion when we are alone. 

Years ago I read Practicing Our Faith: A Way of Life for a Searching People (The Practices of Faith Series) by Dorothy C. Bass. It is an excellent book that engages the practicalities and practices of the Christian faith. As a lifelong sceptic traveler her book is a good resource that helped me to understand why and how Christians believe. Henry Baron's book, while similarly organized, takes the reader to a more intimate place with the Divine. Every page is loaded with pearls of wisdom and thought that help the reader get into just the right frame of mind to engage the Creator; whether our mood is melancholy or joyous. 

"Talking with God" is aptly subtitled: "prayers, meditations & conversations with God-seekers." For me I was especially drawn to the word "God-seeker." For me it defines my own life as a seeker and spiritual traveler. Henry's book does not seek to judge or preach. Rather it is that constant companion there for us during thick and thin. 

After each entry there is a single simple thought to ponder. Each helps us to think beyond the meditation or prayer to contemplate for ourselves what we have just read. For example, in the chapter titled "Comforting the Sick and Sorrowing" is a wonderful "Prayer of the Incurably ill" which is followed by the pondering question: "What do you fall back on when bad things happen?" Another chapter titled "Forgiveness, Grace and Hope" includes a story simply titled, "Grace." The pondering question that follows it simply asks: "Recall an instance of grace-receiving and giving in your life." 

In "Talking with God" author Henry J. Baron helps us each to think more deeply about our faith or lack thereof, and then comes along beside us in our own God-seeking journey. It is a book that does not judge or condemn, rather it engages our minds to think, contemplate and explore. This is the kind of book that is a great gift for anyone, whether they are a devout follower or an explorer. It would also be good for use in a study class or small group. 

In our lives we all have to decide for ourselves what we are going to believe. For those who choose to believe in the God of Christianity I can think of no better roadmap than Talking with God by Henry J. Baron. Five stars plus two for good measure. 


Available at Amazon.com and select booksellers

That Extra Turkey in the Freezer...

Last night Anne came home from work with the gift of a frozen turkey compliments of her company. When I placed it in our freezer I noticed we still had the one from last year. It haunted me all night. We have an extra turkey in our freezer. There are people who are suffering and we have an extra turkey in our freezer. It doesn't sound fair.

This morning I'm going to take both turkeys to a local agency called Love INC. Before I take it I'm going to go through my closet and grab an extra coat. While I'm at it I'm going to see if there are any games or toys around that are gathering dust.

Since Christmas is only a couple days away and I'll surely be getting more stuff, maybe today is a day for giving to those we do not know.

A week ago while traveling north or here I stopped by a Walmart. There in the parking lot stood a man holding a sign simply saying: I will do any work to buy toys for my kids. My initial reaction was that there are places that help people in need. But then I thought more about what his sign said. It didn't say he wanted a handout. Instead it said he was wanting to do work so HE could purchase toys for his kids.

We as a nation are going through a time of suffering. Way too many people are out of work. Far too many families have lost their homes. If there is any time to help those in need it is now.

Today, this minute. Please take a look in your freezer for any food you have that is not needed to feed your family. Then go through your closets and look for any clothing, toys or other extra items. Bundle them all up and put them in your car. Then drive to the closest shelter, agency or church that help those in need within your community and drop them off. It will make you feel good while helping those who are in need of a helping hand. Especially in this the most festive time of year.

Borders Books takeover bid for Barnes and Noble

Yesterday the book industry was met with the astounding news that the number two bookseller, Borders, was bidding for ownership of industry leader, Barnes and Noble. On the news B&N shares shot up nearly 20 percent as investors weighed in on the proposal.

Why would the two largest book chains merge?

First, sales of physical books sold in conventional stores have been falling. This is because online sellers like Amazon.com have been grabbing huge chunks of book sales and major retailers, such as Walmart and Target, have been selling large numbers of bestselling book titles at discounted prices. Add to this the growing number of electronic (e-book) book sales To put it mildly, this has caused a perfect storm for traditional brick n' mortar booksellers who have always prided themselves as the place to go to find books. Now, more and more, the least profitable part of their business is book sales with more profits coming from their in-store coffeehouse along with ancillary sales coming from gift items and greeting cards.

If this deal goes through it will be reminiscent of the merger of K-Mart and Sears over six years ago as orchestrated by real estate investor Edward Lambert.

Depending on whether you were a customer or investor, the results of that merger could be telling when it comes to the proposed Borders - Barnes and Noble deal. In the Sears - K-Mart merger, operations were consolidated in the Sears headquarters in suburban Chicago and the corporate offices of K-Mart in Michigan were shuttered. They then changed the name to Sears Holdings to reflect the ownership of its real estate. To Ed Lambert the Sears - K-Mart deal was all about leveraging their properties by closing underperforming stores then selling the property. This drove the stock price up and satisfied most investors.

On the other hand, the surviving physical stores operating under the Sears and K-Mart names continued to languish right up until today with their stores continuing to lose any competitive advantages. Other than hard goods lines like Craftsman and Kenmore, there are few reasons to shop one of their stores.

If a Borders - Barnes and Noble merger result in similar results, over time there will be fewer bookstores filled with fewer book titles. Some have imagined their bookstore of the future consisting of a cafe, gifts, periodicals and a small number of books. Rather than look through stacks of books customers will instead be ushered to download stations where they would be able to purchase e-books while sipping on a cup of coffee.

Stores would be half the size of today with fewer employees.

However that would be a short term situation as other big box chains such as Walmart and Target add their own download stations.

That could force the Borders - Barnes and Noble stores to downsize once more resulting in a Panera Bread style cafe with gifts and book downloads.

Whatever happens, for some time it has been speculated that the end of the conventional bookstore was on the horizon. All of which has been hastened by the technology that has led to eBooks and eBook readers.