WEEKEND BOOK THERAPY
Your chance to ask me anything about book publishing.
Confidantes,
Welcome to Book Therapy!
This community is for paid subscribers, and the goal is to create a safe space where you can ask questions about the publishing industry/process, book publicity, and marketing. It’s also a space where you can share what you’re worried about in book publishing.
Please post your questions in the comments, and I will answer them throughout the day & weekend.
PLEASE READ THE RULES:
-If you are asking a question about YOUR book, please tell me a little bit about it, or my response will be, “It depends on the book…”
-I cannot answer questions via email. Please post your questions in the comments. You'll need to be a paid subscriber to do that.
-I can only provide ADVICE when I respond to specific questions, not definitive answers.
-This is a forum where questions are asked. It is not a forum to write lengthy commentary about your book or the publishing industry (or political beliefs, etc.). If you reply to someone’s question, do so in a helpful way.
-Be respectful to me and others. Everyone’s experience is different. Be kind. Unkind comments will not be tolerated.
-If I don’t know the answer, I will tell you and try to provide a resource where you might find it.
-Please don’t use the comments to self-promote. That’s not what this thread is about.
-There’s no such thing as a stupid question. We don’t know what we don’t know!
-Please be patient. I’ll pop in and out to answer you.
-The more context you provide, the better response I can give you.
-Please allow me the weekend to answer your questions. The deadline to post a question is Sunday night. After that, you’ll have to wait until the next edition of Book Therapy.
Please limit your questions to one comment so I can keep track of them and be fair to others.
-I have the least experience in YA and kids’ books, so I don’t feel comfortable advising that territory.
-This is a community effort, so others may chime in with their own knowledge.
Ready? Go!
-Kathleen
Hi, Kathleen -- Thanks so much for the excellent presentation to Sisters in Crime today. I'll be watching the recording and studying the slides when they're sent out.
My WIP is a standalone psych suspense novel, not under contract, although I have published 15 cozies as Leslie and 2 suspense novels under a pen name. I've done some fun research into grizzly bears, local history, and other topics, and I love your suggestion to share some of that on socials. I share some in my monthly newsletter, but have been hesitant to share it on socials, because the book isn't under contract. I'm also concerned about muddling my brand, since I'm better known as a cozy writer. Is that silly thinking? Maybe preface a post by saying "Alicia here," then sharing a factoid about griz with a photo or a short video of one in my yard? (Seriously -- I live in the woods in NW MT, in the area with the highest density of griz in the Lower 48.)
Thanks!
I'm a publicist. What is the path to getting a book on the New York Times Bestseller List - in a general sense? Where would you put your energy? What do you think is the best way to go about it. I'm working on a potentially popular tech book/urgent warning by a VERY well known writer/thinker who is concerned about AI. A trusted voice in the field. The book got amazing blurbs and a starred PW and a Kirkus. Major publisher.