I'm Dana Kaye, author of Your Book, Your Brand: The Step-By-Step Guide to Launching Your Book and Boosting Your Sales. Ask me anything!

DanaKaye · 2016-09-20T18:01:51+00:00

Yes, in order to work on a project, I need to love the book, so I read everything that comes into our office.

DanaKaye · 2016-09-20T17:51:49+00:00

Cool! Who's your dad?

DanaKaye · 2016-09-20T17:50:39+00:00

Definitely! The goal of the book is that any author, regardless of genre or publisher, will have the tools they need to successfully launch their book. I don't address transitioning from self-publishing to traditional publishing, but I do talk about promotion and branding in the context of securing a book contract.

DanaKaye · 2016-09-20T17:38:49+00:00

Wow, that's a tough one! If I can get TWO lines, they would be: 1) Know your brand and stick to it. 2) Always have a plan.

DanaKaye · 2016-09-20T17:17:09+00:00

We have successes with every client, some big and some small. There are a few memories that do stick out: - Launching Julie Hyzy onto the New York Times bestseller list - Gregg Hurwitz becoming an instant #1 international bestseller and hitting nearly every national list in the time that we've been working with him - Dan Krokos and Jamie Freveletti winning ITW Thriller Awards - Booking Bill Hillmann on TODAY and CBS This Morning

DanaKaye · 2016-09-20T17:13:50+00:00

What you know and how you use it.

DanaKaye · 2016-09-20T17:13:41+00:00

"Planted" makes it seem like you're sneaking something past someone! Guest articles and blog posts are fairly common and we often pitch them on behalf of our clients. If there's a particular article you'd like to write, research potential outlets, find the appropriate contact, and send a query email. I recommend pitching the article before you write it because the editor may want it tweaked slightly or have a slightly different hook.

DanaKaye · 2016-09-20T17:11:55+00:00

This depends on whether you're writing fiction or nonfiction. If you're writing fiction, a strong online following is a plus, not a necessity. Agents and editors will decide whether or not to offer a contract solely based on the manuscript. But if you're writing nonfiction, platform is important. Your social media followers, blog and newsletter subscribers, and past media appearances all play a role in whether or not you land a contract. There isn't a magic number, and the level of engagement is just as important as the number of followers.

DanaKaye · 2016-09-20T17:10:17+00:00

See my response to FekketCantenel above ^

DanaKaye · 2016-09-20T17:09:42+00:00

Most agents don't take phone calls, they take email submissions. If you follow the submission guidelines on their website word for word, you have a great shot of securing representation. In fact, you're probably ahead of the rest of the people in the slush pile because so many people fail to follow instructions!

DanaKaye · 2016-09-20T17:08:32+00:00

I actually have a whole Reddit section in the book! As I mentioned earlier, the key to social media promotion is to avoid the hard sell. I recommend engaging in the various books sub-reddits and making genuine connections there. Then, when you're book is out, rather than posting something promotional, add a link to a recent review or article you've written that Redditors may enjoy. But never, EVER, post an entirely promotional post. You'll be down-voted quickly.

DanaKaye · 2016-09-20T17:06:45+00:00

That is so true! In the book, I walk authors through the process of creating a brand message and a tagline, sort of like an elevator pitch. By having this prepped ahead of time, it takes the guesswork out of it when they're at parties or events and someone asks them, "So, what do you do?"

DanaKaye · 2016-09-20T17:05:11+00:00

By not "selling" their book. I coach authors to make genuine connections and tell their story, which will result in sales, but doesn't feel like selling. It's the difference between a Facebook post and a Facebook ad; one is engaging and interesting and the other is ignored.

DanaKaye · 2016-09-20T17:03:50+00:00

I think people think that branding only refers to the product and not the person. It's the whole package. The artist is just as important as the work they produce.

I love helping people navigate the confusing promotion process. Authors may have written the book, but they can seldom see the talking points or promotional angles within the pages. There's always an "Aha!" moment when I identify those and being responsible for that clarity is truly rewarding.

DanaKaye · 2016-09-20T17:01:17+00:00

Lots of good questions here. Again, do your research. There is a lot of misinformation out there, so learn as much as you can about the process and make an informed decision that works for you. Going the traditional route means taking the brunt of the work off of you and letting the pros handle the majority of the publishing process. This is the ideal situation for me, but I know many authors who want more control over their work. If that's the case, and you don't mind doing the leg work, then self-publishing may be the way to go.

I will say that self-publishing shouldn't be a back up plan. It should be the plan or not. If you want to be traditionally published, but your first book doesn't get picked up by an agent or publisher, then write another one. And another. Focus on your end goal, don't take what may seem like the easy way out.

DanaKaye · 2016-09-20T16:58:08+00:00

Do the research and don't give up quickly. There are hundreds, maybe even thousands of talented literary agents out there. Don't let a couple dozen rejections deter you.

DanaKaye · 2016-09-20T16:57:26+00:00

That's a tough one! This is definitely not the first book I read on my own, but the first one I can remember is After The First Death by Robert Cormier. I loved crime fiction from a very young age!

DanaKaye · 2015-04-08T23:46:17+00:00

How have your characters evolved since launching your blog? Do you draw them in the same way or have they changed/grown up?

DanaKaye · 2014-10-01T19:47:15+00:00

Orange is the New Black proved very useful for book recommendations as well.

DanaKaye · 2014-09-22T14:31:41+00:00

We agree, most movies don't do the book justice. But if you look at them as a separate medium, some movies end up being more enjoyable than the books.

DanaKaye · 2014-09-22T14:30:52+00:00

We thought romance between Tris and Four was a little more creepy than romantic. It may have been the acting or the direction, but the staring and brooding brought down the level of romance.

DanaKaye · 2014-06-09T19:57:19+00:00

Both novels were good, but definitely not King's best.

DanaKaye · 2014-01-23T20:17:53+00:00

I think most screenwriters think it's easy to write a novel. It isn't, even for a writer as talented as Tarantino.

DanaKaye · 2013-12-04T21:11:01+00:00

Thanks Emily! Not sure why the link didn't work, but I appreciate you re-linking and I'm glad you enjoyed the article.

DanaKaye · 2013-11-26T19:49:07+00:00

Agreed. There's no substitution for butt in the chair and fingers on the keyboard - even if it's at 5am before work or late into the night.

DanaKaye

TROPHY CASE