Comments on: Author And Toaster Oven - Same PR Strategy http://helenkaydimon.com/blog/2005/06/author-and-toaster-oven-same-pr-strategy/ SEXY, SASSY, SMART ROMANTIC FICTION Wed, 07 Jan 2009 04:25:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Wendy http://helenkaydimon.com/blog/2005/06/author-and-toaster-oven-same-pr-strategy/#comment-621 Wendy Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://helenkaydimon.com/blog/2005/06/author-and-toaster-oven-same-pr-strategy/#comment-621 You <i>skim</i> the book review? Later, we're going to need to talk about that. Some authors are commodities. And why shouldn't they be? And why shouldn't editors think of them that way, push them into that role? Publishing is after all a business with a bottom line You skim the book review? Later, we’re going to need to talk about that.

Some authors are commodities. And why shouldn’t they be? And why shouldn’t editors think of them that way, push them into that role? Publishing is after all a business with a bottom line

]]> By: HelenKay http://helenkaydimon.com/blog/2005/06/author-and-toaster-oven-same-pr-strategy/#comment-622 HelenKay Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://helenkaydimon.com/blog/2005/06/author-and-toaster-oven-same-pr-strategy/#comment-622 Okay, I actually read it but I didn't want the rumor to get around that I know about something other than EW. I understand a publisher wanting to capitalize on an author's backstory. I even get branding, 'tho I don't think it's considered as a posititve thing outside of romance writing as it is inside. My problem is with the reviewer's suggestion that this guy only exists as a commodity - not talent, just a good backstory. I'm all for promotion and hearing about an author's personal story (ex. Eloisa James or JK Rowling), but having that be the sum total of what the author is as seen by the publisher doesn't make sense. Why would a publisher want to create a one-book wonder where all that comes out of it is the sense that the guy's a hack but - wow - look how interesting his life was. Since this guy is 70ish, maybe one book is it and the reviewer is right that this one stinks. But, for the rest of us, I'm thinking that without talent the commodity aspect probably isn't enough to hook a publisher's interest. Okay, I actually read it but I didn’t want the rumor to get around that I know about something other than EW.

I understand a publisher wanting to capitalize on an author’s backstory. I even get branding, ‘tho I don’t think it’s considered as a posititve thing outside of romance writing as it is inside. My problem is with the reviewer’s suggestion that this guy only exists as a commodity - not talent, just a good backstory. I’m all for promotion and hearing about an author’s personal story (ex. Eloisa James or JK Rowling), but having that be the sum total of what the author is as seen by the publisher doesn’t make sense. Why would a publisher want to create a one-book wonder where all that comes out of it is the sense that the guy’s a hack but - wow - look how interesting his life was. Since this guy is 70ish, maybe one book is it and the reviewer is right that this one stinks. But, for the rest of us, I’m thinking that without talent the commodity aspect probably isn’t enough to hook a publisher’s interest.

]]> By: Wendy http://helenkaydimon.com/blog/2005/06/author-and-toaster-oven-same-pr-strategy/#comment-623 Wendy Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://helenkaydimon.com/blog/2005/06/author-and-toaster-oven-same-pr-strategy/#comment-623 Oh HK, publishers don't care about writers. They care about profits. And, no, I don't believe they care about talent over commodity. Think about who publishers push and who they don't push. Did you see multi-million dollar ad campaigns for any of the books up for last year's National Book Award? No. Did you see that Hawaiian teenage who lost her arm to a shark on every channel promoting her book? Yes. See what I mean? Oh HK, publishers don’t care about writers. They care about profits. And, no, I don’t believe they care about talent over commodity. Think about who publishers push and who they don’t push. Did you see multi-million dollar ad campaigns for any of the books up for last year’s National Book Award? No. Did you see that Hawaiian teenage who lost her arm to a shark on every channel promoting her book? Yes. See what I mean?

]]> By: HelenKay http://helenkaydimon.com/blog/2005/06/author-and-toaster-oven-same-pr-strategy/#comment-624 HelenKay Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://helenkaydimon.com/blog/2005/06/author-and-toaster-oven-same-pr-strategy/#comment-624 But the surfer girl will produce one book. The profits will be limited (unless she loses another arm or something equally horrid). The talented author can provide a lifetime of profits. Sure, the bottom line is money. This is a business but the idea of pushing commodity only without any base talent - I can't get there. Not for any long-term success. That's just bad business unless a publishing house's only global plan is to put out a series of books like the surfer girl. Then yeah, it's commodity only for those folks and I'm likely not their target audience. But the surfer girl will produce one book. The profits will be limited (unless she loses another arm or something equally horrid). The talented author can provide a lifetime of profits.

Sure, the bottom line is money. This is a business but the idea of pushing commodity only without any base talent - I can’t get there. Not for any long-term success. That’s just bad business unless a publishing house’s only global plan is to put out a series of books like the surfer girl. Then yeah, it’s commodity only for those folks and I’m likely not their target audience.

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