ICRS vs CBE
All of Christian publishing is buzzing about this brand new event for book lovers—The Christian Book Expo (CBE) in Dallas, Texas March 20-22. This event, sponsored by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA), promises to be a great new way to place books directly into the hands of consumers. I admit I felt skeptical at first. I wanted to make sure this was a good fit for our authors. Yet the more I hear about the plans for this event the more I grow excited.
Many people have asked, “How is this different from the International Christian Retailers Show?”
That’s a tough question to answer. These two events reach completely different markets.
This long standing trade show allows retailers to see new books and products, meet authors, and gain training. ICRS 2009 is the 60th anniversary of the Christian Bookseller Association (CBA) trade show and they’re planning a spectacular celebration.
What’s the value for an author to attend ICRS?
It gives authors the chance to place their books into the hands of people who buy books for their stores. WinePress authors, who attend ICRS, personally sign and give away 150 copies to potential buyers.
Participating ICRS authors:
- connect with international markets
- connect with major bookstore chains in the Christian market
- meet hundreds of retailers
- network with other authors and people in the industry
- see other books on the market
- glean marketing ideas
- take home suitcases full of free inspirational products and books
Watch this video to hear testimonies of authors who have participated in the past.
The Christian Book Expo is not a trade show—it’s a book fair. It’s never been done before and is sponsored by Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA). Like any fair, there will be a variety of events and exhibits.
What’s the author value of CBE? It gives authors exposure to over 20,000 book lovers—direct consumers.
In addition, authors can connect with:
- large chain stores, such as Parable and Family Bookstores
- event planners for hundreds of churches
- book buyers for church bookstores
Chances are you’re a book lover yourself. Your entrance pass will allow you to participate in events and shop the floor. You’ll meet some of your favorite authors and speakers. WinePress plans to make our authors stand out and feel like they “belong” with the stars. We offer packages for our authors that include:
- great advertisement and show exposure
- promotional materials
- book signings
- book sales
- presentations to talk about their books
- media exposure
- speaking platform connections
- and more!
So understand there is no way to compare these two events. It may take three to six months for retailers to buy into your book. At CBE you will have immediate sales, but it may take months for the excitement to spread. Each show has great value for an author and worth participating. If you cannot attend both, then prayerfully consider which event fits your goals.
Tweet This!Five Reasons Why You Need a Writers’ Platform
“What kind of a platform do you have?”
When you pitch your book to editors or agents, that’s one of the first questions they’ll ask. Having a platform is practically required if you want to become a successful author.
What is a Platform?
A “platform” is the publishing industry’s term for authors who have a built-in audience. This built-in audience usually derives from being nationally recognized in your area of expertise, and from receiving extensive media exposure.
The Top 5 Reasons Why You Need a Platform
- To prove yourself to a publisher. Many authors work with WinePress as a springboard to traditional publishing. Having a book in print helps you build that all-important platform that you can utilize when negotiating with a royalty publisher.
- To quantify your results. When you sit at that negotiating table, you need to share hard facts and numbers. You need to be able to say, “I have 5,000 people on my e-zine subscriber list; I speak to 10,000 women a year; I have 4,000 unique visitors a day on my Website; I’ve sold 7,500 books in the last 18 months,” and so on.
- To sell books. Publishers want to know how many books you, the author, are going to sell. And if you are custom publishing and expect to make it a successful venture, then you’re going to need to sell lots of books. A platform will help you make that happen.
- To develop a following. When you provide helpful information for others, you become a trusted resource for them. They will continue to come back for more; hence, you develop a following. That means people will want to hear more from you, whether it be in ancillary products or more books on similar topics.
- To reach large numbers with your message. If God has given you a message, then your book must reach the hands of those who need to read it. The larger your platform, the more your words are read.
If you want to get beyond your local community and congregation, a platform will help you reach people you could never hope to find in your back yard. It can help you access countless people who need to hear what you have to say.
At the writers’ conferences we attend, editors declare their single most important requirement—next to a great book—is a hefty platform. So, the reality is: build a platform or perish! As you consider this necessity, seek the Lord as to how He would have you begin to build or expand.
Tweet This!Former Miss Ethiopia Celebrates Her New Book
Sehin Belew blessed the WinePress office with a big bouquet of balloons. Purple is this beautiful lady’s signature color.
As a young girl growing up in Ethiopia, Sehin Belew learned a valuable lesson from her mother: Never, ever compromise on quality. It was a rule that applied to everything from food to clothing. She found out firsthand that quality always trumps so-called bargains.
Fabulous for Less is a compendium of ways she applies that philosophy to her wardrobe, skin care, food and much more. And yet, excellence doesn’t always mean having to pay top prices.
In Fabulous for Less, Sehin, a former international beauty queen and professional model, offers proven tips for:
- Smart Shopping— In only two days a year, you can put together a closet full of high-end designer clothes, shoes, and accessories at up to 90 percent off the original prices.
- Savvy Skin Care— Just how safe are the lotions, powders and potions you use on your body? Find out what products contain toxic ingredients and how to replace them with pure, natural ones.
- Holistic Whole Body Health— Is your diet healthy? Do you know the safest way to lose pounds? Should you drink tap water? Read the surprising answers to these and other provocative questions.
Get ready to discover the smartest, best way to live—from the inside out!
Tweet This!WinePress & Pleasant Word Author Interviews
WinePress and Pleasant Word publicity authors have been busy this week, and next week promises to be just as full. Check out these interviews.
Several authors have or will be interviewed on the nationally syndicated TV program, The Harvest Show.
- Monday, September 22 – Lynn MacKenzie, author of The Tear Catcher
- Tuesday, September 23 – Cynthia Simmons, author of Struggles and Triumphs
- Thursday, September 25 – Myra Montgomery Bell, author of The Honeymoon’s Over
- Monday, September 29 – Kobus Genus, author of The Bible as Your GPS
WGRC Radio, heard all over Pennsylvania
- Tuesday, September 23 – Victor Anfuso, author of A Child Named Victor
- Wednesday, September 24 – Tammy Smith, author of Stories and Meditations from Webb’s Mommy
Other interviews:
- Tuesday, September 23 – Bill Coburn, author of The Spanking Room, was interviewed by American Family Radio News and heard on 200 stations.
- Wednesday, September 24 – Bev Brown, author of From Fear to Freedom, was interviewed by WCRF Radio, a Moody station in Cleveland, OH.
- Wednesday, September 24 – Kelsey Phillips, author of College Bound on Solid Ground, was interviewed by WWMC Radio out of Lynchburg, VA.
TODAY’S INTERVIEWS
- Friday, September 26 – Myra Montgomery Bell, author of The Honeymoon’s Over, appears on the syndicated radio program The Jesse Lee Peterson Show.
- Friday, September 26 – Lynn MacKenzie, author of The Tear Catcher, is heard on KXDL Radio out of Long Prairie, MN.
Next Week’s interviews:
Tweet This!• Monday, September 29 – Stuart Migdon, author of Jesus Take the Wheel, will be heard on the internationally syndicated radio show Mornings with Lorri & Larry.
• Tuesday, September 30 – Stuart Migdon, author of Jesus Take the Wheel, will be heard on WMPC’s Off the Bookshelf program.
Tuesday, September 30– Joshua and Kerry Williams, authors of The Perfect Date, will be heard on Take A Stand with Adam McManus
The Importance of Reading Instructions
After buying some top-of-the-line furniture, I discovered that some assembly was required. Relying on my past experience of assembling furniture (which was nil) I spent twice as much time as I would have, had I read the instructions.
Like most men, I know that reading instructions is vitally important, but I enjoy winging it.
Recently one of the authors I work with did the very thing I need to do when assembling things… she took time to read the instructions.
This kind, elderly woman had already completed one book project with us and her second book was in the production process. The project flowed through the editing, design, and typesetting phases like clockwork.
She called me and said, “I love the production process; it is so much easier and enjoyable when I read the instructions.” She explained that, with her first project, she didn’t take time to read them. As a result, the process seemed painful frustrating.
I’ll never forget the way this reserved lady giggled with delight. She thoroughly enjoyed the production process because she understood what was happening, and what was going to happen next.
This author crossed over from frustration to joy simply by reading instructions. Her joy encouraged me to pay close attention to instructions. My hope is for all my authors to have this same joy during the production of their book.
Work is so much more rewarding when we understand what is going on. Reading instructions is the tool that helps make this happen.
Tim Noreen is a project manager at WinePress. He writes: While serving as the middle-man between author/editor/designer/typesetter/printer, I feel more like a translator. Communicating the author’s ideas to various technicians—and then explaining things from those technicians to the author—is an art-form I enjoy day after day. While projects are developing, friendships are being made.
