| What is a book club sale? It is actually a rights sale or | | | | mathematics club. If your book is regional, it will not |
| a licensing agreement: you are granting permission to a | | | | likely appeal to a general interest book club, so submit |
| book club the right to "borrow" your work. You have | | | | that a regional title to suitable specialty clubs. |
| written a book, and now you are allowing a book club | | | | Tip #5 for increasing the odds: |
| to print and distribute your book to its members. | | | | There are rules to follow when submitting your book to |
| You allow the book club to reprint your book in a | | | | the book clubs, so following them carefully should avoid |
| specific language, in a specific format, for a specific | | | | unnecessary rejections. |
| period of time, in a specific geographic territory, to a | | | | Here they are: |
| specific group of people. You ensure in your contract | | | | 1. Send your manuscript to the Editorial department at |
| that you maintain ownership of the copyright and of all | | | | the appropriate club(s). |
| other intellectual property rights, such as electronic, | | | | 2. Include a cover letter that details the following |
| movie, other languages and territories, and serial rights - | | | | information: |
| to name a few. Always seek good legal advice | | | | - summary of the book contents |
| before signing a contract. | | | | - description of the book (size, binding, hard/soft cover, |
| There are many book clubs, but most of the major | | | | black & white or color) |
| clubs fall under the bookspan umbrella ( To find other | | | | - expected selling price |
| book clubs that are appropriate for your book, do an | | | | - number of pages |
| internet search: on your browser, type in +(your book | | | | - number and type of photographs and/or illustrations |
| genre, e.g., cooking)+book+club. | | | | (indicate if black & white or color |
| The chances of having your book selected by a book | | | | - notation if the book will be part of a series |
| club are roughly one in ten, which is really quite good. | | | | - which volume the book is in an existing series and a |
| Imagine if your chance at winning the lottery was that | | | | sales history of the series |
| great! | | | | - intended publication date |
| Tip #1 for increasing the odds: | | | | - plans for publicity and promotion, and your intended |
| It is important to know that book clubs are always | | | | budget |
| looking for new ideas to entice their members, so if | | | | 3. Include a brief author biography written in the third |
| your book is well written and edited, has plans for | | | | person. Be sure to talk about any previous books |
| professional graphic design, AND demonstrates a | | | | published and their sales histories. |
| unique slant on your topic, your chances of being | | | | 4. Send photocopies of some of the illustrations and |
| selected rise considerably. | | | | photographs. Please do not send original copies - they |
| Tip #2 for increasing the odds: | | | | will NOT be returned to you. |
| In saying that, it is important for you to know that the | | | | 5. Don't forget your contact information and website if |
| earlier you submit your book, the better. | | | | you have one. |
| Tip #3 for increasing the odds: | | | | Unfortunately, you cannot contact book clubs to follow |
| Book clubs are much happier receiving a typed | | | | up on your submission. It's a case of "Don't call us. We'll |
| manuscript six to twelve months in advance of your | | | | call you". Book clubs receive too many submissions to |
| publication date than receiving a bound galley or | | | | allow follow up calls or letters. If they are interested, |
| finished book close to the publication date. A book club | | | | they will call you, usually within two to six months. |
| likes to introduce your book to its members near your | | | | Do you think that a book club sale is worth pursuing? |
| publication date in order to take advantage of the | | | | Absolutely! We specialize in book club and other |
| reviews and publicity that you will be generating when | | | | non-traditional book sales (more info here: Book |
| your book is launched. The bigger the media splash | | | | Marketing Secrets). |
| you make, the better everyone's sales will be. | | | | For very little effort you can achieve the sale of |
| Tip #4 for increasing the odds: | | | | thousands of copies of your book. You will likely be |
| There are many categories of book clubs, so be sure | | | | paid a minimum sum per copy, but you will also not |
| to submit your title only to the appropriate clubs. Do not | | | | have any production costs, and a small sum multiplied |
| send your book to every book club that you can find. | | | | by thousands can equate to a very nice check. Your |
| Each club's membership has specific interests so be | | | | only effort will be to sign a contract, provide your book |
| sure to submit your book only to clubs that might | | | | on disk and collect that check - and just think of the |
| buy-you will again increase your chance of being | | | | free publicity! Thousands of book club members will |
| selected. | | | | read about your book. You can't buy that kind of |
| For instance, if you have a humor book, it's unlikely to | | | | publicity! |
| be of any interest to a cooking club or to a | | | | © Copyright 2004 Ink Tree Ltd. |