Your Savvy Guide to Getting Started with Instagram
(Posted on Monday, April 11, 2022)
Not only has Instagram hit over one billion users, but it has become a bookish hub for authors and readers (they’re called #bookstagrammers). With creative visuals of your book, punchy captions, and consistent posting, you’re bound to gain loyal followers and expand your readership.
Why use Instagram to enhance your author brand?
Instagram is the place where you can show off your personality as an author. The quality of your images is just as important as the quality of your captions. Make sure to post clear and bright images that match your brand identity.
Your brand identity is what distinguishes you from others. It’s what makes you special! Although this does not have to be an official “branding” per se, it’s helpful if you have a general idea of what type of energy and aesthetic you as an author bring to the table.
Posts
All of your posts should have a similar feel. On Instagram, the pages that perform best are the pages where there is a common aesthetic throughout. If there is a certain filter, photo style, or even angle you prefer to take your pictures at, use that to your advantage to develop your brand further. Don’t include too much text in your images—leave that for the caption. Keep your visuals clean, engaging, and visually appealing. Read more here about composition, lighting, and all the elements to taking a great photo. As you are posting about your book, try posting different images and graphics so that people know this is a new post and not a repeat of an earlier one.
It can be a struggle to be consistent on Instagram without feeling repetitive. Check out what other authors are doing on their platforms to keep followers interested and see what is working and what isn’t. Here are some ideas:
- Book Cover Reveal, for example.
- Preorder and Release Date Announcements, for example.
- Book Synopsis Reveal, for example.
- Testimonial Highlights
- Giveaways
- Promotional Discounts
- Book Signings, for example.
- Media Attention, for example.
Captions
Even though Instagram is about visuals, your caption is still important. Make sure that every caption engages, entertains, or educates. You want to make sure that your caption is worthwhile to your followers and gives them something to think about or do.
In your caption, feel free to share a little bit about yourself and try to engage your audience. Is there a theme in your book you’d like to highlight? Is there something you feel that’s relatable and relevant to your audience? Share it! Followers love to feel like they know the people they follow.
Another great way to spice up your captions, especially if you are a new account trying to increase visibility, is to use hashtags! Hashtags are like search terms, so think about what you would search when looking for new books or authors and what you think people will search to find your book. Limit your posts to five relevant hashtags like #bookstagram, #MascotAuthors, #AuthorsofInstagram, #newbookrelease, #reading.
Stories
You can also use Instagram stories to engage your audience. Use hashtags, relevant locations, or tag relevant accounts in your stories. Let’s say your book is in a local bookstore—tag them in your story! There’s a chance they might share your story on their account, which will help you gain more exposure. This is not just for stories. You should also tag relevant accounts and locations in your posts.
Another way to use Instagram stories would be to host a poll or hold a Q&A. This allows people to get to know a little bit more about you. If you would like to keep your account focused on your book, you can post polls and Q&As specifically about your book and the writing process instead of about you as the author.
The final video formats to use on Instagram are Reels and IG Lives. IG Live is a live video that your followers can see what you are doing or comment with questions or thoughts. This is a great option for interactive discussions or to include people virtually at a reading or Q&A. Reels are a more curated video format. They can be very fun to experiment with during unboxings, cover reveals, or other active moments.
If this all sounds intimidating, you can share your posts to your stories or share other people’s posts to your stories. That takes some of the pressure off of you, while still giving you content.
Have we convinced you yet? If you don’t have an Instagram, it’s your time to create one. Click here to get started and follow us at @MascotBooks and @AmplifyPublish (we’ll follow you back)!
Thinking Outside of the Box—Hybrid Publishing
(Posted on Wednesday, March 23, 2022)
Anne C. Scardino shares how she got her who-done-it mystery suspense novel, A Tangled Affair, published when the traditional way failed.
I vividly remember typing the last sentence of my novel. I took a deep breath and opened my eyes wide to hold back the tears. Years of work had come to completion, but little did I know that the really hard work was yet to come—getting published.
I knew that an agent was needed and that the agent would find a publisher for my genre—mystery, suspense. I was told by my writing professor to use agentquery.com and put in my genre and then a list of agents would pop up. I was also told that it was time consuming, because you had to make certain that the agent is a good fit for your novel. Things had to be sent—summary, author bio, first ten pages, or first three chapters, whatever the agent requested, and some wanted it done in one document, or some were done on a computer program. Easy enough, I thought; I will repeat, I thought.
A few fun facts: agents receive thousands of submissions a year; agents take on average between 4-6 authors a year; agents don’t always read your work (their assistants do); agents have a slush pile (manuscripts that go unread); it takes about 45 minutes to complete each online query, which entails reading about the agent, completing the work on the computer to send, which varies with each agent, so you have to know your way around the computer. To put it simply, it’s a lot of time and work.
After sending out 110 queries (yes, I know exactly how many because I wrote the name of each one down so I could follow up if I didn’t hear back), I got two requests to send on the entire manuscript. When I got the first one, I literally walked around my apartment covering my mouth and repeating, “Oh, my God. Oh, my God…” I felt I had finally got this (this was around number 65 that was sent). I remember I had gone to New York City that day, and all I could think about was the agent reading my entire manuscript and loving it (if you don’t believe in your novel no one else will, so this isn’t a sign of being overconfident—this is your baby). As exciting as that day was, the next day was equally as disappointing, as I was thanked for sending and told it wasn’t a good fit but to keep writing.
The next rejection came at around number 88, and it gave me a glimmer of hope, but I was a bit more cautious this time about getting so excited. I would wait to see. Again, the very next day, the same thing and basically the same message. At this point, I decided to set a goal of going to a hundred and then I would have to figure out something else, but I wasn’t going to continue this process after I reached that number. I got to one hundred and then decided for good measure I would do another ten, which I did, but then my new addiction had to stop. Maybe just one more?
Reality set in, and I started to think about self-publishing at the advice of an author friend of mine who had gone the traditional agent/publisher route (it’s amazing how far some encouragement can go when you believe in the person who is encouraging you). But at the same time, a really good thing happened: I asked LinkedIn contact Marnie Schneider who published her children’s books—Football Freddie. She told me she worked with Mascot Books, a hybrid publisher, and connected me with Naren Aryal, the owner. He got right back to me, as well as Jess Cohn, an Acquisitions Director, and both read the full manuscript.
At that time, I had never heard of hybrid publishing, but soon learned that they take on the roles of both agent and publisher. Anyone can self-publish, but not everyone can hybrid publish. To hybrid publish, the publisher has to believe that they can sell books, because they profit, as well. They supply all the necessary components of staff to get you through the process to publication—editing, book design, and marketing. And, yes, you pay for this since you keep your copyright, but you also profit when your books sell.
The most difficult part of the publication process was not being able to actually see the book—to feel it, touch the pages, but you work together and go back and forth getting to the point where you are satisfied. Having been a building and design consultant of beach homes, the look of the book was very important to me. For example, I went with white pages rather than the typical ivory, at their recommendation, because I wanted my author photo to be in color. They worked with me on getting the cover photo to represent my book in the best way possible. It went through several iterations, but in the end, it was a great representation of what was inside.
So, after all of that, I waited 8-10 weeks to have the book printed, and when that day arrived and I cut open the box, I was a nervous wreck as I anxiously pulled back the cardboard and saw the books. To my relief, they looked great, felt great, and again, I had to hold back tears.
The next step was the marketing. Mascot assigns you a marketing manager, and because I am part of their new fiction imprint, Subplot, I have been able to participate in a few blog posts, so the writing continued. The manager gets your book out to online sites, e.g., Amazon, Barnes and Noble, etc., and reaches out to various other contacts for promotion, e.g., bloggers, book reviewers, local media outlets, podcasts, and retailers.
And of course, I have done some things myself in the promotion process—a podcast with an advertising contact; several book clubs, my university, a contact in Turks & Caicos, where a large part of my book takes place.
In the end, as I reflect on the process, I’m glad that I thought outside of the box and found a way to get my book published when the traditional way failed. Hybrid publishing worked for me, and maybe it can work for you. Go for it, and in the words of the two full-manuscript-reading agents, “keep writing.”
February Featured Title: Esperanza y Pecas: Huyendo hacia un bosque mejor
(Posted on Tuesday, February 15, 2022)
This month’s featured title is Bill Kiley’s Esperanza y Pecas: huyendo hacia un bosque mejor! The Spanish translation of Hope and Freckles: Fleeing to a Better Forest, this book is about a mother deer and her little boy’s search for a better and safe home. When they arrive at a new forest, they face unexpected challenges that will force them apart. Kiley hopes this story will teach readers about the millions of people who face the same difficulties as refugees.
We spoke with him about why he decided to write a Spanish version, how his experiences as a police chief impacted the story, why we should have an open dialogue with children about serious global issues, and more!
1. Esperanza y Pecas: huyendo hacia un bosque mejor (Hope and Freckles: Fleeing to a Better Forest) addresses the plight of refugees and asylum seekers. What motivated you to want to write a children’s book about this topic?
The refugee and asylum seeker crisis at the southern border of the U.S. is what first brought my attention to the plight of people who were fleeing war, danger, violent criminals, starvation, political imprisonment, etc. As I began to learn more about this global challenge, I was astounded to learn that there are more than 26 million refugees around the world. Yet, when I would talk with friends and colleagues about refugees, it very quickly would become a politically polarized discussion. While I would talk about the need to assist families or individuals, many would say “that’s not our problem.” I began to think about how I might get folks to understand the plight of the refugee and develop compassion and empathy for them. That led me to write a children’s book that might result in parents, grandparents, or other adults reading the book with their little ones to perhaps see another side of this issue.
2. As a retired Deputy Police Chief and adjunct professor of Criminal Justice, how did your experiences impact your ability to tell this story?
As a Criminal Justice graduate student, I read and explored the causes of crime and its impact upon society. History has demonstrated that often the refugee becomes the target of criminals, an “easy mark.” Wave after wave of refugee-immigrants in New York City and other major cities were preyed upon as they struggled in a new land. Many times, those who targeted the newcomers were people of the same national ancestry.
In my thirty years in law enforcement, I learned that the history of immigrants being targeted was still ongoing. Many refugees have a deep fear and distrust of uniformed authorities, often fleeing from such individuals in their home countries. Therefore, there is a natural tendency to avoid contact with the police. Criminals know of the immigrant’s fear and use that awareness as they victimize the newcomers.
3. Hope and Freckles was published in the summer of 2020. What made you want to publish a Spanish version a year and a half later?
When Hope and Freckles was first published, a colleague from Germany purchased several books and shared them with her friends. She wrote me that people loved the book and suggested that it be reprinted in different languages, but especially in Spanish. Over the past year and a half, many people from the Hispanic/Latinx communities have suggested that the book be printed in Spanish. The new Spanish version is the result of those conversations.
As I prepare to publish the second book in the Hope and Freckles series, I have decided that the future books will be bilingual, i.e., the narrative will be printed in both English and Spanish. This approach may be useful for those whose native language is Spanish, but it may also be useful to those who are learning Spanish.
4. What would you like children to learn from your book? Why do you think it’s important for children to have open discussions about serious global issues?
My hope is that the story of this mother and her little one may bring about an understanding of what refugees face as they flee from their homes, not knowing what will happen to them. They often don’t know where they will wind up if they survive their journey. And once we understand why there are refugees and asylum seekers, having compassion and empathy for them is the next objective of the book.
The decision to include both vocabulary words, as well as triggering questions that might be used by educators and/or parents, has been very well received. I would also like to note that the most challenging aspect of writing the first book, written for 7 to 10-year-old readers, was how to address the plight of refugees without traumatizing the reader. How, for instance, would I address parents being sent back to their country of origin while their children remain behind? The concern over possible trauma is the reason that I chose to use anthropomorphic figures rather than humans to tell the story.
5. Can we expect any more books from you? If so, what will they address?
The manuscript for the second book in the series has been completed, edited, and translated in Spanish. My plan is to write a total of four books about the experiences of Hope and Freckles. Book two, Hope and Freckles: Life in a New Forest, addresses the issues of assimilation and acculturation in a new land. What kinds of things do newcomers face? Do they totally assimilate to the culture and ways of their new country? Do they hold onto any of the culture, traditions, foods, etc. of their former homeland? One of the characters you will meet in the next book is “Nana” a lovely, older, white-tailed deer who becomes a guide and mentor for Hope helping her to adjust to her new surroundings.
Guest Post from Glenda Winders on Developing Characters
(Posted on Tuesday, February 8, 2022)
When I was still teaching college-level writing classes, I never allowed my students to use words such as “beautiful,” “wonderful” or “interesting” that would otherwise have filled their essays. These adjectives are overused, but they are virtually meaningless. A landscape can only be called “beautiful” if people observe it together. A reader wouldn’t know whether it was a desert oasis, a snow-covered mountain or the sun seeming to disappear into the sea.
And so it is with characters. Does the “interesting” man have multiple degrees, read widely and play a musical instrument or is he a biker who raises money for disabled children or a farmer raising organic vegetables and living off the grid?
Details such as these are the keys to creating characters who sit up on the page and speak, both with regard to their physical appearances and the qualities of their personalities. Charles Dickens was the master of such memorable characters, and I would argue that Stephen King is his modern-day counterpart. I’m not a fan of horror stories, but the characters in his books have sometimes brought me to tears. The warden’s wife in The Green Mile was a minor character, but she was so well-drawn that I felt like I knew her. Margaret Mitchell did the same thing with Scarlett O’Hara’s mother. Of course she was the wife of a plantation owner who lived a lifestyle we now recognize was abhorrent, but she’s the one who comes to mind when someone mentions Gone With the Wind. I read the book in college, but I still remember her long, lemon-scented skirts rustling as she lights her way with a candle on her way through the night to help deliver a slave’s baby.
King writes about how he pulls off his can’t-put-down novels in On Writing, which I reread every time I start a new piece of fiction. I recommend it for every would-be writer, but here’s what it all boils down to — details. We notice them, we comment on them and then they sometimes disappear along with the great ideas that occurred to us while we were driving or in the shower.
Knowing that, I am never without a notebook, whether I am at home, in the car, on a plane, exploring another country or visiting my adult children. I jot down physical characteristics — a mole, a drooping eye, dreadlocks, high heels, dirty hair — and, more importantly, I make note of inner qualities. Customers who snap at airport gate agents always make it into my notes, as do parents reprimanding their children, in good ways and bad. Overheard conversations are also a way into knowing who a character is. Is the speaker gossipy and negative, shrill or compassionate?
In Sainted in Error, I say everything I need to about a family observed in a restaurant when the mom tries to tidy up her son’s hair and he laughs with his dad and sisters as he playfully bats her hand away. I watch couples and try to decide if they are devoted and respectful or on the verge of divorce. I’ll never know if I’m right or wrong, and it doesn’t matter anyway. My imagination has begun to work, and the characters I create will benefit.
All of this doesn’t mean, however, that a writer can simply pluck details from her notebook and Frankenstein them together in the hope a believable character will emerge. Before she can begin to dress up her sketchily outlined characters with gray in their hair or uncontrollable jealousy or a secretive nature she must first ask who will they be and that most important of all questions: Why? What motivates them?
Think of Stella Vignes in Brit Bennett’s The Vanishing Half, for example. Once she learns that she can use her light skin to her advantage, her every thought is on how not to be discovered. Or Susan Rawlings in Doris Lessing’s unforgettable short story, To Room Nineteen, who wants only to have time alone.
Once a writer knows who the characters are going to be, then is the time to dip into the notebooks. How would a Black woman passing as white wear her hair? What would a well-off matron going slowly mad think about while she serves supper to her husband and their four children? Perhaps the answer is in the notebooks, perhaps not. Maybe from a dozen notebooks only one set of arched eyebrows, one turban on the head of a Sikh man, one angry woman’s set jaw will make it into a story. But the imagination will be sparked, and that’s when the fun begins.
Subplot Publishing Feature: A Tangled Affair
(Posted on Tuesday, January 25, 2022)
Welcome to the first Subplot blog post! My name is Jess and I am an Acquisitions Director at Amplify Publishing Group. I started Subplot, a new imprint launched in 2021 dedicated to compelling and literary works of fiction, and we’re excited to announce that our first few titles are releasing in early 2022. Subplot (noun): a side story that runs parallel to the main plot.
As an Acquisitions Director, I review manuscripts for all of our imprints and make the ultimate decision on which titles have the right elements for Subplot. For each Subplot book, we will be releasing featured blog posts, some guest posts from the authors, and a few interviews to provide backstory to these wonderful projects. This new blog post is about one of our anticipating releases, A Tangled Affair.
How did the relationship with A Tangled Affair begin?
A Tangled Affair’s journey with Subplot started back in August of 2020. Upon my review of the title, not only did Anne C. Scardino’s author voice stick with me, but so did Clair’s perils. Normally I read the first few chapters to get a good sense of what the book entails, how the author sets up the plot, what are the characters like, etc. but Scardino’s writing looped me in so fervently that I had to stop myself from reading more so I could get other work done! Throughout that day, Clair’s journey clung to my mind and I itched to take a peek at what she was going to do once she uncovered Vince’s secret life. That is how I knew we had a Subplot book on our hands.
What is the book about?
In A Tangled Affair, Clair Bondi makes the painful decision to divorce the only man she ever loved—Vince Bondi, her husband of twenty-five years. But Clair never gets the chance to tell Vince she is leaving him, because he is found fatally shot in his Porsche one night when driving home from his weekly tennis game. Haunted by his death, Clair is determined to help the Philadelphia police find the killer. Vince’s secret life, including an account in Turks and Caicos, forces Clair to realize that he wasn’t the man she thought he was. No longer the “good wife,” Clair’s strength and resilience take her from her darkest moment to a life unimagined—one with true love and purpose.What makes A Tangled Affair the right fit for Subplot?
Throughout the years, Amplify Publishing Group (formerly Mascot Books) saw an increase in strong, high-quality fiction titles. With the success of our imprint Amplify for business books, we knew that we wanted a fiction imprint where our titles would have a specific brand to them. The ins and outs of Subplot were still piecing together when Scardino signed with us. As the book developed and the gorgeous cover design came to life, I knew A Tangled Affair absolutely had to be part of Subplot’s inaugural release.
When thinking of what makes a good fiction book, there are two things that immediately come to mind: strong characters and intriguing plots. Readers don’t want to read the same story over and over again just told with different settings and vague characters. They should be drawn into these unique people—so much so that they feel they know them, care for them—and the plot should be the characters’ main accessory.
Scardino does just that. Readers want Clair to find a happy ending. They mourn with her as she figures out where her life will lead after Vince’s death. They rejoice in how strong she gets as the novel moves along. The twists and surprises throughout leave the reader on the edge of their seat and the many dreamy settings, such as the cobbled streets of Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, and the glistening beaches of the Turks and Caicos, are wonderful elements. This title is sure to be one that readers finish in one night, which, in my opinion, is the highest compliment to an author.
If you’re a fan of romance, mystery, and suspenseful dramas, A Tangled Affair has all the ingredients for your next favorite read. Order your copy at the Mascot bookstore here.
If Subplot sounds like the right fit for your fiction manuscript, send us a synopsis and the first three chapters at jess@mascotbooks.com.
December Featured Title: Tails From Down Under
(Posted on Tuesday, December 14, 2021)
December’s Featured Title is Tails From Down Under by Tara Lala!
In this magical early-chapter book, Paradise Royale discovers an entrance to a world full of mermaids and mermen. But how does she unlock the entrance as a human? Will she be able to solve the many mysteries in this magical underwater city called Aquaria? Or will the monster living in the depths of Aquaria capture her first?
We interviewed Tara about balancing between being a busy teenager and an author, what advice she’d give to young authors, and more!
You wrote your first book at 14 years old and are about to publish your second children’s book at 18. What made you want to become an author?
I have loved writing stories ever since I was a little girl. I remember making extensive lists of my favorite words and including those words into stories I wrote in elementary school. Because my sister and I share the same room, I would create new stories on the spot every evening to help her fall asleep since she was afraid of the dark.
I didn’t actually realize my passion for creative writing until fifth grade. We had a journal called the Raven, and in those journals we could develop any kinds of stories we wanted. My friend and I wrote a story about three characters: two twin princesses and an evil sorcerer. Though I don’t remember the plot, these three characters stuck with me until high school.
When deciding to transfer my ideas onto the page after realizing how much my sister enjoyed listening to my stories, I chose to use these three characters as the main characters of my first novel, Twincesses. Since then, I have been cultivating different pieces of writing inside and outside of school.
Tails From Down Under is about a girl who discovers an underwater city filled with mermaids, mermen, and even monsters. How did you come up with this fictional and magical world?
Tails from Down Under is inspired by some of my favorite travel destinations. The majority of the book takes place in Italy, one of the most beautiful countries I have ever visited. No matter where I am in the world, you will always find me on the balcony of my hotel room writing a new storyline. Ambiences from around the world have inspired my writing, and Tails from Down Under is specifically inspired by the Amalfi Coast and the Blue Grotto in Italy. Through my writing, I hope to share my experiences of different sceneries and cultures with those who aren’t able to experience them.
The actual underwater city itself was inspired by the Disney and Barbie movies I would repeatedly watch when I was young. I hope to excite young readers with my mystical settings, just as I had loved to engage in mermaid movies.
What’s it like balancing between being a busy teenager and an author? When do you find the time to write, and what’s your writing process like?
Balancing schoolwork as well as being an author has been a challenge, but I have loved every step of the publishing process; writing is an outlet for me. I focus on writing and plot-editing my books over the summer, and spend the school year working on layout and grammatical edits.
When writing, I completely zone into the world I am constructing. I play fantasy music in the background to teleport me to the fairytale wonderlands I create. Writing has always been a way to escape from the intensity of school and into a dream world that I can craft in whichever way I want.
What advice would you give to young writers who are hoping to become authors?
I want aspiring young writers to know that there is no correct way to write a book. Whatever inspires you or makes you excited is what you should convey onto the page, whether it is simple or complex. Writing has no rules and restrictions; you are free to choose whatever theme you wish and bring it to life.
I know sharing your writing with the world can be frightening, but you will always find a reader that will connect with your storyline and characters. Overall, you should not have any worries while writing and let yourself go; creating literature really has a magic of its own!
What does the future hold for Tara Lala? Any more books on the horizon?
I am excited to continue writing books for children and eventually for adults, too! This past summer, I wrote my third book. During this confining time period of COVID, I found an escape by writing about more of the different places I have traveled to and the locations I wish to visit. The main characters will take a journey to these destinations and uncover the mysteries within each country they visit. Ultimately, I share my love for magic and diversity through my young adult novels, and hope my readers can connect with my characters and creations!
Follow Tara’s on Instagram @taralalaofficial to learn more!
The Inside Scoop to Getting Testimonials
(Posted on Tuesday, November 30, 2021)
Testimonials can be some of the first words a consumer reads when picking up a book. These book blurbs serve as a way for readers to get immediate access to a book’s praise directly on the front and back cover, rather than having to search for them online. But how do authors get these endorsements from noteworthy people?
Let’s go over why this praise can be helpful, what a good testimonial looks like, and how to even get them.
Relevance and Quality
There are many reasons why you should consider having testimonials, some of them being that they strengthen your author credibility and attract readers to your book’s plot or themes.
This begins with the perceived influence of the reviewer. Even if the reviewer is not a household name, it’s crucial to make sure that they have industry experience. It always looks good to include a subheading or title after the person’s name to explain why they are relevant to this book. That means you’ll have to ensure that you are collecting testimonials from people that have real knowledge about their field and – this is critical – are able to communicate their thoughts concisely and creatively.
Some blurbs you receive from top authors or leaders might be bland or non-specific. While it may be great to hear from them, a successful testimonial is eye-catching and narrows in on particular aspects of the book that make it unique. The goal should always be quality over quantity.
Cultivate contacts that know you personally and/or professionally and can speak to your work. Vague statements are not worth your book’s cover – you want specific feedback that speaks to real aspects of the book and has concrete rationales for why that particular person is offering their endorsement. Your book deserves the best possible quotes. To get them, you’ll want to pick people that are not only knowledgeable in their profession, but also eloquent and have the ability to express why something works. They have to be able to communicate that well to an audience.
Brainstorming Questions
Who are your readers? Who influences them?
What elements of your book are most important to you, and who in your field can speak to those specific topics?
What does your ideal testimonial sound like? What do you want audiences to take away from your book? This will help focus your queries and request for reviews/blurbs.
Organization and Process
Coming up with a system for gathering testimonials is a large part of the process. Having a streamlined methodology will help you stay focused and will allow you to maintain the goals you have set for yourself. Check out the following tips to help you begin collating reviews and testimonials:
- Craft a short template query that you can send to prospective readers for their blurb or feedback, but make sure to leave room for a sentence or two that can be personalized. Sincere compliments go a long way. The template should explain explicitly that you are looking for a quote for the book, what you hope to accomplish, and, if the person does not know you personally, introduce yourself briefly but substantively.
- Depending on the volume of queries you intend to disseminate, maintain a spreadsheet that keeps track of the names you are reaching out to and the status of their decision(s). In general, it’s best to spread your net wide, as you will not get responses from everyone. (The net should not be so wide, though, that you begin to move away from the focus of the book.)
- Establish deadlines for yourself and for your reviewer.
- Make sure that the system is as user-friendly as possible for the person you are requesting a testimonial from; send the book to them in whichever format they like, and try to accommodate their needs.
Elements of a Memorable Testimonial
Any testimonial should tell the reader how they will benefit from the book, but being able to illuminate that in a way that pops is a golden ticket to a top-notch testimonial.
Short and succinct blurbs are the best, but don’t be afraid to seek one that’s a bit longer. Having the reviewer explain what they learned is always a good starting point. It is always important to find a balance between substance and style. You want a reader to see a testimonial and actually get information from it, rather than just absorb a glowing review that may be sycophantic in nature.
Brainstorming Questions for the Reviewer
What are some particular pieces of information that they learned, and how relevant are they to the book as a whole? Do they match the themes?
How was the information in the book conveyed, and what makes it different from other books on the market?
Strong Examples
Contains specific remarks about the book and/or language that is visual or surprising
- “Ignore this book at your own peril.” -Seth Godin, Rework
- “For those of us who didn’t pursue MBAs – and have the penny-ante salaries to prove it – Sorkin’s book offers a clear, cogent explanation of what happened and why it matters. -Julia Keller, Too Big to Fail
- “Lean In is an inauguration rather than a last word…” -Anna Holmes / “What Sandberg offers is a view that shows twenty-somethings that choices and tradeoffs surely exist, but that the ‘old normal’ of blunting ambition so that can fit in one category or another does not have to be the way it is.” -Gayle Tzemach, Lean In
Weak Examples
Lack of specificity, personalization, snappy wordplay
- “This was an inspiring book full of great advice and tips on how to succeed.”
- “A must-have book for all managers and businesspeople.”
- “The best book I’ve read all year!”
With these tips in mind, what are you waiting for? It’s time to go get those well-crafted testimonials! Let us know how it goes by contacting us at info@mascotbooks.com or tagging us on social media @Mascotbooks:
November Featured Title: Why We Are What We Eat
(Posted on Wednesday, November 17, 2021)
This month’s featured title is Why We Are What We Eat: The Role of Diet and Symbiotic Microorganisms in Mental and Physical Health by Inna Kruman, Ph.D!The idea of a strong link between food and human identity is age-old. However, exactly how food affects the human body and mind remained unclear until recently, when researchers determined that our environment can turn gene expression off and on, thereby influencing the way we function. In Why We Are What We Eat, Inna takes a close look at these recent research advances and explores the interplay between the digestive, immune, and nervous systems.
We spoke with Inna about how humans’ relationship with food has evolved, the common misconceptions about health, and more!
While scientific publications are a central part of academic life, this book is a popular science book written for a general audience. By communicating ideas and discoveries to the wider public, popular science books can generate debate, influence culture, and inspire future researchers. I wrote this book because food is one of the most critical environmental factors that determine its role in the normal functioning of living organisms.
Why are we what we eat? Why did you choose this as your title?
I chose this title because the main idea of my book is a modern view on the well-known statement that we are what we eat. I make an accent on “why.” How does food affect living organisms, their physical and mental functions?
Contemporary research establishes the ways by which food affects our body and mind, explaining WHY we are what we eat. Other relevant books are mainly about practical issues, such as specific diets, protocols, clinically proven programs, or nutritious recipes. However, in my book, I focus on the scientific causes of the digestive system’s reaction to diet.
How have human relationships with food evolved? How will our relationship with food change in the future?
The history of human diet and nutrition represents an interface between biology, culture, and the environment. In the six to seven million years since our last common ape ancestor, human evolution has resulted in significant nutritional and physiological changes. One of the most striking differences is increased meat consumption. Since meat is more calorically dense than vegetables, a higher meat content in the human diet is an adaptation to the high metabolic costs of our brain. This steady increase over a period of a few million years allowed for dramatic growth in the brain size of our pre-human ancestors.
Another important step in human evolution is cooking, which helped to make meat and plants more digestible and nutritionally available. Additionally, we’ve created many new technologies related to food: the ability to process and preserve foods for storage, smoking, drying, salting of meat, fermentation, and producing bread, beer, or cheeses. These new technologies made possible the production of safer and more stable foods. As human culture advanced, different populations of humans introduced new technologies that resulted in an extraordinary diversity of human diets.
It is difficult to predict how our relationship with food will change in the future, but these changes are already taking place in some ways. The nutritional transition to the Western diet (a modern-day style diet), associated with massive shifts toward processed foods, disturbs immune function and promotes inflammation. This can be associated with significant changes in the composition of the microbial community and, consequently, to some metabolic health issues, including obesity and diabetes.
What would you define as being “healthy”? What are some of the common misconceptions about health and diet?
The World Health Organization defines health as “complete physical, mental, and social well-being.” What we eat has profound effects on our overall health. Research shows that dietary habits influence the risk of different diseases. Bad diets are responsible for more deaths than smoking or high blood pressure. Being healthy, however, does not mean only the absence of physical illness. Mental balance and the absence of stress are also very important. A growing body of research shows that social ties are as important for our health as diet and exercise. What is healthy and not healthy changes constantly. Several well-known misconceptions about food are well known. For example:
(1) Many diets ban carbs. However, the truth is that carbohydrates aren’t bad for a human organism. When eaten in the right amounts, carbs are healthy. They are the main source of energy. Complex carbohydrates like the ones you find in brown bread and wholegrain products are better because they slowly release sugar into the bloodstream ensuring a steady supply of energy, and they make you feel fuller for longer.
(2) Fats are seen as bad for your health, and fat-free foods are healthy. We need fats to provide energy for our bodies. Additionally, they allow our body to regulate its temperature (brown fat), build hormones, support our immune system, reproduction, and more. A fat-free diet is not a good idea, and fats are actually very healthy in moderation.
(3) Eggs — particularly the yolks — have gotten over the years for being high in cholesterol. However, guidelines for egg consumption have been modified as more research is done on their health effects. Moderate consumption of eggs is healthy. Thus, moderate consumption of complex, not simple carbs (sugars), fat, and eggs are good for our health.What surprised you most in your research on how food affects one’s well-being?
(1) Diabetes was mostly unknown among Native American populations during the first half of the twentieth century. However, since the 1950s, the prevalence rates have increased dramatically (In some American Indian and Alaska Native communities, the diabetes prevalence among adults is as high as 60 percent). These changes can be explained by the lifestyle alterations over the past fifty years (e.g., less activity, greater food availability, and more fats and simple sugars in diet).
(2) Autism, a disorder characterized by disturbance in language, perception, and socialization, is usually linked to neuroinflammatory conditions, dysregulation of the immune system, and altered bacterial gut microbiota. In some cases, remodeling the gut microbiota alleviated the symptoms of autism.
(3) Promoted by changes in diet or antibiotic therapies, dysbiosis (alterations to the composition of the gut microbial community) plays a critical role in allergy and autoimmune diseases, as well as in the development of mental disorders, such as depression or schizophrenia, and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Thus, our gut health is required for overall good health and wellbeing and depends on our diet.
October’s Featured Title: The Story of the Curious Elf
(Posted on Wednesday, October 20, 2021)
October’s Featured Title is The Story of the Curious Elf by Joan C. Yingling!On a special night before Christmas, a small boy meets a lost, lonely elf who lets his curious nature get the best of him. Stranded and alone in an unfamiliar place, the elf doesn’t know if he’ll ever be able to find his way back home! Will he ever be able to get back to his family and friends in Santa’s workshop?
We spoke with Lydia Cohn, who published this new children’s book on behalf of her mother Joan, about what makes this book special, what it’s like going through the publishing process in honor of someone else, and more.
Can you tell us a bit about the author? What was she like as a person and a writer
My mom was a spirited woman who enjoyed nothing more than getting together with family and friends. She taught herself how to cook, bake, sew, knit, and crochet among other things. She was an avid reader and loved doing the crossword puzzles in the Sunday paper. She was a huge fan of the Philadelphia Eagles and never missed a game on TV.
With such a busy life raising seven children and working full time as a hairdresser, it’s hard to know how mom found time to write the many poems she wrote while we were growing up. Her poems often told a story, and when our daughter suggested they would each make great children’s books, I jumped at the idea because I had always wanted to have her stories published for others to enjoy.
What is the backstory behind this book? What makes it special?
Christmas was one of mom’s favorite holidays. She made sure our Christmases were full of imagination and fun traditions. The Story of the Curious Elf was born from one of our family’s holiday traditions. Every year the local Thanksgiving parade ended with Santa Claus appearing and waving to the crowd. My mom told us that was when Santa’s magical elves would hop off the float and go visit the houses to check on the boys and girls to report back to him on who was naughty and who was nice. She would often remind us that “the elves are watching” in order to keep us behaving well.
The elves would mysteriously appear on Thanksgiving night. It was always so exciting to spot the first one. When we weren’t looking, they would change locations and we’d squeal with delight in shouting “it moved!” My mom was clever, as we never caught her in the act of moving them.
What is it like going through the publishing process in honor of someone else, specifically your mother?
Going through the publishing process was a very emotional experience for me. These were my mom’s stories. I wish I had asked her more about what inspired her. Mostly, I wonder how she ever found the time to write. And, why did she write? Did she ever intend to try and publish her work or was it just a hobby for her? These are answers I’ll never have.
There’s a lot that goes into creating a book even after the words are written. With every decision, I made sure I was doing what I thought my mom would’ve wanted. Mascot Books made the process a whole lot easier because they tell you where to start and what comes next. I was so grateful to have them coaching me along. They helped me select my illustrator, Ana Sabastian, who somehow was able to extract from my imagination exactly how I pictured the characters and story unfolding. Then there’s deciding on which parts of the story you want to have illustrated. That was hard because this particular story ran like a movie in my imagination. There were so many images and I had to decide which ones to use and which words would appear on each page. And then there’s cover design and back cover design, etc.
When you open the box of your books for the first time and see all your work in living tangible color, you just can’t believe the rush of excitement, joy, and relief you feel. It’s the culmination of all your hard work as well as the embarkment on a whole new adventure because now you have this wonderful story, in a book form, to can share in such a delightful way. I think my mom would have been very pleased with how both books have turned out.
What makes this book different from other children’s Christmas books?
What makes The Story of the Curious Elf unique is the literal soft feel of the cover and the tone of colors used in the illustrations that lend itself to cuddling up to read a bedtime story. It has such soft blue tones rather than your typical red and green colors of Christmas. It’s exciting when you first meet the little lost elf. You really want to help the elf find his way back home. Any child can easily imagine themselves in the story.
I also love how there’s a very subtle message to mind what your parents tell you for they know best.
In the very back of the book, I included four short poems my mom titled “Verses for Young Children,” an added bonus. The first one is a riddle that kids can easily solve.
What do you think would be Joan’s biggest dreams or accomplishments for this book? What would she hope for readers to walk away with?
Honestly, my mom would just be so thrilled to know her stories were being enjoyed by little kids everywhere. She would love it if reading her bedtime story on every Christmas Eve became a tradition for all families with little kids. And she would love for kids to carry on the tradition to read it to their kids. Of course, it would be such an honor if this book also received literary awards like her first book, The Story of the Can’t That Could.
She would love for readers to walk away with a sense of wonder and imagination. I think she would also be so thrilled if her stories inspired young children, and adults, to write their own creative stories.
Just a little something I’d like to share…
When I began reading my mom’s stories to young children in schools, a reading specialist shared with me that my mom’s writing was so helpful for kids learning to read. The words rhyme so it helps children sound them out and guess which ones might make sense. And, there are just enough compounded words like “something,” challenging words like “through,” and words like “laugh” that you can only learn by sight. I don’t think my mom intended this but, how cool is that?
To learn more, please visit www.joanyingling.com.
Tips and Tricks to Finding Your Reviewers
(Posted on Thursday, October 14, 2021)
You’re eagerly waiting for that five-star review to show up on your listing. But why wait? It can sometimes take a while for reviews to start rolling in, and you don’t want your listing to look empty until then. If you’re in this position, well, it’s go-time to find the reviewers yourself! Read some of our tips and ideas below to learn how to get the best reviews for your book.
What Do Reviews Accomplish?
About 95 percent of consumers consult online product reviews before purchasing their order. In other words, if you have good reviews, you’re more likely to make the sale.
Not only can consumer reviews help you sell books, but they also establish your credibility and drive traffic to your listing. Getting trade reviews is a huge success and something all authors should put effort into (which you can learn more about in our guides), but it’s also highly valuable to have reviews from your everyday reader since those are the people checking out your book anyways.
Amazon’s algorithm factors in reviews— the more reviews your listing has, the higher your book will appear in the search results. Amazon calculates reviews by particular quantity benchmarks, speed, and density (even if they’re negative reviews). Therefore, you should try to encourage your network to post a review on the release day to spark your visibility (Amazon won’t open the listing up for reviews before the release date). Please keep in mind that consumers will have to purchase your book on Amazon in order to leave a review or else that review will get flagged. Learn more about their customer review rules here.
Compile a Press Kit and Pitch
Before implementing any outreach, compile an electronic press kit consisting of all the materials that can help reviewers review. Your press kit should include:
- Press release
- Cover image
- Author bio
- Testimonials, press coverage, and other reviews
- Any promotional materials or platforms ( i.e., flyers, website, social channels)
Assemble these materials into an organized electronic or physical folder, and include your pitch in a printed cover letter or email. Your pitch should be concise, courteous, and direct.
Take your time writing a sincere pitch for your potential reviewers along with a follow-up email if they don’t respond. Do some research on them and reference anything that can make the pitch more personal. Tell them why you loved one of their previous reviews or why you think they would be a great reviewer for your book. Be persistent and thank them when you’ve received their review!
Make a Goodreads Account
Goodreads is a social cataloging website that allows millions of bookworms to rate, review, and create threads about books. This is the platform you want to be on if you need reviews. Take a few minutes to sign up here.
Consider an Ebook Sale
The beauty of an ebook is that Kindle will automatically ask readers to review a book once they’ve finished it. If you don’t have an ebook, you might want to consider creating one. If you do, try discounting it to rack up sales and get reviews. An ebook will open up way more opportunities for reviews!
Bonus: this option won’t exhaust your royalties since ebook retail prices are significantly lower than print books and don’t bring in as much profit regardless.
Embrace Your Local Community
This is your gimme and might be obvious, but we have to say it. Asking your friends and network for reviews is the easiest way to receive them. Go the extra mile and ask them to ask their families and friends for reviews. Word of mouth can go very far. Aside from them, engage with your community! Use your promotional resources and invite people to virtual or in-person events, meet-ups, and signings.
Contact your local bookstore and ask them if they would be willing to a) stock up on your book and b) review it! Prioritize anything local because people are usually more willing to review an author who is from their area. While you should, of course, “go big” by finding prestigious reviewers, don’t forget the smaller organizations or clubs in your area that will appreciate your outreach and be more likely to get back to you.
Oh, and while you’re on the hunt for local reviewers, find local authors in your area that you can connect with. They might even ask you to review their book in exchange!
Know Your Genre, Then Your Audience
It will save you a lot of time if you put your attention on the consumers who are your favorite readers. Your most successful reviews (in terms of content and quantity) will most likely come from your target audience. These are the people who have a special and personal connection to the book. Figure out your book’s genres by looking at Amazon browse node categories and thinking about where your book fits best. Perhaps you had a genre in mind while you were writing, or you’re noticing a trend in your readers. Come up with a few — books can never just be put into one category — and then reach out to organizations, groups, etc. that fit within those categories.
Social Media and Hashtags Are Your Best Friend
In this virtual age, neglecting your social media channels to search for reviewers is a huge mistake. There are many book bloggers and reviewers on Instagram and even TikTok. It’s as easy as searching terms like #bookreviewers, #bookbloggers, #childrensbookreviewers, or #fantasyfictionbookreviewers (with and without hashtags) on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram. Find your reviewers on social media and don’t forget to post on your personal and book’s social platforms asking your own followers for reviews.
Outside of social media, there are thousands of book reviewers online that you can check out. Warning: you might find yourself in a deep rabbit hole going through these online lists, but we dug up some popular book review sites to get you started:
Midwest Book Review
The Book Blogger List
Readers’ Favorite
The Kindle Book Review
Words into Print
Where Writers Win
Create that Excel Spreadsheet
Stay organized by compiling a list of the book reviewers, authors, bookstores, libraries, book clubs, book-related media, and any other literary platforms you’re planning on reaching out to. Keep track of who you’ve reached out to, who you’re going to contact, and who you have to follow up with.
And with that, we’d love to hear all about your book’s praise! Send us your reviews by messaging us on any of our social media platforms. Search @Mascotbooks on your social channels or click on the following: