Front Edge
Publishing
Your Ideas Take Flight
“Should I mention Barney?” Rabbi Robert Alper asked me as we were proofing his Author Bio. Barney is the rabbi’s lovable dog, often mentioned in Bob’s stand-up comedy. At Front Edge Publishing, we get lots of questions about the important “Bio” that appears on many prominent bookstore pages. In this column, David Crumm explains how we sort out the details. But, wait! There’s more! We’ve got a video of Barney in action!
Front Edge Publishing Editor David Crumm reports on the latest sales trends, which show print books continuing to grow in popularity on the strength of nonfiction. In particular, books on religion continue to be a strong segment of the market. E-books remain a small but important segment of sales, each year.
Now, it’s time for the fun part of a book launch! This is the point, close to completing a book, when we summon our allies and angels to help us. In our Metadata 101 series, David Crumm writes about gathering the Foreword, Preface, Introduction and endorsements for a new book. You may be surprised by the powerful influence these opening pieces can have on an author’s success.
Just as important as the text inside your book are the words you choose as an introduction to potential readers. Editor David Crumm offers helpful tips for writing crucial summaries called Short and Long Descriptions, which show up prominently on bookstore websites.
As we wrap up our three-part look at the importance of book awards, we’ve already covered the value of entering book contests and the savvy strategy of aiming at regional honors. In this third column, Editor David Crumm offers five helpful Dos and Don’ts for authors hoping to win a prize.