Things are generally more complicated than they seem. That’s something you learn as a Formerly, or at some point before then, but usually after college, when things are pretty simple: War is wrong, men are dicks, sisterhood is powerful and horizontal stripes make you look fat.
Yeah, no. Almost nothing is that simple or consistently true. Hence the “It’s complicated” relationship status option on Facebook, and my slack-jawed, wide-eyed awe as I explore how, exactly to make my book (Formerly Hot…Finally Content, coming out in September from Ballantine) a success.
Not that I thought it was as simple as, You write a book, people like it, they say nice things about it, more people buy it and boom, you can go off and do your little happy dance. But I didn’t realize exactly how much you could conceivably do to sell your book, and how little is known about what works and why.
My latest scheme involves niche marketing to polygamous Mormon communities, in which women far outnumber men, and praying they don’t share books as they share husbands. I have high hopes for that plan. I would have sold my virginity to the man responsible the biggest bulk order (size matters), but I lost it sometime in 1983, I think in the Bronx, and haven’t seen it since.
Do me a favor: Think back to the last nonfiction book you bought. What made you buy it in particular? You can comment below or email me.
February 3, 2010 at 11:40 pm
Just about every nonfiction book I’ve ever bought was the result of hearing an interview with the author on NPR.
February 4, 2010 at 6:44 am
I don’t generally buy non-fiction books, unless they are gifts. I just bought Gretchen Rubin’s The Happiness Project for my sister, because i thought it would be helpful for her. So I guess that’s why I buy them (when I do) – because they will either be of extreme interest to someone (e.g. I bought the first Freakonomics for several people who like economics) or because they’ll be useful. But maybe that’s obvious. If I were you I’d heavily target people who read women’s mags for yours…but then I’m sure you already knew that!
DeliaLloyd
http://www.realdelia.com
February 4, 2010 at 9:14 am
The last nonfiction book I bought was my book club’s recommendation: “Service Included” by Phoebe Damrosch. Moderate-to-big towns like mine have active “newcomers’ clubs,” more like big women’s groups with new and not-new residents, and book clubs are a subset of that. Your book’s going to be perfect for group discussion, so looking forward to suggesting it. I’m sure you thought of book clubs/groups, but there you go. Good luck, Steph!
February 6, 2010 at 11:05 am
I buy too many books, of all varieties sometimes based solely on the cover. But some of the best tips for books come from my favorite mags. More magazine has an amazing book review section as of course, does Oprah. There I said it…Oprah!
February 7, 2010 at 11:03 am
About a year ago I joined a rogue group of ladies who were interested in exploring their faith through a weekly book club. We are currently reading Battlefield of the Minds and although several of us were resistant to the study / book it has been truly transformational for several of us and grown our little group to 20.
February 7, 2010 at 1:32 pm
Book reviews in Time and the NY Times Sunday Book Review are what influence my reading list but I must admitt to rarely buying anything anymore — in the last two years I’ve become addicted to my local library. As a formerly with lots of bills, I can’t see justifying my modest disposable income on books or DVDs or CDs anymore.
February 13, 2010 at 9:54 am
Unless someone who know EXACTLY what I like swears to me that I will LOVE a book and explains in detail why, I usually have to read the first couple of pages before I buy a book.
I wont buy a book on Amazon unless you can read an excerpt.
What I am looking for is mostly the style of writing followed closely by the subject matter. I don’t know why its in that order but at this age its writing first. I have become extremely snobby about how I spend my very limited time. It can be an awesome subject but if the writing is mediocre, forget it.
So if I am any kind of demographic, you don’t have anything to worry about 🙂
February 14, 2010 at 6:39 pm
The last non-fiction book I bought was “Flow” by Elissa Stein and I bought it because I somehow ended up following her on Twitter and then started reading her blog, and she’s funny and charming and responded to my tweets! You should talk to Chris because he has a new venture going in social media publicity and I bet he’d have good ideas for you.