The professional author

I have been doing a lot of research into this business of getting my book out there. I have the online channels covered for ebook distribution, but another aspect is the physical book. Bookstores aren’t dead yet, and I think it’s short-sighted to write them off. I’ve looked up a few bookstores in Montréal and even contacted one for details on their consignment policy.

business card address labels

With this in mind, I ordered business cards so that when I leave my book for bookstores to consider, I have a professional way of letting them get in touch with me with their decision. Granted, the book is number one, and I will put my sweat and tears into it to make it the absolute best it can be. I also want to present myself as a pleasant professional who would be a pleasure to work with. The cover of my book isn’t the only thing being judged, and I don’t want to walk in looking disheveled and scatterbrained, making them wonder if I’ll be able to deliver orders on time or be unreliable in getting back to their messages or phone calls.

I’m selling myself as much as I’m selling my book, and first impressions are quite important.

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7 thoughts on “The professional author

  1. I agree that you need a physical book out there. Even if you don’t sell many in comparison to your ebooks, I still think it looks more professional if you have one. I would struggle to feel any accomplishment just having a digital version instead of something I can hold, with pages I can turn.

    • Exactly. Also, not everyone has an ereader yet. They’ve certainly gotten more common, but I still see a lot of people reading paper books on the train and in the métro. I’ve actually considered abandoning copies in public, but I figured they’ll just get turned in to lost-and-founds without getting read.

  2. Snazzy cards! The symbols may suggest that you’re an occult author to some, dunno if that is intentional or desired… especially that black chaos wheel and how it got printed out, it’s hard to see the distinguished square/triangle outline that makes it distinct from generic chaos wheels. Other than that, they looked professional and easy-on-the-eyes, but also informative.
    There is definitely a je ne sais quoi about print books right now compared to e-books. Something about having a tangible, tactile sensation while reading. I like to daydream about the types of textures that my future book covers might have, slick and greasy or fuzzy and soft, paperback or hardback, so many different sensations to feel in the hands that is more or less denied when it comes to e-books.
    E-readers have an advantage in that they are light and supposedly easy to carry (I personally don’t have one, I use my laptop) and so when it comes to larger books, their size and weight, there is a practical reason to get the e-version instead. Also, the bulkier a book, the more expensive it is to ship it. Do you know how large of a print-book, dimension-wise, you’re thinking about making?

    • Thank you! My primary area is going to be fantasy, and building magic systems is a particular passion of mine, so I think it works.

      I adore print books. My work currently has me commuting for around two hours a day, however. I’ve had a Kobo for almost three years now, and I love it. It’s not the same as a real book, but its practicality makes it indispensable to me.

      My print book will be 5″x8″x½”, roughly. I ordered my first proofs in 6″x9″ but found that 5″x8″ feels like the more traditional novel size to me.

      • Yw. That definitely works then. Magic system building is awesome. 😉
        Yeah, it’s tough to beat practicality when it comes down to commuting/moving about. I usually got slim paperbacks for bus commutes when I used to live in the city for that reason alone. If it was small enough to be curled into a pocket, it was practical, so e-readers definitely help larger/thicker print books have an opportunity that wasn’t there before.
        5″x8″ seems like appropriate dimensions, especially since you’ll /also/ be offering an e-version. It sounds like you’ve got your bases covered. Best of luck!

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