Once your book hits bookstore shelves, you've got approximately
eight months to produce sales. If your book doesn?t prove itself
after the eight months, it will almost certainly get pulled. So
the time to do your marketing is way before your book even
thinks about hitting the shelves.
Thousands of booksellers and librarians found their buying
decisions on reviews. But the major review journals (i.e.
Library Journal and Publishers Weekly) will only review your
book if you send them a bound manuscript ? a.k.a. bound galley -
three to four months in advance of your targeted publication
date.
A galley is a compilation of unbound signature pages of your
book. The contents of a galley can be photocopied or printed
from your computer.
A bound galley is a galley that has been bound into book form.
Bound galleys are generally produced after a manuscript has been
typeset but before proofreading.
If you plan on sending out more than 25 pre-publication review
copies and you do not have access to a photocopier, it may be
more cost-effective to make bound galleys. This is because
galley printers typically charge less per page than your local
copy shop.
The majority of reviewers are content to read books in
manuscript form, but it is worthwhile to get them bound in some
way ? a visit to your local Kinko?s? should do the trick. A
small amount of reviewers do object to bound manuscripts, since
they are usually more bulky than galleys.
Make sure the galley or bound manuscript includes this
information either on the cover or first page:
* title * author * publication date * ISBN * number of pages *
price * trim size * hardcover or softcover * number of
illustrations and/or photographs * publisher name and contact
information * distributor name and contact information *
publicist name, address and contact information * print
something like this on the cover: ?Uncorrected proof. Galley
copy only. Do not quote without prior permission from the
publisher.?
Electronic galleys (egalleys) are the next stride in the
evolution of the printed galley. Egalleys can have the same
contents of printed galleys ? they are just in ebook format.
Egalleys are faster, easier, and cost much less to produce than
printed galleys.
Egalley invitations can be emailed to everyone you'd send a
bound galley: reviewers, catalogs, libraries, journalists,
resellers, Websites, bookstore buyers, and other agents of
influence.
My suggestion: Use a combination of both printed and electronic
galleys. Send bound galleys to the most significant reviewers
while using egalleys to expand your marketing reach to
independent bookstores, smaller publications, and international
markets. If possible, send the reviewer/buyer the version they
prefer.
? copyright 2004 Chris Willitts
About the author:
Chris Willitts is the Founder of Go-Publish-Yourself.com?. For
the Latest Self-Publishing Tips and Unspoken Book Marketing
Secrets, visit http://www.go-publish-yourself.com. Special Gift:
Be sure to get your free Self-Publishing Action Plan (it's a
$19.95 Value) when you stop by.
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