Resources for WildBlue Press Authors
In the dynamic world of book publishing, we at WildBlue Press take immense pride in our authors, whose imagination, diligence, and passion infuse vitality into every page they draft. It is their unique perspectives that make our press shine.
Navigating the ever-evolving world of publishing can be both exhilarating and challenging. We want to support you on this journey, offering insights and guidance. Explore our curated selection of insightful tips and resources, and, as always, contact the management team for support.
Meet the people who will support you throughout your journey with us!
First and foremost, our owners, Michael Cordova and Steve Jackson, are always available to address your inquiries and concerns.
Additionally, our dedicated management team is crucial in ensuring your experience with WildBlue Press is seamless.
Stephanie Johnson Lawson, our production manager, will be your primary point of contact for production-related matters. She's the expert in guiding your book from start to finish and can answer most of your production questions.
Jazzminn Morecraft, our communications manager, handles social media, promotions, media outreach, and marketing efforts. She collaborates on various promotional projects and works with authors to create and put out engaging content, from book trailers to press releases.
The WildBlue Press team works remotely, but we are here to help!
We encourage you to reach out to the specific team member best suited to assist with your questions or concerns, reducing unnecessary email chains. However, for exciting announcements, such as book awards or significant events, please include everyone in your correspondence. We look forward to working together and making your experience with WildBlue Press a successful one!
FAQs
How many free copies do authors receive?
Authors receive 10 paperback copies and one hardcover copy of their completed book.
Can additional copies be ordered?
Yes. Contact the production manager to order additional author copies at a discount.
When are royalty reports issued, and how often are payments made?
Royalty reports are issued six months after the Live Launch, with monthly payments for accrued royalties of $100 or more.
How can I track book sales?
Sales rankings on Amazon and your Author Central page provide insights into book sales.
Can I request sales reports or figures before receiving royalty checks?
It is advised to avoid requesting sales reports or figures before receiving royalty checks, as tracking individual sales channels for each request is challenging.
Where can I find additional support and information?
Visit the support page at https://wildbluepress.com/support/ for valuable information and insights. Don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.
Does WildBlue Press operate on a Print on Demand (POD) basis?
Yes, WildBlue Press operates on a Print-on-demand basis for reduced risk and improved sales.
Are print runs conducted?
No, print runs are not conducted to ensure maximum sales for authors.
In what formats does WildBlue Press publish books?
Each book is published in eBook, trade paperback, hardcover, and audiobook formats.
What is the turnaround time for publication after accepting a manuscript?
WildBlue Press has a faster turnaround time than traditional publishers, with a minimum scheduling period of three months and preferably four.
Why is there a minimum three-month scheduling period?
This allows for announcing the book's acquisition and forthcoming publication in Publisher's Weekly. It also accommodates major review outlets that require an Advanced Reading Copy (ARC) of the edited manuscript three to four months before publication.
What happens if deadlines are missed, or content is not provided?
Missed deadlines can result in publication delays, and failure to provide requested content may lead to the book being removed from the publication calendar. Prior approval from the Production Manager is necessary for legitimate reasons causing delay or absence.
Will the images in my book be in color?
All photographs, whether originally in color or black and white, will be produced as black and white in the print book. The eBook will feature the original color. An online gallery can be created to accompany the book.
What resolution should photographs have?
Photographs must be 300 dpi resolution or higher.
When you turn in your manuscript, it must be accompanied by a 'back cover text,' which, as the name implies, will appear on the back cover of the print books. We also use this document for the book's sales pages, press releases, and other marketing.
As opposed to a synopsis of the book, which lays out the book from beginning to end, including giving away any mystery, think of the BCT as the “hook” meant to entice a potential reader into wanting to read further into the story. We do not want to give away the entire story, so a book summary is not what we need here; think of it more as a “sales pitch.”
If unsure of how to write this, look up books similar to yours—preferably bestsellers—and see how the BCT was used.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Because the BCT is so important to our production and marketing efforts, we don’t set a launch date until we’ve had a chance to review and edit it.
Read this brief article from Master Class about Writing a great hook for your book.
Incorporating photos or images into your book is a powerful way to enhance the visual appeal and storytelling aspect. Images can provide readers with a deeper connection to your content, offering visual context to complement your words.
- Images can be used for the book cover, interior, and book sales page, as well as marketing content.
- Your author bio photograph should be high quality (ideally 300 dpi) and placed in the specific Dropbox folder.
- You must have the right to use all images or prove they are in the public domain.
- You are responsible for any penalties related to unauthorized use of copyrighted material in your uploads.
- Photographs and graphics should not be inserted directly into the manuscript.
- Instead, mark where you want them and highlight them with yellow.
- Create a captions sheet for images and place it in the designated Dropbox folder.
- There's a limit of around twenty images due to file size and cost constraints.
Please address image quality issues early to avoid delays.
We need viable keywords created for every book. We recommend reading the article titled "Choose The Right Categories And Keywords for Your Book" on The Creative Penn website.
Additionally, you can visit this page to watch a video that provides insights into selecting keywords that align with actual user searches. While the video uses 'true crime' as a seed keyword example, it's crucial to tailor the keywords to match the specific themes and content of your book.
WildBlue Press management will create digital content, but you will also want to create compelling graphic and video content to promote your work. There are several key considerations to remember.
First and foremost, think about your target audience and what kind of content would resonate with them. This could range from eye-catching book cover animations to short video teasers that capture the essence of your story.
Utilize your unique perspective and storytelling abilities to create engaging narratives even in these shorter formats. Leverage social media platforms, such as Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, to share these visuals with your readers and potential fans. By doing so, you'll enhance your book's visibility and leave a lasting impression in the digital world.
Content Creation Tools
Canva has a free version that may be the best tool available to create content. https://canva.com
Pablo is a tool to create quick graphics for your social media posts in under 30 seconds. https://buffer.com/pablo
Save what you create to your marketing folder and let management know so we can get them on our radar and into our marketing queue.
Find more resources linked in this post: The 15 Best Free Content Creation Tools Every Business Needs
Content curation involves sharing excerpts of articles from external sources on your own website, and there are various reasons to do so:
- Highlighting excellent articles written by our authors elsewhere.
- Sharing positive book reviews from external blogs.
- Utilizing compelling articles on topics of interest to our readers from external sources.
- Identifying highly-shared content on platforms like Buzzsumo for our site.
The aim is to integrate content curation as a mindset rather than a task, encouraging the continuous posting of relevant content on our site and promoting it on social media. This approach offers several advantages, including the ability to quickly create and publish articles, significantly more posts, increased traffic, enhanced thought leadership, greater brand awareness, and improved audience engagement.
Bullets 4 and 5 are the most important. They will provide the most value to the effort.
We ask you to create at least two videos, 30 - 120 seconds each. These can be as simple as taken using the video app on your phone or your computer camera.
- A “Meet The Author” video introducing yourself, the sort of books you write, a little about you or why you write.
- A brief summation of the book, or why you wrote it, even a reading from it.
Make the videos personal and in a place where you spend time so the viewers get a slice of your life.
View this commentary from youtube @BenjaminWallace on creating author videos for great tips.
Here are valuable resources to enhance your online content marketing efforts:
**Neil Patel and Brian Dean:** Subscribe to their email lists and access their videos, focusing on optimizing online content. They are renowned experts in the field.
**Content Marketing Codex:** Explore this extensive, free 100-article course on creating effective online content curated by experts. You can choose your pace or select articles individually.
**Content Curation and ROI:** Delve into the world of content curation and its return on investment (ROI) with this informative PDF guide. Page 25 illustrates the anatomy of a well-curated post, while ROI charts begin on page 27.
These resources will aid you in creating and optimizing your online content for maximum impact.
A COMPETITION REFLECTING THE BEST OF BOOK DESIGN AND PRODUCTION, $100 per entry
