To help us debunk these myths
, we invited Lucinda
Halpern
to join
us
for a conversation.
Linda is the president of
Lucinda Literary LLC, a
literary
management
firm
that
champions leading thinkers and emerging vo
ices. As President of the
organization, Lucinda
relies on her deep knowledge of the industry,
and decades of
experience guiding authors to
break-out success and long-lasting
careers.
We start our myth-busting by talking about book agents
, and
what happens during the le
ad
time before a book hits the shelf.
Lucinda explains that
engaging a
literary agent
can help
understand publishers
' needs, and add an additional level of
polish to your manuscript
- but
it
doesn't guarantee
you'll find a publishing deal. While
thought leaders often
want
their book
published immediately, Lucinda explains
that it can take 12
to 18
months for
the publishing
process, even after
your manuscript is written.
Next, we shine a light
on
the myths of platform
and
marketing. While
publishers still require fantastic content, Lucinda
shares
the importance of creating a
visible
author presence. We get a brief
overview of
ways that
publishers review a potential author's platform
and reach, and
where
an aspiring
author might
focus in
order to improve their chances of becoming
published. In addition t
o
publishing their manuscript, authors need to think
about
the long-term
business plan for the
ir book. Lucinda gives us
insights
into
the
long-view of
business books, why lower than expected
sales do not equate to failure, and
how lead generation is the place
to make
real profit.
We wrap up our conversation
by
discussing the frustrations that can arise when dealing with
publicists. Lucinda helps
us understand the steps an author
should take to screen a potential PR
company, the questions that need to be
asked, and the routes you can
take
- depending on
your budget.
This conversation is a deep dive into what authors need to know
and
understand
- from the moment they seek an
agent
, to the years
following
the publication
of their book.
Three Key Takeaways:
* Thought Leaders should work with a
literary agent
, to
polish
their manuscript and
shop it to publisher
s.
* Authors need to
look at publishing a book as a long-term
investment in
their thought leadership
;
books are best thought of as lead
generation
tool
s for speaking and workshops.
* If you are not
interested in being part of marketing your
thought leadership book
, you are putting yourself at a
disadvantage.
Find
a platform that allows you to
shine.