Publisher's Corner

Say Hello to B&H, the New Kids on the (Fiction) Block!

There’s nothing better than a good story. A tale of good versus evil, of a brave and true character facing dark and deadly times—and triumphing. No better way to spend a day than sunk deep in your favorite chair, snuggled under a cozy blanket as you enter a world contained in the pages of a novel. From depths to heights, hate to love, struggle to victory, few things move and inspire as deeply as beautifully crafted fiction.

Read more

ACFW Happenings

ACFW’s Neighborhood Marketing:
Deeper. Layered. Measured.

Marketing can be scary for a lot of people, especially those who have never done it before or the quiet, shy sort who don’t like to be the center of attention. I’m excited to share a series on Neighborhood Marketing that is fun and effective. Instead of intrusive ads or blaring lights, think of marketing more in terms of a fine dining restaurant experience.

Varied courses build a delicious meal. It’s the layered courses that give long-term...

Read more

Heard It Through Hartline

Publishing and the Economy

2008 was a good year for Hartline Literary Agency. We placed forty-plus books for our clients. We’re looking forward to a good 2009 in spite of the recession.

The recession has brought about many changes in the publishing world: layoffs at major publishers. The latest layoff is at Readers Digest, 504 people last week. One researcher noted that according to America’s Research Group, Christian bookstores’ share of business dropped significantly from 12.4% of the population shopping at a Christian bookstore last year down to 6%. The...

Read more

Gotta Get It!?

All Lit Up

So, what’s “Lit”? I always thought it was short for “Literature.”

Literature: writings in which expression and form, in connection with ideas of permanent and universal interest, are characteristic or essential features, as poetry, novels, history, biography, and essays (dictionary.com).

Hmm. Not. At least not in the genre sense. I’ve read Lit. (Okay, one and one-half.) 

Read more

Book Video Trailers

Creating a Book Trailer Using Windows Movie Maker for Techo-Challenged Authors

I know the consensus isn’t out yet on the marketing value of Book Trailers, but I simply love them. I love watching other authors’ trailers, and I love making them for my own books. There’s nothing more exciting for an author than to see his or her characters come to life on the screen.
Read more

Publicity - Everyone Needs It

Create A Stir: Blog Tours

I’m a book lover from way back. Whenever I find a book I love, I’m compelled to tell everybody why they need to read it, too. I’m not the only one who suffers from these compulsions. The blogosphere is filled with opinions, rants, and raves of many a blogophile. These days, capturing a blogger’s heart with your book or product is like guaranteeing a bazillion sales. Well, maybe not a bazillion. But more and more corporations, media experts, and publicists are turning...

Read more