Even with the current downturn in the U.S. economy, Tate Publishing is continuing to see more and more response from industry retailers and other areas for book sales. When other publishers, distributors, and industry players are downsizing, laying off personnel, and closing their doors, Tate Publishing continues to open new doors with a model that is effective for our authors, for Tate Publishing, and for retailers.
The key begins with quality authors, and I believe Tate Publishing houses some of the most gifted and talented writers in the world. Since we only publish about 3% of the manuscripts submitted, we can select for publication the very best authors that have the most marketable books in today's publishing climate.
Second, we believe in producing a quality product that is second to none. In the years I have been at Tate, the quality of the books we produce has continued to develop. With the consistent improvements and the striving for excellence that we've made in our editing, layout, and cover design departments, our books are standing out more than ever. Our award-winning production staff truly creates products that authors can be proud of and that can make waves in the marketplace. In a crowded industry, a top-of-the-line product that turns heads can make a huge difference.
Third, we believe we have a marketing plan that allows our authors to penetrate both the bookstore market and the target, niche audience for their books in a way that no other publisher can even touch. The partnership model we have allows our authors to interact with us and put together a plan that is both general to the masses and specific to the reader, enabling authors to get their books into the hands of those that need it most.
As I often do, I encourage any Tate author to contact their Marketing Representative right away to continue developing new strategies and ideas. Each and every book is different, and each and every author is different as well. We are ready to continue what we've started, and we're ready to move in new directions with you as well, making an impact with retailers and beyond.
3 comments:
I will enjoy this blog as it will be very informative. I am a new Tate author: Journey of Faith: Familiar Strangers by Donna Connelly Stephens
Hi Mark,
I enjoy reading your informative blog. Thank you for your efforts to educate us authors.
I have a quick question:
Will Tate have a booth at the CBE in Dallas on March 20-22?
Are those type of events important for authors who are just starting out?
Thanks,
Elaine Littau
We will not be attending CBE in Dallas next month. While I'm sure it will be a quality event, we determined that at least for this year, we would not be participating. Barnes and Noble as a whole announced that they would not be attending this year as well, so while some major players in the industry will attend, others will not, which is true of any retail trade show these days. We do, however, annually attend the Christian Booksellers' Association (CBA)International Christian Retail Show, and look forward to having a presence there again this summer. To answer your question, trade shows like CBE and ICRS are beneficial regarding networking among buyers, retailers, and publishers, and from an author's standpoint, it is amazing to see the sheer enormity of the Christian book industry and to realize the vast competition that every author faces. That in itself can be a remendous education.
Having said that, the most important thing that a first-time author can do is to put their nose to the grindstone and work hard to talk to as many people as they can about their book wherever they go. While somewhat beneficial, I would not say that attending trade shows is the key to author success, and some of our most successful authors have never attended these kinds of shows. Every book and author are very unique, and what works for some may not work for others. Hope that info helps, Elaine.
Thanks,
Mark
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