Category Archives: Libraries

Victor R. Volkman – Maximizing eBook Sales on all Platforms: Kindle, Nook, Kobo, iBook, and library wholesalers

On May 17th, 2012 Tyler R. Tichelaar and Susan Violante spoke with editor, publisher, and entrepreneur Victor R. Volkmanabout how to get maximum revenue from your eBook platforms. Victor has made getting total market coverage in ebooks, the fastest growing media market, the centerpiece of his strategy for the past 18 months. In that time period, he has added sales channels on Amazon Kindle, B&N Nook, and Kobo platforms as well as entered agreements with ProQuest eBrary, Content Reserve’s Overdrive, and other library wholesalers to maximize market share. Our talk covered all points of the eBook compass including:

How can a self-publisher compete against big name companies like Random House in the ebook market?
How have ebooks impacted publishers’ sales mix over the last year?
What are the major eReader platforms and how are their market shares?
Are there platform-independent stores?
What’s the deal with Amazon KDP Select?
What are library wholesalers (Content Reserve, Proquest eBrary, EBSCO) and what kind of pricing do they require?
Why would I want my eBook in a library?
Should I use SmashWords?
How can you manage price changes with multiple vendors?’
What is book metadata and how important is it in the big picture?

Victor R. Volkman

Victor R. Volkman published his first book in 2003 and soon discovered many others needed help in producing self-help, personal growth, and trauma recovery books. His company Loving Healing Press and imprints including Modern History Press, Marvelous Spirit Press have since produced more than 150 books in hardcover, paperback, and eBook.He has personally edited more than a dozen anthologies including

Beyond Trauma: Conversations on Traumatic Incident Reduction
More Than A Memory: Reflections of Viet Nam
Authors Access: 30 Success Secrets for Authors and Publishers
The Story That Must be Told: True Tales of Transformation
Recovering The Self: A Journal of Hope and Healing

Authors Access: 30 Success Secrets for Authors and Publishers

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eBook Sales by Platform

Arianne McHugh – Writing and Publishing Educational Books

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On February 2nd, 2012 Irene Watson and Victor R. Volkman spoke with educational publisher and marketing guru Arianne McHugh. She is the President and Co-Owner of Saddleback Educational Publishing. She has revamped Saddleback into the country’s largest publisher of high-interest, low readability material. Saddleback kicks off its 30th anniversary with thirteen Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers (2012) for its series, Urban Underground. She took the time to educate on several important aspects of the industry including:

What is educational publishing exactly?
What is a high-interest, low readability book and who is the market?
How does an author write for educational publishers (versus the trade)?
What are the relationships you use to sell books and keep customers?
How does an author market themselves to educational publishers?
As an author, how do you stay relevant in this industry?
What is one thing you get asked all the time?

Arianne McHugh

Arianne McHugh earned her bachelors at San Diego State University. Previous to publishing, Arianne was the Director of Clientele Development for Bloomingdales – assisting in the planning, training and complete operations for the opening of the California Flagship Store. She also created a mom’s blog that received national attention from General Motors as well as TV Dr. Phil, to name a few. Saddleback publishes over a thousand titles including Urban Fiction, Hi-Lo Chapter Books, Nonfiction, Graphic Novels, Interactive Smartboard Lessons, Low Level Supplemental Curriculum and more.

Don't Think About Tomorrow

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Barbara Techel – Selling Books Through School and Library Author Appearances

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On September 15th, 2011 Irene Watson and Victor R. Volkman spoke with children’s author, publisher, and marketing guru Barbara Techel. She is the award-winning author of the Frankie the Walk ‘N Roll Dog book series. She has shared her story of hope and inspiration about her dachshund, Frankie, who is in a wheelchair, with thousands of children and adults since 2007. To date they have made over 300 appearances in Wisconsin and many more via Skype to classrooms across the US and Canada. Barbara is also a speaker and publisher. She appeared on our show to help all authors who may be having trouble getting started in speaking at schools and libraries some ideas and inspiration. A few topics we covered include:

What to include in your presentation.
Types of presentations
Ideas for what fiction authors can speak about
Pitfalls to avoid in pitching classroom appearances
Appropriate length for various ages
Managing the sales appropriately
Where to speak: In-person and via Skype
What to charge for classroom appearances
Marketing your message and appearances to schools

Barbara Techel (and Frankie)

Barbara and Frankie are avid volunteers as a therapy dog team. They routinely visit a local hospice community, hospital and senior assisted living facility, where they “walk their talk” about the inspirational nature of perseverance in the face of challenge.Since before her first book was published, Barbara has worked tirelessly to promote her books and the positive message they embody. She has garnered coverage for her story from local, regional and national media through these efforts, and continues to develop and refine her marketing message and approach. Class Act: Sell More Books Through School and Library Author Appearances is her first book about what she’s learned, but not likely her last.

Class Act: Sell More Books Through School and Library Author Appearances

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Kristi Floyd & Rhonda Kuiper – Getting Your Book into Libraries

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On December 2nd, 2010 Irene Watson and Victor R. Volkman spoke with Austin area librarians Kristi Floyd and Rhonda Kuiper about how librarians pick their books for the patrons at general (“district”) and school libraries. Kristi and Rhonda have experience in working with requirements and procurement for Young Adult and Juvenile audiences including teens and tweens. We had a wide ranging discussion including:

From what sources do librarians buy the books exactly?
What is the importance of book covers to library patrons?
How can local authors get involved in speaking at libraries and schools?
What review sources do librarians consult?
Under what circumstances do libraries accept books donated by authors?
How does patron input work into book purchasing?
How can inter-library loans trigger a book purchase?
Are bibliographies and indexes really that important to non-fiction?

Kristi Floyd

Rhonda is a Part-time Reference Librarians who also has worked in the library at Round Rock High School in Austin Texas for the past five years. Rhonda is currently in charge of our Tween and Teen Programming at Westbank, and next month she will add Reference Manager to her bag of tricks! She brings significant school library experience to our author conversation.

Kristi Floyd, is a librarian at the Westbank Community Library District in Austin Texas for the past five years–including 1 year as a sub and four years as the Programs and Children’s Librarian. She coordinates and organizes all of their Programming, as well as selects all Juvenile material for their collection–from Picture Books to items for Teens. Both librarians have input into the Teen selection.

Rhonda Kuiper

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