Eileen Cook and Annette Pollert at SiWC

Eileen Cook, author, and Annette Pollert, editor, had a frank discussion between themselves and with the audience members in October at the SiWC about what the author-agent-editor relationship is like and how an author can participate in the marketing of their book.

Workshop Description:

Triple Threat - The Art of Working Collaboratively from Idea to Book Shelf. See how this writer (Eileen Cook), agent (Rachel Vater) and editor (Annette Pollert) have forged a strong collaborative working environment. Learn how a book can move from idea to bookshelf, how each defines and fulfils their role and what makes for a good working relationship.

*Note: Rachel Vater was sick and unable to attend the conference.

Here are some of the things I managed to jot down:

Writing is solo.

Publishing is colaborative.

Finish writing your book, THEN look for an agent.

• Having an agent, you will be able to target one of the larger publishing houses.
• Target a new agent at an established agency. Eileen had a few agents in mind when she was writing her book, sent query letters to them once she had finished.
• Subscribe to Writer's Digest.

Publishing has three seasons: spring, summer and fall.

January is a spring title.

Pulse, Eileen's publishing company asked her what she wanted to be on the cover. They were very good about involving her in the process.

Some of Eileen's book marketing strategies (after a book is published):

• Email book review websites offering to do interviews
• Print out postcards for her book and gives them out. At the book store, put these postcards in the covers of other books.
• She mentions it doesn't hurt to have a quote from another author on the book cover (hers is from Meg Cabot).
• Make up teaching guides or a list of questions to be asked at a reading group. Eileen offers a teaching guide for one of her books, What Would Emma do? under the resources button on her website.
• When visiting another city, contact one or two book stores in the area and offer to do a book signing. Eileen did her own book tour (she said it works better if people know about you).
• Friends can request their libraries order in books.
• Visit local book stores. If the people working there know you, they might recommend you. You can also offer to sign the copies they have.
• With the use of internet and radio, there are a lot of possibilities to reach out to people
• The education and library marketing department of the publishing company will submit books for prizes in contests, etc...

Eileen Cook has written the books Unpredictable, What Would Emma do?, and Getting Revenge on Lauren Wood. You may find out more about her (and read her awesome blog) on her website.

Annette Pollert is an editor at Simon Pulse.