Now, I know that this blog looks like a fun blog full of letters and advice and reflection upon life, love and keeping sane while you are single, but actually it is all a great big ADVERTISEMENT.
The whole point, chickadees, is that you read it and think, "Oh gosh, I must immediately buy Seraphic's book!" And the publishing world has made it even more interesting for you by producing three different versions: the Canadian, the American and the Polish.*
The most interesting aspect to the business of selling my book--in the USA at least--is that it seems to be driven by fans of this blog. So far, you are my absolute best salespeople, so thank you.
And since you are my absolute best salespeople (at least in the USA), I am throwing open the combox to your stories of how you bought the book. I know there were ads in America and National Catholic Reporter.** Did you, um, see them?
I am also throwing open the combox to criticism. Did you prefer the lady with shoes to the cartoon lady? Which title did you like best? Would you have called it something else? In which publications would you think it worthwhile to advertise, if you were Liguori?
Pull no punches! I won't mind. The fine old profession of selling books is rather new to me. I was good at selling coffee as a teenager, though, for not only did I remember the names of the regulars, I remembered what they drank. Actually, I still remember what they drank. There was a marvellously tall Ontario-Dutch construction foreman who took off his hardhat when he came into the shop. He always had a large Irish Cream.
*Oh, awesome. I am just above Alfred Delp, S.J. on the Homo Dei author list!
**Yes, I can just imagine what Father Z would say.
20 comments:
Hi Auntie Seraphic! I hope you actually get this comment as my internet service is a bit spotty right now. But just a comment from the peanut gallery, I really didn't like the US release title :/ I felt it had unfortunate connotations- usually the only books that are under self-help/religious that contain 'closet' in the title are aimed at a different audience...
Other than that though, I continuously recommend your book to anyone who'll listen to me and I may also buy it in Polish someday if I ever get to study that language! :)
Thank you, Lost Noldo!
I did buy the book after reading your blog! A lot of your blog, actually. I live in Canada and my local Catholic bookstore didn't have it, so I just ordered the Canadian version from Novalis. ^_^ The cartoon lady on the cover is just fine. I like how it looks quirky and fun. The title "The Closet's All Mine!" almost seems like it's encouraging the reader to be a selfish single, which turns me off of that version. I also like that the phrase "Seraphic Single" has a more prominent role in the title of the Canadian version over the American version.
I too prefer the "original" version's title--for both the closet implications and the slightly selfish overtones--but I really don't have a preference about the covers. They're both pretty appealing to me.
As for advertising, are regional Catholic newspapers too small of an idea? I imagine some people would say that people in their 20s and 30s don't read newspapers, but their parents (and loving aunties) probably do. . . I know I often get recommendation e-mails and newspaper clippings from people who care about my single-ness (for better or for worse).
Or they might even buy the book as a gift for someone. You never know.
Thanks for these, too!
I love the closet cover, for it resonates with me. The Polish cover (your fave?!) is my least favourite for it implies we're waiting on Cupid to hit us, and we can do something about it using this book, which we can't really.. I'm middling about the Canadian one, I think you need to put your face with your fab hairdo on the front. You look kind and smart, I'd want to hear what you have to say by the look of you. So when the next edition is published get your camera out...
I was looking at the different copies on Amazon, would you not get your publisher to put the "look inside" facility on the UK site? Send copies of your book to Alive! and The Irish Catholic too and see if you can get in on a novena as a speaker (like the Sacred Heart Novena in June in Gardiner Street next year, attended by hundreds and they're Jesuit) or contact the Iona Institute to become known, their last meeting was on the national radiowaves and debates. Obviously flying the flag for Paddyland alone here...
I want you to be the Dawn Eden on this side of the pond, you need a roadshow... I think you have your groupies here... ;-)
Oh, I should explain that the models fr the Polish cover remind me of two Polish friends!
Thank you for the suggestions! The Irish supplier for "Seraphic Singles" is Columba. I would love to come and speak in Ireland. I would love to come to Ireland full-stop!
I like the title and text on the cover of the Canadian version (particularly "how I learned to stop worrying and love the single life") but prefer the colors/design of the American version. The cartoon is cute but wouldn't catch my eye as much. Like someone else mentioned, I also associate "closet" with other things, and frankly finding a good husband seems so much better than having my own closet that it doesn't bear comparison, but I digress. Overall the original cover wins, IMO.
Also, I bought your book! :) I hope your blog doesn't stop once the marketing blitz is over (please)!
I wonder if it would be worth advertising in the campus newspapers of Catholic universities, or inviting parishes with big young adult communities to start a book club around the book? I first heard about the blog from a friend and will definitely spread the word too.
I just saw a review (positive) of your book in The Mirror, the newspaper of the Springfield-Cape Giradeau Missouri. It is in the July 8 edition, which they of course do not yet have online for you to look at. When it does appear, it will be here: http://www.the-mirror.org/index.html
A friend let me borrow your book, and then after I read it, I bought a copy for myself and two copies for two other friends, and then I started reading the blog.
I love the "closet" version-- both the title and the cover picture. And I want those orange shoes.
I like the aesthetics of the closet cover better, but not the title. I know that your book is not necessarily for-girls-only, but it is strongly canted towards women. The closet cover is pleasingly girly. I do like the black-haired girl on the Polish cover, and the blue makes it a teensy bit more man friendly. (Not really though, who are we kidding? :-P )
I decided to buy the book after reading the blog so I prefer the title Seraphic Singles since it's more relevant, but the American cover is more aesthetically pleasing with the cute row of shoes. I do think that the majority of people find out about both the book and the blog through word of mouth - I discovered the blog when a friend posted about it on Facebook. If you're looking for more places to advertise, I suggest the Catholic women's magazine Radiant (be-radiant.com) and the journal Altcatholicah (altcatholicah.com). You might also try wholesome women's magazines like Real Simple or Southern Living - the kind of thing nice single women would be reading.
I bought your book because I enjoy your blog.
I like the "closet's" cover but I think "Seraphic Singles, how I learned..." is a much better title. The Closet's title is a bit ambiguous to the contents.
I really dislike the Polish cover. It looks like a teen romance novel. As a grown woman I would not buy this book based on the cover.
Since reading it, your book has exchanged hands through 3 single girlfriends of mine. Funny, we all read The Rules together too, but we hated that book.
I started reading the blog after ProWomanProLife linked to this post. Then I read through the entire archive, and then I bought the book when I happened to find it in Chapters. I have since passed both the blog link and the book on to various friends -- so Tess's word-of-mouth theory seems valid to me.
As to covers, etc. I like the Cdn title & subtext, but the American cover in general much more. I find the cartoon lady pretty dopey looking -- I wouldn't have bought the book if I hadn't already been reading your blog, and so had a fair idea of the calibre of the contents. No strong opinion on the Polish cover, although the blue is nice.
I didn't see any ads for the book as I am one of your protestant readers, so I'm not exactly browsing those particular publications... Have you thought about running an ad in something like ChristianWeek, though?
I bought the American version because I liked the cover better. Like the shoes, like the title. I think it draws you in, and makes the book seem more like a biograhic/gripping/entertaining story about 'One woman's battle with the single life' (more appealing to me), whereas the Seraphic Singles version looks exactly like an advice book. Not so appealing to some perhaps. I don't know. I don't like the cartoon either. I think you should change the cartoon to look more like you Seraphic.
Those legs aren't yours are they? : D
Ah--so much useful information! Thank you all!
Adam's Rib, the legs are definitely not mine!
I have bought both the Canadian version and the American version (twice, because I lost it, boo hoo). I like the image on the American cover (and the paper and overall production of the US version), but the title of the Canadian one. I echo those comments which have already been made about the word "closet". I can't help but think the US title is a little tone deaf :( I think the US version *looks* like a nice, new, normal book, if that makes sense; it's in line with the kind of design conventions of books nowadays, especially books targeted at women. I don't know what the standards are in Poland, so I don't know if the Polish design looks dorky in comparison with other Polish books. I will say it looks very "European" to me so maybe it's fine.
I found out about the book and blog through Facebook! An old high school acquaintance "liked" the page and I happened to see it. The phrase "seraphic singles" sounded intriguing. I was really struggling (and frankly obsessing) over being "SINGLE" and although I didn't really know what "seraphic" might mean that's what drew me in. I read a few posts and realized that I needed to obtain the book! This was before the US version even came out, so it was the Canadian version. When the US version was released I gave the old one to a friend and ordered the new one. Then the losing and replacing.
As far as places to advertise, I've never felt drawn to Busted Halo but people seem to love it. Does Envoy Magazine take ads? I think that's distributed on college campuses. I suppose Ligouri doesn't want to advertise for Homo Dei, but with an English and Polish edition you're all set to advertise in the Chicago diocesan newspaper... Busted Halo is my best bet though.
I agree with many of the comments above - the American cover is much better, but the Canadian title wins.
The cartoon lady cover is very off-putting to me for some reason. It makes the book feel less professional, as if you made the cover art in paint and published the book on your own. The closet picture is more polished and appealing.
I also found out about your blog through a friend's post on facebook and subsequently bought the American book. I like the title, as it reminds me of one of the small pleasures of being single, in a world where I sometimes feel being single is looked at like having a disease!
As a graphic designer, I think the cover art is well done and sophisticated.
I want those shoes!
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