I would like to take issue with this point. This thread was pointed to Eve, someone I know to be a professional with many years of experience in publishing, including the successful writing and publishing of several biographies. I suppose one could argue that she’s a stranger in that we’ve never been in a room together, but that fact in no way diminishes the value of her advice, should she choose to come in here and dispense some of it.
(By the way, something else you said up there makes me feel I should also clarify that when I asked for advice “I could pass off as my own,” I was being facetious. hence the grin I typed after that remark. I of course have no intention of presenting myself to my client as any kind of marketing expert. Still, if I can say, “I have an acquaintance who has published several biographies; she said you might want to consider such-and-such,” I will be able to offer him value despite my own lack of expertise. My main response to his question will be to recommend he get in touch with a local publishing company I know of that specializes in this area.)
Long story short (too late, I know): I don’t intend to get involved with this man’s efforts to market his work in any significant way. My expertise is in editing and proofreading, and that’s the service he’s paying me for.
I’m sorry–I’ve been out of town and just got back.
Some good advice already from Exapno, of course–I’d tell him to send copies to magazines whose readers would be interested in the subject. Local news stations are always looking for human interest stories, so if the subject or author qualify . . . Also newspapers: the author’s hometown and the subject’s.
Thanks, Eve - I’ll suggest it. And I agree that Exapno was very helpful, unlike some people.
I really don’t want to get involved with the marketing part of this guy’s project, but as a freelancer, I know the last thing on earth to ever do is look like I’m blowing off a client’s question - and saying “That’s not my area” without offering any advice, no matter how general, might well be perceived that way. I want to give him an answer that shows I’m thinking about his book’s needs without sounding like I’m trying to appear that I know more than I do.
All excellent points, and thanks for taking the question seriously. I agree that all that information is necessary - but of course the author hasn’t shared any of it with me yet, except that he thinks it has best-seller potential (naturally - what ELSE would he think?).
