Here we go with another opinion. Right now everyone is editorializing and giving their opinion as to what is wrong in America. If they can, then so can I. Here is what is wrong with America in my opinion. American Idol. America's Got Talent. The Voice. The Sing-Off. These shows are meant to make the networks money and to entertain. However, they have revealed a serious flaw in the human character of Americans. The shows will have auditions and tens of thousands of "wannabes" will show up. The all know they have little chance at all of making it. They still show up. I believe the reason is they all want the easy way to the top. Too many in America today do not want to work, do not want to pay any price, and believe they deserve the short cut. A TV network announces a tryout to win an impossible contest that the only person who will actually benefit is the network and thousands come and stand in the rain to try to win the million bucks. By the way, the million bucks is paid to the "winner" in an after-tax payment of $187.46 per week over a forty year period. The network gets millions and millions from advertisers and does not have to pay anyone on the show a dime. I wish I had thought of it.
Now. What if I told you that you could have a lovely home, make good money, drive a nice car, enjoy retirement, and have health insurance. Sounds pretty good. Come line up. Here's the catch. 100% of you can win. The line you get in is called HARD WORK. Pay the price. Stay after it. Do your job with enthusiasm and vigor. Why do that when you can follow the fantasy, stand in line to try out for the $187.46 bucks a week (fast food workers make twice that each week and only have to learn to say "Do you want fries with that?")and then blame everyone else for your hard luck. Stop blogging and complaining and shut up and go to work. The line is really short.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Monday, July 25, 2011
Which Way are You "Leaning" Today?
My wife and I took a nice "road trip" this weekend across southern Oklahoma to visit the beautiful Chickasaw Cultural History Center and Museum. One of the exhibits was particularly interesting to me. As the early Chickasaw tribe moved west from the current area which is Memphis, Tennessee they determined their direction of travel by using a "totem" pole. Each night when the group camped for the evening, the chief would stick the pole in the ground in a perpendicular position. In the morning, whatever direction the pole was "leaning" was the direction the tribe would travel that day. The morning the chief awoke to find pole had not "leaned" at all but remained upright was his indication they had arrived at their permanent location.
As I thought about this tradition it reminded me of the scripture in Proverbs 3:5 which reminds us, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and LEAN not unto your own understanding..." I had to stop and ask myself if I am following my own understanding or "leaning" on God for His direction and insight for the direction to follow each day. If I begin each day by "planting" the Word of God in my life and asking it for direction then my steps will certainly be ordered by a higher power who knows the exact path I need to take on my journey. What "pole" do you and I plant every day to see which way it "leans?" I trust it will always be the clear, concise, and encouraging Word of God. Which way are you leaning today?
As I thought about this tradition it reminded me of the scripture in Proverbs 3:5 which reminds us, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and LEAN not unto your own understanding..." I had to stop and ask myself if I am following my own understanding or "leaning" on God for His direction and insight for the direction to follow each day. If I begin each day by "planting" the Word of God in my life and asking it for direction then my steps will certainly be ordered by a higher power who knows the exact path I need to take on my journey. What "pole" do you and I plant every day to see which way it "leans?" I trust it will always be the clear, concise, and encouraging Word of God. Which way are you leaning today?
Sunday, June 26, 2011
DON'T WASTE THE GIFT YOU ARE GIVEN EACH SECOND...
I have enjoyed for decades the blessing of sitting in the "husbands" chair at a nice ladies dress shop while I waited for my wonderful wife to try on clothes. While she is in and out of the dressing room having the time of her life I can sit and reflect on how grateful I am that I am waiting on her and not someone else!
This past Saturday I found myself in that position once again. Ladies shops really know how to handle the guys. The chairs are almost always comfortable and there are lot's of copies of sports and business magazines available. The really nice ones have coffee. I leaned my head back into the recliner and closed my eyes to rest and wait until I heard her sweet voice when she appeared from the dressing room saying, "Honey, what do you think of this outfit?"
As I drifted into a doze the shop was so dead quiet I noticed I could feel my heart beating. Bump-bump. Bump-bump. On and on it beat steadily. As I listened I imagined that each beat was saying "A-gift," "A-gift," "A-gift." Every beat of your heart and of mine is indeed a wonderful gift from God. We can help the process by eating correctly and exercising but only God knows how many of those beats He will give us. In the average 70 year life span the human heart beats about 2.52 BILLION times. One day God, who counts and gives every beat as a gift, will say, "That's it, that was number 2,520,000,000" It will be over. Since we all know that is going to happen whether we like it or not why in heaven's name would we waste a single moment, of the gift of the beat this second of our heart? I see people every day who waste the precious gift of beat after beat with complaining, worry, fear, anger, hatred, selfishness, and bitterness. We all need to take life seriously. But don't waste the moments God has given you. Stop for a moment and get quiet. I think you will hear it beating out the words, "A-gift," "A-gift." Use that gift wisely.
Richard Tate
This past Saturday I found myself in that position once again. Ladies shops really know how to handle the guys. The chairs are almost always comfortable and there are lot's of copies of sports and business magazines available. The really nice ones have coffee. I leaned my head back into the recliner and closed my eyes to rest and wait until I heard her sweet voice when she appeared from the dressing room saying, "Honey, what do you think of this outfit?"
As I drifted into a doze the shop was so dead quiet I noticed I could feel my heart beating. Bump-bump. Bump-bump. On and on it beat steadily. As I listened I imagined that each beat was saying "A-gift," "A-gift," "A-gift." Every beat of your heart and of mine is indeed a wonderful gift from God. We can help the process by eating correctly and exercising but only God knows how many of those beats He will give us. In the average 70 year life span the human heart beats about 2.52 BILLION times. One day God, who counts and gives every beat as a gift, will say, "That's it, that was number 2,520,000,000" It will be over. Since we all know that is going to happen whether we like it or not why in heaven's name would we waste a single moment, of the gift of the beat this second of our heart? I see people every day who waste the precious gift of beat after beat with complaining, worry, fear, anger, hatred, selfishness, and bitterness. We all need to take life seriously. But don't waste the moments God has given you. Stop for a moment and get quiet. I think you will hear it beating out the words, "A-gift," "A-gift." Use that gift wisely.
Richard Tate
Thursday, May 12, 2011
So. Where Are My Book Sales?
Marsha Friedman who is the owner and founder of Friedman and Associates is a highly respected book publicist. She has been a dear friend, colleague, advisor, and supporter of our company and authors for many years. I received the following article from her and wanted to share her thoughts with the followers of my blog. She is as good as it gets in the industry and no one have more understanding of book marketing. We are honored to have her as a friend and consultant.
By Marsha Friedman
One of the most common dilemmas I encounter with many clients is the preconceived notions of what it takes to make sales. The problem with these preconceived notions is that they often misdirect people into thinking there is empirical evidence that lays out the sales cycle in absolutes. But, that just doesn't exist.
So, what IS real? Exposure is a real tangible element in a marketing and sales cycle, because without it, you can't sell a thing. Just as a candle under a bucket yields no light, a product or service that no one knows about will yield no sales. People have to know about you to do business with you.
Whether you are selling a book, a product or a service – exposure is the first and primary goal of marketing. While exposure doesn't guarantee sales, any hope of generating sales can only result from getting in front of your potential consumer. But, when your product receives that coveted exposure to the masses, the X-factors in play become whether or not consumers will like what they see. Your product will either be exactly what the consumer is looking for, or it won't.
I was talking to my senior strategist and he reminded me of the launch of New Coke back in the 1980s. Coca-Cola decided that Pepsi’s gains in the marketplace meant that consumers wanted a sweeter-tasting soda pop than Coke’s patented formula delivered. So, they scrapped their mainline product altogether and introduced New Coke with a multi-million dollar ad campaign featuring prime time darling Bill Cosby.
Their new product launch tanked. Consumers wanted their old Coke back. The moral of the story is that everyone in America had been exposed to New Coke. But, it also appeared that no one in America wanted to buy it. That’s the flip side of exposure, because great marketing doesn't make something a quality product, nor can it fool people into wanting something they wouldn't ordinarily buy. Your product must be able to stand on its own once it receives the exposure.
In the absence of empirical data, let’s take a look at some anecdotal data – specifically, your own. Ask yourself some simple questions. When was the last time you made a purchase of anything after being exposed to it only once? When was the last time an advertisement or an article about a product or service made SUCH an impression on you that you immediately made arrangements to buy it? If you’re like most consumers and business decision-makers, the answer to that question is either never, or rarely. The first step was that you were made aware of it, and perhaps after several exposures to that item, you then became interested in it.
Interest is what comes as a result of exposure, but interest doesn't necessarily get you reaching for your check book. Interest usually spurs you to get information. You research it online, you ask friends about it, you ask business associates to weigh in on it – you collect your OWN data. And if you still want more information, you may decide to contact the company and ask them about it. My point here is that there are hundreds of ways to act on interest that does not involve making a purchase, and each of those actions represents a series of decision points, at which you may still decide not to buy.
Short of climbing inside our heads, which some researchers are doing these days under the category of “behavioral research” to track how consumers make buying decisions, there is no ironclad way to track what happens with the consumer from the point of exposure to the point of sale. In the advertising world, you'll find a wide range of references about the frequency of advertising required to CAUSE a sale. But, my problem with those theories is they don't take into account what actions the buyer took during the “interest” phase of their buying process that really caused the decision to buy.
And that is my point, and it’s why I know the value of PR and it’s how I've been able to sustain and grow a thriving PR agency over the course of 20+ years, through recessions and economic downturns and absolute market upheaval. It’s because of this one truth: You can't sell anything without exposure that creates interest in the minds of the consumer. And PR is the most cost-effective and successful way of achieving that exposure and interest.
So, while good marketing and PR may not make record-breaking sales a mortal lock, you will never even be in the game without it.
Tate Publishing does more for their authors in these areas than anyone...Richard
By Marsha Friedman
One of the most common dilemmas I encounter with many clients is the preconceived notions of what it takes to make sales. The problem with these preconceived notions is that they often misdirect people into thinking there is empirical evidence that lays out the sales cycle in absolutes. But, that just doesn't exist.
So, what IS real? Exposure is a real tangible element in a marketing and sales cycle, because without it, you can't sell a thing. Just as a candle under a bucket yields no light, a product or service that no one knows about will yield no sales. People have to know about you to do business with you.
Whether you are selling a book, a product or a service – exposure is the first and primary goal of marketing. While exposure doesn't guarantee sales, any hope of generating sales can only result from getting in front of your potential consumer. But, when your product receives that coveted exposure to the masses, the X-factors in play become whether or not consumers will like what they see. Your product will either be exactly what the consumer is looking for, or it won't.
I was talking to my senior strategist and he reminded me of the launch of New Coke back in the 1980s. Coca-Cola decided that Pepsi’s gains in the marketplace meant that consumers wanted a sweeter-tasting soda pop than Coke’s patented formula delivered. So, they scrapped their mainline product altogether and introduced New Coke with a multi-million dollar ad campaign featuring prime time darling Bill Cosby.
Their new product launch tanked. Consumers wanted their old Coke back. The moral of the story is that everyone in America had been exposed to New Coke. But, it also appeared that no one in America wanted to buy it. That’s the flip side of exposure, because great marketing doesn't make something a quality product, nor can it fool people into wanting something they wouldn't ordinarily buy. Your product must be able to stand on its own once it receives the exposure.
In the absence of empirical data, let’s take a look at some anecdotal data – specifically, your own. Ask yourself some simple questions. When was the last time you made a purchase of anything after being exposed to it only once? When was the last time an advertisement or an article about a product or service made SUCH an impression on you that you immediately made arrangements to buy it? If you’re like most consumers and business decision-makers, the answer to that question is either never, or rarely. The first step was that you were made aware of it, and perhaps after several exposures to that item, you then became interested in it.
Interest is what comes as a result of exposure, but interest doesn't necessarily get you reaching for your check book. Interest usually spurs you to get information. You research it online, you ask friends about it, you ask business associates to weigh in on it – you collect your OWN data. And if you still want more information, you may decide to contact the company and ask them about it. My point here is that there are hundreds of ways to act on interest that does not involve making a purchase, and each of those actions represents a series of decision points, at which you may still decide not to buy.
Short of climbing inside our heads, which some researchers are doing these days under the category of “behavioral research” to track how consumers make buying decisions, there is no ironclad way to track what happens with the consumer from the point of exposure to the point of sale. In the advertising world, you'll find a wide range of references about the frequency of advertising required to CAUSE a sale. But, my problem with those theories is they don't take into account what actions the buyer took during the “interest” phase of their buying process that really caused the decision to buy.
And that is my point, and it’s why I know the value of PR and it’s how I've been able to sustain and grow a thriving PR agency over the course of 20+ years, through recessions and economic downturns and absolute market upheaval. It’s because of this one truth: You can't sell anything without exposure that creates interest in the minds of the consumer. And PR is the most cost-effective and successful way of achieving that exposure and interest.
So, while good marketing and PR may not make record-breaking sales a mortal lock, you will never even be in the game without it.
Tate Publishing does more for their authors in these areas than anyone...Richard
Monday, April 18, 2011
HOW TO SELL 70 MILLION BOOKS-A CONVERSATION WITH JERRY JENKINS
We were delighted to have Jerry Jenkins visit Tate Publishing last week to discuss his future books, The Christian Writers Guild and Guide, and several other possibilities. We were honored he chose to come and discuss with us numerous options.
When it comes to selling books in the Christian publishing market, you won't find a much bigger name than Jerry B. Jenkins , co-author of the Left Behind series of books. Along with his co-author, Tim LaHaye, Jenkins has had 16 bestsellers in the series, with more than 70 million copies sold. To say Jenkins knows something about selling books is like saying a fish knows something about being wet.
Jenkins also heads the Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild, which offers courses geared toward helping aspiring writers perfect their craft. It was in this role that Jenkins visited the offices of Tate Publishing today to take a tour and see what our company was all about. It's not everyday you get to do a Q & A with an author who has sold 70 million books about what it takes to sell those books. Surely, there must be some secret, right?
When I am given the opportunity to ask an author like Jenkins questions about book promotion and marketing, I try to do it from the standpoint of an author trying to make it in the industry, not as someone who sells books for a living. With this introduction now out of the way, I will let Jenkins explain how things work in the publishing industry, in his own words (from notes taken during our meetings).
What advice do you have for aspiring writers?
"Too many authors think everything starts with their book. Starting your writing career with a book is like a five year old starting graduate school. Writers need to work up to their first book by writing articles and short stories and perfecting their craft."
What kind of expectations should a new author have with their first book?
"(New) authors are thoroughly unrealistic. They think that "if my book was just in a bookstore it would become a bestseller. If only I could get on Oprah." It takes word of mouth, telling people about your book, attending conferences, doing speaking engagements and getting the word out. Authors are going to do most of the work, and they need to. Publishers count on authors being the Number One salesperson. Nobody knows more about their book and can speak about it with more passion than the author."
Something that appeals to me about Tate Publishing is the personal attention they offer. This is a tough game, and if you are intimidated by the odds of making it in the publishing industry, this may not be the game for you. Use those long odds as a challenge to be one of the authors who do make it."
What is the difference between marketing your first book and promoting your more recent books?
"It really doesn't change. When Left Behind became a bestseller and was doing so well we just held on for dear life. Look at bestsellers as a season. They don't last, and one bestseller doesn't mean your next book is going to be a bestseller. Just because a book has my name on it or I wrote Left Behind doesn't mean it's automatically going to be a bestseller. It always takes work, speaking engagements and conferences. The work doesn't change regardless of success."
At this point, Jenkins' wife of 40 years, Dianna, pointed out that Jenkins hires his own publicists when it's time to promote another book.
What advice do you have for authors who are struggling with book sales?
Most authors miss it. They think most of the promotion starts at the beginning when the book is released. Most publishers stop promoting a book after six months to a year. New York publishers stop promoting after three months or less if the book doesn't take off. Then it's all on the author. When you still have 1,000 or 2,000 books left to sell, THAT'S the time to really start promoting. Hire a publicist. Get interviews. Speak at conferences. Connect with the audience with which you are an expert. Even if there are only 50 people there, that's 49 more people than you are talking to right now.
Nothing is going to happen automatically. Word of mouth is the best sales tool, and that should come from the author. There are no shortcuts."
Jenkins stated "If you are intimidated by the odds, you are in the wrong profession. It should be a motivation."
We were delighted to have Jerry here touring our campus, speaking to our staff, and sharing with us his visions and dreams. We look forward to working with him in the coming days.
When it comes to selling books in the Christian publishing market, you won't find a much bigger name than Jerry B. Jenkins , co-author of the Left Behind series of books. Along with his co-author, Tim LaHaye, Jenkins has had 16 bestsellers in the series, with more than 70 million copies sold. To say Jenkins knows something about selling books is like saying a fish knows something about being wet.
Jenkins also heads the Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild, which offers courses geared toward helping aspiring writers perfect their craft. It was in this role that Jenkins visited the offices of Tate Publishing today to take a tour and see what our company was all about. It's not everyday you get to do a Q & A with an author who has sold 70 million books about what it takes to sell those books. Surely, there must be some secret, right?
When I am given the opportunity to ask an author like Jenkins questions about book promotion and marketing, I try to do it from the standpoint of an author trying to make it in the industry, not as someone who sells books for a living. With this introduction now out of the way, I will let Jenkins explain how things work in the publishing industry, in his own words (from notes taken during our meetings).
What advice do you have for aspiring writers?
"Too many authors think everything starts with their book. Starting your writing career with a book is like a five year old starting graduate school. Writers need to work up to their first book by writing articles and short stories and perfecting their craft."
What kind of expectations should a new author have with their first book?
"(New) authors are thoroughly unrealistic. They think that "if my book was just in a bookstore it would become a bestseller. If only I could get on Oprah." It takes word of mouth, telling people about your book, attending conferences, doing speaking engagements and getting the word out. Authors are going to do most of the work, and they need to. Publishers count on authors being the Number One salesperson. Nobody knows more about their book and can speak about it with more passion than the author."
Something that appeals to me about Tate Publishing is the personal attention they offer. This is a tough game, and if you are intimidated by the odds of making it in the publishing industry, this may not be the game for you. Use those long odds as a challenge to be one of the authors who do make it."
What is the difference between marketing your first book and promoting your more recent books?
"It really doesn't change. When Left Behind became a bestseller and was doing so well we just held on for dear life. Look at bestsellers as a season. They don't last, and one bestseller doesn't mean your next book is going to be a bestseller. Just because a book has my name on it or I wrote Left Behind doesn't mean it's automatically going to be a bestseller. It always takes work, speaking engagements and conferences. The work doesn't change regardless of success."
At this point, Jenkins' wife of 40 years, Dianna, pointed out that Jenkins hires his own publicists when it's time to promote another book.
What advice do you have for authors who are struggling with book sales?
Most authors miss it. They think most of the promotion starts at the beginning when the book is released. Most publishers stop promoting a book after six months to a year. New York publishers stop promoting after three months or less if the book doesn't take off. Then it's all on the author. When you still have 1,000 or 2,000 books left to sell, THAT'S the time to really start promoting. Hire a publicist. Get interviews. Speak at conferences. Connect with the audience with which you are an expert. Even if there are only 50 people there, that's 49 more people than you are talking to right now.
Nothing is going to happen automatically. Word of mouth is the best sales tool, and that should come from the author. There are no shortcuts."
Jenkins stated "If you are intimidated by the odds, you are in the wrong profession. It should be a motivation."
We were delighted to have Jerry here touring our campus, speaking to our staff, and sharing with us his visions and dreams. We look forward to working with him in the coming days.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
TATE PUBLISHING AND THE FACTS ABOUT "YOG'S LAW"
Followers,
A few years ago an individual created out of thin air a concept he called "Yog's Law." I have no idea who "Yog" is or what planet he may be from but just like Superman there is "kryptonite" in this concept and that "kryptonite" is the facts. His over-simplistic “Money always flows to the writer” is his central argument. The problem with that concept is that he makes it sound like a movie script. Write a book, ask mom how good she thinks it is, send it to a publisher, they take it and make you a millionaire while you sit at home and watch TV. Of course writers should make money for their work, but the premise that they will never have to spend money if they publish, promote or market their books is incredibly naïve. I am close friends with several New York literary agents. I was speaking with one last week who has been in that business for decades. She was informing me of the high profile clients she represents who have to take their money to promote and buy their own books. She said that the publishers she works with are the bank and that they see their authors as having to do the work and are small businesses. At Tate Publishing we create for every first-time author an incredible opportunity to succeed. The support they get is over-the-top excellent and the few authors we sign out of the tens of thousands of unsolicited manuscripts we receive each year get the best product and support in the industry.
I have interviewed authors with other publishers for my own interest and we have a staff member in our marketing division who has shared some of his work and research with me as well. Here is a brief synopsis of their experience with those publishers:
Suzy Spencer: NYT bestselling author. In Suzy’s words: “I’ve had four books published. Of those four, I’ve had little marketing support from my publishers. I’ve never been allowed any contact with the sales teams, though I understand some publishers encourage such. As for public relations support, for my first book Wasted, which became a New York Times bestseller, I believe my publisher sent out a few review copies. By that I mean I provided names and addresses of friends in the media and my publisher mailed them copies of the book and, from what I understand, a note that said here’s a book by Suzy Spencer. There was no publicity packet included. No sales pitch of what the book was about or why they would be interested in it.” Suzy herself hired a publicist and mailed out push cards.
Tom Llewellyn: Tom stated that his book The Tilting House sold about 8,000 copies. His marketing support, in his words: “Not as much as I expected (he says, while hoping he sounds grateful to be published at all). They sent out promotional copies, distributed the book in their catalog, blogged about it and sent me a whole bunch of customized bookmarks. A very talented designer friend of mine built a cool website (www.thetiltinghouse.com) and created a book trailer you can see there as well. I setup and completed interviews in local newspapers. I held a pretty massive book launch party—about which the publisher’s rep said it was the biggest launch party she’d ever seen. I’ve done a whole bunch of author talks at local schools and still continue to do them. And I’ve done a whole bunch of blog interviews—kind of like this one.” Tom paid for his own marketing, the construction of his web site and his own book launch party. By the way, after the interview, discontinued the imprint, and Tom has no publisher at all.
My favorite: Sheila Kelly, NYT bestselling author of Twilight Fall. You can see a copy of one of her royalty statements here: http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh289/LynnViehl/TFRoyaltyStatement1.jpg Sheila was actually paid an advance of $50,000 for her book. She did not receive a third of that until the book was published. Her agent got $7,500 of the advance. Uncle Sam took $15,000 in taxes. After her other expenses, she actually received $26,000 of her $50,000 advance. Her net earnings from her royalty statement in the link are about $27,000, after returns and holdbacks. Because her publisher has not yet recouped the advance they kept their share, so her net earnings from this royalty statement were, wait for it, $0. That’s right, she sold $46,000 worth of books the quarter she became a NYT bestseller and didn’t receive any of it. Her credited earnings on her next royalty statement were about $2,500, which her publisher also kept to repay her advance.
In Sheila’s words: “My income per book always reminds me of how tough it is to make at living at this gig, especially for writers who only produce one book per year. If I did the same, and my one book performed as well as TF, and my family of four were solely dependent on my income, my net would be only around $2500.00 over the income level considered to be the U.S. poverty threshold (based on 2008 figures.) Yep, we’d almost qualify for food stamps.” To date, she has made about $24,000 off Twilight Fall, mainly from her advance. She didn’t expect to see any actual royalties from her book for another 1-2 years.
In contrast, one of our authors, who is not a NYT bestselling author, has made at least $75,000 off the sales of her three titles with us, and that all went into her pocket.
Money flows to the author? Authors with other publishers pay plenty, and don’t have it nearly as well as our authors do. Sure, J.K. Rowling and James Patterson are multi-millionaires, but they have each cranked out several books, have movie deals, and have to sell an incredible volume of books. They are in the extreme minority, of which I am certain Mr. Yog’s Law is not a member.
A few years ago an individual created out of thin air a concept he called "Yog's Law." I have no idea who "Yog" is or what planet he may be from but just like Superman there is "kryptonite" in this concept and that "kryptonite" is the facts. His over-simplistic “Money always flows to the writer” is his central argument. The problem with that concept is that he makes it sound like a movie script. Write a book, ask mom how good she thinks it is, send it to a publisher, they take it and make you a millionaire while you sit at home and watch TV. Of course writers should make money for their work, but the premise that they will never have to spend money if they publish, promote or market their books is incredibly naïve. I am close friends with several New York literary agents. I was speaking with one last week who has been in that business for decades. She was informing me of the high profile clients she represents who have to take their money to promote and buy their own books. She said that the publishers she works with are the bank and that they see their authors as having to do the work and are small businesses. At Tate Publishing we create for every first-time author an incredible opportunity to succeed. The support they get is over-the-top excellent and the few authors we sign out of the tens of thousands of unsolicited manuscripts we receive each year get the best product and support in the industry.
I have interviewed authors with other publishers for my own interest and we have a staff member in our marketing division who has shared some of his work and research with me as well. Here is a brief synopsis of their experience with those publishers:
Suzy Spencer: NYT bestselling author. In Suzy’s words: “I’ve had four books published. Of those four, I’ve had little marketing support from my publishers. I’ve never been allowed any contact with the sales teams, though I understand some publishers encourage such. As for public relations support, for my first book Wasted, which became a New York Times bestseller, I believe my publisher sent out a few review copies. By that I mean I provided names and addresses of friends in the media and my publisher mailed them copies of the book and, from what I understand, a note that said here’s a book by Suzy Spencer. There was no publicity packet included. No sales pitch of what the book was about or why they would be interested in it.” Suzy herself hired a publicist and mailed out push cards.
Tom Llewellyn: Tom stated that his book The Tilting House sold about 8,000 copies. His marketing support, in his words: “Not as much as I expected (he says, while hoping he sounds grateful to be published at all). They sent out promotional copies, distributed the book in their catalog, blogged about it and sent me a whole bunch of customized bookmarks. A very talented designer friend of mine built a cool website (www.thetiltinghouse.com) and created a book trailer you can see there as well. I setup and completed interviews in local newspapers. I held a pretty massive book launch party—about which the publisher’s rep said it was the biggest launch party she’d ever seen. I’ve done a whole bunch of author talks at local schools and still continue to do them. And I’ve done a whole bunch of blog interviews—kind of like this one.” Tom paid for his own marketing, the construction of his web site and his own book launch party. By the way, after the interview, discontinued the imprint, and Tom has no publisher at all.
My favorite: Sheila Kelly, NYT bestselling author of Twilight Fall. You can see a copy of one of her royalty statements here: http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh289/LynnViehl/TFRoyaltyStatement1.jpg Sheila was actually paid an advance of $50,000 for her book. She did not receive a third of that until the book was published. Her agent got $7,500 of the advance. Uncle Sam took $15,000 in taxes. After her other expenses, she actually received $26,000 of her $50,000 advance. Her net earnings from her royalty statement in the link are about $27,000, after returns and holdbacks. Because her publisher has not yet recouped the advance they kept their share, so her net earnings from this royalty statement were, wait for it, $0. That’s right, she sold $46,000 worth of books the quarter she became a NYT bestseller and didn’t receive any of it. Her credited earnings on her next royalty statement were about $2,500, which her publisher also kept to repay her advance.
In Sheila’s words: “My income per book always reminds me of how tough it is to make at living at this gig, especially for writers who only produce one book per year. If I did the same, and my one book performed as well as TF, and my family of four were solely dependent on my income, my net would be only around $2500.00 over the income level considered to be the U.S. poverty threshold (based on 2008 figures.) Yep, we’d almost qualify for food stamps.” To date, she has made about $24,000 off Twilight Fall, mainly from her advance. She didn’t expect to see any actual royalties from her book for another 1-2 years.
In contrast, one of our authors, who is not a NYT bestselling author, has made at least $75,000 off the sales of her three titles with us, and that all went into her pocket.
Money flows to the author? Authors with other publishers pay plenty, and don’t have it nearly as well as our authors do. Sure, J.K. Rowling and James Patterson are multi-millionaires, but they have each cranked out several books, have movie deals, and have to sell an incredible volume of books. They are in the extreme minority, of which I am certain Mr. Yog’s Law is not a member.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
TATE PUBLISHING AND MY OPINION OF WHINERS, BLOGGERS, AND COMPLAINERS
Those of you who follow my blog may not know that our professional staff monitors our presence world wide. I have never written a blog this long but I feel a need to write a “book” today to get some things off my chest. We have a company on retainer that provides information to us when our name, the name of any of our companies, the name of any book we have published or author name in our entire history, or the name of any author or potential author who has submitted to us our contacted us, appears anywhere on the internet or in any media source.
We contact individuals immediately with any concerns or issues and see every one. If you think you can tweet, Facebook, blog, or mention us on a radio show in Tokyo and we do not know, forget it. We see and hear them all and decide what to do and how to reply. If you want to say it, we have a right to hear it. Serious authors who want accurate information are a joy to work with. My problem is that I am stunned on the rare occasion we have a whiner or complainer. The ludicrous statements people make on the web are simply amazing. We give advances to qualifying authors all the time. We pay for 100% of the production, printing and distribution of books we accept. If an author does not have marketing and publicist representation we will pay for that as well and all they are required to invest is a one set up fee which can even be refunded to them under certain situations. If they have qualifying representation we will accept that and there is no set-up fee. We receive tens of thousands of unsolicited submissions and contacts each year and only single digit percentages are considered by our staff. If an author does not qualify for an advance or for us to absorb all the financial risk involved we will even send them a lengthy list of publishers who still consider giving advances as we do and let them contact them directly. They find that they never get an advance from them if they cannot get one from us. The standards are the same. It is more about the author today than about the book.
However, I am stunned when we offer the only and best option for a first-time author in the industry and these individuals whine and complain that we are horrible, ruining their lives, and making the biggest mistake we have ever made by rejecting their book and not giving them an advance or willing to take all the risk. We have learned in the hard knocks of this business that when an unknown author has no risk they are a very questionable author when it comes to their work ethic. Just try going to your bank with a “fabulous” money making idea and see if you can find any banker who will invest in the project and take 100% of the risk. It will not happen. The car dealer, mortgage lender, bank, and Sears expect you to have some risk. But, if an author can bring something to the table we are more than happy to bank roll the whole deal.
My wife and high school sweetheart suggests to me that I am letting my 60++ years get to me and that I was in the intense discipline and honor of the United States Marine Corps one day too many. My age may be a factor but I simply CANNOT STAND whiners and complainers. I read bloggers whining about everything from the popcorn at the movie theatre to the channels they cannot get on cable. It simply drives me nuts. I know I was born in the 40’s and the Second World War had just ended. I know I have had to work for everything I have ever gotten. But today, in America, there is such a wave of entitlement among Americans that it is simply sickening to me. I know that many of you reading this will probably agree with me and some of you will despise me and think you have had such a hard life that you “deserve” a break and I simply don’t understand. Don’t try to go after the hard life story with me or most of the successful business friends I have. Life is challenging and demanding and success comes from never giving up and hard work. Everyone has a hard luck story, myself included. Get over it and get on with your life.
I read an article in the paper this week that caused me to think about our country and the whiners and complainers. That article was the catalyst which caused me to want to write this “War and Peace” length blog and share these thoughts.
A century ago America was the land of the free. Americans had incentive to survive and did not complain or whine about what they were “entitled” to or deserved. I read an article by a national “whine” organization where the executive director stated, “Every American is entitled to and deserves a nice home and nice car to drive. It is their inalienable right!” What a load of nonsense that is. You and I are not entitled to anything but the freedom of choice and the opportunity to work hard toward our goals and have a government that will stay out of our way and try to help and not hinder. The Americans of my birth voted and made decisions for which they took personal responsibility and they always had some skin in the game. Before Social Security Americans averaged saving 15% of their income. Today, it’s less than 3%. Before the great depression there was no unemployment insurance or whiner fund. It is not all government’s fault that citizens today do not have any “skin in the game.” We live in what appears to be a society filled with people who do not want to take a risk, want it to come quickly and easily and believe there should be a “some one else should pay” safety net for every decision they make whether good or bad. We are fooling ourselves if we think our government will save us. Ronald Regan knew that the flaw of big government was to serve the entitlement attitude with government transfer payments and subsidies that would make for a weak society and lazy working class. Thomas Jefferson said, “When the government has the power to give the people what they want without working for it that same government will have the power to take from the people whatever it wants.” Stop whining and get to work. If you own a business, are an author, have a dream, get after it and stop whining. More and more of us are tired of hearing it. Get off your behind at the blog-puter whine machine and get busy working. No one cares anymore and no one is listening to you. They know you need to get to work
Richard Tate
We contact individuals immediately with any concerns or issues and see every one. If you think you can tweet, Facebook, blog, or mention us on a radio show in Tokyo and we do not know, forget it. We see and hear them all and decide what to do and how to reply. If you want to say it, we have a right to hear it. Serious authors who want accurate information are a joy to work with. My problem is that I am stunned on the rare occasion we have a whiner or complainer. The ludicrous statements people make on the web are simply amazing. We give advances to qualifying authors all the time. We pay for 100% of the production, printing and distribution of books we accept. If an author does not have marketing and publicist representation we will pay for that as well and all they are required to invest is a one set up fee which can even be refunded to them under certain situations. If they have qualifying representation we will accept that and there is no set-up fee. We receive tens of thousands of unsolicited submissions and contacts each year and only single digit percentages are considered by our staff. If an author does not qualify for an advance or for us to absorb all the financial risk involved we will even send them a lengthy list of publishers who still consider giving advances as we do and let them contact them directly. They find that they never get an advance from them if they cannot get one from us. The standards are the same. It is more about the author today than about the book.
However, I am stunned when we offer the only and best option for a first-time author in the industry and these individuals whine and complain that we are horrible, ruining their lives, and making the biggest mistake we have ever made by rejecting their book and not giving them an advance or willing to take all the risk. We have learned in the hard knocks of this business that when an unknown author has no risk they are a very questionable author when it comes to their work ethic. Just try going to your bank with a “fabulous” money making idea and see if you can find any banker who will invest in the project and take 100% of the risk. It will not happen. The car dealer, mortgage lender, bank, and Sears expect you to have some risk. But, if an author can bring something to the table we are more than happy to bank roll the whole deal.
My wife and high school sweetheart suggests to me that I am letting my 60++ years get to me and that I was in the intense discipline and honor of the United States Marine Corps one day too many. My age may be a factor but I simply CANNOT STAND whiners and complainers. I read bloggers whining about everything from the popcorn at the movie theatre to the channels they cannot get on cable. It simply drives me nuts. I know I was born in the 40’s and the Second World War had just ended. I know I have had to work for everything I have ever gotten. But today, in America, there is such a wave of entitlement among Americans that it is simply sickening to me. I know that many of you reading this will probably agree with me and some of you will despise me and think you have had such a hard life that you “deserve” a break and I simply don’t understand. Don’t try to go after the hard life story with me or most of the successful business friends I have. Life is challenging and demanding and success comes from never giving up and hard work. Everyone has a hard luck story, myself included. Get over it and get on with your life.
I read an article in the paper this week that caused me to think about our country and the whiners and complainers. That article was the catalyst which caused me to want to write this “War and Peace” length blog and share these thoughts.
A century ago America was the land of the free. Americans had incentive to survive and did not complain or whine about what they were “entitled” to or deserved. I read an article by a national “whine” organization where the executive director stated, “Every American is entitled to and deserves a nice home and nice car to drive. It is their inalienable right!” What a load of nonsense that is. You and I are not entitled to anything but the freedom of choice and the opportunity to work hard toward our goals and have a government that will stay out of our way and try to help and not hinder. The Americans of my birth voted and made decisions for which they took personal responsibility and they always had some skin in the game. Before Social Security Americans averaged saving 15% of their income. Today, it’s less than 3%. Before the great depression there was no unemployment insurance or whiner fund. It is not all government’s fault that citizens today do not have any “skin in the game.” We live in what appears to be a society filled with people who do not want to take a risk, want it to come quickly and easily and believe there should be a “some one else should pay” safety net for every decision they make whether good or bad. We are fooling ourselves if we think our government will save us. Ronald Regan knew that the flaw of big government was to serve the entitlement attitude with government transfer payments and subsidies that would make for a weak society and lazy working class. Thomas Jefferson said, “When the government has the power to give the people what they want without working for it that same government will have the power to take from the people whatever it wants.” Stop whining and get to work. If you own a business, are an author, have a dream, get after it and stop whining. More and more of us are tired of hearing it. Get off your behind at the blog-puter whine machine and get busy working. No one cares anymore and no one is listening to you. They know you need to get to work
Richard Tate
Thursday, March 10, 2011
TATE PUBLISHING, YOGI BERRA, AND A WEEPING WILLOW TREE
Friends and followers,
Most of my younger readers will not remember the great New York Yankee catcher Yogi Berra. He was not only one of the great Yankees of all time but was an absolutely hilarious philosopher. His book of sayings (Yogisms they were called) are very entertaining to say the least. One of his most familar sayings was, "It ain't over 'til it's over!"
Over the years Tate Publishing & Enterprises has grown to the huge success we enjoy today through good times and challenging times. I have never been one to give up. Yogi's statement is encouraging us to keep on keeping on no matter what the circumstances.
As an author, your desire is to find readers. It takes a top notch publisher such as our company investing in your work to make that happen and it also takes determination on your part as an author. You must never give up. I remember standing in the office of our buyer in the large press division of one of the biggest chains in America. We sell an incredible amount of books to that national chain. Bryan Norris and Mark Mingle who lead our marketing divisions are part of the team that goes to New York City each month to pitch the books we publish. Bryan asked her, "What are you looking for in authors right now?" Her answer was immediate. "I want books by authors who are willing to work. I am more concerned about the work ethic of the author than I am about the book." Great insight.
My wife and I spend a great deal of time with our yard and gardening. Three years ago we planted a tiny weeping willow tree. That spring the slim trunk of the tree and two or three tiny branches prepared for the spring growing season. The trunk of that tree was no more than a half inch thick. It finally sprouted a couple of branches and we braced it with a metal pole to give it stability. Overnight an Oklahoma spring storm did disastrous work on the tiny Willow. The storm had broken the tree loose from its metal mooring and its only limb had been broken and now hung limp. We decided it was probably dead and would not survive and at only four feet tall we felt the outcome was determined. It would die. As a last resort and believing "it ain't over 'til it's over" we trimmed off the broken branches, re-attached it to the metal pole for stability and kept on watering the pitiful little remainder. It was NOT over. That spring branches began to appear. Then more leaves. The next season it grew larger and taller. It was fighting the odds. Last weekend my wife and I were sitting in our breakfast nook having a Saturday morning cup of coffee when we noticed the first sign of spring leaf buds on that weeping willow which stood just outside the window. The metal post supporting the tree in it's infancy is long gone. It now stands firmly and proudly on its own. The Oklahoma storms cannot break it now. In only a few short years it has become a survivor and its shade graces our yard and our grandchildren find great fun in running through the dangling and dainty branches. The long slender branches which brush the ground are healthy and strong. The tree towers over the yard and is now almost twenty five feet high. The tree did not give up. We did not give up on the tree. My encouragement to you as an author is to never give up. Keep trimming back the dead stuff and ideas which are not working. Keep watering and working and telling your story. One day you can say about your project what we can say now about that once tiny willow tree. Success is mine.
Richard Tate
Most of my younger readers will not remember the great New York Yankee catcher Yogi Berra. He was not only one of the great Yankees of all time but was an absolutely hilarious philosopher. His book of sayings (Yogisms they were called) are very entertaining to say the least. One of his most familar sayings was, "It ain't over 'til it's over!"
Over the years Tate Publishing & Enterprises has grown to the huge success we enjoy today through good times and challenging times. I have never been one to give up. Yogi's statement is encouraging us to keep on keeping on no matter what the circumstances.
As an author, your desire is to find readers. It takes a top notch publisher such as our company investing in your work to make that happen and it also takes determination on your part as an author. You must never give up. I remember standing in the office of our buyer in the large press division of one of the biggest chains in America. We sell an incredible amount of books to that national chain. Bryan Norris and Mark Mingle who lead our marketing divisions are part of the team that goes to New York City each month to pitch the books we publish. Bryan asked her, "What are you looking for in authors right now?" Her answer was immediate. "I want books by authors who are willing to work. I am more concerned about the work ethic of the author than I am about the book." Great insight.
My wife and I spend a great deal of time with our yard and gardening. Three years ago we planted a tiny weeping willow tree. That spring the slim trunk of the tree and two or three tiny branches prepared for the spring growing season. The trunk of that tree was no more than a half inch thick. It finally sprouted a couple of branches and we braced it with a metal pole to give it stability. Overnight an Oklahoma spring storm did disastrous work on the tiny Willow. The storm had broken the tree loose from its metal mooring and its only limb had been broken and now hung limp. We decided it was probably dead and would not survive and at only four feet tall we felt the outcome was determined. It would die. As a last resort and believing "it ain't over 'til it's over" we trimmed off the broken branches, re-attached it to the metal pole for stability and kept on watering the pitiful little remainder. It was NOT over. That spring branches began to appear. Then more leaves. The next season it grew larger and taller. It was fighting the odds. Last weekend my wife and I were sitting in our breakfast nook having a Saturday morning cup of coffee when we noticed the first sign of spring leaf buds on that weeping willow which stood just outside the window. The metal post supporting the tree in it's infancy is long gone. It now stands firmly and proudly on its own. The Oklahoma storms cannot break it now. In only a few short years it has become a survivor and its shade graces our yard and our grandchildren find great fun in running through the dangling and dainty branches. The long slender branches which brush the ground are healthy and strong. The tree towers over the yard and is now almost twenty five feet high. The tree did not give up. We did not give up on the tree. My encouragement to you as an author is to never give up. Keep trimming back the dead stuff and ideas which are not working. Keep watering and working and telling your story. One day you can say about your project what we can say now about that once tiny willow tree. Success is mine.
Richard Tate
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Law Number Four
4-BE PERSISTENT AND DO NOT GIVE UP REGARDLESS OF THE CHALLENGE
Every person reading this blog has taken a stick or broom and destroyed the detailed, tedious, and impressive work of the spider. We all have “taken down” a spider web at one time or another. Every one of us reading this email has worked our heads off to get a sale, sell a book or get a task completed only to find that all of our efforts were "pulled down" by other people or circumstances we could not control. We have all had experiences when we gave a 110% effort to be the best we could be with people to find that they walked away and took a “stick” and tore down our beautifully designed and prepared work and plan. Be persistent. Don’t give up is a worn out phrase but is still true and needs to be our daily mantra. I have discovered it takes about 6 “no’s” until you can finally get to the “yes.” The spider comes back from the hunt, finds you have destroyed his work on the back porch, and says, “Fantastic, I see they did it again, tore down my web. I will just build a better one this time” and gets back to work. However, the spider just keeps on building and is always in Kings’ palaces. Don’t give up. If you are a quitter, get a job where the most difficult thing you have to do is ask, “Do you want fries with that?”
I was in a meeting Thursday with a gentleman who is a legend in the music business, Roy Clark. He wants to do his book with us about his life and experiences. He made a very fitting statement to me about his success. He said that it did not come easy. It took work, work, and more work, and then more persistence before there was any consideration of being in the Hall of Fame. There will be lot's of destroyed dreams and roadblocks on your way to success. See each one of them as an opportunity to grow and know.
Richard Tate
Richard Tate
Every person reading this blog has taken a stick or broom and destroyed the detailed, tedious, and impressive work of the spider. We all have “taken down” a spider web at one time or another. Every one of us reading this email has worked our heads off to get a sale, sell a book or get a task completed only to find that all of our efforts were "pulled down" by other people or circumstances we could not control. We have all had experiences when we gave a 110% effort to be the best we could be with people to find that they walked away and took a “stick” and tore down our beautifully designed and prepared work and plan. Be persistent. Don’t give up is a worn out phrase but is still true and needs to be our daily mantra. I have discovered it takes about 6 “no’s” until you can finally get to the “yes.” The spider comes back from the hunt, finds you have destroyed his work on the back porch, and says, “Fantastic, I see they did it again, tore down my web. I will just build a better one this time” and gets back to work. However, the spider just keeps on building and is always in Kings’ palaces. Don’t give up. If you are a quitter, get a job where the most difficult thing you have to do is ask, “Do you want fries with that?”
I was in a meeting Thursday with a gentleman who is a legend in the music business, Roy Clark. He wants to do his book with us about his life and experiences. He made a very fitting statement to me about his success. He said that it did not come easy. It took work, work, and more work, and then more persistence before there was any consideration of being in the Hall of Fame. There will be lot's of destroyed dreams and roadblocks on your way to success. See each one of them as an opportunity to grow and know.
Richard Tate
Richard Tate
Sunday, February 6, 2011
SUCCESS LAW NUMBER THREE
3-COOPERATE, SEEK HELP, AND KNOW YOUR STRENGTHS AND THE POWER OF THE TEAM
The Locust is simply lost without the swarm. A swarm can destroy ten thousand acres of grassland in Africa in less than an hour one bite at a time multiplied by a billion munches. In order to cross water the first Locusts’ to arrive at the stream throw themselves into the river and die. As the mound of dead Locust pile up the remaining billion or more following cross safely on the bridge composed of the dead bodies of their swarm. They are, in a very unusual way, the best example of TEAM on the planet. Each of us must do OUR individual job…one bite…our bite. Then with all of us taking our personal responsibility, the entire team succeeds. Cooperate, seek help, know your strengths and work in those every day, and make sure you do not let the team down…whatever sacrifice is necessary. Whatever it takes to achieve the goal by cooperating, making sacrifices, knowing the strength of “one bite at a time”, and the power of team makes us, and the swarm of locust, unstoppable.
In the world of books and publishing it takes a good hard working author, a publisher with a vested financial interest like Tate Publishing, and a great team of marketing experts and publicists such as the Tate Publishing staff. No one can skip their turn to "take a bite" of the work to be done.
The Locust is simply lost without the swarm. A swarm can destroy ten thousand acres of grassland in Africa in less than an hour one bite at a time multiplied by a billion munches. In order to cross water the first Locusts’ to arrive at the stream throw themselves into the river and die. As the mound of dead Locust pile up the remaining billion or more following cross safely on the bridge composed of the dead bodies of their swarm. They are, in a very unusual way, the best example of TEAM on the planet. Each of us must do OUR individual job…one bite…our bite. Then with all of us taking our personal responsibility, the entire team succeeds. Cooperate, seek help, know your strengths and work in those every day, and make sure you do not let the team down…whatever sacrifice is necessary. Whatever it takes to achieve the goal by cooperating, making sacrifices, knowing the strength of “one bite at a time”, and the power of team makes us, and the swarm of locust, unstoppable.
In the world of books and publishing it takes a good hard working author, a publisher with a vested financial interest like Tate Publishing, and a great team of marketing experts and publicists such as the Tate Publishing staff. No one can skip their turn to "take a bite" of the work to be done.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
LAW #2 OF A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS OR AUTHOR
Dear Friends,
In my last post (you can refresh your memory and read the post below) I introduced the four laws for success with a business or as an author. Law two takes you to an incredibly important place in managing your decisions.
2-USE HISTORY AND PRACTICAL EXPERIENCES TO MAKE WISE CHOICES NOT EMOTIONS
The Conie is a small rabbit like creature that lives in the mountains. The Eagle and Hawk love the tasty little guy. However, history, good information, and practical experience has told the Conie that the safe place is not out in the open but to dash from rock hidden protection to rock hidden protection. The Conie knows how to outwit and not submit. He knows the way to success and long life is not to try to get emotional and shake his fist at the predator but to outsmart him. He may not be as strong as the Eagle but he knows the rock is stronger and uses it to his benefit. The key is to stay alive. Each of us must look at our individual tasks and be smart, use accurate data from real history, and not be emotional about it and plant ourselves where we will bloom. The Conie knows its limitations and overcomes them. Each of us must do the same thing each day. Make wise choices with the correct information you have and you will stay alive and succeed.
Best wishes as you seek your personal goals for success.
Richard Tate
In my last post (you can refresh your memory and read the post below) I introduced the four laws for success with a business or as an author. Law two takes you to an incredibly important place in managing your decisions.
2-USE HISTORY AND PRACTICAL EXPERIENCES TO MAKE WISE CHOICES NOT EMOTIONS
The Conie is a small rabbit like creature that lives in the mountains. The Eagle and Hawk love the tasty little guy. However, history, good information, and practical experience has told the Conie that the safe place is not out in the open but to dash from rock hidden protection to rock hidden protection. The Conie knows how to outwit and not submit. He knows the way to success and long life is not to try to get emotional and shake his fist at the predator but to outsmart him. He may not be as strong as the Eagle but he knows the rock is stronger and uses it to his benefit. The key is to stay alive. Each of us must look at our individual tasks and be smart, use accurate data from real history, and not be emotional about it and plant ourselves where we will bloom. The Conie knows its limitations and overcomes them. Each of us must do the same thing each day. Make wise choices with the correct information you have and you will stay alive and succeed.
Best wishes as you seek your personal goals for success.
Richard Tate
Monday, January 17, 2011
MY WEEKLY SERIES AND PLAN THAT WILL WORK FOR YOU IN 2011 FROM TATE PUBLISHING
To my friends and followers,
There are tens of thousands of books on the market that will tell you how to be successful. However, in my opinion the only book that is dead on correct 100% of the time is the Bible. The principles there are without fail and have the backing of the highest power that exists. As we make every decision related to this business as well as our individual responsibilities, there are some unfailing elements which must be the foundation of our work. I felt that at the beginning of 2011 these same principles might be helpful to you as well who follow this blog. I am introducing the first of our important principles today and will continue each week until you have all four.
These four principles are found in Proverbs 30:24-29.
"There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise: The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer; The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks; The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands; The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces."
1-PREPARE FOR CHALLENGES AND DIFFICULT TIMES
The Ant knows that winter is coming when there will be no food. We each know that challenges are coming and each of us must work diligently to prepare. The successful person does not wait until the last minute but gets after it now! The winter (some personal challenge) is coming and if the ant waited until the first snowfall it would be too late. There will be difficult times and difficult people. Get after each immediately. All of the efforts of the little ant is for one purpose…to take care of and feed the queen. The food the workers take, the army ants take, and the nurse room ants take, is exactly what they need to stay on point and make it possible for them to get food to the queen to make more little ants. Your “queen” is your personal success and ability to achieve your goals. As we prepare to make our goals and then achieve them, we get what we need and our dreams and visions remain profitable, stable, and on target. Daily is the key…inch by inch anything is a cinch. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. When we prepare and plan we are stable, and our future is secure when the winter storms come.
Richard Tate
There are tens of thousands of books on the market that will tell you how to be successful. However, in my opinion the only book that is dead on correct 100% of the time is the Bible. The principles there are without fail and have the backing of the highest power that exists. As we make every decision related to this business as well as our individual responsibilities, there are some unfailing elements which must be the foundation of our work. I felt that at the beginning of 2011 these same principles might be helpful to you as well who follow this blog. I am introducing the first of our important principles today and will continue each week until you have all four.
These four principles are found in Proverbs 30:24-29.
"There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise: The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer; The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks; The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands; The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces."
1-PREPARE FOR CHALLENGES AND DIFFICULT TIMES
The Ant knows that winter is coming when there will be no food. We each know that challenges are coming and each of us must work diligently to prepare. The successful person does not wait until the last minute but gets after it now! The winter (some personal challenge) is coming and if the ant waited until the first snowfall it would be too late. There will be difficult times and difficult people. Get after each immediately. All of the efforts of the little ant is for one purpose…to take care of and feed the queen. The food the workers take, the army ants take, and the nurse room ants take, is exactly what they need to stay on point and make it possible for them to get food to the queen to make more little ants. Your “queen” is your personal success and ability to achieve your goals. As we prepare to make our goals and then achieve them, we get what we need and our dreams and visions remain profitable, stable, and on target. Daily is the key…inch by inch anything is a cinch. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. When we prepare and plan we are stable, and our future is secure when the winter storms come.
Richard Tate
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
THANKS FROM A TATE PUBLISHING AUTHOR...
Dear Richard,
Maybe I've already told you this, so forgive me if this is a repeat but your people are just incredible. Everyone from editing to layout to design to marketing is nothing less than first-class.
I appreciate the fact that every one worked hard to make my book the most entertaining and professional book possible. I know I am no where near your only author but the staff that was assigned to me made me feel that I was their most talented, best-selling author.
I am currently in the process of the next book and while I know from what I've heard from other authors that everyone is great I am asking to keep my current team of Jaime, Leah and Traci.
Once again, thank you so much for everything. If there is ever anything I can do for you, although I don't know what it could be, please don't hesitate to ask. Jay and I are fans for life.
Sincerely,
Kathie T.
Maybe I've already told you this, so forgive me if this is a repeat but your people are just incredible. Everyone from editing to layout to design to marketing is nothing less than first-class.
I appreciate the fact that every one worked hard to make my book the most entertaining and professional book possible. I know I am no where near your only author but the staff that was assigned to me made me feel that I was their most talented, best-selling author.
I am currently in the process of the next book and while I know from what I've heard from other authors that everyone is great I am asking to keep my current team of Jaime, Leah and Traci.
Once again, thank you so much for everything. If there is ever anything I can do for you, although I don't know what it could be, please don't hesitate to ask. Jay and I are fans for life.
Sincerely,
Kathie T.
A CODE TO LIVE BY...
A CODE TO LIVE BY...
President Theodore Roosevelt made this important statement below in 1910 long before bloggers and the internet came along. People have always been critical and hateful and he understood that well. As Roosevelt said below…”we should spend ourselves for a worthy cause.” The bloggers, the lazy, the complainers, and the self-serving of the world do not live by this code below or spend themselves for any worthy cause as many of you do every day. Roosevelt and his brother were impassioned patriots and motivators. Roosevelt’s brother was honored with the Medal of Honor for his heroic action in France during WWI. He gave his life for a great cause. Great men and women have great understanding of perseverance.
Richard Tate
IT'S NOT THE CRITIC WHO COUNTS
"It is not the critic who counts: or the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat."
"Citizenship in a Republic,"
President Theodore Roosevelt speech at the Sorbonne, Paris, April 23, 1910
President Theodore Roosevelt made this important statement below in 1910 long before bloggers and the internet came along. People have always been critical and hateful and he understood that well. As Roosevelt said below…”we should spend ourselves for a worthy cause.” The bloggers, the lazy, the complainers, and the self-serving of the world do not live by this code below or spend themselves for any worthy cause as many of you do every day. Roosevelt and his brother were impassioned patriots and motivators. Roosevelt’s brother was honored with the Medal of Honor for his heroic action in France during WWI. He gave his life for a great cause. Great men and women have great understanding of perseverance.
Richard Tate
IT'S NOT THE CRITIC WHO COUNTS
"It is not the critic who counts: or the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat."
"Citizenship in a Republic,"
President Theodore Roosevelt speech at the Sorbonne, Paris, April 23, 1910
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Thanks from a Tate Author
Dr. Tate,
It has been my intent to do this for some time; however...you know us Author's...always "gettin'-n-goin' and forgetting to get to the important things..." (I'm kidding of course, but I should have done this weeks/months ago!)
I want you to know how ultimately thrilled I have been with Tate Publishing's services, peoples, communications and developmental procedures during the production work with my book! It would, in fact, be an understatement to simply state my intent of thanks as "awesome(!)" because the entire process provided me an overall unforgettable, positive, experience beyond what I can easily express. Not only was the production work completed in a timely manner, it was done speedily as well - and with no lack of quality! My "team" of folk who worked with me were all quite helpful, considerate, understanding, easy to talk to/communicate with, and willing to do whatever it took to complete their involved stages of work as quickly and efficiently as possible. Little "lag time" was involved, and things moved along rapidly...and usually even ahead of schedule! Needless to say, I am extremely happy with Tate's overall system and peoples in readying my work to be presented to the world...
I would like to extend my deepest thanks in gratitude to all those specifically involved with me - first to you, Mr. Tate (who I initially made submission to because I could not seem to be able to do it through the website. Thanks, Ryan, for being so quick to make sure I had response!), and to you also, Rachael, for being so helpful and "on the spot" when I needed to speak with you. Thanks to Dave Dolphin, Curtis Winkle, and Melanie Hughes - each of which played their own important roles! Thanks to my team...Stacy Baker (Acquisitions), Molly Crofford (Acq's Assistant), Lauren Downen (Copyediting), Vince Conn (Editor), Joey Garret (Layout & Design), Leah LeFlore (Design), Amber Gulilat (Graphics), Melissa Madole (Audio Book), Travis Hampton (Book Trailer), Marianne McShane (Website), and Jennifer Shelton (Distribution). Please let each of these folk know how very pleased I am with what they have done for me!
Speaking of my "team"...
The book I now have out is the first of two to tell the entire "original" story (more books coming in the follow-up series later!), and since I am so very highly pleased with those I worked with, I am hoping you will consider allowing me to have the same team when time comes for production on the "continuance" novel. My intention toward "why" is as follows:
First, I came to know most of them well, as they did with me, on a more "personal" level through our communications. They are already familiar with my own work ethics and "ways of wanting/needing to do things according to the content of writings" - including the way "I" work...my intentions, goals, desires, interactions with them, etc. - as well as being familiar now with my style of writing and "purpose of content" within the storyline.
Secondly, I am also familiar with how they each work and/or "operate" within their separate fields of expertise...(and wow, am I impressed!)
Third, in regarding my first two points, I would see it being highly beneficial and productive to again work with "familiarity" rather than having to basically start over with someone new. This, of course, includes everyone from Acquisitions to Final Hard-copy...(ready for marketing and mass distribution)
Fourth, and with all the above in mind, I see this as a way to take production through an even speedier process!
...Perhaps you may agree? I hope so...because getting this second half "out there" is imperatively important, as it is "the story!" Without it, the first is merely an unfinished storyline (...everyone I know who has read the "beginning" is highly anxious for the continuance/conclusion). In fact, the sooner it gets out, the more it will generate sales for the first book as well.
Please pardon my "ramble" there, but the excitement I am feeling from what Tate Publishing has done for me is phenomenal! I cannot help but to want to get things rolling again - as soon as possible. Truthfully, I have found that the production process in and of itself is quite the exhilarating "ride," and I'm anxiously awaiting to get started again! Now...if I can just get Marketing to rev up their engines, amp up the energies, and put us in position to quickly move forward...
Thank you both again for providing the services of a truly honest and integrated publishing company that is inspirational, forward moving, highly professional, and most of all, treats its "clients" with the integrity, respect and guidance that makes us ALL successful! I am proud to let the world know that I am a published Author - and that Tate Publishing is at my side to make it so! I look forward to a continuing relationship with you, and all those within your company...
Be well, my friends...and may your dreams be fulfilled as you are doing for me!
Dave M Author
It has been my intent to do this for some time; however...you know us Author's...always "gettin'-n-goin' and forgetting to get to the important things..." (I'm kidding of course, but I should have done this weeks/months ago!)
I want you to know how ultimately thrilled I have been with Tate Publishing's services, peoples, communications and developmental procedures during the production work with my book! It would, in fact, be an understatement to simply state my intent of thanks as "awesome(!)" because the entire process provided me an overall unforgettable, positive, experience beyond what I can easily express. Not only was the production work completed in a timely manner, it was done speedily as well - and with no lack of quality! My "team" of folk who worked with me were all quite helpful, considerate, understanding, easy to talk to/communicate with, and willing to do whatever it took to complete their involved stages of work as quickly and efficiently as possible. Little "lag time" was involved, and things moved along rapidly...and usually even ahead of schedule! Needless to say, I am extremely happy with Tate's overall system and peoples in readying my work to be presented to the world...
I would like to extend my deepest thanks in gratitude to all those specifically involved with me - first to you, Mr. Tate (who I initially made submission to because I could not seem to be able to do it through the website. Thanks, Ryan, for being so quick to make sure I had response!), and to you also, Rachael, for being so helpful and "on the spot" when I needed to speak with you. Thanks to Dave Dolphin, Curtis Winkle, and Melanie Hughes - each of which played their own important roles! Thanks to my team...Stacy Baker (Acquisitions), Molly Crofford (Acq's Assistant), Lauren Downen (Copyediting), Vince Conn (Editor), Joey Garret (Layout & Design), Leah LeFlore (Design), Amber Gulilat (Graphics), Melissa Madole (Audio Book), Travis Hampton (Book Trailer), Marianne McShane (Website), and Jennifer Shelton (Distribution). Please let each of these folk know how very pleased I am with what they have done for me!
Speaking of my "team"...
The book I now have out is the first of two to tell the entire "original" story (more books coming in the follow-up series later!), and since I am so very highly pleased with those I worked with, I am hoping you will consider allowing me to have the same team when time comes for production on the "continuance" novel. My intention toward "why" is as follows:
First, I came to know most of them well, as they did with me, on a more "personal" level through our communications. They are already familiar with my own work ethics and "ways of wanting/needing to do things according to the content of writings" - including the way "I" work...my intentions, goals, desires, interactions with them, etc. - as well as being familiar now with my style of writing and "purpose of content" within the storyline.
Secondly, I am also familiar with how they each work and/or "operate" within their separate fields of expertise...(and wow, am I impressed!)
Third, in regarding my first two points, I would see it being highly beneficial and productive to again work with "familiarity" rather than having to basically start over with someone new. This, of course, includes everyone from Acquisitions to Final Hard-copy...(ready for marketing and mass distribution)
Fourth, and with all the above in mind, I see this as a way to take production through an even speedier process!
...Perhaps you may agree? I hope so...because getting this second half "out there" is imperatively important, as it is "the story!" Without it, the first is merely an unfinished storyline (...everyone I know who has read the "beginning" is highly anxious for the continuance/conclusion). In fact, the sooner it gets out, the more it will generate sales for the first book as well.
Please pardon my "ramble" there, but the excitement I am feeling from what Tate Publishing has done for me is phenomenal! I cannot help but to want to get things rolling again - as soon as possible. Truthfully, I have found that the production process in and of itself is quite the exhilarating "ride," and I'm anxiously awaiting to get started again! Now...if I can just get Marketing to rev up their engines, amp up the energies, and put us in position to quickly move forward...
Thank you both again for providing the services of a truly honest and integrated publishing company that is inspirational, forward moving, highly professional, and most of all, treats its "clients" with the integrity, respect and guidance that makes us ALL successful! I am proud to let the world know that I am a published Author - and that Tate Publishing is at my side to make it so! I look forward to a continuing relationship with you, and all those within your company...
Be well, my friends...and may your dreams be fulfilled as you are doing for me!
Dave M Author
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Tate Publishing Nationwide TV ads a huge success!!
When a book we publish releases our fine staff produces a world-class commercial and then our marketing and publicist divisions air those commercials on select channels NATIONWIDE. There is no publisher who provides that kind of marketing...not a single one. We are delighted to see how well this added program is going. Stay tuned for even more fabulous news from the marketing division in the coming months.
Dr. Richard Tate
Dr. Richard Tate
Thursday, February 11, 2010
MARKETING SENIOR STAFF IN NEW YORK MEETING WITH BUYERS ABOUT TATE PUBLISHING TITLES
I am always amazed at how much time our staff spends educating authors about the publishing industry. We sign many high profile authors who have great sales track records, a household name, and understand the industry. However, until we determine we can no longer continue with the option, we still accept unsolicited manuscripts from tens of thousands of aspiring authors from across the globe. Only about 2% are considered for our investment and publication. We now run nationwide commericals which are produced in house at the highest quality level and run on appropriate channels across America when a book is released. This gives each of our authors the exposure to millions. No publisher does for it's authors what Tate does. At this very moment, our Senior Director for Marketing and the Director of our publicist division are in New York City meeting with buyers about our new releases. They go each month and represent our authors. No one gets the effort Tate authors receive. No one.
Dr. Richard Tate
Dr. Richard Tate
Monday, February 1, 2010
NATIONWIDE TELEVISION COMMERCIALS ROLL OUT!!
Friends and followers,
My TATE PUBLISHING EXECUTIVE blog usually features a few of the tons of wonderful emails I get from our authors and potential authors. I love sharing those. However, this time I want to shout from the rooftops about our new commercials we are now running on nationwide television. Our fantastic media division produces a world-class 30 second commercial featuring a new book release and then we air that commercial on national television! NO OTHER PUBLISHER IN AMERICA provides that for their authors...no one! We are very proud of this added marketing tool and want you to keep your eyes "peeled" for these 30 second beauties. Thanks again to our marketing and publicist divisions for this outstanding effort. No one does it better.
Dr. Richard Tate
Founder and Chairman of the Board
Tate Publishing & Enterprises, LLC
My TATE PUBLISHING EXECUTIVE blog usually features a few of the tons of wonderful emails I get from our authors and potential authors. I love sharing those. However, this time I want to shout from the rooftops about our new commercials we are now running on nationwide television. Our fantastic media division produces a world-class 30 second commercial featuring a new book release and then we air that commercial on national television! NO OTHER PUBLISHER IN AMERICA provides that for their authors...no one! We are very proud of this added marketing tool and want you to keep your eyes "peeled" for these 30 second beauties. Thanks again to our marketing and publicist divisions for this outstanding effort. No one does it better.
Dr. Richard Tate
Founder and Chairman of the Board
Tate Publishing & Enterprises, LLC
KIND OPINION ABOUT TATE PUBLISHING FROM A POTENTIAL AUTHOR
To Tate Publishing Staff,
I am not an established author, but I am hoping to become one. I just recently sent in several chapters of a book in which I am beginning a series for. It is not a completed book, or even an edited version of one. Simply nothing more than several roughly written chapters of a work that I am expanding on. Tate publishing did a very nice, complete and thorough job of explaining exactly what they do and exactly what they expect on their website. There was no doubt in my mind exactly what I was doing when I sent them the few chapters of the uncompleted book that I am working on. They quite specifically said that they would be happy to READ the portion that I had written to see if I actually had something that they MIGHT be interested in. I find absolutly no misrepresentation in this what-so-ever. This to me was a refreshing site to come upon after so many other less than honest sites. IF, by some chance that Tate decides that my works is in any way good enough to use me as one of their writters then I look forward to writting for them as I know that my works would be well taken care of. IF, they should decided that my works is not of their quality then I would have to believe that they took the time to check it over fairly. However whether or not they choose to publish my works or not has no bearing on how I will feel about the honesty of this company. I would have to say that if they do not choose your works, get over it. They are doing a great public service for as many writters as they possibly can and they should be commended for holding to a high set of standards. Weather or not they are the best is all opinion based. But having an A+ rating with the B.B.B. alone says a lot for them. Christian says the rest. Hats off to an honest publisher in a world of dishonest ones.
Tom F.
I am not an established author, but I am hoping to become one. I just recently sent in several chapters of a book in which I am beginning a series for. It is not a completed book, or even an edited version of one. Simply nothing more than several roughly written chapters of a work that I am expanding on. Tate publishing did a very nice, complete and thorough job of explaining exactly what they do and exactly what they expect on their website. There was no doubt in my mind exactly what I was doing when I sent them the few chapters of the uncompleted book that I am working on. They quite specifically said that they would be happy to READ the portion that I had written to see if I actually had something that they MIGHT be interested in. I find absolutly no misrepresentation in this what-so-ever. This to me was a refreshing site to come upon after so many other less than honest sites. IF, by some chance that Tate decides that my works is in any way good enough to use me as one of their writters then I look forward to writting for them as I know that my works would be well taken care of. IF, they should decided that my works is not of their quality then I would have to believe that they took the time to check it over fairly. However whether or not they choose to publish my works or not has no bearing on how I will feel about the honesty of this company. I would have to say that if they do not choose your works, get over it. They are doing a great public service for as many writters as they possibly can and they should be commended for holding to a high set of standards. Weather or not they are the best is all opinion based. But having an A+ rating with the B.B.B. alone says a lot for them. Christian says the rest. Hats off to an honest publisher in a world of dishonest ones.
Tom F.
TATE AUTHORS LOVE WHAT TATE DOES FOR THEIR BOOK
I have a friend that Tate is considering to publish. He wrote to me for an opinion..
I have been proud to be part of Tate, even though it has been a small part.
Dianna and I will be coming to you in the future with our projects.
Feel free to call on us to give an opinion if needed for those looking for people such as Tate to do their projects.
We all agree that Tate is great at what they do.
My friend Jeff B. will be signing with you soon as well. He asked me and I recommended you and will continue to do so.
God bless Tate.
Blessings
John L.
I have been proud to be part of Tate, even though it has been a small part.
Dianna and I will be coming to you in the future with our projects.
Feel free to call on us to give an opinion if needed for those looking for people such as Tate to do their projects.
We all agree that Tate is great at what they do.
My friend Jeff B. will be signing with you soon as well. He asked me and I recommended you and will continue to do so.
God bless Tate.
Blessings
John L.
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