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?

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

AUTHORS MEAN ALL THE WORLD TO US AT TATE PUBLISHING

The email below just came to me and I simply had to add this to my "brag blog!" This author has done several books with us and is so typical of the happy authors we love to work with. I just heard from a prospective author who said she heard about Tate Publishing from one of our authors at a book signing for that author our marketing division had set up in Indianapolis. She said that the Tate author she met was one of the nicest people she had ever encountered. Thanks to each of our fine staff for making these kind of remarks possible.
Dr. Tate

EMAIL FOLLOWS...

Hey Guys-

I wanted to take the time to let you know how truly grateful I am to be a part of making a difference in the world, with you. I had such a great sense of joy to see you in person (sorry I missed you Trinity) and seeing TATE in action first hand. It is obvious to me that GOD is supporting your efforts and will continue to bless all that you do. I saw GOD working through each one of you, and everyone that I met in person. As I continue to surrender to where I am called to be, and how I can use my time here to serve the highest good, I know that being a part of the TATE family is a part of that calling.

It has been a honor for me to see you guys grow in the many ways that you have. I commend all of your efforts and devotions to being a part of the change that we need to see. I love you all and appreciate you very much so.

Keep doing what you do!

With gratitude-

RR, Florida

NO ECONOMIC WOES WITH TATE PUBLISHING OR TATE MUSIC GROUP!!!

I have been watching the economy with great interest as I am sure many of you are as well. I cannot pick up a newspaper, turn on the radio, or listen to the evening news without hearing that "Chicken Little" is running rampant across our nation proclaiming that "the sky is falling, the sky is falling!" I realize there are difficult issues Americans must face regarding their personal financial situations. My prayers are with them each day in my personal quiet time in the morning. Each Monday morning when our entire company meets for a time of prayer requests for our authors and staff we continue to lift up in prayer the financial needs of our fellow Americans.
The good news is that Tate Publishing and Tate Music Group are, in the midst of all that is happening, growing daily. We continue to add new jobs, and increase our sales and marketing position in both industries, while we maintain our corporate policy of remaining debt free. We have just improved our print and production facility and even though it was already state-of-the-art, the new color processing equipment just purchased and installed at our plant has taken our products to an even higher level of quality. If you are an author or artist with Tate Publishing or Tate Music Group, you are part of a growing, dynamic company that has never been in better financial condition. Thanks to each of you for makiing this possible and to all our outstanding staff who work with diligence and fervor to keep Tate at the top of the list of successful companies.

MY CROWS ARE THE "BLACKEST!"

My blog is often unlike the blogs of other executive staff in our company. My son, the President and CEO of Tate Publishing is industry "savvy" and his blogs are informative and full of industry insight. Other staff write about similar issues. Like a proud father I seem to gravitate to wanting to make my missive a "brag blog" more than it possibly should be. My grandfather had a saying that I did not understand at first. He would say about all of us grandchildren that, "My crows are the blackest!" We all know that ALL crows are equally black. He love for us was at the center of his "blackest" reference. When he looked at all the "crows" his stood out as "blacker" than the rest because of his appreciation for them. When it comes to our fine staff, they are, in my opinion, the "blackest." No one is better. That is why the following statements from a few of our authors are in my blog today. These unsolicited remarks from the few folks we sign to contracts confirm about our staff that "My crows are indeed the blackest!" Brag blogging to follow...

FROM A NEW AUTHOR...

Greetings Richard, Ryan, and Trinity, I first want to apologize for this unsolicited note, but I wanted to share my gratitude with you all. I am on your staff's production schedule, as your Acquisitions Team picked up my manuscript for publication recently. My edits haven't begun yet, but I'm almost giddy with anticipation. So much so, that I dreamed about you three last night. Isn't that funny? You are all very gracious, kind, and humorous. I am sure that would hold true if/when I meet you in person in the future. All my life, I dreamed of being a writer. I'm so grateful it is your company that is providing the avenue by which to share it, and make my dreams come true. Again, thank you for this amazing opportunity! Have a blessed day! You've blessed mine, that's for sure!

Kay H.

ANOTHER ONE...

Richard,
First of all, I just want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart to you and to your wonderful staff ! What a joy and a privilege it has been these last six months to be able to work with such great and talented people as we've put together my book. Your staff has been fantastic during this whole publishing process. They have helped me create a delightful book for young toddlers.
Again, thank you for believing in me enough to publish my books. I look forward to my continued relationship with Tate Publishing as we launch the publishing of my 2nd book.

Tom A.

TATE PUBLISHING IS ON THE "GROW" AGAIN

It is exciting to see the new faces in the hallways of the Tate Publishing building. Seven new staff members are now on board in various departments. With six buildings filled with the best in the industry it is getting more and more difficult to keep up with the names and faces. It is a blessing to see at a time when many companies are showing cut backs. Not here...and we are very thankful. I look forward to sharing some thoughts from time to time this year about how to publish successfully and how authors can get their books before the most people possible. Stay tuned!!

TATE PUBLISHING IS EXPANDING AND GROWING AT EVERY LEVEL

Last night I sat in a ballroom crowd of over 200 at the annual Tate Publishing Christmas Gala. Employees entertained, the food was fabulous, the ladies all looked beautifully festive and the men were in their "Sunday best." It was a grand, grand, time. However, the moment which always stands out to me is when my son, the President and CEO of Tate Publishing and Tate Music Group delivers his annual "State of the Company" address to the crowd of company staff. In these questionable economic times most business leaders are preaching cut backs and gloom and doom. But at Tate Publishing, year after year the applause simply "roars" from the crowd as Ryan Tate gives specific detail after specific detail outlining our growth, our expansion, and greater success, and higher book sales in every area year after year. Authors are having more success, we are adding new staff consistently to handle growth, and able to give more than ever to support charitable and faith-based causes around the world. We have never received more submissions, never schedule more events for authors, and our plant hums in book production filling book orders 24 hours a day. Our thanks to each of our authors. They are the heartbeat that makes it all work. Tate Publishing is growing...no doom and gloom here!

TATE PUBLISHING AND THE ACORN TO THE OAK TREE

I was talking with an aspiring author today and could hear the excitement, enthusiasm, passion, and heart in every one of his words for his book. He, like so many I have spoken with over the years, want to profit financially but at the heart of his dream and vision was not money. It was something more powerful. He wants to see lives changed by people picking up his book, reading his thoughts, and implementing his ideas and principles in their lives. This is what really excited him and what was at the center of what he wanted as an aspiring writer.
As he spoke on, I kept glancing at a small item I have had on my desk for years. It is a simple acorn. A little tiny acorn. It is a constant reminder to me that all great achievements start small and with nurture and persistence they can become a mighty oak. As the old parable states when the man asked God to make him like a mighty oak, God answered, "Certainly," and gave him an acorn. Starting as a published author is so similar. You must work with us as your publisher to get the book done well, produced beautifully, marketed with enthusiasm, and then watch it grow. Eventually you have a mighty oak that casts benefit and shade to all who gather under it's branches. The pages of your book is filled with leaves. The leaves of a book and the leaves of a mighty oak tree are so similar. They both take time and lot's of effort. We partner together to make that happen. We are gratified to have been informed that in 2009 we will be one of the top ten book sellers in the industry with the world's largest book wholesaler. It did not happen overnight. Remember the lesson of the acorn. We have.

PUBLISHING A BOOK WITH TATE PUBLISHING SUCCESS FOR AUTHORS

I was "musing" today about this publishing world and aspiring authors and as Disney's Snow White I felt like standing at the wishing well and singing my own version of "I'm Wishing." She was wishing for a handsome prince. I would be wishing for ten minutes on national television to speak to the 85% of all Americans who we are told by the AAP say they have a book in them. There is so much misunderstanding about how the system works today and the myriad of options available. Self-publishing, vanity presses, subsidy publishing, imprints, traditional publishing, and the list of options is seemingly endless. At Tate Publishing, we have developed an immensely successful model which gives aspiring authors their only real hope at the traditional publishing model. We can give an author an advance if their project and author profile meet certain specifications. The rules we use to determine whether an advance is justified (and we have given many, many author advances over the years) is the exact same process that any traditional publisher uses. We received in 2007 tens of thousands of submissions from around the world and only 3% were considered for publication. At least those individuals who submitted had a chance for publishing. No one else is even looking at or accepting unsolicited manuscripts. The biggest difference in the few authors who get to publish with Tate Publishing is this key element. We give them a great opportunity. This week alone we gave two second book authors with us nice advances. The have earned it. I will just keep on telling the story correctly and leave the "wishing well" to Disney princesses for now.