How to introduce a new book to a global readership
One Book – Many Perspectives
Being asked, “How did you like that book? – “What did you get out of the book” or “What does that book mean for you?” will undoubtedly result in different answers from different readers. – It is similar to being asked about the meaning of an abstract painting.
We all have different lives, upbringings, education, expectations, and perspectives.
Let’s take the book “It happened in the seventies” as an example. The subheading is “A Memoir of Love, Colliding Worlds and a House on a Hill“. – And I call it … an intriguing story of personal risk-taking, self-discovery and profound change.
For publishing and distribution purposes, an author has to nominate 2 or 3 categories for the book to be found somewhere on a bookshelf.
As an author, I find this problematic; I believe my book could interest everyone. For bookstores or book distribution services that would not work, they need a classification, and therefore “Memoir” is the most appropriate one because that is what it is. – However, that doesn’t tell anyone what the book is about. One hopes the book description on the back cover will entice the potential reader to buy that book. Let’s face it, we may not like marketing, but we do expect someone else to read it and get something out of it.
Talking to marketing gurus, the advice is to answer the reader’s questions, “What do I get out of this” or “What is in it for me”. – Obviously, I don’t specifically know what is in there for you because I don’t know what you are looking for.
To address the above conundrum and to stay on the topic of marketing, one could offer the book to different markets with different descriptions. That way, the whole book can be dissected, and the points of benefit to the reader could be explained.
Here are the main 7 points why “It happened in the seventies” may be the book for you.
- Readers who like or seek personal growth or want to change something will find encouragement and inspiration. It also suits readers who like to overcome unsuitable lifestyle conditions.
- Readers who look to change their life because of health will find one can improve health with diet and lifestyle changes.
- Readers who want to break out of their present confinement will be well served. The personal changes lived through in this book are dramatic, much more than just a sea or tree change.
- Readers who like travel, adventure or action stories will love this book; it will take you “Down Under” with adventures galore.
- Readers of a romantic nature and relationship topics will find the love story within those pages enchanting and enlightening. They may find answers why or why not a relationship will work.
- Readers of the Super Natural will be intrigued by the apparent superpowers demonstrated.
- Readers who like spiritual content, auras, meditation, and visualization to manifest goals will be rewarded and inspired.
In other words, a memoir can have content enjoyable for everyone.
For marketing purposes and to introduce the book to different reader groups, one could write a specific description for each of the above 7 points.
Or, one could rely on the actual general book description and hope it will reflect all of those topics within that one book.
Here is my book description – you be the judge …
It Happened in the Seventies
From the author of ‘Do You Believe in You’ comes an intriguing story of personal risk-taking, self-discovery and profound change.
At only twenty-one, Dieter started his own thriving business and lived the good life in Hamburg, Germany. By the age of twenty-four, he knew something was missing: there must be more to life than earning a living, and he wanted to find it in Australia as a quest for all things vital, health, love, creativity, meaning, purpose and independence.
How does life continue if one decides to leave all one has achieved?
Dieter met Giselle on Christmas Day 1973. They didn’t want a relationship but the universe had other ideas! Arriving in Sydney in 1974, they lived, worked and explored Australia in their yellow panel van for two and a half years, discovering themselves and their unpredictable future.
Driving from one adventure to another, they faced unexpected dangers and found paradise in unforeseen places.
Devastating news arrived from Hamburg – their dreams and reality collided.
Could they still achieve their goals and live their dream lifestyle?
An inspiring read of a life-changing escapade Down Under
Phil Brown – Arts Editor The Courier-Mail
It Happened in the Seventies is available – BUY NOW
Thank you … Dieter Luske
