By Scott Lorenz Westwind Book Marketing As a book publicist, I am constantly looking for new and improved ways to help clients promote their books. Marketing is key when it comes to success—you can create a great book, but it will go nowhere if nobody knows about it. One new tool that is being used in book marketing is artificial intelligence (AI). AI is software that helps to carry out a task by collecting and applying data. Many authors are already using a form of AI while writing. Features such as autocorrect and spellcheck utilize AI to search out grammar and spelling issues and offer cor ..read more

By Scott Lorenz Westwind Communications The saying goes “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” but in the marketing world, the cover and title are crucial to the book’s success. No one picks up a book that doesn’t catch their attention with the cover and title. As a book publicist, I have gathered the tips and tricks for titling books in my awarding-winning Book Title Generator, which outlines 4 key factors for naming your book: 1. Make it Memorable You want your title to stick with potential readers, so make it stand out! Use words that evoke emotion, try out some literary devices such as allite ..read more

ENTER BOOK AWARD CONTESTS AND BECOME AN AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR in 2024! I followed Scott’s advice. It worked! To my complete surprise, Beautiful Evil Winter earned a bouquet of book awards, including a highly coveted Eric Hoffer Award and a Readers’ Favorite award.  By Scott Lorenz Westwind Communications “Do book awards matter?” YES!! As a book publicist, I can assure you they absolutely do matter! One client won several awards and was contacted by two movie producers about her Young Adult Sci-Fi Fantasy Fiction novel.  Another one of my clients won the prestigious Los Angeles Book F ..read more

By Scott Lorenz Westwind Book Marketing You never get a second chance to make a first impression. That’s why the title of your book is so important. The title is the first thing potential readers will see or hear about your book. While thinking of a compelling title is easier said than done, it’s essential if you’d like to sell your book. I wrote a book about how to title a book called Book Title Generator. The good news is artificial intelligence (AI) can now help in the process. You still need to understand the underlying concepts in titling a book – SEO, Amazon optimization, using numbers ..read more

By Scott Lorenz Westwind Communications If you are a serious writer with high aspirations, then you’ll want to go to a writers’ conference. Want to meet authors and exchange ideas, tips and techniques? Then sign up for a writer’s conference today. A writers’ conference is a think tank for authors to build on each other’s ideas and inspire new achievements in their own work. For the cost of lodging and registration, the payoff for attending a writers’ conference could be tremendous. Attending a writers’ conference gives you a chance to pitch your book, learn about the various publishing opti ..read more

By Scott Lorenz WestWind Book Marketing If you’re a Christian writer and want to take your career to the next level, then writers’ conferences are certainly worth exploring. There are many Christian writers’ conferences that can give you the opportunity to meet and learn from other authors, pitch your book, and network with agents, editors, and book marketing experts. Here’s a good overview of some of the Christian writers’ conferences in 2024 that you should consider attending: 1. Asheville Christian Writers Conference, February 23-25, 2024, Asheville, NC. The Asheville Christian Writers Con ..read more

By Scott Lorenz Westwind Communications Your author website is a critical element for the promotion of your books. It’s where people turn to learn more about who you are and what you have to offer. Therefore, it’s important your website provides visitors what they are looking for… information about YOU, YOUR book and how to buy it. Don’t make people click on ten links to get to the buy button! Key elements of an effective author website include: Book Cover Author Headshot Blurbs from Reviewers Book Trailer Buy Buttons to Amazon, Barnes and Noble, etc. Excerpts or Quotes from the book Media C ..read more

I’ve worked with some of the best photographers in the USA. I’ve been in dozens of studios all over the country and have been privy to their backstage techniques. These photographers have photographed Miss America contestants, professional hockey and baseball players as well as CEOs, authors, doctors, lawyers and entrepreneurs. I got the skinny directly from them on their tips for getting the best head shot possible. While the written word is powerful in landing a media placement, as a book publicist I know that a great photo can clinch a media opportunity just as well and sometimes even fast ..read more

By Scott Lorenz Westwind Communications As a book publicist, I am always on the lookout for effective yet inexpensive ways to reach book buyers. Goodreads is one option. Owned by Amazon, With Goodreads, you can put your book into as many hands as possible, initiate word of mouth promotion and hopefully, succeed with flying colors. If you’re a published author, rest assured you already have a profile on Goodreads. Here’s how you can take full advantage of the platform: 1. Run a Goodreads Giveaway Through a Goodreads Giveaway, you can promote yourself and your book to the ideal audience. A Good ..read more

By: Scott Lorenz Westwind Book Marketing Have you been thinking about publishing a book for your personal brand or business? A strategized memoir or business book can elevate your authority and be a lead-generating machine for your speaking, consulting, or course offers. Today anyone can publish a book for next to nothing. But take it from a book marketer, just because it’s published doesn’t mean it’ll elevate your business. On average, a self-published book costs around $2,000 to publish. But most of those books sell less than 100 copies. Wouldn’t you like your book to do better than that? F ..read more