by Tari Faris, @FarisTari
When I use the term promoters here, I am referring to anyone who might spread the knowledge of your book through a blog, interview, podcast, you get the idea. These are the unsung heroes of an author’s success and many of them do it for the love of your story.
So, why don’t we all take time to make it as easy on them as possible?
There are 3 key things that every author should have in a folder on your computer desktop. Why on the desktop? Because you need it accessible to get to anyone who is ready to showcase your book.
Author photo
Please do not skip this section just because you think you have this down pat. Trust me, 90% of you do not. Your author photo SHOULD BE:
- A headshot. This is not a full-body shot or even a waist-up shot. A headshot is a tightly cropped photo of the face, from the shoulders up. The subject is camera-aware — typically looking right in the lens. There is a place for more artistic photos, but when promotors are featuring you, they often have a template, a formula that they want to fit you in. If they have a string of authors they are featuring and one is distant while the others are close up, it stands out. If you look at the headshot of me below in my bio, you can our blog administrator uses a square tight-cropped image. If I had sent in a distant shot, my face wouldn’t be recognizable. It wouldn’t look like the other authors appearing on this blog. It may frustrate those who are willing to showcase my book.
- Portrait orientated. The length needs to be at least 50% longer than the width. Not landscape. Not square. I don’t care if your favorite photo is landscape–save it for something else. Again, if the promoter is dropping the photo into a template a different size can be frustrating and ad time to the process.
- Well lit. Again, there is a place for the artsy. This is not that shot. The promoter just wants a clear well-lit shot of your face.
- No larger than 1000 pixels on the longest side. Unless they plan to put it in print, please shrink your image down. Many web programs do not accept photos that are too large. The publicist doesn’t want to have to shrink your photo for you. It adds to the process and steals their joy. And we want them to love you. I keep a large photo in the file but I have it clearly marked large. And I have another marked small and even one marked extra small because sometimes they ask for tiny ones – the image of me below is just 150 x150.
- Non smaller than 350 pixels on aside, unless given specific instructions to do otherwise. Manipulating a too-small image is even more frustrating than dealing with a too-large one.
- Taken on a good camera by a quality photographer. I know cell phones have come a long way but for the most part, unless you are really tech-savvy, it doesn’t look professional. Also, if you have a friend who takes great photos awesome. But make sure it is someone who is knowledgeable in people. Getting good skin tones is key. Invest, it is worth it.
- Fairly up to date. Let’s face it–no one wants to update the photos because they look older. But the purpose of the photo is to make readers feel like they know you. If they see you later and you look very different from your photo it can be distracting. That being said every five years unless you have a major hair change should be plenty.
- Available on your website. But when asked for it, DO NOT send them to go find it. They are giving you publicity, so please make it easy for them
Book Cover
You might think this is a given but you would be amazed at the number of authors I have encountered who don’t have it readily available. Your book cover SHOULD BE:
- The final copy that people will see on the shelf. Don’t mix up earlier versions. It can be distracting.
- The flat cover – NO 3Ds! Unless you are asked for a creative 3D or fancy image, the promoter just wants the cover like you can see below of Since you’ve Been Gone. Again, it is all about the plug and play. They have a template and they just want to slide in your image. Make it easy for them.
- Not too large not too small. Again, just like the picture, have several sizes at hand but send one with the largest size no bigger than 1000 and no smaller than 500 unless otherwise directed. Dealing with thumbnail book covers when doing promotions is exasperating.
- Available on your website. But never expect them to go find it. But it is a great media resource.
Bio
Make sure you have a long bio, short bio, formal bio, and casual bio. Also, I like to do a bio that is aimed at readers and a bio that is aimed at writers. Give yourself options and make it error-free. Keep them in the folder and you will be relieved they are ready anytime someone asks. Many authors put them on their website. It is a great resource to offer, but never expect someone to go get it. Remember, they are advertising you. Make it easy for them.
Those are my top three, but here are a few other things that you might want to have at hand in that folder:
- Your social media handles and links
- A Q and A about your most recent release.
- What inspired your book? I get asked this more than anything else. Maybe I should learn to write it out for reference every time I get asked.
That is my list. What about you? What would you add to the folder to make promoters love you?
Leah Williams is back in the quaint town of Heritage, Michigan, and ready to try again to make her business a success. But blank slates are hard to come by, and a piece of her past is waiting for her there. Heir to the Heritage Fruits company, Jonathan Kensington is the guy who not only made Leah’s past difficult, he also seems determined to complicate her present as well.
Jon is trying to prove to the Heritage Fruits board that he, not his manipulative uncle, should be running the business. The board insists Jon find a new owner for the building that will house Leah’s business. To avoid forcing a buyout of Leah’s part of the building, Jon strikes a compromise with Leah, and the two go into business together. With her vision and his know-how, it might work. And Leah might realize he’s loved her since high school. If only he didn’t keep on shooting himself in the foot by boxing her out of important decisions.
Sparks fly in this romantic story of two people who must learn to trust both each other and the one who called them to this journey.
Available now for preorder! And visit linktr.ee/tarifaris to sign up for preorder rewards!
Tari Faris has been writing fiction for fifteen years but has been creating fiction in her head for as long as she can remember. She is represented by Wendy Lawton at Books & Such Literary Management and is a member of ACFW and My Book Therapy. She was the 2017 Genesis winner, 2016 Genesis finalist, and 2014 Genesis finalist. In addition to her writing, she also works for My Book Therapy as a special project manager and writes for LearnHowToWriteANovel.com . When she is not writing or working, she spends time with her amazing husband and kids. In her free time, she loves coffee, rockhounding with her husband and kids, and distracting herself from housework. You can connect with her at www.tarifaris.com