STREET LIT AUTHORS and THE BENEFITS OF VIRTUAL BOOK LAUNCH TOURS

Many Traditional Fiction authors have been taking advantage of new digital era audience engagement tools something made possible by what has become known as Web 2.0. 

Web 2.0 is a term popularized by tech expert Tim O'Reilly, who envisioned the Internet developing into an intelligent network of people and machines to function as a nervous system for our planet. News Flash: that time is now!

Good news for Street Literature/Urban Fiction authors. In fact, great news! Especially if you're Self-Publishing. This solves the challenges in growing readership in an era of change.

So what "audience engagement tools" have been being utilized to great effect? Social Media, Blogging, Podcast, Video Book Trailers, and Amazon to name a few. What I want to touch bases on in this blog is one that authors, both Traditional and Urban, have professed to render phenominal results: Virtual Book Launch Tours.

A great number of authors who found little to no success in cultivating local audiences live, or found it difficult doing so, have taken to creating powerful book tours online. These online "tours" are the alternative to multi-city live, in-person book tours, with in-store book signings at multiple locations, speaking at conferences, media interviews, etc. The virtual book tour connects authors with a much larger audience than a store-to-store circuit would allow.

A Virtual Book Launch Tour is a planned combination of appearances, including social network capabilities for online events, articles and blogs, guest contributions to websites, online radio shows, chats, video conferences, and appearances on other places on the web where the readers of your book might meet for discussion. This blitz of appearances works best if timed for 7 to 14 days before and another 7 to 14 days after your book is published. 

Similar to a live book lauch party, your virtual tour is a time to talk about your book, the inspiration for writing it, what you learned along the way, and to tell the stories of people who contributed to the project, in unexpected ways. It's a time to be interviewed on others' sites, in videos, and in any other way that you can use all collaborative networks available to you. This increases awareness of your book.

The added and most highly recognized advantage of a Virtual Book Launch Tour, aside from having your book hot off the press, is the opportunity to get people excited about the (long-awaited) publication of your book without you paying for travel cost.

More benefits include: web content that stays up for all time, enhanced visibility to your readership, increased Amazon rankings, enhanced visibility to publishers, agents, and scouts.

Remember, it usually takes multiple exposures for a consumer to make the purchase. Statistics state that awareness of any brand depends on an audience seeing it approximately eight times before they make the action decision to buy your book. My point: Virtual Book Launch Tours (more times than not) usually result in tremendous sales.

Lack the time to organize your Tour? No problem. You can retain an online book tour expert to promote your book, schedule book placements on relevant blogs and websites, and handle all other busy work surrounding such a project. For $1000, upwards of 50 placements can be secured. These placements often consist of guest blog posts, book reviews, or interviews, which can be answered ahead of time.

The down side (because everything has one, right?) of Virtual Book Launch Tours would be that it's time intensive, sometimes too technical to plan, engage and manage, and (for some people) the cost presents a problem as well. Understandable for aspiring authors with small budgets. All the same, the price I listed above is just one that I came across. Shop around and see what you come up with. You may just find that it's something worth investing in.

In closing, I hope this post has shed some light on Virtual Book Launch Tours as a means of publicity. For further elaboration I'd suggest ordering "21 Ways To Launch A Successful Book Tour" by D'Vorah Lansky. It's an easy step-by-step guide on the subject matter.

If familiar with "Virtual Book Launch Tours," or have implemented one in any past book marketing, please feel free to share tips and resources below in the comments. It would be greatly appreciated. Also, if you know of anyone, or if you yourself provide the services of a "virtual tour host," please be so kind as to provide their/your companies contact info!

COMPANIES WHO PUBLISH STREET LITERATURE / URBAN FICTION

For a lot of people starting out the biggest problem is what to write about for others it's finding the time to write then you have those who like myself have countless stories to tell, more than enough time to write, but no idea who to publish with.

Make no mistake. Publishing companies do not have a one-size-fits-all policy. Submitting a genre or style of writing outside of their readership is not only a waste of their time, but yours especially. Among other things, it's unprofessional and shows a lack of experience as a writer. A good author, or any author who's serious about what he/she does will take the time to research the companies they submit to. Otherwise you'll end up with no response, or a bunch of letters that "suggest you review some of their publications to get a feel for the type of literature they publish"...Something you should've taken the initiative to do from the get-go.

In light of this I decided to take it upon myself to compile a list of Street Literature / Urban Fiction Publishers to give you a headstart. Contact info has been listed as well.

Enjoy!



* TMA Publishing
Address:
- 2211 E. 58th St.
Savannah Ga., 31404
Email:
- TMAHabersham@yahoo.com


* G Street Chronicles
Address:
- 335 Upper Riverdale Rd. #A9
Jonesboro Ga., 30236
Email:
- uubooksllc@gmail
Phone:
- 770.994.1144


* Wahida Clark Publishing
Address:
- 60 Evergreen Place, Suite 904
East Orange NJ., 07018
Website:
- www.wclarkpublishing.com


* Urban Edge Publishing
Address:
- P.O Box 6025
Columbus Ga., 31917
Email:
- submission@urbanedge.com
Website:
- www.urbanedgepublishing.com


* Uprock Publications
Address:
- 5714 Shaw St.
San Diego CA., 92139
Phone:
- 619.292.3186


* Lockdown Publications
Address:
- P.O Box 482
Pine Lake Ga., 30072
Email:
- ldpsubmissions@gmail.com
Website:
- www.lockdownpublications.com


* Leo Sullivan Presents
Email:
- leosullivanpresents@gmail.com
Website:
- www.leolsullivan.com


* Triple Crown Publications
Email:
- vickiestringer@triplecrownpublications.com
Website:
- triplecrownpublications.com
Phone:
- 614.478.9402


* Urban Books
Address:
- 97 N. 18th St.
Wyandanch N.Y, 11798
Website:
- www.urbanbooks.nets


* RJ Publications
Address:
- 3375 Centerville Hwy. #392694
Snellville Ga., 30039
Email:
- richjeantay@yahoo.com
Phone:
- 718.471.2926


* Teri Woods
Email:
- teriwoodsbooks@gmail.com
Website:
- teriwoodspublishing.com


* Southern Classic Publishing
Address:
- 990 US 287 Frontage Rd.#298
Mansfield TX., 76063
Email:
- info@southernclassicpublishing.com
Phone:
- 682.587.9818


* The Cartel Publications
Address:
- P.O Box 486
Owings Mills MD., 21117
Website:
- thecartelpublications.com
Phone:
- 240.724.7225


* Kensington Publishing Corp.
Address:
- 119 West 40th St.
New York N.Y, 10018
Phone:
- 1.800.221.2647


Do you know of other Street Literature / Urban Fiction Publishers? Any tips to share? Contact info? Please share in the comments!

FROM MUSIC TO BOOKS: SAME SHIT DIFFERENT TOILET BOWL

In 2014, I awoke one morning in prison and decided I would write a book, and get it published. On the streets I was into the music thing, but with a fresh twenty year sentence that was no longer an option. I figured I already had a vast vocabulary. Why not?
For the next year I wrote diligently, got my first manuscript typed, and set off on a mission to get it published. I submitted to Wahida Clark, Vicky M. Stringer, and Carl Weber at Urban Books. A friend of mine would send me Street Literature novels to keep my mind occupied. If I liked the story, and the quality was decent, I would get the company address off the copyright page and write them. While awaiting their responses, I ordered books on writing, publishing and marketing. It was in one of these books that I discovered that silence was the new rejection.
A conversation between two people caught my attention one day. It was about Cash, author of the "Trust No Man" series. He signed with Wahida Clark, has his own publishing company, and did it all from prison. I sent him a manilla containing a letter and sample chapters, then had my people send him an e-message not once, but twice through JPay. No response.
I had my people look up different celebrity's addresses: Steve Harvey, Tyler Perry, T.I, and Waka Flocka to name a few. Nothing.
I remembered hearing something about literary agents, and decided this may be my best shot, only to discover the process of hiring one was very much the same as submitting to a traditional publishing company. It wasn't a service that was simply paid for. In fact, cold calls were frowned upon as was snail mail in some cases. They preferred e-mail query letters only, and if (on the rare chance) they requested a partial, liked it, and accepted the job, they were paid 15-20% of whatever you signed for. I began querying agents who specialized in securing Street Literature contracts. Still...nothing came from this either, and I got discouraged.
I'd been at it over two years, telling anyone who would listen how I would be the Best Selling Author of the following year. In 2014 I was claiming it for the year of 2015, in '15 I was claiming it for '16. Here it was 2016, and I was no closer to making it happen then I'd been in 2014. The only thing that had changed was the number of books I had written and ready. But that contract bonus I'd dreamed of receiving for so long was just that...a dream.
People who believed in me at first started to fade away. Others remained, but lost their enthusiasm, like they knew it was too good to be true. As quiet as it was kept, I began to feel the same. But if I didn't believe in myself, I lost the right to expect others to. I kept writing.
The less than handful that were still "ten toes down", would send me testimonials of incarcerated authors who successfully published from prison, and had gone on to live productive crime free lives. I ordered random Self-Published books off Amazon, perusing Bio's, Author's Notes, and Acknowledgements, intrigued to find that free authors went through the same stage that I was going through now, but disappointed that they failed to elaborate on how they succeeded in the end.
I came across a section titled "Author Platform Building" in a Marketing blog posted by Christopher Zoukis. I didn't know what exactly an "Author Platform" was, but according to the blog, it played a detrimental part in Book Marketing from Prison. I ordered a book on it and discovered Platform Building was essential for all author's. In fact, an effective one directly increases sales and publishing oppurtunities. It's the element that gets book deals secured.
At the time, I was into the "Bottom Bitch" series by Racquel Williams. The first was priced at $6, while the second was $8 both Self-Published by Black Destiny Publishing. The third book of the series wasn't. On the cover was the brand of Triple Crown Publishing Best Selling author of Thirsty, Leo Sullivan Presents, and it was priced at $11. I was excited for her, and myself. It was clear.
The publishing industry was much the same as the music industry. The same way a rapper wasn't gonna get signed by sending recording studios a demo he recorded God-knows-where, I wasn't gonna gonna get signed by sending query letters and sample chapters. I understood.
Like aspiring rappers, I had to start from the bottom, take whatever resources I had, and make the best of them. Up-and-coming rappers had songs, I had stories.
It happens, but the average rapper isn't signing major deals off their first project. No, they have to build a following, and show labels they're worth the investment. They have to start somewhere, and what better way is there than to put something out there. Thus, they take the independent route, and drop a mixtape, the equivalent of Self-Publishing a book.

Just as an aspiring rapper first needs to locate a quality studio befitting his needs, I had to find a good Self-Publishing company. A great song with a poor Audio Engineer, is just as futile as a great book with a shitty publisher. In the end, you'll wind up with a bad product. Pick, don't choose. Be meticulous. That's what I did. As I searched for a company to release my first novel, I would order books by authors that they published, and read them, taking note of the quality. I scrutinized everything: graphic design, interior design, spelling, grammatical errors, the whole nine. I had to do this right for the people who believed in me. The last thing I wanted to do was embarrass them. Not just that, but I'd read books with so many typos it's a wonder that wasn't the title. I remembered getting madder and madder with each error I came across. I mean, a typo or two, maybe here or there I could live with, but every page for consecutive pages? I wasn't trying to frustrate my readers.
After finding an independent studio to record their first mix tape, up-and-coming rappers get ready for it's release. They find cover designers, promotion teams, take the instrumentals to some of the songs from the mix tape to amateur competitions, acquire features, submit singles to radio stations, etc. When authors find a Self-Publishing company to release their first project they do the same in a different but similar way. They submit short stories in literary contest, they advertise it's release on Social Media, they send out excerpts, they request reviews, etc. Rappers call it promoting, authors call it building an "Author Platform".
Upon the release of the mix tape, up-and-coming rappers push it's success by doing everything in their power to get it heard as much as possible by as many, as well as the right people as possible by utilizing some of the same tactics they used during promotion, authors are no different.
Eventually the up-and-coming rapper establishes a fan base, gets a buzz, and before long the big wigs come calling. And it's likewise for an author.
That said, I'm just enjoying the process. Along the way, my writing is improving, I'm developing my own voice as a writer, and I've discovered a passion for weaving life lessons within a story. I now write for my readers, and the ones who have always been in my corner despite my countless mistakes. And that's not politics, that's facts. Music is my first love. I talked about what was going on around me, and how I was feeling. It was how I got a lot of stuff off my chest. That was for me.
Writing...this is for yall.

ELIJAH R. FREEMAN: THE MAN BEHIND THE MEDIA

Hello World and Welcome Friends,
Today is a day of epic proportions. For yet again, I have taken a step. Now here I am new page, new scene, new chapter. And best of all, a new opportunity to do something worthwhile. A chance to be great. The possibilities are endless, but for now, I'm content to be a voice. An authentic one at that.
Well, to formally introduce myself, My name is Elijah R. Freeman, and I am "The Future of Street Literature." This here is my blog: Rich-Regardless.
What prompted me to begin a blog? Several things, but first and foremost, you. My readers. I wanted to provide a way for you to communicate with me directly. I also wanted to be able to share my thoughts, interest, and goals so you could get to know me on a higher level. I would love to hear your feedback. Any comments, thoughts, questions or suggestions, I want to hear them.
I want to give you an avenue to learn more about the characters you fall in love with, and what inspired them. Information about the plots, locations, and themes of my books as well.
Second, in creating this blog, I wish to propagate a positive message to my followers, and to promote my cause. I want my blog to be a well of inspiration. A guiding light and motivational force. My readers are important to me. You all are who I do this for.
This blog is for you.