Author Power: Profit Before You Publish

by Lynn Isenberg

Author Power by Lynn Isenberg reveals case studies and how-to scenarios for authors to empower themselves to generate income and enhance distribution before (and after) publishing. Foreword by SJ Hodges. Special thanks to SpacePen.com. Author Power is packed with invaluable information, stories, road maps, and experiences about how to empower yourself as an author, publisher, marketer, and impresario. The Impresario is like the book conductor who pushes your publishing forward. You must be a passionate impresario (producer who handles finances and pulls everything together) to ensure a profitable book and success story. This is a comprehensive approach to a new way of publishing that puts the economic power in the pen and wallet of the author to continue to create and build win-wins for authors, publishers, and additional value for readers. This book teaches you how to leverage the advent of technology and changing economic models to protect the livelihood of the creator. It guides impresario authors through every step in a new way of publishing, whether it's self-publishing, hybrid or partnership publishing, or even traditional publishing. It opens the pages and shifts the paradigm to honor the words of expression, new ideas, and the inherent foundations of democracy. Are you ready? - Generate income from your writing BEFORE you publish - Learn how to create, build, and leverage assets - Learn how to make cross-promotional opportunities - Learn to identify, craft and close new revenue streams - Apply new tools and platforms for book discoverability - Develop guts, imagination, and persistence as keys to success.

306 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 12, 2014

About the author

Her work includes the novels MY LIFE UNCOVERED , THE FUNERAL PLANNER GOES TO THE WHITE HOUSE and THE FUNERAL PLANNER (soon to be a TV series) and the non-fiction GRIEF TRIBUTES: The Definitive Guide to Life Celebrations and GRIEF WELLNESS: The Definitive Guide to Dealing with Loss . Film/TV credits include MGM/UAs YOUNGBLOOD, Tri-Star/Columbias I LOVE YOU TO DEATH, Mistral Pictures TRUE VINYL, and The Fine Living Networks popular series I::DESIGN which she co-created and executive produced.

Isenberg promoted THE FUNERAL PLANNER by launching the real life business from the novel at www.LightsOutEnterprises.com, where she wrote and produced the tribute comedy "Jack the Mench," landing her appearances in The New York Times, The Today Show, Business Week, MSN.com, Israel's Globe, South Africa's Beeld, etc.

She is a graduate of the University of Michigan with a B.A. in English Language & Literature, a minor in Film Studies, and an MBA & Entrepreneurial Studies Audit. She is founder of the renowned Hollywood Literary Retreat www.HollywoodLiteraryRetreat.com.

Through her company Focus Media, Inc. (Finding Opportunities Creating Unified Success), Isenberg creates intellectual properties and consults for businesses operating in the digital content and entertainment marketing space.

Isenberg is a member of the WGAs New Media Writers Caucus. She speaks on Transmedia Storytelling and Book-Branded Integration.

About Focus Media, Inc.:
Focus Media, Inc. is an entertainment company and consulting firm providing content creation, business development, strategic marketing and public relations services to writers and businesses in the Transmedia space. Visit www.focusmediamarketing.com
For speaking engagements visit www.lynnisenberg.com.

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Reviews

[W. Whalin · Rating 4 out of 5]

When most authors write a book they are just focused on producing then marketing a single boo--but not Lynn Isenberg. Lynn helps authors focus beyond their book to a way they can be profitable with their book. As she writes in the introduction, "I'm suggesting an alternative way for authors to control their intellectual property and achieve guaranteed compensation as they build their brand, promote sales, and leverage additional income generating opportunities. This book is about placing the control of your success in your own hands." (Page 15)

I found this book fascinating and mind-expanding. The examples and specifics are here for every author to see they need more than a book--instead they need to tap into their author power.

In the final pages of the book, she writes, "I wrote AUTHOR POWER to share my journey to empower authors. In the process, it became a real how-to book and road map that puts the power of profit creation in the pen of the creator." (page 263)

From my years in publishing, I appreciate the value and creative energy in this book. I highly recommend it.

[A Story Explorer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was hoping for more specific actionable items in the book but I find it focused more on generally informing aspiring authors. It could be good for someone who is interested in becoming an author but I realized I wasn't the correct audience for this book as I was hoping it would focus on a fiction author perspective. In the end, I didn't find it relevant or quite what I was looking for an aspiring fiction author.

DNF @ 36%

2 out of 5 rating for me!


(An ARC was provided for an honest review. I leave this review voluntarily.)

[Felita Daniels · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, I have to applaud this author for taking the time and effort to document what has worked for her and shared it with the rest of us. She didn’t asked us to pay hundreds to attend a seminar or sign up for an online course. She piled her experience, examples, tips and approach into a book any writer could afford. It is WELL worth this price and more. This will be a longish review because the content has so much to offer about the ‘business’ of writing. I think that is important.
Today’s authors are usually holding down a day job, attending to a family, putting time into their writing craft and also trying to learn about how to market their book with social media. Not all writers are born salesmen and promoting their own creative work is awkward for most. This book takes the promotional portion of a writing career to an entirely different level. It is very similar to product placement in the movies. I know what you are thinking. Where do I find time to learn and do that?
If writing isn’t just a hobby for you, if you want to make a career out of it and let go of that day job somewhere along the way, then you owe it to yourself to have a business plan. Branding yourself, your characters, and having multiple streams of income from your work are going to get you to your goals faster. Here’s just one priceless paragraph to help the writer:
“Okay, you’re about to call a complete stranger and ask them for money. Step back. Reframe. No. That’s not it. You’re about to call a really cool, creative person and forge a professional relationship and maybe even make a new friend. You’re going to ask them to believe in the opportunity you want to present to them, to read and consider your follow-up e-mail, and to invest in your idea. And maybe, if you can establish a professional friendship, it will turn into results you can imagine and some you can’t.”
I will admit that I think Lynn maybe had a head start compared to the rest of us. It seems with some of the name dropping and info about her previous career she may have already been around the entertainment industry and had a few contacts we may not have. Her character in her novels is also an entrepreneur, this may have made it a touch easier to associate an industry with her novels. However, we could all put this plan into place on some level. Maybe you don’t know a movie star, but the local weather man attends your church. Is there an opportunity there? Maybe you can’t land a national chain like 1-800 Flowers, but could you forge a 10% discount at a local restaurant for anyone that takes of picture of themselves with your book in hand? Maybe.
This author includes technical as well as inspirational content. There are examples of contact letters and emails, scripts for making phone calls, bullet lists of the benefits of sponsorship, examples of contracts for promotional agreements, sections on alternative marketing campaigns, and a resources section.
I think any author that intends on making income from their creative work needs to read this book. Hands down 5 stars. I was provided a free copy of this book through NetGalley to read and write an honest review.

[Shannon L. Gonzalez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Review:

Author Power: Profit Before You Publish
By Lynn Isenberg

Writers of all publishing camps, whether traditional or indie, need to read this book. Lynn Isenberg brings her experience from the business/marketing world, Hollywood and the publishing world in a remarkable new way to increase that ever-so-sought after visibility.

Branding takes on a whole new definition with Isenberg’s tutelage. She outlines ways for authors to look outside the norm for getting their message, their novels to new audiences than ever thought of before. Just as Hollywood clamors for deals with big businesses to place products in their films, authors can utilize the same ideas within their novels with brand partnerships.

She warns that this isn’t “selling out” but rather joining forces with others that equally need the exposure to ensure it’s a win-win for both the author and the company/charity. It doesn’t stop with just product endorsements, but is limitless with social causes that need more attention to benefit charities and whatnot. As long as the book stays true and doesn’t pander to products, but rather showcases them in real ways the character would use or interact with them.

This book advises authors to look into tradeshows, conventions and other out-of-the-box venues to showcase the author’s work married to the subject of those gathered there. The avenues within multi-media are endless as technology merges with story more and more. Apps, video games, videos, short films, commercials etc. are among the many that could be included in this marketing avenue.

Author Power offers not only the roadmap of how to utilize these techniques but offers basic scripts for cold calling and examples of basic contracts. It offers sample press releases and multi-media sponsorship packages and ways to create alternative marketing campaigns.

Above all, it brings to the forefront that in today’s publishing world, an author can no longer sit back and write without also being a business person. They need to think beyond the pages and be creative in bringing their books to the world. They need to bring the world into their books.

To learn more about Lynn Isenberg’s Focus Media and her other work please visit her website at: http://lynnisenberg.com/


FTC Disclaimer: I was given an ARC of this title by Net Galley for review purposes only. No other compensation was awarded.

[Eleanore · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're a writer or author, blogger, freelancer, poet, or playwright, or anything related to the industry, you're concerned with marketing. You have to market yourself, your brand, your projects, your abilities, your know-how and experience, your expertise, your ideas.

In short, everything.

What if you had a book that would help you tackle all of that, and enable you to find ways to make money off your projects even before you'd actually published?

Allow me to introduce to you the nonfiction work Author Power: Profit Before You Publish, by Lynn Isenberg.

This tremendous resource incorporates Isenberg's own experience, suggestions, and personal anecdotes (both about what worked and what didn't work) to underscore eminently doable steps that any author (published or not) can take to get their book or project in front of an audience more quickly and effectively.

From making a profit on your project prior to its publication to carefully designing your personal brand to extending invitations for other organizations or businesses (or both!) to join you in your branding endeavors, Author Power is the kind of resource every industry professional needs on his or her reference shelf.

I guarantee you'll have at least one "I never thought of that before!" revelation moment while reading, and that Isenberg's reasonable, practical directions will help you apply that very idea to your own platform.

Being an author (blogger, poet, playwright) isn't easy. You've signed up for a lot of hard work, the kind that demands commitment, consistency, discipline, patience, and creativity. But doesn't it feel better to know that others have trodden the paths ahead of you and have advice to share?

# # #

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this work from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest, though not necessarily positive, review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

[Nina Harrington · Rating 3 out of 5]

This guide is geared towards authors who want to leverage every aspect of their non-fiction and to a lesser extent, fiction print books.
Written by a professional from the movie industry the concept of branded content in your work and branded entertainment is brilliantly explained and explored in depth.
How you approach and pitch to potential sponsors is quite fascinating and a real insight into how books and branding can be combined.
This approach to leveraging your book ideas is both motivating and inspiring.
Recommended.

Thanks to Focus Media for providing an ARC on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Ella Drayton · Rating 5 out of 5]

**I received this copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

Anyone who considers themselves an author or is even thinking about getting into the writing world NEEDS this book! There are so many great tips in this book. It is a treasure trove of information for authors who are trying to launch their career and make money at it. Lynn Isenberg has done a great service to authors everywhere by writing this book!

[Penny Sansevieri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book a lot --- I think the author did a good job of sharing new ideas (which is hard to do in book marketing) and create an easy-to-implement roadmap for any author reading this book. I only wish the author had gone lighter on self-publishing. My takeaway from this book was that it's very hard and it's not. You just have to do good research and produce a book that's high quality i.e. good cover, great editing, etc.

[Kristina Aziz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book starts with a glowing forward, followed by what basically reads as a sales page: exciting to read, but little actual information. I did like the graphics and format, which made it quick to read and easy to skim. And though I consider myself a retired writer because of the publishing and self publishing bs, this book made me want to have a manuscript so I could have author power too.