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AuthorMBA Q&A with editor Deb Werksman
© 2007 AuthorMBA -
All rights reserved.
originally posted
11/28/07
Today, we at AuthorMBA are delighted to welcome Deb Werksman from
Sourcebooks, Inc., for our exclusive AuthorMBA Q&A. Deb has graciously
agreed to discuss elements of career planning and marketing for authors,
as well as answer any questions you may have about Sourcebooks and her
work as an editor.
Welcome, Deb!
AuthorMBA Q&A
1. How do you approach career planning with your authors? What steps
might you take to help them grow their careers?
I start by thinking about their readership and how their book(s) are
being received. Where do they fit into the category or subgenre? How are
we marketing the current book? What is the next book? The one after that
and after that? Where does this author want to be in 5 years? What is
their writing process and how long does it take them to produce a book?
How often is the optimum timeframe for bringing out subsequent books?
We have all these conversations and create a short- and long-term
publishing plan, with flexibility built in so we can adjust to the
changing marketplace.
2. How receptive are you to series ideas early in an author’s career?
What are the pros and cons of publishing a series from an editor’s
perspective?
I love series’, and the romance category loves series’. So I’m happy to
take on a series early in an author’s career. I’ve been known to buy 5
or 6 books at one time; we also work with a hard option sometimes,
depending on how many works are written/projected. The main pros of a
series are that you’ve got a reader base eager for the next book. The
cons are that the author may get burned out. A series, however, may be 3
books, or it might be 20, so there’s lots of flexibility there. I think
as long as an author’s readers are clamoring for more, we should give it
to them!
3. How much do writers’ brands—their image, reputation, and distinct
way of differentiating their work—factor into your decision to buy them?
A writer's brand is critical, but it doesn’t all have to be in place
already. It has to at least exist in potential. In this marketplace, the
author’s ability to differentiate themselves, and to reach out to their
readers and deliver the marketplace is essential. So it’s tough for us
when an author is either shy, unwilling to do media, or feels they are
“above” this part of the process. We’re really big on teamwork, so
authors who are team players love it here.
4. What do you like to see from an author in terms of PR/marketing
efforts?
I don’t always look for a PR/marketing plan with a proposal because
sometimes they’re not well-informed. We’re known for our marketing, so
I’m just as happy to let our PR/marketing departments create the plan,
although sometimes an author has a particular platform and great ideas
for reaching their audience, and that we definitely want to know about.
We prefer that an author NOT hire an outside publicist as it’s tough for
the author to get value out of doing that.
5. When you read a writer whose work you like--published or
unpublished--do you review their web site?
I usually don’t, and I probably should! We’re giving our authors their
own web page on our site and developing a huge marketing initiative so
they can exploit that as much as possible. We love it when an author is
active in the blogosphere and is really out there actively and
aggressively promoting their work in every way available via technology.
...And now it's up to you! Deb will be checking back periodically
throughout the day to answer questions, so feel free to post any
questions you have, and thank you again to Deb!
About Deb Werksman
Deb Werksman acquires single-title romance fiction in all
subgenres--paranormal, historical, romantic suspense, contemporary and
erotic romance. She is looking for romance fiction that is at least
90,000 words, creates an amazing world that she can escape into, and
that is highly saleable. She thinks strategically about her authors'
careers and is looking for authors who want to grow and flourish in a
great independent publishing house. Check out submission guidelines on
http://www.sourcebooks.com.
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