How to Get Book Endorsements
By Brenda Nixon
On average, bookstore shoppers spend a mere 15 seconds scanning a book’s back cover. If you’re the author, this stat means you have precious little time to grab and hold a potential buyer’s attention, and help him make a purchase decision.
How do you do that? With glowing endorsements, of course.
People love reading what others think of a book, and endorsement can persuade people to buy it. Even if you’re self-publishing, you can secure endorsements for the back cover before your book goes to the printer.
How do you get endorsements before your book is published? Do the mental gymnastics and think of authors, doctors, theologians, celebrities, politicians, or high-profile people who have a wide circle of influence.
Then email those “influencers” asking if they’d provide an endorsement for your upcoming book. Be sure to give each a deadline to respond. Hopefully, they’ll reply in the affirmative and you can send the manuscript, the galleys, or a few chapters. Then gather the ones you like or those that best fit the book and send them to your publisher (or printer if you’re self-publishing).
I co-authored a delightful Christmas giftbook, A Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts. Months before the manuscript was finalized, I sought endorsements from several authors and even a university professor of Christmas history. One of the endorsements came back with a rave review. . . unfortunately after deadline. Now we’re using that comment on our book’s webpage.
My parenting title, The Birth to Five Book: Confident Childrearing Right from the Start, includes a variety of endorsements. One came from a dear friend and multi-published author, Martha Bolton. She writes, “Brenda Nixon’s new book is not a ‘look at everything you’re doing wrong’ instructional guide for parents. Rather, it is an encouraging and helpful aid to get you through those challenging early years. She answers your questions, treats mom and dad as important partners in the parenting process, and she does it all with the spirit of a teacher and coach. I highly recommend Brenda’s book to all new parents.” Signed, Martha Bolton, Emmy nominated writer and author of over 50 books. Isn’t that a compliment — but more important a way to woo potential readers to buy the book?
Think outside the box. Suppose you’re working on a book about hot vacation spots. Then contact travel agencies and the American Automobile Association (AAA) about giving your book an endorsement. Remember the adage, nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Think beyond your book contract. Secure your cover endorsements now.
©2008, Brenda Nixon.
Brenda Nixon, www.BrendaNixon.com
Speaker to parents & professionals who serve children.
Author of The Birth to Five Book (Revell, ‘09)
Parenting Power in the Early Years (WinePress, ‘01)
Get a dose of discipline tips at http://www.brendanixon.com/newsletter.htm Co-Author of A Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts www.Christmas-scrapbook.info
August 12th, 2008 at 19:07
Wow, never would have thought of the AAA for an endorsement. Very insightful blog today Brenda.
Would you suggest copyrighting your book before sending some out to potential endorsement possibilities?
August 12th, 2008 at 20:21
Great insights, Brenda, as always! I have always found your advice to be helpful in my writing career.
August 12th, 2008 at 22:32
With the second book almost under my belt, I’ve learned to think ahead about endorsements, too.
By thinking ahead, the author can give potential endorsers time to read galleys and not shove a deadline in the mix. When you can, extending courtesies to potential endorsers is really good manners. I’m more likely to say I’ll read someone’s galleys for possible endorsement if I have more lead time until endorsement is due.
Thank you, Kelly, for having Brenda as a guest. And, Brenda, thank you for spending several days on this vital topic…Cathy Messecar
August 13th, 2008 at 15:00
Sheri, thanks for visiting the blog again. About your copyright question, the law states that as soon as your idea is committed to paper it is copyrighted. Therefore, when you send your book (manuscript) to potential endorsers, you are sending them copyrighted material.
You can copyright the expression of an idea (your writing), but not the idea itself. Similarly, that’s why there are many expressions (recipes) of a dark-colored soda pop, which we know as Pepsi, Coke, Diet Rite, etc.