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“Can Being
Published Take Your Career to the Next Level?”
Are you receiving the high
income and recognition you know you deserve?
Results You Can Expect
At
every convention and workshop of the National Speakers Association that I’ve
attended, when the subject of publishing comes up, the experts say, “Get
published! It pays to be published!” I have heard that advice over and over
again. I know you have, too. I have to tell you, I agree totally. In the last 10
years, I have published more than 250 speakers and consultants. Many tell me how
their new books set them apart from being “just another speaker” or “just
another consultant.” They have experienced, first hand, what I call the
power of publishing. If you have a well produced book of your own
already, you know how great it feels to be separate from the herd. Even better,
you know what it feels like to be rewarded with the high fees and respect you
deserve. If you are not published yet, NOW is the time to take action.
My
husband, motivational speaker Doug Smart, CSP, was a “professional speaker” for
7 years before he got published. I put “professional speaker” in quotes because
he wasn’t treated like a professional. It was as if he was lumped in with the
“dime a dozen” mentality that many clients have for beginner and mid-level
speakers. After 7 years of not getting the income he felt he deserved (SEVEN
YEARS! Sometimes he’s a slow learner!!! ha!),
he got fed up. Feeling frustrated but eager to reach a higher, more comfortable
level in the speaking business, we published his first book, “TimeSmart: How
Real People Really Get Things Done at Work.” To be accurate, I should say, we
published his first TWO BOOKS! Even though Doug will tell you he procrastinated
terribly when it came to writing a manuscript, once he finally started writing,
the information came so fast and so easily that he had enough material for two
books. So we simultaneously published a second book, “TimeSmart: How Real People
Really Get Things Done at Home.” Do you see the differences in the titles? We
were afraid buyers and meeting planners would confuse the two books so we had a
professional cover designer create a red cover for one and a blue cover for the
other. I didn’t mean to get this detailed, but since I’ve gone this far, let
me share a high profit tip with you: we immediately discovered that
80% of the people who bought one book also bought the other! Selling the second
book was as easy as falling off a log! The profits rolled in. But that is not
the big point I want to make. What I really want to share with you most is that
as soon as Doug started telling meeting planners about his two books, they
started treating him with more respect, especially when it came to fees. He
quit discounting his fees! He realized that as a published author he didn’t
have to cut fees. He told me he had the confidence to see himself as a notch
above his competition. This gave him a significant advantage that resulted in
more bookings and at higher fees.
Avoiding a Costly
Mistake
Yesterday I got a call from a speaker/consultant who has been in the business
for many years, but never had a book published. That got me excited. I love
helping professionals get published, whether it’s their first book or
thirty-first. Many times I’ve seen how a great looking book can help them break
through to new markets and higher levels of prestige and prosperity. But what
made me shake my head in disbelief was the amateurish way she was trying to do
it. And the potentially amateurish results were going to be put on display
for all to see – which could hurt her professionally. She told me her
editor was a friend with a degree in English. Another friend, a hobby-artist,
designed the cover. And a consultant friend who heard about a “great deal” gave
her a lead on a printer in China
who was both good with English and cut rate. The caller was going to save a
bundle and her clients would never know. WRONG!!!!!
She
called me because her mentor insisted she call. He could see she was about to
make the disastrous mistake of publishing a book that looked homemade. He
knew clients would be unimpressed and that it could severely damage her brand.
We
talked for 15 minutes. Eventually I explained how I am a “boutique publisher.”
That means my clients can expect 3 things:
·
High
quality because
over the years I’ve assembled a team of professionals who are experts in
editing, layout design, cover design, book printing, proofreading, etc. so you
and your book will look great.
·
Low cost
because my overhead is very low: No big-budget advertising, fancy offices, or
salespeople who feed off of commissions.
·
No hassles
for you since I handle the thousands of nit-picky details for you. You save tons
of time and avoid aggravation. You can stay focused on what you do best:
speaking and consulting. My expertise is book publishing so I do the heavy
lifting for you in that department. That frees you to devote your energies to
running your business rather than getting mired in the details of producing a
book. However, I happily leave it up to you -- you can be as involved or
uninvolved as you want. Some authors want to be hands-on through the book
production process. Others prefer to stay removed.
We
talked about what she wanted to accomplish with her book. And we talked about
how she wanted her book to look. I gave her lots of insider tips on how to get
the most bang for the buck. And when I called back with a free quote, it turned
out to be $2,380 cheaper than if she had done all the work without me!
I will
show you how to get a book that makes you proud. And I’ll show you how to
save time and money on your book.
Since
you are a speaker or consultant, I’m going to ask you to do 3 things.
-
Tell your colleagues about James & Brookfield Publishers, LLC
so they can get published with high quality, low cost and no hassles. I
appreciate referrals.
-
If you want to be published, call me now at (770) 587-1050.
I don’t care if your manuscript is finished or not. The sooner we talk the
sooner I can help you get the most bang for your buck. THIS CONSULTATION IS
FREE. So call now at (770) 587-1050.
-
When
we talk, please be sure to mention that you read this page. I have a free
gift for you. I will send you a book that has been published by James and
Brookfield Publishers, LLC. You can see for yourself that the quality of our
books meets or beats the quality of books in book stores. Plus, you’ll learn
from some very smart people whose books we have published, such as Nido
Qubein, CSP, CPAE (4 books published by James & Brookfield, LLC); Bruce
Wilkinson, CSP; (3 books); DJ Harringston, CSP (7 books); Donna
Satchel (6 books); and Sharon Spano (1 book).
-----------------------------------
Call Gayle
Smart at James & Brookfield Publishers to discuss a new book for you.
It doesn’t
matter if your manuscript is finished or not.
THIS
CONSULTATION IS FREE.
So call now at (770) 587-1050 or email
Gayle@JamesAndBrookfield.com
to set a time to discuss your new book.
Be sure to
mention this page and receive a free gift
AND a
$200 discount!
----------------------------------
Hardcover or Soft? 3
Important Considerations
We
produce both so the choice is yours. However, keep in mind there are several
important factors to consider in choosing between hardcover with a dust jacket
or a soft cover book.
-
What do you want to accomplish with your book?
Some of my authors use their books as a tool to gain access to executive level
people. In essence, their books are “expensive business cards” that pry open
closed doors. A hardcover book generally makes a stronger statement than soft
cover that you are executive level caliber. However, hardcover or soft, both
can proclaim expertise much louder than your competition that is not
published.
-
What selling price point do you want to target?
When we talk, I can advise you on this. It is not uncommon for a hardcover
book to sell for twice the retail price of a soft cover. There are lots of
exceptions, however, so nowadays you see soft cover books at the highest price
levels, too.
-
What is your budget?
Not surprisingly, a hardcover book costs more to produce than a soft cover. Be
sure to calculate your ROI (return on investment) in terms of both profits
from book sales and additional business you can expect to gain because you are
a published author. One of the great things about investing in your own book
(unlike, for example, investing in office equipment, brochures or advertising)
is you can sell your books to get your money back and make a profit.
When
you and I talk, tell me what you want your book to look like and what you want
it to do for you. We can discuss the pros and cons of hardcover vs. soft cover.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Call Gayle
Smart at James & Brookfield Publishers to discuss a new book for you.
It doesn’t
matter if your manuscript is finished or not.
THIS
CONSULTATION IS FREE.
And I
promise you will find the conversation valuable.
So call now: (770) 587-1050 or
email
Gayle@JamesAndBrookfield.com
to set a time to discuss your new book.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Getting Started – Some
Smart Tips You Can Use NOW
I like
to help my authors make the manuscript writing process as easy as it can be. It
should be a labor of love, not a chore. Too many people agonize over writing. It
doesn’t have to be hard.
When it
comes to writing a manuscript, being a speaker or consultant gives you a huge
advantage. You are already paid for your expertise. So, one way to get started
is to record what you say to your audiences and clients. Then have it
transcribed. Make the necessary edits (some of us are loose with our grammar
when we speak, so that has to be cleaned up for your readers; sloppy grammar in
print can make you look less than intelligent). Many speakers and consultants
overlook the simple idea of recording their presentations. Some mistakenly think
they have to have lots of new material in order to have a worthwhile book. I
say, clients are paying you good money right now to hear what you have to say.
Give them what they crave by writing it down and publishing it in a great
looking book.
Here’s
another tip: 15 minutes of spoken material is about the length of one
traditional chapter in a book. That means a 3 hour seminar with solid, valuable
content and clear, compelling stories has enough material for 10 to 12 chapters.
Writing a manuscript might turn out to be easier than you thought!
Many
writers, including professional writers, say the toughest challenge for them is
finding excellent stories to illustrate their important points. Is this a
weak spot for you, too? Here is a way to get fantastic, original stories that
readers will find compelling, even if you’ve had trouble coming up with great
stories before. And it will help you grow your speaking or consulting
business at the same time. To get new stories, interview your clients –
and potential clients – and include their insights, wisdom and stories in
your book. Tell them it will be published by James & Brookfield Publishers, LLC.
This way they can be assured this is not a “homemade” project or wishful dream.
As soon as your book is published, immediately send each an autographed copy.
This will help position you as THE expert on your topic. And it will help create
a bond that can put you at the top of their list when choosing a speaker or
consultant.
Since
each case is different, it is best that you and I talk about your situation. I’d
like to learn what you want to accomplish with your book and what you want it to
look like. Call me at (770) 587-1050 to set a time to talk. The call, of course,
is absolutely free.
Details, Details,
Details
I once
calculated that the typical book has over 1 million places for potential errors.
Besides the big things like spelling and needing professional cover design and
professional layout, there can be errors lurking in the bar code, ISBN number
and Library of Congress number. Plus, there is potential for errant grammar,
fonts that mysteriously grow or shrink, and typefaces that change mid-sentence.
My job as the publisher of your book is to bring all of these elements together
in the right way. I make certain errors don’t creep into your beautiful book. My
team of professionals includes editors and proofreaders to double-check
everything so your book is top quality all the way. We want to make you look
great.
Opportunities Your
Books Can Create for You
After
you get one book published, don’t stop there! Get as many books published as you
can. The power of publishing can take you places you only dream about.
My husband, Doug Smart, CSP, authors or co-authors one or more new books every
year. He is up to 25 books. He has told the following story to lots of our speaker
friends over dinner and drinks. I asked him to write it down for you, too.
“I will
never forget sitting next to the President of Johnson & Johnson Middle East
Medical Sales. We chatted through an exotic meal in the opulent dining room of
the Cataract Hotel in Aswan,
Egypt,
on the banks of the Nile. I asked him why he chose me as the only outside
presenter at his conference. He said, ‘Because you are the author of 7 books.’ I
was a bit stunned. I did not know that he knew anything about my books. He
and I never spoke about my books until that meal. It was short-sighted on my
part, but I hadn’t even sent him copies of any of my books; I thought it was too
expensive to mail books to the Middle East. However, he checked me out on the
Internet and was very much aware that I authored and co-authored a total of 7
books. Wonderfully, the exact same thing happened more recently. I chatted with
the president of a division of a huge Japanese company as we dined in a gorgeous
five star restaurant on the French Riviera. I asked him why I was chosen to
deliver the closing keynote at his international conference. He said, ‘Because
you are the author of 18 books.’ Again, I was stunned because he and I had never
discussed my books. Once more, being frugal, I had not even mailed books to him
or his staff because I didn’t want to pay overseas shipping charges. But I was
thrilled to discover that out of all of the speakers on Earth, it was my website
that stood out best because I had the hook that impressed them the most. I stood
out because I authored and co-authored lots of books. From these experiences I
learned three important lessons. Get published at every opportunity. Let
everyone know how many books I’ve authored. And don’t be too cheap to mail free
books to prospective clients.”
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
What are
you waiting for?
Call Gayle
Smart at James & Brookfield Publishers to discuss a new book for you.
It doesn’t
matter if your manuscript is finished or not.
THIS CONSULTATION IS
FREE.
And I
promise you will find the conversation valuable.
So call now: (770) 587-1050 or
email
Gayle@JamesAndBrookfield.com to set a time to discuss your new book.
Receive a
gift AND a
$200 special discount!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Raving Testimonials
from Our Authors
"James and Brookfield Publishers, LLC are not simply publishers but enablers of
the highest order. Their step by step guidance helped make my first effort a
pleasure and the finished product was AAA. Thank you staff of James and
Brookfield
Publishers!”
-
Luis G. Lobo,
President, BB&T Washington Region
-
Author of
It Is Your Attitude
"James and Brookfield Publishers came highly recommended to me by someone I
respect, and then they exceeded my expectations. They made the entire
book publishing process very easy for me. I recommend James and Brookfield
Publishers without hesitation."
-
Zack Gerbarg,
MD
-
Author of
Move the Mountain
"Wow! The books were delivered yesterday and I am so happy with how everything
turned out. This is really one of my x-treme dreams come true. Please be
sure to extend my thanks to everyone who made this possible on your staff.
Here's to the next book we do together!"
-
Charlynne
Boddie
-
Author of
True Grid
"This is the beauty of working with Gayle Smart and her associates at James and
Brookfield
Publishers - we write the book and she effortlessly handles everything else."
-
Beverly Belury,
President, John Hersey International
-
Author of
Creating Contagious Leadership
Special Offer for
Readers of Speaker Net News – SAVE $200!!!!
For a
limited time, if you tell me right up front that you are contacting me because
you saw my ad in Speaker Net News and that you read this webpage, I will
deduct $200 from the price I quote for your book project! This is the first
time in 10 years I’m making this offer. Until now I have been blessed to have
all of the business I want. But I decided to grow the company. I’m proud to say
my son, Jimmy Smart, is joining me. With his expert help, we will have the
capacity to take on 4 more book projects per month and still give you the
attention you and your book deserve. The special discount offer will stay in
place until we fill our pipeline. But hurry, because once those spots are
filled, this offer will be history!
Time for Action
Don’t
waste 7 years before you publish, like my husband did! Whether it will be your
first book or your next book, the best time to put your project on the front
burner is right now. Procrastination is the scourge of writers. Get past it
and get into action by contacting me. If you are sincere about making it
happen immediately, give me a call at (770) 587-1050 or email me at
Gayle@JamesAndBrookfield.com. I look forward to talking with you. And I look
forward to showing you how to use publishing as a tool for reaching your goals
and making your dreams come true.
Sincerely,
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