Specializing

Posted by Jocelyn on July 9th, 2008


One of the best things you can do when building your writing career is to specialize in a certain area that highlights your expertise. By continuously covering topics in the same area, you will begin to build name recognition and essentially be “branding” yourself as the go-to person for your topic of choice. Specializing helps you to acquire media placements and creates a strong readership eagerly awaiting your next book.

This is essential for non-fiction writers but can also be applied to fiction writers, as well. One of our clients, Ad Hudler, writes about being the stay-at-home dad in two of his most recent works of fiction, HOUSEHUSBAND and MAN OF THE HOUSE. Both books deal with life in the home, whether you are taking on the role of Mr. Mom or trying to bring back your macho nature while still doing all of the household chores. Ad writes about what he knows and it comes across in his work. He is an expert on the life of the American Man/Dad and what that means to his life, his masculinity and his future. He is exploring a similar theme in both of these books and therefore creating his own specialty when it comes to fiction and viewpoint. He recently provided a book review over at GalleyCat on THE SCORE by Faye Flam. The review was a great outlet for Hudler to display his unique perspective and build a following.

The more you specialize in specific areas, the better your chances are for success in publishing.

Man of the House by Ad Hudler

The Lace Reader

Posted by Gloria Kelley on July 3rd, 2008


The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry

Kelley & Hall worked as the publicist for Brunonia Barry’s originally self-published novel, The Lace Reader. We helped to secure coverage that eventually led to a multi-million dollar deal with William Morrow.

The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry launches later this month. We worked with Brunonia Barry on her journey from being a self-published author to landing a deal with William Morrow. Here is an interview with Barry from Book Club Girl at the ALA.

Lisa Genova

Posted by Jocelyn on June 11th, 2008


Still Alice by Lisa Genova

Lisa Genova, self-published author of Still Alice, credits Kelley & Hall for getting her book noticed by national media, which resulted in a six-figure book deal.

We wanted to send a congratulations to our wonderful client, Lisa Genova, for her new deal with Simon & Schuster! Here is the mention from Publisher’s Weekly.

Pocket Wins Debut

Anthony Ziccardi at Pocket was the victor in an auction for a first novel by Lisa Genova titled Still Alice; Vicky Bijur sold world rights. The book is about a successful 50-year-old professor and renowned linguistics specialist who has finally found time to enjoy her marriage and career now that her three children are grown, but whose accelerating memory lapses culminate in a diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer’s. As she struggles with the steady stripping away of her cognitive abilities, she finds new meaning in the moment and a different level of intimacy in the indeterminate time that remains. Genova, who has a Ph.D. in neuroscience from Harvard, is an online columnist for the National Alzheimer’s Association. Senior editor Kathy Sagan will edit, and planned pub date is early 2009; post-BEA, there are translation rights offers on the table in several countries.

Book Trailers

Posted by Jocelyn on June 11th, 2008


Interesting article in today’s Wall Street Journal on the effectiveness of book trailers. I have to say that, although I do like some of the trailers created for certain books, I don’t find them effective enough to send me running to a store to buy my copy. I did, however, love the video Jen Lancaster did for her newest memoir, SUCH A PRETTY FAT. Check it out here.