How to Turn a Book Into a Movie

I’m often asked what I look for when I evaluate books for the movie biz.

First and foremost, I look for the elements that are important to my employers–things that they are specifically looking for in terms of genre, execution, etcetera. I read for a couple of different places, and each has a slightly different mandate.

In general, in order for a book to become a movie it has to have a strong, forward-moving plot line, and a premise that you can easily picture on a poster or in a TV ad campaign. Deal killers are:

1) The story has been done before
2) The concept is “soft”–takes too long to explain because it has a lot of nuance. This is also called “execution dependent.” The Hours is a prime example of this. Generally speaking, you can only get away with a soft concept when the book is a bestseller.
3) The story is small, meaning the stakes don’t feel like they matter very much or that the obstacles seem easily surmountable.

If you have read a book and think you have what it takes to turn it into a movie–

DO NOT START WRITING.

It is imperative that you obtain the film rights to the book before you begin the adaptation.

“But Superfast Reader, what if I write it so good that the movie people just have to have it?”

The answer to that is litigation.

If the rights have already been taken, not only will no one read your script, they might actually take legal action against you to stop you from writing (and the law would be on their side). In the case of Writers’ Guild credit arbitration, which determines, in the case of multiple writers, who contributed what elements to a screenplay, only writers hired by the rights-holder will be considered. So if you think one of your ideas ended up in the movie, you’re basically out of luck–unless you know for sure that someone at that company read your script and stole your idea. These kinds of lawsuits do happen, but they are very costly to bring to court. And because of high-profile story-stealing cases like Coming to America, studios, financiers, and production companies are on their guard. Nobody, and I mean nobody, in their right mind will touch your script for their with a 10-foot pole.

If the rights aren’t available, you might think that you should write the screenplay to prove that the book would make a great movie, enticing a moneybags to option the book for you. Here, you run the risk of losing the book to someone else, which would take you back into the nightmare of the 1st situation. You’re just setting yourself up for heartbreak.

To find out rights availability for a book, the official route is to call the publisher and ask to speak to “Subsidiary Rights.” More than likely, you will get a recording requesting that you fax or email a request. Some publishers have this information on their websites as well. You are inquiring about the film rights, and in your letter you must also establish why they should give you this information. If they don’t deem you a legitimate candidate, they might never, ever respond to you.

The good news is that many writers have websites and allow you to contact them directly. Your best bet, if you really fall in love with a book, is to make your case directly to the author, and get him on your side. If you’re lucky, you’ll hit it off and she’ll option her book to you. Now you have the legal right to shop the book around, write the screenplay, and make the movie.

Last night’s work read was the new book by a best-selling author who I just really don’t get at all. His books are way too weird for me, and this was no exception.

529 thoughts on “How to Turn a Book Into a Movie”

  1. Hi my first book was published January 09. The title is “Suppose Jesus Had Thrown In The Towel And Given Up On Us”. It is an inspirational book about the many struggles I dealt with the first few months of my marriage. Lies, cheating, alcoholism, near fatal accident and how the Lord delivered my husband and our marriage is stronger today then ever.
    It is a very good book and everyone whose read it gives it great reviews and it has encouraged some married women to fight for their marriages through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. My question is I would like to have a movie made out of it but do not know anything about how to go about it. I sent it to Oprah Winfrey about 3 months ago but have not heard from her. I would love for “LIFETIME” to make a movie out of it because it is a true story and I feel it would help many others who find themselves in the situation I was in. How do I go about getting in touch with “LIFETIME” to present my book to for a possible movie?

  2. I published a book in March 2005 titled Abducted From Fire Creek. Readers have told me it was like watching a movie, that i should have it made into a movie. It’s filled with suspense, has a great cast and keeps your mind on it constantly. Where do i go from here? Whom do i contact? How?

  3. I wrote a native english memoir, it is a true story, am trying to turn it to a lifetime movie,do you know how much it cost,and how i can find people to help me to turn it to a lifetime movie,thanks and God bless

  4. “Coping With In-Laws And Outlaws”
    ISBN No. 1-4241-1171-4
    By: T. Ray Dickerson
    ‘A 1912 Kansas City, MO Divorce & Murder Mystery – based on a true case with retired or missing old-west figures helping the main character.’
    It is a short fictional novel with allot of historical accuracies. As-well, I have been informed by many of its readers how this would make an intriguing movie …any takers?
    T. Ray Dickerson
    tray1881@aol.com
    (Author has copies on hand to send for legitimate reviews/possibllities).

  5. Can you option a book without paying the author much but negotiating a good compensation based on a percent of the film’s budget? Is this customary? Do you have any sample options?

  6. You should read the Fablehaven series written by Brandon Mull. Its about a brother and sister who go to visit their grandparents. The grandparents end up being the caretakers of a magical preserve! But the preserve is on the brink of destruction when an evil witch named Muriel triesto take over Fablehaven.

  7. I’m beginning to wonder how professional this web-sight is! I ask about turning my book into a movie and all I get is a bunch of gibberish! I’m not kidding, people from Florida, Utah, the Northeast, and Ohio, all think it would be a good flick! Can I get a simple answer?
    T.R.D.

  8. well, sorry Ray but the simple answer is: “shut up and work” 🙂 and someday maybe u’ll get lucky 🙂

  9. Gee Kopale,
    You make a perfect example of what I’m talking about, I’ve done a boat load of work, (see publishamerica.com “Author News”, and then come back and talk.
    Oh, thanks for the additional gibberish …and-once again, all my questions have been answered!

  10. A lot of questions have been answered already in previous posts. The answers really dont change from there.
    If you cut through the gibberish its actually good advice.

  11. My apologies to kopale, and any others whom may have mis-interpreted me as a someone who, “MUST”, have their short novel: “COPING WITH INLAWS AND OUTLAWS” – ISBN No. 1-4241-1171-4 (Publish America, LLLC – Baltimore, MD – publishamerica.com/bookstore and all the other fine sights), made into a movie. I was merely inquiring about the notion of it coming to fruition …and-well, I’ll take my questions elsewhere and hope to see you all on the booksigning circuit. And get to work!
    All The Best,
    Tom-T. Ray Dickerson

  12. Dear Ray,

    I started writing before I would learn how to write 🙂 I was very little and my sister could write down my thoughts for me… I didn’t need to learn how to create stories… No-one teaches to eagles how to fly and no-one gives lessons to fishes in swimming… But in publishing world, after the creative work is done, you really need someone to teach you what you got to do… And guess who is there for you – no-one in reality… 🙂 Very often authors on the publishing field are alone just like their souls in life… So, you have to find your own way to swim along in this river as well…
    and never mind misfortune… You’ll turn will come some day… and I hope it won’t be as late as for Henri Beyle (Stendhal) which was one of the greatest writers in the world…;)

  13. Yes-yes kopale,
    What you have said makes my whole point, you’re trying to be too deep …and that my friend, leads to ‘gib…’, awe never mind.
    An Eagle gets pushed out of the nest just as a Fish must take that first breath and that, is universal. Except, in the publishing world we get no where if we don’t ask questions and all though we can’t always get the answers we want, at least they were asked. And-yet, in the process we meet all kinds of characters.

  14. Final Attempt,
    Is there a legitimate web-sight/address for the various movie studios where an author can send their published novel for movie considerations? I ask this because the few I have inquired to, all want you/us to sign up with them and also pay a fee.
    And actually, I don’t care if my publisher gets a major portion of the residuals since this type of venture would only boost my next books title interests. (It’s almost complete and will be due out within a few months).
    That’s All…

  15. Yep, my dear friend… 😉 only we, people in art, can help each other and give some advices away, but unfortunately I haven’t been through it yet, so there is not something serious I can advise u… 🙁 But I hope that the global connection of creative minds will change something for u… I mean, there are lots of artists out there who might help you… And good luck to u my friend! 😉

  16. Kopale and Ray thanks for the post, you guys are funny,hope one day our book will be turned to a movie,kopale can I ask you a question did you turn your book to a movie, because I was reading your post you posted back in 2007, thanks. my ISBN NUMBER IS 1441532889, you can find it on http://www.bn.com or http://www.amazon.com. God bless you all

  17. Hey Josephine! Thanks for your lovely comment 😉 And your book is really interesting one! Well, what can I tell you? – since I found out that my uncle wasn’t a movie-maker, I realized that my book wouldn’t be turned into a movie 😀 So, at the time I’m looking for an uncle which will be a movie maker 🙂 There is no another way to get anything turned into a movie 😀

  18. Hi,

    I have just published my first book, everyone who has read it say it would make a fab movie, it has a very different story line to most things i have seen. Its a fantasy, and i think we are all in need of something fresh, Please help, any ideas?

    Kind regards,

    Michelle Lennard

  19. Thanks Josephine and Hi Michelle,
    Yes that kopale is quite a character, isn’t he? As for me, what I’ve been doing is surfing the web to make a list of anyone who may have an address where I can send a copy for review and/or submission of “Coping With In-Laws And Outlaws” ISBN No. 1-4241-1171 softcover & 978-1-4489-1535-4 hardcover …and for those who can’t see beyond there nose, it is available in LARGE PRINT. I’ll keep all of you posted if I find any hidden jewels.
    And hey kopale, what movies had your uncle supposedly filmed? This is so I’ll be sure to stay away from him. HA!!

  20. Well, to tell you the truth, I’ve been away from publishing world for a long time… but the only serious advice that can be given in this case is:

    1) find a good literary agent which will take care of everything and will lead you to the correct way!
    2) If you have self-published a book, try to find someone who writes screenplays based on books and then if he/she won’t be able to find a movie-maker for filming it, you should look for some literary agent which sells screenplays.

    And of course, if you learn how to write screenplays you can write one by yourself and then send it to a screenplay literary agents or film-studios.

    No-one makes movies directly from books… So, at first you gotta take care of screenplay… If book becomes extremely popular and bestseller, they take care of everything but if your work isn’t that kind of book yet, at first take care of creating screenplay out of your book and then move on…

    One more way for turning a book into a movie is that you gotta get tooooooo lucky: some movie-maker should read it and like it very, very much…

    So, just to break it down for you:

    1) Find someone who writes screenplays according to books / or create screenplay yourself.
    2) Google some movie-studios which accept screenplays from the beginner writers / or find a literary agent which sells screenplays.

    And Ray, yep! – you better leave my uncle alone 🙂

  21. “Both New and Veteran Writers …Be Careful of the Advice You Receive”

    On the subject of turning books into movies it was while scanning the web I happened upon a list of, ‘what not to do’, as you outline the book you are about to write. And the one I found most intriguing, said: Do not … ‘make your first and second main characters any older than 40-Years old’. And the reason for this is? Hollywood believes most movie-goers are teenage to aged-30. (Also, people over 40 tend to use Net-flix …they said). Tell me people, (and you too kopale {just kidding} hoo-boy), is this out of the top of their head!! Or for that matter, their behind?
    I say this because Families young and old, and busy people of ALL ages use Net-flix, as well as satelite and cable TV movie channels.
    So my advice is, ‘whatever fictional or non fictional book project you’re wrapped up in, well-then, make the characters any age you want!’
    Such As: “Coping With In-Laws And Outlaws” ISBN No. 1-4241-1171-4, has two main characters that are age-43 & 35. My guess is, I might as well give up now and throw my short novel into the trash-bucket.
    DO NOT LET “HOLLYWOOD” INFLUENCE YOUR DREAM, MANY NEW DIRECTORS GO OUTSIDE THE CIRCLE…
    T. RAY D.

  22. Good point AJ,
    Not only is the age not important but the genre as well because if it is a great story then the appropriate readers, and then hopefully audiences alike, will flock to it.
    Except I like to think, “Coping With In-Laws And Outlaws”, ISBN No. 978-1-4489-1535-4 (hardcover), is for the history & mystery enthusiasts alike. And as well, a little 21st Century C.S.I. is tweeked into this 1912 murder case with some old west facts for a bonus. After all, real life has always been stranger than fiction.
    T.R.D.

  23. “My guess is, I might as well give up now and throw my short novel into the trash-bucket.” NOWAYS!!! I’ve been thinking the same way but u never know when u need it!!! 😉 U’ve been spending ur time, energy on it and it’s really worthy….! U never know who will help u and who will need ur work! So, u can give up but don’t throw it away, dear Ray! In my letter up there I said something about Stendal… He is one of the greatest writers in the world, but for years no-one knew about him! People didn’t even know that they buried a genius… but then other great writers found his works and made them popular… This should be good lesson for everyone – that means only people in art are cover for each other and only they care about……. Unfortunately, at the time I can’t help u right now, but maybe there is someone else who can? u never know!!! The biggest problem in succeeding in arts is a lack of contacts to right people… So, u just gotta find the right people… and they are all over the world.. just very few, unfortunately… Actually soon I’m gonna create web-site where people like u will have a chance to get better contacts with needed people and get better advices and help from them… I want to create a website where the “global creative minds” will join to each other and work together to succeed… so, u never know when u’ll get whatever u need right now… give up if u want and have a rest, but don’t throw it away…

  24. Thanks kopale …but,
    I was being sarcastic when I said that and don’t be so serious you, you nutcase you. What I meant was, if we all take every grain of advice to heart then none of us will get anywhere.
    Keep Chugging Along,
    T. Ray

  25. Hi Kopale thanks for your post again so funny, yes sure my book is so interesting, can I ask you a question, have you been near death? or have you escaped death six time, well I did it that is why I realized that The End May Be A N ew Beginning, I never taught my life could ever turn around, everywhere I went death was on my tail, but God is good, with his help I manage to cheat death 6 times, everything is on my native memoir, oh sorry to hear that your uncle was not a movie maker He was going to help me to turn my book, to a movie, but I think you can help me, because you have a lot of information.
    God bless and good luck, let me know if you find one

  26. Hi Ray,
    Thanks for the post is funny where you said you will leave Kopale’s uncle alone make me laugh
    you and Kopale you are so funny, are you cousins or do you know each other, you dont need a movie maker you and Kopale you got all you can turn our book to a movie, but let me know if you find that hidden jewel,share with us please.
    God bless

  27. hahaha :))) Josephine, don’t worry about my uncle :)) actually maybe one day I’ll really help u cuz this year I’m starting going to a movie-making university 🙂 That’s my childhood dream…I was studying law but I forgot about it and followed to my dream and I hope I’ll be successful in it…

    Being close to death 6 times? 🙂 I know how that feels 🙂 I can’t even count how many times I’ve been close to that 🙂 I’m not american and I don’t live there at the time… and the place where I grew up looked like a shamble… It’s hard not to experience the fear of death when u’re in fight where there are 200 guys at least and when u see one of them running towards you with an ax in his hand :)… and yep, u’re right – God is great! when we struggle for good purposes he is beside!

    And Ray, maybe you’ve been sarcastic but I’ve seen a lot of writers which started that way and ended up with running away from arts… but it will be better if you’ll choose words while talking to people… I’m talking about “nutcase” because if u write that way too, others will throw ur books into the trashcan… 🙂 Person which is in arts, especially a writer, should sound a little bit differently…

  28. Oh one more thing because to find someone to turn our book to a movie, I think we can turn our book to a movie by our self, let us start with one book we make movie on it, and then we take another one we make movie on it until we turn all books we want to turn to a movie,and thenwhat we will do is we will look dynamic media services for rent voila we turned our book to a movie by our self, audiences easy to find, in a mall or any where, because I saw one talk show i went to promote my book there everything was rent,cameras etc audiences family members,and we buy them everymonth on Direct tv, dish or cable.

    God bless our dream, one day will come true

  29. Josephine …hi,
    No, kopale and I are not related nor have we ever met and as a matter of fact, our rants started only a week ago. But I will say this about him, I think he’s very ambitious and has a zest for writing/producing/directing, (and he’ll probably do good if he doesn’t ask his uncle for advice) …except, I’m observing my wry humor and sarcasms are getting him riled-up, HA!!
    As far as a jewel in the ruff movie studio that accepts reviews well so far it seems any new authors or long time ones whom are yet to be discovered, are required to go through several sources/channels, and alot of manuscript requirements. But I still have hope a handful may make an exception. And if one does, the writers here will be the 2nd to know about them. (After My Publisher In Baltimore, MD).
    T. Ray D.

    Kopale,
    Hurry up and get those classes out of the way cause all the horses are waiting to be let out of the barn! Seriously-though …Good Luck In Your Endeavor. Oh, and your not a nutcase because my friend, that …was sarcasm.
    (TOM) – T. Ray Dickerson

  30. 🙂 Ok… well, let’s see what will come out of our tryings… 🙂 The only thing life has taught me well and is 100% sure is that we gotta struggle, struggle, one more time struggle and some day we will win! :))) So, let’s try and then help out each other 😉 Every person with artistic soul is like a candle which lights in the darkness and this candle should light up another one…

  31. kopale My Fellow Artist (creator),
    Just as you have trouble understanding my facetiousness and/or sarcasm, I’m having trouble absorbing your deeper than life work ethics. But who knows? These minor separations of using what is required in getting ahead in this world …when combined, may be a good sign of productive things to come.
    Oh, and I don’t think my chidingly using the description, “Nutcase”, is any worse than you giving advice to, ‘Shut up and get to work!’. After-all, in the composing field one is in a position of being heard before, during, and after creating a project.
    Finally, are these candles being lit so we can see one another’s ideas? Because if they are then we’ve been doing that all along, my friend. And as you get back to work, you should holler from the highest roof-tops!

  32. Dear Ray,

    “Shut up and get to work” was said in general… not towards u.. I see what u’re saying so no worries… everything is cool… 😉

  33. Hi Kopale

    Thank you for the post, good luck on your movie making university, wish you well and suceed and believe one day your childhood dream will come true,God is great and he loves us all, what we do is pray and believe,Kopale can I ask you a question. you say you are not an American you dont live there do you mind if i ask you where you live, and your nationality,please I want to know, i think where you were was horrible did any body chanse you with an ax in his hand, you are a savivor too, you are my brother. God’s protection be with you always, good luck.

  34. Thanks Josephine…

    No problem, u can ask anything 🙂 That’s why we people are for – to answer each other’s questions… 🙂

    Yep, I’m not American… I have lived in america twice… for the first time I was there as an exchange student and the second time I was working for the morning radio show “DC and the Family” . I’m from the Republic of Georgia and I’m Georgian. Very often when I say that people get confused cuz they think I’m talking about the state of Georgia 🙂 The Republic of Georgia is eastern European country which is located between Russia and Turkey. It’s a very ancient and little country.

    Yep, I’ve seen terrible fights and I’ve seen knives, guns, and ax close to my head 🙂 I’m not really proud of that experience… It was a terrible life and I didn’t have another choice, I had to go through it… but those kind of things taught me a lot too… and the most worthy was to realize how much the God means to people, how important is peace and freedom and etc. During those times mafias were very powerful over here and it had been feeling terribly when I knew that at school I had to fight almost after every class… 🙂 Why? – the reasons were different – sometimes I had to fight just because young mafia members didn’t like that I was trying to get a good education and I that I was studding.. I couldn’t let them to make fun of me or make them to stop me…. sometimes I just had to fight for protecting some girl I didn’t even know… sometimes the reason was not obeying to their rules and etc. 🙂 Lately the situation changed a little bit…
    I love this country and it has a lot of things I can be proud of, but it’s still a little wild over here 🙂

  35. Hi Kopale

    Thanks for the post,and answering my question, wow real God’s protection was with you, and still with you, you did great thing in sight of God to protect his daughters am sure you have a reward in heaven, and put some thing in your room Jesus prepared for you, because he says when you do something to somebody, you did that for me {Jesus said} and he went to prepare a place for us, if you believe, you got one too,me I beleive that, I dont know about you, in your country, Georgia real is confused you can think is my neighboring state, do you work in morning radio show too, or you have another different job,except job is job as long as you get paid for ,when you planing to came back to the state.

    God bless and protect you in everything

  36. Hi Ray

    Thanks for the post, and thank you for answering my question, the rants will go away, I was on http://www.bn.com and typed your ISBN number your book did not come up, when I put the title that is when I saw it, I liked your cover is looking good, and the title is great, can I ask you a question I saw your book on ranking was 649 ,something, did your book had a small number like 0ne to 2000 rank, if your book did what you did to make it happen, because everytime I look my ranking i say to myself oh great when my book will have small number, because i saw onone web they say small number great selling, and your book is $5. I dont know if is truth or not, 162 pages how wlong it took you to finish. thanks and God’s protection be with you.

  37. Josephine,
    Actually, at the moment the publisher along with the popular vendors are having a 66% sale. Normally the book, ISBN No. 1-4241- 1171-4(softcover) & 978-1-4489-1535-4 (hardcover) goes for $25.00 (Sftcvr.) and $30.00 (Hrdcvr. plus, no charge if large print is ordered) …and, I always point potential buyers to the publisher’s bookstore at: publishamerica.com for the best information and prices on it. Also over time, it has ranged anywhere from $7.00 to $19.95 to $29.95 softcover.
    And yes at a 162-Pages it is considered a, “fictional short- novel” but , with allot of historical and criminal case facts & information by most, “long-novel standards”. (I broke it up into 4-Parts which allowed me to somewhat condense it).
    To answer you on how long it took to write, well, if I combine the criminal case research from the Kansas City-MO archives and newspaper articles of the era (1912 to 1914), with the old west characters I studied and inserted, along with my interpretation of how every one’s personalities should fit …then I’d say, around 2-1/2 to 3-Years.
    Also, I’m not too concerned with the rankings numbers because thousands if not tens of thousands of books a year come along, and if one is confident in their final product then with a blind fury that’s what should be promoted and concentrated on.
    “Coping With In-Laws And Outlaws”, was officially published in Nov. 2006 but wasn’t officially released until Jan. 2007. So, not to worry because if you believe in your heart your book is a good one then that’s all that matters, and the rest will take care of itself.
    Remember, ‘A majority of literary classics are not discovered until many years after they’ve been released.’

  38. Where are all the writers whom want to turn their books into movies? I see this sight goes back a year and only a half dozen or so are sharing their wealth of information & knowledge.

    Including you, kopale!

  39. Josephine,

    Thanks very much… well, maybe I’ve tried to help many people but still, I don’t think I’m good enough do deserve a place in haven. 🙂

    No, I don’t work in radio show anymore… I used to work while I was in USA but at the time I have two jobs and at the same time I’m building a little bakery which will be like a family business. I’m giving private classes in English and preparing students for their final exams which they have to pass through to get in college. And I’m editing Georgian-English, English-Georgian dictionary which is very old and I think people over here need a newer version :). I do it for a new dictionary web-site which I build myself too. Now I have to edit 1500 pages of the dictionary and enter there 🙂 and I’m doing all that alone :))) . I hope I’ll survive that 🙂

    So, dear Ray, no wonder why I can’t take care of turning my book into movie and why I’m so far away from publishing world lately… and whatever I could share – I’ve shared already…

    I have to do it cuz no-one else will feed my big family, but you guys gotta keep trying! As it’s said: “who seeks shall find, who sits with folded hands or sleeps is blind!” 😉 At this time I gotta make myself “blind” and keep working on other things to feed my family and pay the debts I have 🙂

  40. kopale-kopale-kopale,
    Man! You act like you are the only person in the world who has problems, Hell we all do …and-yet without realizing it, you compound them with all these ridiculous poetic insights. Why can’t you just say things as they are, “Life sucks, we pay taxes, and then we die”, no matter what country we hail from. Except once you get over the fact that it is what it is then the creative aspects become an escape, and one in which the creator hopes to leave behind long after they’re gone with the sole purpose of it being for others to admire. Of course, a little recognition while we’re alive wouldn’t be so bad either my friend.
    Keep on with your dream and I hope with time, your struggles will deteriorate …you’re a good man.
    Did you know the gunfighter and old west faro & poker-player/gambler, Doc Holiday, (an ally and confidante of the famous lawman-Wyatt Earp), was from Georgia? …no-wait, that’s a different Georgia. Question: What city or town, and state, did you spend your student exchange time in?

    T. Ray Dickerson – “Coping With In-Laws And Outlaws” …’A story about a man who was so caught up in himself, he failed to see the effects that life’s tribulations had on others. Until on bended knees he was forced to look into them, and as well his own 43-Years of living on this planet.’
    T. R. D. – 2009

  41. I’m a new author looking to find out how to get my book into the right hands. I’m not just saying for a movie deal, but in readers hands also. you can only buy my book online, but people dont know me or my book for that matter. I want to make flyers, but my husband says we need a place to send people. what should i do, can anyone help me.

  42. Dear Tammy,

    Well, in modern world there are many ways to get your book in right hands. As I guess, you have self-published your book. Correct?

  43. my book was publish by publish america, but it seams like no one knows about it. i have a few websits and been in the news paper. i have been waiting on doing book signings in my area, but PA hasnt return my emails. i’m going to email them again. thank you for getting back to me. if you can help in a small way please let me know.

  44. Hey There Tammy,
    As for Publish America, they do allot of things for the author as well as send release notices to the contacts you may have listed. (I believe it was up to 50 max)? But when it comes to places outside of the finer websites it’s up to their authors to do the contacting, footwork, and-yes flyers or business cards. Myself I’ve gone to many hotel/motel gift shops, vendor websites for addresses to send review copies to, and libraries. If you use your imagination you can run it like a small business venture, and for contact purposes in your advertising just direct them to publishamerica.com/bookstore or “All Online Booksellers”. Also I always have a decent amout of my own hardcover and softcover copies to bring to Auctions, Flea Markets and Book Signings. Then come tax-time, file your supplies, gas, and food receipts, versus sales profits.
    Good Luck and Hope to See You in the Author news section on P. A.’s web-page.
    Fellow Publish America – Author,
    (Tom)-T. Ray Dickerson
    “Coping With In-Laws And Outlaws
    ISBN No.s 978-1-4489-1535-4 Hrdcvr. &
    1-4241-1171-4 Sftcvr. And available in large print. GOOD-LUCK!

  45. kopale,
    That was some incredible advice you gave to Tammy, and-damn! Where would the deep-artistic world ever be without you? Talk to me my brother because you …are the MAN! Oh, and one more thing, we should all start using spell-check at the top of the page, including me. (Our emotions cause us to type too fast and then we all look like a bunch of illiterates).

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