Molly Brandenburg

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT

BookSurge Author, Molly Brandenburg Signs with Sterling Press

Molly Brandenburg, former copywriter, cartoonist, and comedienne turned self-published author, was recently signed to Sterling Publishing for her whimsical title, Everyday Cat Excuses, based on the tomfoolery of her own feline companions.

Having been previously published for individual works in the alternative press, Brandenburg initially sought to publish Everyday Cat Excuses, her first book of cartoons, the traditional way.  However, frustrated by the process of trying to get her work “picked up,” she took matters into her hands. A friend introduced her to BookSurge, and she found it to be a good fit. ‘The fact that it would be on Amazon.com and I would retain the rights convinced me… the BookSurge staff was very helpful and courteous the whole way, and the book ended up being a quality product.’

However, she understood that having a quality product alone would not put the book into the readers’ hands. Brandenburg seized the opportunity to showcase her work at BookExpo America in New York City in June, 2007. With some unique marketing tools, such as cat-ear headbands and an eye-catching banner, she was able to attract the attention of a buyer for Barnes and Noble, who put her in touch with Sterling Publishing. By July she had an offer to be traditionally published and expects to see her title on shelves in early 2008.
Trade shows are the perfect opportunity for the self-published author to get the attention he or she deserves. Beyond exposure to buyers, you have unlimited chances to network with other authors and publishers who might have connections you can leverage.

Brandenburg attributes much of her success to her attention-getting message. ‘My advice for writers is to really invest in a strong cover design and make sure the message- title and cover- accurately represents their books. If it is confusing, the public will quickly pass them by,’ she says. Moreover, she was ready to answer the door when opportunity knocked. As a self-published author, being prepared with key messages and creative approaches is the key to connecting with new audiences.

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