I just finished listening to a teleseminar (the first in a series) about book marketing sponsored by www.AuthorSmart.com. One of the guests on the teleseminar was Penny C. Sansevieri, author of the book RED HOT INTERNET PUBLICITY.
Penny said that people don’t buy your book to buy your book (except maybe your mother). People buy your book for the benefits that reading your book will bring to them. And Penny said this benefit need is also true for fiction books.
So I’m sitting at my computer trying to figure out what are the benefits of reading MRS. LIEUTENANT.
And I’m staring for inspiration at the response below that I got from one reader:
The reason for me taking a liking to your book is the sheer differences that brought all of you together. The different backgrounds, nationalities and strengths of each and every woman in this book. …All and all, the book is amazing. The journeys that were taken and the interesting stories of how the life of each woman was beforehand. I loved it and will re-read it again.
Of course I’m thrilled with this response. Yet I still don’t know what to write for the benefits of reading MRS. LIEUTENANT.
Here’s what I have so far:
If you remember the Vietnam War, MRS. LIEUTENANT enables you to revisit those years from a different perspective than what was the prevailing perspective at the time – the viewpoint of women whose husbands are about to go off to fight.
If you are too young to remember the Vietnam War, MRS. LIEUTENANT enables you to better understand the feelings of the wives (and today the husbands) of military personnel being deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.
But Penny Sansevieri said to keep the benefits description simple. Neither of the above is simple.
I’m asking on this post: Can anyone come up with a great one-liner of the benefits of reading MRS. LIEUTENANT that I can use on my website and for other marketing purposes?
You can contact me through my website at www.mrslieutenant.com. And if I use your one-liner on my website, I’ll send you an autographed copy of MRS. LIEUTENANT. (If you already have your own copy, I’ll sign it for you to give as a gift.)
I hope inspiration strikes you!
P.S. And if you haven’t read my post from September 7th, please do so. I’m looking for ideas for a potential fundraising campaign for www.emailourmilitary.com.
3 comments:
I understand the concept of benefits here, for we all have reasons why we choose one book rather than another.
When I look at reviews and promo materials for books, I pick fiction based on whether I think a novel sounds like a good story and/or has compelling prose.
Of course, good fiction generally teaches us something or reminds us of something whether it's the horrors of war, the nobility of dedication to a cause, or the value of strong and supportive friendships. To me, though, such things are always secondary to the story as a story.
Malcolm
After reading your book, I looked at the cover blurbs and thought of this one, that perhaps better describes what it meant for me, and which perhaps better addresses the benefit issue. How’s this?
"A young wife struggles to honor her husband’s incomprehensible decision to serve in a war she deplores, only to find herself on the front line of a far older battle— still raging around the world — inside the hearts of wives and windows.
Sun Singer and Karen --
Thank you both so much for your thoughts in response to my question.
I'm still on the fence about what I think are the benefits of reading MRS. LIEUTENANT.
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