Welcome to the Blog Blitz for Getting Past the Publishing Gatekeepers by Hope Bolinger, Linda Fulkerson, Rowena Kuo, and Carrie Schmidt, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
ABOUT THE BOOK
Title: Getting Past the Publishing Gatekeepers
Authors: Hope Bolinger, Linda Fulkerson, Rowena Kuo, and Carrie Schmidt
Publisher: Scrivenings Press LLC
Release Date: October 11, 2022
Genre: Nonfiction / Writing
Remember when Dorothy finally reached the Emerald City only to be halted by the Gatekeeper, blocking her hopes of seeing the Great and Powerful Wizard?
The path to publication is like that. Agents, and Editors, and Publishers, oh, my! Each one is a barrier between you and a publishing contract.
But what if you understood what agents, editors, publishers, and readers really want?
If you’re struggling to get past the publishing gatekeepers, this book will give you a behind-the-scenes peek at how to win the heart of each type of publishing professional. In fact, Getting Past the Publishing Gatekeepers won’t just give you a peek—it will give you a guided tour. In this book, four publishing professionals—an agent, a publisher, an editor, and an influencer—share what it takes to unlock each “gate” within the publishing industry.
Getting Past the Publishing Gatekeepers is a must-have resource for all aspiring authors, and it offers insights to help multi-published authors as well.
PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | BookDepository | IndieBound | BookBub
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Book Excerpt from the section on Publishers, written by Linda Fulkerson
Invest in Your Career
If your goal is to write the one book on your heart, then you should probably self-publish. Publishers are seeking career writers. Those who are willing to invest time, effort, and yes, even money, to improve their craft and promote themselves and their books.
I’ve met a lot of authors throughout the years who were afraid to spend any money to improve their writing or build their platforms. But remember, anything in life takes time, effort, and oftentimes, money.
I have literally seen people in tears because some free shiny object they signed up for in order to save a few dollars later turned out to be a disaster. Sometimes “free” costs too much.
Become a better writer
Writing is a skill. A craft. And it’s a craft that can be improved upon and developed. Many books have been written on the craft of writing. Set a goal of reading at least one such book per month. Do the exercises. Practice.
Another great way to improve your writing skills is to attend classes, conferences, and take online courses. Learn from those with more experience than you. Study at the feet of a bestseller. Take a successful author to lunch, if you can. Subscribe to newsletters and blogs of successful authors in your genre.
One of the most important things aspiring authors can do is read. Read. Read. Read. Don’t limit yourself to just the genre you wish to be published in. Read in a variety of genres. Read classics. Read new releases that have hit the bestseller list. Read past bestsellers. Great writers are voracious readers.
Seek feedback. One thing that has baffled me throughout my years in the publishing industry is meeting a would-be author who has never requested feedback from his or her writing. Some think because they made good grades in high school English, they can write a bestseller.
Successful authors are perpetual learners. To become successful yourself, study the craft, learn from the masters, read, and get feedback. You’ll be well on your way to growing a great writing career, and you will definitely win the heart of publishers!
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Hope Bolinger is an acquisitions editor at End Game Press and the author of 21 books. She’s contributed to 10 other books, in addition, including Getting Past the Gatekeepers. She loves to model, do theater, and get lost in the woods.
Connect with Hope by visiting hopebolinger.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.
USMC veteran Linda Fulkerson began her writing career as a copyeditor and typesetter at a small-town weekly newspaper. She has since been published in several magazines and newspapers, including a two-year stint as a sportswriter and later the online editor of a midsize daily. Linda also served as the director of digital services for the largest media outlet in central Texas. She is the author of two novels, two novellas, and several nonfiction books. In 2020, she founded Scrivenings Press LLC, a traditional publisher of clean and Christian books.
Linda and her husband, Don, live on a ten-acre plot in central Arkansas. They are part of an RV ministry group and travel the country volunteering at various entities. Linda and Don have four adult children and eight grandchildren. In addition to kicking back in her recliner with a good book, Linda enjoys photography, travel, and spoiling her two dachshunds.
Connect with Linda by visiting scriveningspress.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.
Rowena Kuo is the CEO and Executive Editor for Brimstone Fiction, Brimstone Books and Media, and Brimstone Fire. With over 15 years of ministering to children, youth groups, young adults, women, and family groups, Rowena advocates for writers to build God-centered support systems consisting of people, perseverance, practice, and most of all, prayer. She has written for Christian Devotions, Written World Communications, Splickety, and the 168 Write of Passage. When not working on words or films, she is a full-time mom with secret aspirations for spaceflight.
Connect with Rowena by visiting www.brimstonefiction.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.
Carrie Schmidt is an avid reader, book reviewer, story addict, KissingBooks fan, book boyfriend collector, and cool aunt. She also loves Jesus and THE Story a whole lot. Carrie started the popular blog ReadingIsMySuperPower.org in 2015 and since then has had the honor of co-founding the Christian Fiction Readers’ Retreat and JustRead Publicity Tours. In addition to these endeavors, she is a regular contributor to Seekerville and has written for magazines such as RT Book Reviews and Christian Market. Carrie now lives in Georgia with her husband, though her roots range from East Tennessee to Central Kentucky and northern Illinois.
Connect with Carrie by visiting readingismysuperpower.org to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.
TOUR GIVEAWAY
(1) winner will receive a $40 Amazon gift card.
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight October 5, 2022 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on October 12, 2022. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
Thanks for sharing!
thank you, Christy!!
You’re welcome! Thanks for stopping!
Sounds like a good book
Sounds like an incredible read.
Looks like a useful book.
Thanks for the contest.