Your Guide to Marketing Books in the Christian Marketplace

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Review by Patricia Fry

According to author Sarah Bolme, this first of its kind guide to book marketing in the Christian marketplace is a timely addition to the Christian author’s reference library. With the Christian genre one of the fastest growing in the publishing industry today, she says authors need more resources and more information than is currently available in general market guides. And who better to write this book than the cofounder and director of the Christian Small Publishers Association (CSPA)?

Called the "essential handbook for marketing books in the Christian marketplace," this book certainly seems to cover everything the Christian author needs to know about the industry and the opportunities within it. Bolme starts out by introducing the new author to the publishing industry and recommending that he/she become involved in one or more publishing organization. Bolme, a SPAWN member, lists SPAWN in this section, along with several other organizations and groups where authors can learn and feel supported in their endeavors.

This well-organized book is brimming with marketing ideas and resources specifically for the author seeking a Christian audience, but also includes the general resources that all authors need. Unlike most book promotion books, Bolme’s covers marketing to churches, Christian retail outlets, Christian schools and organizations. She also has a great chapter on how to reach the Christian consumer through Christian newsletters, newspapers, magazines, radio stations, Web sites and so forth. Bolme gives specific resources and contact information.

If you have a book that is perfect for the Christian market, I recommend purchasing this book. http://www.marketingchristianbooks.com

My only complaint, and you’ve heard me say this before, is that there is no index. While this book is laid out quite well and is easy to use, an index would have been handy for those of us who like using one for the quickest access to the information we want NOW.

So that I don’t end on a negative note with regard to this excellent book, I reiterate: if you have a book designed for a primarily Christian audience, this book could make the difference between a mediocre and a WOW promotions campaign.

–Patricia Fry is a full-time freelance writer and the author of 25 books. Read her latest book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book, http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html. Visit her writing/publishing blog often at http://www.matilijapress.com/publishingblog.