BY KATHI KAMEN GOLDMARK AND SAM BARRY

The Author Enablers are here to answer your questions about writing and publishing. Together, Kathi and Sam have more than 25 years of experience in book publishing. Kathi is an author, radio producer and former publicist; Sam is a marketing manager at a major publishing company and a freelance editor. They are also proud members of the Rock Bottom Remainders, the all-author rock band founded by Kathi in 1992.

Home cooking

Dear Author Enablers,

I live in a little village in Mexico for six months of the year. I have written a story cookbook about the kitchens and locals of our pueblo. It is filled with recipes, pictures of each kitchen and descriptions of each home, as well as info on each expatriate and what they love about the village. I am not looking to make money. I want to publish it so we can sell the book in our village and the profit will go to a local program for children. I have no clue how to go about this. Could you give me some guidance?

Joan Lafleur
Swansea, Massachusetts

We're not generally high on self-publishing, but this sounds like a case in which it's the way to go, since your book is not of general interest and you have a clear idea of who your audience is and how to market to them. It's pretty easy to find book packagers and printers online, but you need to be careful—only a small percentage of printers are book printers, and some are too big to handle a project like this, while others will take advantage of the small self-publisher. Be certain that you will own the rights to your project once it is printed—get this in writing. Compare prices for the same quantity of books at a number of printers. Be sure you get an ISBN (International Standard Book Number), so that online booksellers and local retailers can order the title. Be realistic about the number of copies you have printed. You can always print more, and you don't want to store thousands of books in your basement. Allow plenty of time for projected print turnaround and shipping, so that you are absolutely sure you will have product at your release party, which, of course, should feature recipes from the book. Don't forget to send us an invitation—we can sleep on the couch.

Dear Author Enablers,

I am a psychiatrist whose memoir of my year as the 1st Infantry Division psychiatrist in Vietnam was just published by Texas A&M University Press. Any suggestions for this old novice about helping the publisher market this book?

Doug Bey
Normal, Illinois

I am the author of a new book about Jimmy Hoffa and a triple murder I solved. I am a writer, a mother and a private detective. Do you know anyone who might be interested in writing a story about the release of my book?

Carol Sissom
Greenwood, Indiana

We have a terrific idea—why don't you two write articles about each others' books? No, of course that's ridiculous. Nor are we suggesting that Jimmy Hoffa is buried in Vietnam. But your letters do raise an important question shared by many first-time authors, which is, "how do I get more attention for my book, when The Da Vinci Code Plan for Thinner Thighs* is getting all the press?"

Doug: University presses publish wonderful books, but they are not known for their publicity campaigns. You can supplement your publisher's efforts by raiding your Rolodex for anyone in local or national media, or any renowned person who owes you. Sharing your personal contacts with your publicist will make her job easier and could result in some extra bookings. Don't forget alumni newsletters, trade magazines, AARP—any organization with print or broadcast outreach.

Prepare a Q&A for inclusion in your press kit. Think of the 10 questions you would most like to be asked, then answer them, in writing. Most authors really hate doing this, but guess what? You may get more interviews as a result, and occasionally a well-written Q&A is published as a press interview.

Carol: As a private detective and a mother, we bet you know some tricks that will help you find out who in the local media might be interested in your book. Identify your potential reviewers and send them free copies with a descriptive pitch letter that includes a short bio. It never hurts to include a little item or treat that relates to the book. (We still remember the book about the history of the elephant that came with a bag of peanuts.) Thinking of a nifty treat that relates to Jimmy Hoffa might be a bit trickier—perhaps a bag of concrete mix?

*This is not a real book, and we thought of it first.

Thanks for writing,
THE AUTHOR ENABLERS