How Carroll/Blanco Works with Authors
Phase One–Editorial
If there’s an existing manuscript, we can start with that. If not, we can assist you in the creation of an initial draft. We can also find you a co-author or ghost writer should you not have the time to write a book yourself. No matter how the manuscript gets written, there are fundamental elements intrinsic to the editorial process that must be honored. Carroll/Blanco will work with you and/or your ghost/co-author to honor those elements including but not limited to shaping the narrative, establishing your “voice” as an author, organizing the content of the book, clarifying the tone, determining reader emotional and intellectual engagement, advance publicizability factor assessment and recommendations; line editing; author rewrites and editorial polish; and other key elements that are crucial to turning out an industry, reviewer, and media compliant manuscript.
Phase Two–In-Person Interview Session for Creation of Publicity, Distribution and Marketing Strategies
Carroll/Blanco will conduct a series of three in-depth client/author interviews, the first of which will be in-person, to brainstorm positioning language, key promotional tag lines, and your personal and professional objectives for the book–remember Carroll/Blanco’s primary service to its clients–a book should be a means to an end, not just an end in and of itself. Most of the questions we’ll be exploring will focus on what you want this book to achieve in the long-term personally, professionally and financially, so we can incorporate those specific objectives into every component of our publishing strategy.
Phase Three–Publisher Outreach
Once the manuscript is complete and your specific objectives defined and rolled into the marketing, publicity and promotions equation, Carroll/Blanco will educate you on the different types of deal structures in publishing from traditional advance against royalty and co-venture contracts to commission publishing and buyback agreements, making sure you possess a comprehensive understanding of the different ways book deals are structured and which type is best suited for you; we’ll review potential publishers with you from a list of candidates with whom we work and help you determine which one would be the best fit for your project; then we’ll send the final version of your manuscript along with a persuasive memo outlining why this book would be a lucrative addition to their list of titles, and describing the marketing, publicity and promotional vision and opportunities as determined during the in-person client interview phase. Once a deal proposal memo is received, we will guide you through the negotiation process and help you make sound contractual decisions; among other elements involved in the procurement of a publishing house for your book.
Note: Carroll/Blanco cannot guarantee a deal with an outside publisher. Though we do not anticipate this occurrence, in the unlikely event you are not able to come to terms with a prospective publisher, Carroll/Blanco can commission publish your title under an agreement separate from the initial consulting contract.
Phase Four–Preparing for Book Launch
Once you’ve signed a publishing contract, Carroll Blanco will meet with your publisher for a creative brainstorming session, addressing everything from the publicity, promotions and sales strategies to production schedules and design. The purpose of this meeting is to make sure that everyone is in sync with the marketing vision for this book. Carroll/Blanco will then write the press kit materials for the book, as well as collaborate with the publisher on the writing of all other marketing and promotional materials. Carroll/Blanco’s active consulting role concludes upon completion of these materials, but we will make ourselves available to answer questions during launch period.
If you have a website, Carroll/Blanco and the publisher will advise you on new elements you may wish to add in anticipation of the book’s release. If you do not have a website, we can recommend designers whom you could retain under separate contract.
Caroll/Blanco–Division of Responsibilities
Kent Carroll and Jodee Blanco work in tandem on all four phases of the consulting process. Kent spearheads editorial. Jodee leads the charge on publicity and marketing strategies. However Kent’s long experience as a publisher allows him to contribute to marketing concepts, and Jodee’s experience as a New York Times bestselling author and former literary publicist allow her to contribute vital publicity insights during the editorial process.
The Carroll/Blanco Difference
What sets Kent and Jodee apart from other consultants is their collaborative approach to a book from start to finish. In most publishing houses, the publicity department gets the book after it’s been edited and is not allowed editorial input. When Kent and Jodee work with an author, the book’s publicizability factor is woven in at the editorial stage, as are all other considerations relevant to positioning. Carroll/Blanco always looks at a book as a catalyst and not just an end in and of itself. They work closely with the author on determining what he or she wants the book to achieve for them professionally in addition to sales, and then develop a publishing strategy with that specific objective in mind. An added benefit for the author is that working with Carroll Blanco reserves creative control for the author and not the publisher.
No other entity in publishing or marketing approaches books this way, or has mastered merging book publishing with other disciplines such as advertising and PR to create these “super vehicles,” that offer the author/client the ultimate credibility fortifying platform.
Assistance with Book Proposals
In addition to facilitating the publishing of books, Carroll/Blanco also works with authors on preparing quality, persuasive book proposals. We can help you construct, write and perfect a winning book proposal. We also host private book proposal workshops for individuals and small groups. For more information, please contact our office.
