TweetCongrats to 2013 Pulitzer Prize winner for Fiction Adam Johnson! Not only a brilliant writer he’s also helped to launch the Graphic Novel Project at Stanford University
Another Wimpy Kid Title Clears 1 Million Copy Mark
01/09/2013 by 5 Comments
TweetPW just posted this update about the Wimpy Kid series by Jeff Kinney. Granted, the article quotes BookScan numbers and even if they ARE a poor representation then it means the numbers are actually well above the 1 MILLION copies sold. While some will argue that Wimpy Kid is NOT a graphic novel, to the [...]
The Path to Becoming a Bestselling Graphic Novel
12/06/2012 by 14 Comments
TweetWhen I first began writing this column, my intent was to help creators and comics publishers understand the methods to the madness of landing a book on the bestseller lists. After the November 8th Beat posting of the NYT list showing several GN titles on the list, it’s really not a question of whether a [...]
Can Comics Become Legitimate Bestsellers? Chapter 3: Why Wimpy Kid matters
10/25/2012 by 16 Comments
I know, I know! We have been arguing for such a long time that comics aren’t just for kids but the problem is that a majority of the comics publishers have neglected to realize that this is and will always be tomorrow’s adult comics fan. With the acceleration of the Children’s and Young Adult categories, the traditional publishers are dominating a market segment that for some reason, still isn’t registering with the folks who made it possible in the first place.
Can Comics Become Legitimate Bestsellers? Chapter 2: Markets, Obstacles, and Distribution
10/19/2012 by 18 Comments
As I mentioned in the opening column, when it comes to landing a bestselling title there are a lot of moving parts. I remember an editor talking about book campaigns during a panel session at Book Expo back in 2005 and he said most authors don’t realize that we put just as much effort into marketing and campaigning for a book as they do in writing it. Never were truer words spoken. From determining which audience the book is best suited for, what the cover should look like, how to build the buzz, and when the book should hit-these are all critical elements that need the same level of concentration as the writer has given to characters, dialog and setting.
Can Comics Become Legitimate Bestsellers?
10/05/2012 by 48 Comments
To me, the answer to that question is definitely: yes! But that also depends on a lot of moving parts and with encouragement from The Beat, I’m going to post a few columns here about the elements needed to create real marketing programs that can help better define what a bestseller is and where the real opportunities lie.
Column: Building The Con–A Different Take
06/15/2012 by Leave a Comment
If you’ve been reading Mike Scigliano’s Comic-Conversations columns you get some really good insights on what’s involved in producing a major comic con. Thanks to an invite from Heidi, I get to share the experience of a different kind of con.
When it comes to making the decision to produce a con, this is not something for the weak at heart more like it’s a challenge for the mildly insane…and worth every ounce of effort.
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