by Barbara M. Britton @BarbaraMBritton
When you open a novel, you tend to find a page or two of praise. We call these sentences filled with complimentary words endorsements.
Are endorsements necessary for a successful book?
I perused my shelves of books and found that novella collections usually do not have endorsements. Novella collections sell well in the marketplace. Perhaps the variety of authors makes endorsements unnecessary.
I launched my first three books with a traditional publisher and neither one had endorsements. They are my bestselling books to date. Why didn’t I gather endorsements? No one told me to contact authors or professionals for an early read.
With my fourth book, I took it upon myself to contact authors in my genre of Historical Fiction for endorsements. I contacted authors who wrote in a similar period or style.
Who did I contact?
I reached out to friends in my local writing group and to authors who I had met at conferences. I had a historical author as a critique partner who was knowledgeable about my story. You can also reach out to authors at your publishing house or who share an agent.
Please give authors plenty of time to read your story for an endorsement. I reach out six to nine months before publication. If you work on a tighter schedule, contact people who know your writing style or have read previous books.
How many endorsements do you need?
The number of endorsements depends on what you or your publisher are comfortable with. I have seen three endorsements in a book and I have seen twelve. Personally, I don’t read endorsements, but I try to have four to six endorsements per book. Do not panic if you have less.
Can I use the same endorsers for my next book?
My advice is to vary the authors you contact to support your stories. The longer you are in the publishing business, the more friends, and connections you develop.
What about endorsers other than authors?
Perfectly fine. If you have a crime novel and one of your endorsers is a sheriff or attorney, that will lend credibility. With my latest devotional, I have two endorsers who are theologians. I want readers to be comfortable with the content.
Will an endorser turn me down?
Not every book is for every reader. This statement pertains to authors as well. We all have triggers or storylines that might make us uncomfortable. A friend or fellow author may decline to endorse if they find something in a story that they cannot support. Be thankful for their consideration and time and move on to your next ask.
Life gets busy and your perfect endorser might be on deadline, so don’t fret if they decline to read your book. They may ask you to reach out about your next book.
Do you read for endorsement differently?
I hope every author has spent the time to learn the craft of writing, uses critique partners and beta readers, and has an editor/s to help them place a shine on their story. I do not read a book for endorsement any different than when I read for enjoyment. I expect an engaging story with unique characters and a satisfying ending. In an advanced copy, I don’t expect to see a lot of errors. Some uncorrected proofs may have a few errors, and if I know there will be more editing, I’m comfortable with reading the manuscript.
Don’t be afraid to ask for endorsements. You are building a community of support, and a network of writing professionals to cheer on your book release. A few authors may decline, but you will eventually get a “Yes.”
Barbara M. Britton is a multi-published author of Christian Fiction. Her Tribes of Israel series brings little-known Bible characters to light. You can also travel to Whispering Creek, Tennessee with her sweet romance duology. Recently, she launched a Biblical Fiction Bible study. You can find out more about Barbara and her books on her website barbarambritton.com.