Expectations of Authors

The expectations we hold our authors to are that they believe in their work, they behave in a professional manner at all times, they are able to promote their work, and that they cooperate with our efforts on their behalf. We at Marshall Trumann Publishing will do our best to support our writers in every way possible. Signing a contract with a writer means we believe in them and their product and expect them to share the same enthusiasm.

Expectations in regards to promotion on tour:

• Writers are expected to use contacts they have already made and contacts given by Marshall Trumann to work with Marshall Trumann. Writers are to create a proposed book tour and marketing strategy which will be facilitated by the staff of Marshall Truman Publishing.
   
• Writers are to dress professionally for any book signings or speaking engagements. Writers are to be generous towards customers and audience members. Engagements can range from churches, book stores, radio shows, talk shows, phone interviews, among others.
   
• The same enthusiasm it took to write the book is required of writers while promoting it.
   
• We expect writers to know what aspects of their book is marketable before they meet with us.
   
• We encourage writers to write articles in the field dealt with in their book.
   
• Promotional methods we expect authors to be able to use: television shows, newspaper columns, magazine columns, newsletters (online or otherwise), online updates on authors homepage, seminars, or address at other engagements that allow authors to speak.
   
• We believe the job of a writer does not end at the last page of the book, but also means they work for their readers.
• Writers should send us a marketing budget plan for the year that we can use as a starting point for promotion of their book.
   
• Writers must design unique and simple marketing techniques to make themselves a voice that is sought after for their particular field.

In regards to Interviews on television, radio, web, and print:

• We do not expect our writers to be experts at any of these mediums, as the written word is their craft. That being said, we do expect our writers to use these mediums to the best of their ability and to learn how to engage audiences through these means.

Good habits we expect from our writers:

• Our authors must be either guests or members of a writing group that meets at least twice a year as we feel it is important for them to be involved in the writing community.
   
• We desire that our authors at least attend one writers conference per year to improve their craft and, were an opportunity to arise, we greatly encourage them to speak at a conference if given an invitation.
   
• A good writer will refer readers to other books if they fill a need that theirs does not meet.
   
• Find ways to cooperate with whatever author is giving you competition at any given time.
   
• A writer’s service to a reader does not end with them at the cash register; correspondence by allowing their readership a way to reach them creates future demand.
   
• A writer should never forget to thank someone who has aided them.
   
• Writers must create a list of groups and people in the country who would want to buy their book and keep them on the higher list of priorities while on tour, as they are the ones who will start word-of-mouth reviews of your book.
   
• Writers should ask publications if they might review book or have a colleague or co-member of their writing group do an interview for their own freelancing career.
   
• Please notify us of any special needs that may interrupt the book tour.

We also recommend the book Guerilla Marketing for Writers by Jay Conrad Levinson, Michael Larsen, and Rick Frishman.