.png)
As an author, it is vital to have an Author One-Sheet as part of your marketing plan and materials. These single-sheets are also known as “sell-sheets” or “pitch-sheets” and describe what you have written and why people should pay attention to it. This is the perfect thing to bring to conferences, send to libraries and book stores, and introduce people to you and your book!
Creating one of these may seem daunting, but here is a checklist of what you should include on your Author One-Sheet. Additionally, at the end of this article, you can see some examples of one-sheets our marketing team has made for our authors!
What You Should Include:
Your Name and Contact Info: This includes your name (or your pen name), your email address, website, social media links, and blog.
Book Photo: It is best to include an image of your cover to give people a visual of what you have written. Use this to create a theme for your one-sheet: create a color scheme with the cover’s colors and add interesting textures and elements that reflect the book’s subject. For example: If your book takes place in a coastal town, then make your one-sheet reflect that with sea colors and ocean elements.
Book Details: This is an important section of the sheet as it will give interested parties all of the information they will need about your book. This section should include:
Book Title
Author Name
ISBN Number
Genre
Format (i.e. Paperback, Hardback, Ebook, etc…)
Price
Publishing Date
Page Count (optional)
Dimensions (optional)
Title: Make sure to include the title of your book somewhere on the page in an eye-catching way. The title should be very clear to anyone who is looking over the one-sheet.
Hook: This is a common marketing trick that really can help boost people’s interest in your book. This can be as short as a single sentence, but shouldn’t exceed three sentences. The hook should be short, concise, and intriguing.
Book Description: Just like the text on the back of your book, this should give your reader an enticing preview of what you have written. In many cases, you can just copy and paste your back-of-the-book description. But before you do, make sure it says everything it needs to from a marketing standpoint.
Author Bio and Photo: Make a small section of your one-sheet dedicated to yourself. You will want to make this look professional, so include your author photo and a short bio. This section will give your reader a short and concise introduction to who you are.
While creating this single-page marketing document, remain creative and play around with the layout and design of your one-sheet. For an easy-to-use (and Free!) graphic design software, check out www.canva.com. Play around with colors, elements, and layout. We suggest making a few different versions and then getting the opinion of one or two trusted friends who have an eye for design (and even better, run it by one who can look it over for any grammatical errors).
Once you have your design complete, don’t be afraid to share it with the world! Email it with a cover letter to the various libraries and bookstores in your local area. If your book follows a specific topic then you have the opportunity to contact people, places, and publications within the same niche for marketing and distribution.
For example, one of our LOTM authors, Ginny Glenn, published a book called, “The Secret Life of Rocky Mountain Badgers”, and because of how niche her topic was, she was able to market and sell books at local and state parks.
As you can see, having this one-sheet significantly benefits you as an author. It is a vital piece of marketing material that you can use again and again to gain exposure for your book! For examples, please see below.
Happy Creating!