Blog - News and Updates from the World of Ghostwriting and Self-publishing

“You wrote a book? Wow! What’s it about?”

If you’ve written a book, are currently writing one, or are considering working with a ghostwriter to write one, this question might fill you with fear. Writing a book is a huge undertaking, and many beginning writers wonder if they have the chops to take it on. Moreover, most authors, whether they wrote the book themselves or used a ghostwriter, understand how competitive the book market is, and they might wonder if their book measures up.

Given these legitimate concerns, it might seem easier to never mention your book at all. But here are the reasons you must mention it:

• No one can read a book they don’t know about. While authors would love it if their books found readers with little-to-no effort on the author’s part, that’s generally not the case. In order for readers to discover your book, you’ll have to get comfortable talking about it. The sooner you do so, the more opportunities will crop up for generating excitement about your book – even if the book is not yet published, and especially once it is.
• The more you talk about it, the easier the conversation becomes. As with anything, practice makes perfect. The first few times you talk about your book, it might feel awkward and strange, but the more often you do it, the more natural it will feel.

So how should you bring up your book in conversations? And what should you say about it? Here are some tips:

• Read the room. Make sure the time and place are right to talk about your book. Don’t interrupt a conversation about an unrelated subject in order to mention your book, and don’t try to invent segues. For example, your friend who is gushing about her granddaughter’s first day of kindergarten will likely not be intrigued by you saying, “How nice for your family, but have you heard that I wrote a book about best practices for investing in stocks? Let me tell you all about it.” However, someone mentioning that she’s worried about her portfolio’s performance provides a perfect transition for bringing up your book on this topic.
• Be conversational. If you want readers to be interested in your book, become adept at talking about more than the book itself. Get in the habit of discussing books in general, especially those in your genre. Read books in your genre and, when appropriate, bring them up in conversation. Ask your conversation partners what they’ve read lately that they loved. If they also are writers, ask about their writing.
• Have a hook ready to go. Last month on the blog, we talked about the importance of a great hook, which should be explainable in an “elevator speech” – i.e., an explanation of your book that’s concise enough for you to say it during a short elevator ride, if someone asks what your book is about. As mentioned last month, it’s wise to practice your elevator speech before a mirror, so you can say it clearly and smoothly in only a few seconds.
• Practice having bookish conversations. Getting comfortable talking about your book takes practice. Try having mock “book conversations” in a safe environment, such as among close friends or relatives. This will bolster your confidence for the times when you’re with acquaintances, colleagues, or people you’ve just met, and mentioning your book is appropriate.

Are you ready to get out there and talk about your book? If the book is in the works – or even if it’s still at the “idea” stage – and you’d like help, please get in touch. Our professional editors and ghostwriters can help bring your book to the finish line, and we’re happy to assist you as you practice talking about it, too. Before you know it, you’ll be proudly holding your book in your hands and seamlessly bringing it into conversations that lead to a strong readership and a growing fan base.

Pop quiz: Would you pick up any of the following books?

• Science Fiction: “A middle school science teacher wakes up aboard a spacecraft and has no idea how he got there.”
• Personal Growth: “A step-by-step pathway for living with fairness, integrity, honesty, and human dignity.”
• Memoir: “A marriage collapses overnight, and in its wake, a woman discovers what it takes to keep living when everything unexpectedly changes.”
• Mainstream Fiction: “A trad-wife influencer time travels to the 1850s and is forced to live the actual life she previously curated onscreen.”

Chances are if you’re interested in their particular genres, you’d take a look at these books. And you wouldn’t be the only one. All of them (respectively, Project Hail Mary, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage, and Yesteryear) are runaway bestsellers. Why? There are a lot of reasons, but a primary one is because each of these books has a great hook.

What is a hook? Simply put, it’s a single sentence that draws in potential readers. Particularly when the book is new on the market, the hook is often the leadoff sentence in the book’s back cover description (which is also generally displayed on retailer sites such as Amazon). Later, the hook might be replaced by accolades such as bestseller status, a movie adaptation, or awards, but when the book is new and doesn’t yet have wide recognition, the hook is what piques a reader’s interest.

So what makes a great hook? There are several key factors:

• Brevity. The hook is rarely longer than a single sentence. This doesn’t mean a longer description of the book doesn’t exist. Most books benefit from a description of about 200 words (what fits on a standard back cover), but the hook sums up the book’s basic premise while taking mere seconds for a reader to digest.
• Tone. The reader should be able to grasp the book’s tone based on the hook. Are they in for an adventurous read? Will the book be humorous? Is it sad or melancholy? For nonfiction, is the book academic in tone, or geared more toward a general audience?
• Emotion. Regardless of genre, readers should experience something internal when they read or hear the hook. For example, when the hook intrigues, excites, or shocks potential readers, their next step is to learn more about the book. If the hook falls flat, your potential reader might very well move on to something else.

Coming up with an effective hook takes time. One way to start is to draft your book’s longer description. Once you have a strong sense of this expanded description, whittle it down to a single sentence, creating a hook.

The hook is often called the “elevator speech,” because it’s short and precise enough that if you mentioned during an elevator ride with a stranger that you’d written a book and they asked, “So what’s it about?” you’d be able to deliver the hook before the questioner reaches their floor and exits the elevator. While this exact scenario might not ever happen to you, it’s wise to prepare as if it will. That way, when you’re asked about your book in social or business situations, you’ll have an answer at the ready. Practice saying your hook in front of a mirror. It may feel silly to do this, but practicing aloud makes it easier to comfortably and naturally state your hook in any situation.

If you’re struggling with either your hook or the book itself, we’d love to help. Mark Graham Communications’ team of experienced, talented ghostwriters and editors have worked with authors on successful books in all genres. Not only can we provide an edit or help you write your book, we’re also able to assist with tasks such as positioning the book in the marketplace, determining your hook, and figuring out your key audience. If you’d like to learn more, please get in touch!

For those at the beginning of a book journey, considering how your book will make it into the world might be the least of your concerns. However, thinking ahead past the writing of the book (whether you write it yourself or use a ghostwriter) is useful at any stage of the book development process.

So what publishing models are available to you? In essence, there are three:

Traditional publishing: The publisher produces, prints, and distributes an author’s book, usually offering it through both online and brick-and-mortar booksellers. The amount of marketing the publisher does varies based on the publisher and the book, but in most cases, traditionally-published authors are expected to do the heavy lifting when it comes to promoting their books. The author signs a contract granting the publisher exclusive rights to publish the book. In turn, the author receives royalties: sometimes an advance amount before the book is published, and generally royalties based on each sale made. While there are no upfront costs for the author, getting a traditional publishing deal is competitive, and royalties are usually small (often 7.5% – 12.5% of a book’s cover price). Traditional publishers range from the “Big 5” (Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins Publishers, Macmillan Publishers, Penguin Random House, and Simon & Schuster) to midsize publishers, small presses, and university presses.

Hybrid publishing: The publisher produces and distributes the book, and the author pays a fee to cover the services the publisher provides. Some hybrid publishers work to get their authors’ books into physical bookstores, but there is generally no guarantee of this occurring. The hybrid publisher might offer marketing services (with a fee paid by the author). Hybrid companies’ restrictions and payment models vary; authors are advised to check their contract to ensure they know what they’re signing up for.

Indie/self-publishing: The author publishes their work without a press. The author is responsible for the costs of editing, producing, distributing, and marketing the book. Some indie authors contract with a company for all the services required to publish a book, while other authors find their own vendors for such services (cover and interior page design, copyediting, technical services, marketing, and so on).

Which model is right for you and your book? It depends on your goals, budget, timeline, and other factors. Traditional publishing generally takes years, but this model can open doors for an author: a higher likelihood of seeing one’s book in a physical bookstore, wider exposure, and so on. While traditional publishing was long considered the “gold standard,” many authors today choose the hybrid or indie model, preferring to maintain autonomy and control over the process. Authors who choose the hybrid route are advised to check their contracts carefully to ensure they know exactly what the hybrid press will do for them, what it will cost, who retains rights, and how profits will be distributed.

Authors wishing to retain complete control and rights to their book (in other words, to be an indie-published author) but still use services to produce, distribute, and market the book might consider our sister company, Graham Publishing Group, which provides “one stop shopping” for services such as copyediting, cover and interior page design, technical aspects such as acquiring ISBN (International Standard Book Number), uploading the book to Amazon and other online sites, marketing, and so on.

No matter the path you choose for publishing your book, the first step is to craft a high quality book. If you need assistance writing or editing your book, Mark Graham Communications’ team of professional ghostwriters and editors is here to help. We’ll guide you through every step of the process, beginning with the creation of a quality manuscript and ending with a book you’re proud to call your own. If you’re ready to begin, please get in touch!

What is an author’s voice? In short, it’s the author’s particular, unique writing style. It might feel difficult to identify, but when you read it, you know it. Think about your favorite author: chances are when you pick up a book by that author, even one you’ve never read before, you know you’re reading something written in your favorite author’s unique, authentic style. That is the essence of voice.

Is voice the same thing as tone? They’re related, but not exactly the same. Your book’s tone is its overall demeanor. Some examples are authoritative, humorous, or dark tones. Because it’s dependent on the subject, tone often comes more naturally. Voice, in contrast, might take time to hone.

While author voice has always been important, it’s never been more vital than it is now. Why? Because in these times, when more and more books are being generated using AI, there are heightened risks of a book with a generic voice sounding like it was AI-generated. Readers are becoming increasingly savvy about recognizing AI-generated books, often due to such books’ flat voices. Unquestionably, AI tools will continue to become more sophisticated, but at this moment in time, you can make your writing stand out by developing and honing your unique, sincere voice.

If you’re new to writing, how do you develop your author voice? How do you ensure you’re using it consistently? When writing a first draft, it helps to let your voice emerge naturally. The best way to do this is to just keep writing! Resist your inner critic, who might try to convince you that your voice is inconsistent and that the issue should be addressed immediately. While author voice might feel wobbly in your first draft, it’s only by getting words onto the page that you’ll be able to see your voice emerging. In the revision stage, either on your own or while working with an editor, you can focus on ensuring your voice is consistent.

The author/ghostwriter relationship adds another layer to the issue. When you work with a ghostwriter, how can you ensure that the ghostwriter is using voice in a way that feels authentic for you? After all, it’s you—not the ghostwriter—whose name will be on the book’s cover. How do you make sure your book doesn’t sound like every other book the ghostwriter has written for their other clients?

An experienced ghostwriter spends considerable time focused on a client’s voice. In fact, following interviews and a book outline, the first deliverable you should expect from your ghostwriter is a sample chapter written in a voice that feels comfortable and authentic to you. In most nonfiction, the voice should sound as if you are conveying your content to the reader. As mentioned above, the specific type of content affects tone (for example, a memoir will have a very different tone than a business book), but the voice of one author’s book, in any genre, should also be distinguishable from that of other authors writing in that genre. In fiction, voice should be consistent with the narrating character as envisioned by the author (often with the ghostwriter’s input). In either case, the voice should sound like you (for nonfiction) or like your characters (for fiction)—not like the ghostwriter. If it doesn’t, the sample chapter is the place where the ghostwriter will work with you to hone the voice so it can be used consistently throughout the book.

Writing a book is an exciting prospect, but it can also feel daunting. If you need help writing or editing your book, our team of experienced ghostwriters and editors is here to help. We can work with you to develop and hone your author voice, resulting in a book that you’ll proudly and authentically call your own.

If you’ve written or are currently writing a book, whether on your own or by working with a ghostwriter or editor, take a moment to pat yourself on the back.

Why? Because we’re living in challenging times. From the proliferation of AI (as discussed last month on the blog) to the 24-hour news cycle, to the good, bad, and ugly of social media, most of us are on information overload. It’s easy to become distracted, concerned, and even discouraged. Given all that, anyone who has the discipline to put words on a page and complete a manuscript is doing something that few others have the stamina to do.

If that’s you (or if you’re considering writing a book), you likely know that writing is only part of the equation. While writing a book—again, on your own or with a ghostwriter/editor—generates much personal satisfaction, most authors are also eager to share their words with the reading public. But how do you do that when there’s so much else competing for your target audience’s attention?

Whether you’re approaching publication of your book or just thinking ahead toward a future publication date, here are some ideas to keep in mind during these challenging times:

• Know your audience. While your target audience might not be apparent when you begin writing the book, it’s advisable to think about the audience as you’re revising, or when you’re working with a ghostwriter or editor prior to publication. No book will appeal to every reader. Rather than consider your book of interest “to all,” it’s wise to identify the readers who will find your work meaningful. Consider creating an “ideal reader profile,” listing key characteristics of the people most likely to read your book. This might include reader demographics, interests, preferred genre(s), reading style, and so on.
• Be genuine. Readers are eager to connect with authors who are authentically themselves. This applies whenever and wherever you communicate with readers: social media, podcasts, in-person events, your newsletter, your website, and all other areas of communication. Focus not just on your book but on your whole self. What makes you unique? What will draw readers to you and your book? Readers are much more likely to pick up a book by an author unknown to them if they not only find the book’s premise and style intriguing, but also see the author as someone they can connect with and trust.
• Use consistent, truthful messaging. Especially in these times when so much of what we see online and through media messaging is unclear, unreliable, and sometimes false, it’s important to be clear and consistent in your messaging to readers. When speaking or writing about your book and yourself, use language that’s both thought-provoking and comprehensible. Make sure your audience understands your message, and your message remains uniform across platforms and mediums. If you mistakenly say something untruthful, or you later learn that something you said previously is untrue, own your mistake, apologize, and make amends if you can. People respond more positively to humbleness and accountability than they do to arrogance. It’s human nature to be more forgiving of a sincere mistake, humbly acknowledged and corrected, than of someone whose words and actions are conceited or unreliable.
• Practice gratitude. As stated above, not every reader will love your book or want to read it. But each reader who finds meaning in your words is a gift, and their support of your work should be acknowledged and appreciated. Gratitude for readers will lift your spirits, making you eager to connect with additional readers—and, in many cases, continue your author career by writing a subsequent book.If you’re working your way through a book draft and need help, or if you have a great idea for a book but don’t know where to begin, please get in touch. We’d love to discuss your project and see how our team of professional ghostwriters, editors, and book production experts can help you start or finish a book that you can proudly and authentically share with readers, uplifting both yourself and your newfound audience.

 

There’s no question that AI is omnipresent in our everyday lives. From AI-generated email summaries to questions about the appropriate use of AI in the classroom to the theft of intellectual property to train large language models (LLMs), AI is everywhere in modern society. For many people, the transition to an AI-proliferated world happened more quickly than anticipated, and it can leave us wondering not only how to manage this new technology, but also what the future might bring.

For authors and aspiring authors, the explosion of AI leaves much to be unpacked. For instance:

• Should you let AI write your book for you? This is a topic we covered on the blog several years ago. Since then, the tools to generate a book using AI have become even more sophisticated. However, the same questions remain: 1) How important to you, as an author, is a human-centered approach; 2) How can you feel confident about the source material for an AI-generated book; and 3) How will the book be received? For many writers, the answers to these questions are ever-evolving, but when considering these dilemmas, it’s important to remember that, overall, readers still prefer books written with a human touch—and readers are getting more sophisticated every day about discerning the difference between AI-generated and human-written material.
• What, if any, use of AI is appropriate? Many authors use AI to brainstorm ideas, do initial research, and perform follow-up tasks like creating marketing materials and social media posts. These can be time-savers, but again, it’s important to keep the limitations in mind. For instance, AI-generated research runs a greater risk of inaccuracy and should always be fact-checked against primary sources. AI-generated marketing material and social media lack the warmth of a true human voice, and thus should be appropriately edited by a human before it’s released into the world.
• If you avoid AI, how can you make peace with the rapid pace of technology? This is a valid and important question. No matter our age, no one wants to be a luddite. It’s vital to remember that we’ve been here before and will be here again. There was a time, for instance, when photography was brand-new and people lamented the loss of work for artists. If painting and drawing were no longer necessary in order to accurately capture a person’s or place’s likeness, then what would artists do? The answer is that art evolved—into impressionism, modernism, cubism, and many other forms. Additionally, photographers learned to use their talents not only create likenesses for posterity, but also to generate artistic photographic interpretations of their world. Could the same someday be true for AI-generated writing and art? Time will tell, but anyone involved in a creative process needs to decide individually how much they want to dive into the world of AI. Regardless of your tolerance for AI, it’s wise to keep abreast of the conversation, so you can make informed choices as the technology evolves.

In general, when considering how and when to use AI, it’s important to keep your audience in mind. For most authors, whether they use a ghostwriter or write the book themselves, the greatest reward comes from connecting with readers. Those very human connections are not likely to occur for an AI-generated book. Such a book might make a few dollars, but it’s unlikely to offer much in the way of audience connection or personal satisfaction for the author.

If you’d like to talk about working with us to create a human-centered book in any genre, please get in touch. Our team of professional ghostwriters and editors can help you bring your ideas to life in a way that provides the greatest rewards of having a book out there with your name on the cover: knowing the book was written with integrity and will connect in a very human way with your target audience.

You’ve seen it. You’ve likely done it.

People of all ages whom we observe out and about—on the bus, at the gym, walking dogs—are often tuned into something. Wireless headsets and earbuds have become commonplace accessories, and while plenty of listeners are being entertained by music or podcasts, a growing number have an audiobook cued up on their device. Factor in commuters in their cars and at-home listeners, and it adds up to a lot of readers who enjoy consuming a book with their ears rather than their eyes.

The numbers back this up. According to market research retailer Research and Markets, “The United States audiobooks market reached approximately USD 2.92 Billion in 2024 [and is] estimated to reach a value of around USD 7.64 Billion by 2034.” And the Audio Publishers Association 2025 Consumer Survey found that “…51% of Americans aged 18 and older, an estimated 134 million people, have listened to an audiobook. There is a notable increase in interest among non-listeners: 38% say they are interested in audiobooks, up from 32% last year, with the number of those very interested nearly doubling from 10% to 18%.”

If you’re an author—or hope to become one soon—it’s wise to consider creating an audiobook version of your book to complement your print and ebook offerings. This is true regardless of genre, as audiobooks are equally popular across most genres. While there are numerous advantages to offering an audiobook, there are several key factors to consider:

• Production. If you’re indie (self) publishing your book, you will likely also need to self-produce the audiobook. This doesn’t mean you have to do it all yourself—in fact, the vast majority of authors hire professionals to work with during this process.
• Narration. Some authors narrate their own books, but considerable time needs to be spent in the studio, often involving multiple takes, and the experience can be grueling for nonprofessional narrators. Additionally, while some listeners enjoy hearing an author read their own book, this is only true if the narration is excellent and the recording is high quality.
• Artificial Intelligence. Some audiobook production companies offer non-human, AI-generated voices for a lower cost than a professional human narrator. Whether or not to use an AI narrator is a personal and ethical choice that individual authors must make for themselves.
• Cost. The average professional human narrator costs $200 – $400 per finished hour (about 9,000 words of content). Other production costs might be included, or they could be billed separately. Depending on your budget and needs, you might want to wait until your print and ebook versions are turning a profit before investing in audiobook production. On the other hand, if you feel that interest in an audiobook version of your book will be sizable, it could be a good idea to invest in audio to be released at or around the same time as your print and ebook come out.
• Distribution. You can distribute the audiobook on popular online platforms such as Apple and Amazon, as well as through independent audiobook retailers such as Libro.fm. Services such as ACX (Audiobook Creation Exchange, owned by Amazon/Audible) and INaudio (formerly Findaway) allow you to upload your book’s MP3 audiobook file for distribution to retailers and libraries.

The audiobook market promises continued growth, and it’s important to consider this key path for reaching more readers. If you’ve drafted a book and need help getting it to the finish line—or you simply have a great idea for book but aren’t sure how to get started—please contact us. With Mark Graham Communications’ experienced ghostwriters, editors, and book production and marketing experts on your team, your book can soon be in the hands—or ears—of readers who are eager for your story.