Blurbs Sell Books

Today on the show, author Jim Heskett and copywriting guru Abigail Dunard tackle an author-submitted blurb to dissect it and understand how to write great sales copy. Here are this episode’s read-along selections:

To watch video of this episode, view it on Facebook at Best Page Forward.

Author: Angela K. Ryan

Title: Condos and Corpses (Sapphire Beach Cozy Mystery Series Book 1) 

Condos and Corpses is Book One in the Sapphire Beach Cozy Mystery Series.

A condo on the Florida Gulf Coast. A humanitarian worker with a passion for jewelry making. A murder next door.

Connie can think of no other option but to sell the beach front condo she recently inherited from her beloved aunt, but a murder in the apartment next door stalls her plans. As she tries to prove her friend and neighbor’s innocence, she contemplates keeping the condo and opening a jewelry shop in Sapphire Beach, where tourists abound, to showcase her handmade creations. But starting a business would mean walking away from an eleven-year career in humanitarian work, and her overseas contacts have become like family over the years. Will she find a way to combine her love for jewelry making with her passion for humanitarian work and solve the murder in the process?

If you enjoy cozy mysteries that keep you guessing, loveable characters, and sun-drenched Florida beaches, you’ll love the Sapphire Beach Cozy Mystery Series.

Download Condos and Corpses and begin your getaway today!

Does your blurb snowball in intensity? Look at each sentence separately, considering the topics covered. Reorganize or rework any that slow your momentum. 

Want to submit your own blurb for consideration? Fill out the form at www.bestpageforward.net/podcast or send an email to [email protected]

Today on the show, author Jim Heskett and copywriting guru Abigail Dunard tackle an author-submitted blurb to dissect it and understand how to write great sales copy. Here are this episode’s read-along selections:

To watch video of this episode, view it on Facebook at Best Page Forward.

Author: Christine Zane 

Title: Closing on Christmas: A Sweet Holiday Romance (Second Glance Second Chance Book 1) 

Is a Christmas spark enough to reignite an old flame?

Eve Halliday isn’t feeling festive this year. After years of hard work, she’s made the difficult decision to close her restaurant. And the even more difficult decision to close her heart to Jackson Rimes. He’s had a hard enough year, losing his wife. There’s no way he’s ready for a train-wreck like her in his life.

Firefighter, and father of two, Jackson Rimes is back in his hometown for Christmas. He has a secret he’s keeping from everyone, and a Christmas crush on his high school flame, Eve Halliday.

When the two get schemed into playing Santa and Mrs. Claus at the town’s annual Christmas festival, it could be the perfect time to rekindle what they never had. But when Eve finds out Jackson’s secret, things might be over before they can begin (again).

Short. Sweet. Sometimes funny. And perfect reading for the holidays. Buy it today!

DISCLAIMER: There is one instance of the word "damn." Frankly, this book was written by Gone with the Wind rules.

Give your two romance leads equal billing to get readers invested in their relationship. 

Want to submit your own blurb for consideration? Fill out the form at www.bestpageforward.net/podcast or send an email to [email protected]

Today on the show, author Jim Heskett and copywriting guru Abigail Dunard tackle an author-submitted blurb to dissect it and understand how to write great sales copy. Here are this episode’s read-along selections:

To watch video of this episode, view it on Facebook at Best Page Forward.

Author: Christine Zane 

Title: Closing on Christmas: A Sweet Holiday Romance (Second Glance Second Chance Book 1) 

Is a Christmas spark enough to reignite an old flame?

Eve Halliday isn’t feeling festive this year. After years of hard work, she’s made the difficult decision to close her restaurant. And the even more difficult decision to close her heart to Jackson Rimes. He’s had a hard enough year, losing his wife. There’s no way he’s ready for a train-wreck like her in his life.

Firefighter, and father of two, Jackson Rimes is back in his hometown for Christmas. He has a secret he’s keeping from everyone, and a Christmas crush on his high school flame, Eve Halliday.

When the two get schemed into playing Santa and Mrs. Claus at the town’s annual Christmas festival, it could be the perfect time to rekindle what they never had. But when Eve finds out Jackson’s secret, things might be over before they can begin (again).

Short. Sweet. Sometimes funny. And perfect reading for the holidays. Buy it today!

DISCLAIMER: There is one instance of the word "damn." Frankly, this book was written by Gone with the Wind rules.

Give your two romance leads equal billing to get readers invested in their relationship. 

Want to submit your own blurb for consideration? Fill out the form at www.bestpageforward.net/podcast or send an email to [email protected]

Today on the show, author Jim Heskett and copywriting guru Abigail Dunard tackle an author-submitted blurb to dissect it and understand how to write great sales copy. Here are this episode’s read-along selections:

To watch video of this episode, view it on Facebook at Best Page Forward.

Dennis’ Question: Blurb length?

Author: Joann Keder

Title: Unleash Your Inner Super Powers: and destroy fear and self-doubt (Words of Wisdom for Teens Book 3)

Are you tired of constantly struggling to “keep up” with everyone else? Does fear or self-doubt prevent you from enjoying your life?

If you want to stop feeling overwhelmed by your stress, anxiety, or fear, I can help. With over 18 years of experience helping teens, I can teach you how to conquer the fear and self-doubt that’s holding you back.

In this book, you’ll discover how to:

Take control of your thoughts and feelings

Feel comfortable in your own skin

Create solutions and solve your problems

Develop a positive and resilient mindset

Go after what you want with courage and confidence

You deserve to be happy and successful. This book can help.

A Nautilus Book Awards Gold Medal Winner for Best Young-Adult Nonfiction of 2017

For nonfiction books, don’t forget to include your “how.” Don’t just include the problems your book will solve, give readers an inside track on your methods.

Want to submit your own blurb for consideration? Fill out the form at www.bestpageforward.net/podcast or send an email to [email protected]

Today on the show, author Jim Heskett and copywriting guru Abigail Dunard tackle an author-submitted blurb to dissect it and understand how to write great sales copy. Here are this episode’s read-along selections:

To watch video of this episode, view it on Facebook at Best Page Forward.

Dennis’ Question: Blurb length?

Author: Joann Keder

Title: Unleash Your Inner Super Powers: and destroy fear and self-doubt (Words of Wisdom for Teens Book 3)

Are you tired of constantly struggling to “keep up” with everyone else? Does fear or self-doubt prevent you from enjoying your life?

If you want to stop feeling overwhelmed by your stress, anxiety, or fear, I can help. With over 18 years of experience helping teens, I can teach you how to conquer the fear and self-doubt that’s holding you back.

In this book, you’ll discover how to:

Take control of your thoughts and feelings

Feel comfortable in your own skin

Create solutions and solve your problems

Develop a positive and resilient mindset

Go after what you want with courage and confidence

You deserve to be happy and successful. This book can help.

A Nautilus Book Awards Gold Medal Winner for Best Young-Adult Nonfiction of 2017

For nonfiction books, don’t forget to include your “how.” Don’t just include the problems your book will solve, give readers an inside track on your methods.

Want to submit your own blurb for consideration? Fill out the form at www.bestpageforward.net/podcast or send an email to [email protected]

Today on the show, author Jim Heskett and copywriting guru Abigail Dunard tackle an author-submitted blurb to dissect it and understand how to write great sales copy. Here are this episode’s read-along selections:

To watch video of this episode, view it on Facebook at Best Page Forward.

Dennis’ Matrix blurb: click here.

Author: Alana Terry

Title: Forget Me Now 

She's forgotten everything ... including who it is that wants her dead.

Mia's trapped in a nightmare inside her own mind. After a brain injury leaves her unable to form new memories, all she knows is that entire months of her life are missing. Those closest to her are dead, and someone's on their way back soon to finish the job.

Heart-gripping, page-turning Christian suspense from the author whose books are called "intense," "life-changing," and "impossible to put down," Forget Me Now will keep you reading ... and guessing ... late into the midnight hours. If you like intense psychological dramas, surprising twists and turns, and a powerful message of faith, then you’ll love Alana Terry’s riveting thriller.

Download your copy today for a fast-paced adrenaline rush you'll never forget.

When crafting calls to action, use language that ties into the themes, plot, or ideas in your story. 

“Download your copy today for a fast-paced adrenaline rush you'll never forget.”

Want to submit your own blurb for consideration? Fill out the form at www.bestpageforward.net/podcast or send an email to [email protected]

Today on the show, author Jim Heskett and copywriting guru Abigail Dunard tackle an author-submitted blurb to dissect it and understand how to write great sales copy. Here are this episode’s read-along selections:

To watch video of this episode, view it on Facebook at Best Page Forward.

Dennis’ Matrix blurb: click here.

Author: Alana Terry

Title: Forget Me Now 

She's forgotten everything ... including who it is that wants her dead.

Mia's trapped in a nightmare inside her own mind. After a brain injury leaves her unable to form new memories, all she knows is that entire months of her life are missing. Those closest to her are dead, and someone's on their way back soon to finish the job.

Heart-gripping, page-turning Christian suspense from the author whose books are called "intense," "life-changing," and "impossible to put down," Forget Me Now will keep you reading ... and guessing ... late into the midnight hours. If you like intense psychological dramas, surprising twists and turns, and a powerful message of faith, then you’ll love Alana Terry’s riveting thriller.

Download your copy today for a fast-paced adrenaline rush you'll never forget.

When crafting calls to action, use language that ties into the themes, plot, or ideas in your story. 

“Download your copy today for a fast-paced adrenaline rush you'll never forget.”

Want to submit your own blurb for consideration? Fill out the form at www.bestpageforward.net/podcast or send an email to [email protected]

Today on the show, author Jim Heskett and copywriting guru Abigail Dunard tackle an author-submitted blurb to dissect it and understand how to write great sales copy. Here are this episode’s read-along selections:

(View Jim's Primary Target video here)

To watch video of this episode, view it on Facebook at Best Page Forward.

Author: Lisa Marshall

Title: Toddler Discipline Tips: The Complete Parenting Guide With Proven Strategies To Understand And Managing Toddler's Behavior, Dealing With Tantrums, And ... Communication With Kids (Positive Parenting) 

The first three years of life are when your child's most dramatic brain development occurs. During these early years, parents have the profound opportunity to nurture their child’s cognitive, social, and emotional development through connected, responsive parenting.

This guide seeks to support parents of toddlers by offering a glimpse into their child's rapidly developing brain, an overview of typical developmental milestones, and guidelines for setting developmentally appropriate expectations (“When is my son old enough to know how to share his toys?” “Why does my daughter run away when I tell her to sit down?”).

We will practice evidence-based positive discipline strategies to navigate challenging toddler behaviors and set appropriate limits while maintaining a strong connection with your child through the toddler years.

In Toddler Discipline Tips, you’ll discover:

• The ultra-simple but critical “trick” to getting your kids to listen to you. If you don’t do this you’re missing out on an easy way to improve your success rate when dealing with your kids.
• The crucial emotional bridge you MUST establish with your child before you try to change their behavior.
• Discover a common language mistake that you’re probably making now. I’ll show you what the mistake is and how to fix it. This mistake is actually increasing the chance that your child does the opposite of what you want!
• The only real reason your kids are not already well behaved.
• Find out what technique most parents use far too often, making it almost completely useless. When you fix this mistake you’re going to get much better results!
• The one word you are probably abusing, which triggers those awful temper tantrums
• And MUCH MORE...

Ah, don't forget! As a bonus, you will receive the Toddler Behavior Cheat Sheet to deal with the 5 most critical behaviors.

Thousands of parents, teachers, and therapists have successfully used these tips. They work with all types of kids on almost any unwanted behavior.

Review your nonfiction blurb for instances of “you” and “your” compared to less personal terms (“parents”, “caretakers”, etc.). Are there any places where you can add a personal touch?

(View Jim's Primary Target video here)

Want to submit your own blurb for consideration? Fill out the form at www.bestpageforward.net/podcast or send an email to [email protected]

Today on the show, author Jim Heskett and copywriting guru Abigail Dunard tackle an author-submitted blurb to dissect it and understand how to write great sales copy. Here are this episode’s read-along selections:

(View Jim's Primary Target video here)

To watch video of this episode, view it on Facebook at Best Page Forward.

Author: Lisa Marshall

Title: Toddler Discipline Tips: The Complete Parenting Guide With Proven Strategies To Understand And Managing Toddler's Behavior, Dealing With Tantrums, And ... Communication With Kids (Positive Parenting) 

The first three years of life are when your child's most dramatic brain development occurs. During these early years, parents have the profound opportunity to nurture their child’s cognitive, social, and emotional development through connected, responsive parenting.

This guide seeks to support parents of toddlers by offering a glimpse into their child's rapidly developing brain, an overview of typical developmental milestones, and guidelines for setting developmentally appropriate expectations (“When is my son old enough to know how to share his toys?” “Why does my daughter run away when I tell her to sit down?”).

We will practice evidence-based positive discipline strategies to navigate challenging toddler behaviors and set appropriate limits while maintaining a strong connection with your child through the toddler years.

In Toddler Discipline Tips, you’ll discover:

• The ultra-simple but critical “trick” to getting your kids to listen to you. If you don’t do this you’re missing out on an easy way to improve your success rate when dealing with your kids.
• The crucial emotional bridge you MUST establish with your child before you try to change their behavior.
• Discover a common language mistake that you’re probably making now. I’ll show you what the mistake is and how to fix it. This mistake is actually increasing the chance that your child does the opposite of what you want!
• The only real reason your kids are not already well behaved.
• Find out what technique most parents use far too often, making it almost completely useless. When you fix this mistake you’re going to get much better results!
• The one word you are probably abusing, which triggers those awful temper tantrums
• And MUCH MORE...

Ah, don't forget! As a bonus, you will receive the Toddler Behavior Cheat Sheet to deal with the 5 most critical behaviors.

Thousands of parents, teachers, and therapists have successfully used these tips. They work with all types of kids on almost any unwanted behavior.

Review your nonfiction blurb for instances of “you” and “your” compared to less personal terms (“parents”, “caretakers”, etc.). Are there any places where you can add a personal touch?

(View Jim's Primary Target video here)

Want to submit your own blurb for consideration? Fill out the form at www.bestpageforward.net/podcast or send an email to [email protected]

Today on the show, Jim and Abigail tackle writing a spec blurb for the movie THE MATRIX for our episode FIFTY spectacular! Here are two versions for us to critique:

To watch video of this episode, view it on Facebook at Best Page Forward.

Have you ever had a dream that felt real? How could you tell the difference between the dream world and the real one?

OR

Welcome to the real world. A software program is coming to kill you.

Thomas Anderson may be a monkey-suited corporate grunt by day, but by night he’s the sim-dealing hacker Neo. A chance encounter with another computer outlaw in a dingy metal bar puts him on the path to the ultimate question: What is The Matrix? 

And when shadowy “government” agents come to arrest him at his office building, Neo has run out of places to hide.

Trapped in an interrogation room, Neo resists the agents’ demands he aid their hunt for the man who holds the Matrix’s secrets, Morpheus. After he’s finally able to strike out on his own, Neo vows to track down this mysterious and powerful figure himself. But when they meet, Morpheus has no answers, only a hard truth: everything you thought you believed is a lie. 

Even the world around you is all a part of... the Matrix.

Fans of Ready Player One will feel right at home with The Matrix, the first action-packed book in the (progressively-less-good) Matrix Trilogy. If you like virtual worlds, mind-blowing twists, and thought-provoking explorations of artificial intelligence, you’ll love the Wachowskis’ science fiction action thriller.

Buy The Matrix to rage against the machine today!

Is he a glitch in the system or the savior of humanity? 

Hacker-for-hire Neo is a firm believer in bending the rules. So when a mysterious, pleather-clad woman recruits him for an illicit secret mission, he takes the plunge. To his horror, his simulated reality falls away to reveal a hellscape where brainwashed humans suffer under A.I. overlords. 

Training with a ragtag crew of rebels, Neo pushes his mind and body beyond the laws of nature. But it will take more than supersonic speed and heavy artillery to take down the code-driven agents that hunt within the Matrix. 

Can Neo twist the programmed prison to his will or is mankind doomed to eternal enslavement? 

The Matrix is the first movie in an electrifying series of sci-fi action films. If you like stylized fight scenes, dystopian futurescapes, and daring underdogs, then you’ll love the Wachowski siblings’ high-tech thrill ride. 

Buy The Matrix to join the cyberspace rebellion today!

Find a writing buddy. Trade and critique each other’s blurbs. Incorporate feedback into your revisions. 

Want to submit your own blurb for consideration? Fill out the form at www.bestpageforward.net/podcast or send an email to [email protected]