We are Hiring a Book Marketing Specialist

Book Marketing Specialist

Solar Six Books

Solar Six Books is looking for a part-time marketing specialist to plan and execute a series of promotions for Cesar Torres’ newest novel, 9 Lords of Night. This is a nine-month project that goes beyond the traditional definitions of what it means to market a work of fiction.

At Solar Six we don’t believe that there is one perfect candidate. Instead, we see limitless potential in specific individuals. Resumes are great, but hearing your story directly from you is best. Practically speaking, our future Book Marketing Specialist is a person who is incredibly passionate about books and who has solid experience under their belt on engaging with audiences and other creators online. Book lovers who have their own podcasts or YouTube channels are especially welcome. Academic and professional experience in marketing are also appreciated, but keep in mind that we want someone who can think beyond the typical marketing tactics, such as writing press releases and marketing to readers on sites like Goodreads.

This project will span across nine months in support of the sci fi-thriller 9 Lords of Night, which pits a trans detective and a queer academic against a supernatural threat in a grim future version of New York City. If you understand queer and trans themes and you are passionate about sci fi and fantasy, we definitely want to hear from you.

This position is part time for an average of 4-5 hours a week; pay rate is negotiable based on experience. You will work directly with author and publisher Cesar Torres on planning and execution of the marketing plan via Slack and phone on a weekly basis, but you’ll also be expected to work independently without a lot of handholding. This contract gig can expand to a larger role depending on performance and chemistry.

Some of the existing goals for this position include:

• Booking author Cesar Torres on podcasts, YouTube channels and other online outlets, such as Instagram, Snapchat and Patreon. The focus here is on indie outlets. We are not interested in local TV stations, traditional press or radio.

• Planning a book-release performance in Chicago scheduled for autumn: creating a budget, finding a venue, booking musical and acts and performers, and creating a marketing campaign. Keep in mind that this is not a book reading (book reading tend to be dreadfully dull). This will be an event that helps reimagine what a book event can be.

• Writing bi-weekly updates for Cesar Torres’ author newsletter.

• Creating promotions and contests to engage readers as the book is released on paperback. Typical channels for these promotions will be Cesar Torres’ author newsletter, his Instagram account and YouTube channel.

• Booking a series of guests onto the Cesar Torres podcast to promote the release of the book.

• Crafting a new strategy for growing Patreon subscribers. Applicants with experience with Patreon are strongly encouraged to apply.

• Outreach to LGBTQIA organizations to book speaking engagements for Cesar Torres.

Solar Six Books is the publisher of Cesar Torres’s published books, including 13 Secret Cities and 9 Lords of Night. For all inquiries, please email editor@solarsixbooks.com.

Podcast 24: The Golden Age of Serial Killers Is Over

We continue with episode 4 in our four-part series about 9 Lords of Night, which releases you can read and download here. In this episode Eyre and I discuss the icon of the serial killer in America, and the place it has taken in the 21st century. We also discuss how that icon of the serial killer influenced my novel 9 Lords of Night, and my newest Pablo Greene erotic thriller Gold, which publishes next week in Kindle (paperback arrives in Feb).

Related links

• My vlog on why I don’t expect people to like my novels

Wiki entries on William Friedkin and his film Cruising and The Exorcist.

Podcast #22: Claustrophobia, Aztec gods, and how writers embody their fictions

In today’s episode we our series of episodes, featuring my special guest novelist Eyre Price, author of Blues Highway Blues. Eyre goes deeper in this episode in his questions for me about  9 Lords of Night, which releases October 30.

• We talk about the nature of the detective novel, and the way in which claustrophobia becomes part of 9 Lords of Night

• We talk about the essence of complicated Aztec gods in my fictional universe, and how things just get more compllicated as time moves along.

• Eyre also asks the question: Does a writer’s work change the writer physically and mentally?

You can listen to the previous podcasts I did with Eyre a few years ago when 13 Secret Cities published

Podcast #21 Season 2: Redefining the Supernatural in Fiction

In today’s episode:

• We kick off SEASON 2 of the podcast, with a brand new series of episodes centered around 9 Lords of Night, featuring my special guest novelist Eyre Price, author of Blues Highway Blues

• Eyre asks me a lot of questions about 9 Lords of Night, 13 Secret Cities, and we discuss the role of the supernatural in writing fiction, particularly novels.

• You can listen to the previous podcasts I did with Eyre a few years ago when 13 Secret Cities published here on my YouTube channel.

If you like the show, leave us a review in iTunes here. Thanks. If you want to support the podcast with a donation, visit my Patreon page. Got a comment? Send us an email at our contact page.

Hello, World!

Podcast #18: Why a book author launched online clothing boutiques

In today’s episode:

• I tell you why I launched online boutiques that are part the universes of my published novels.

• Want to check out these stores? One is 13SC Apparel, and the other (NSFW) is How to Kill a Superhero.

If you like the show, leave us a review in iTunes here. Thanks. If you want to support this show, visit my Patreon page. Got a comment? Send us an email at our contact page.

3 things wrong with developmental editing

Image courtesy of Eyre Price

The following guest blog post is from Eyre Price, author of the Crossroads Trilogy, available from Amazon.com. You can follow him on Facebook. -Cesar Torres

By Eyre Price

The peculiarities of publishing have put me in an unexpected position. My latest title has been sold, but is stuck in a queue that will delay that book from hitting shelves for a while. At the same time, I’ve finished another novel that is currently being shopped around. So rather than add more manuscripts to this congestion, I’d like to use this opportunity to do something I’ve wanted to do for a long time: developmental editing – but with a completely different approach.

In my experience, there are three things wrong with traditional developmental editing.

The pressure to have a completed manuscript

The first is that developmental editors typically want to see a completed manuscript, but this has always struck me as counter-intuitive. It’s like having a builder complete his house and then inspecting the foundation afterward. Working from a final draft often makes rewrites more difficult and occasionally requires tearing everything down and starting from scratch. That’s an unnecessary waste of time, effort, and opportunity.

I believe that working with a developmental editor from the very beginning allows the writer to maximize the benefits of that process. So, while I’m more than willing to tackle a complete manuscript, I’m equally eager to work on a (very?) rough draft. A couple of chapters. Even an outline or an idea.

Expensive costs

The second drawback is the price. A full editing of a manuscript can start around $1,000.00 and go north from there. For a beginning writer--and some of us more established ones, too--that cost factor is prohibitive.

So what I’m offering is a service charged on an hourly rate. Pay for the time you need, and nothing more. My sincere hope is that this will make developmental editing affordable to absolutely everyone who is interested in working with an editor but has reservations about making a significant financial investment.

Communication loop is left open

The third issue is that at the end of the editing process, a client is typically provided with nothing more than a couple pages of written notes. There may be a follow-up phone call, but generally the writer is left to interpret and implement those changes on their own. To me, this lack of continued interaction frustrates the purpose, which I think often necessitates a series of conversations. So, while I’ll certainly offer written notes, I’m also planning to make myself available for on-going discussions. Phone. Skype. FaceTime. GooglePlus. Whatever works. Night owl or morning person, I’ll accommodate your schedule.

So, that’s it. Simple enough. No matter where you are in the process, from finished manuscript to just the germ of an idea, I’m available to help you develop your work on the terms that work best for you.

If you’re curious about me, I’m an agented writer and the award-winning author of the Amazon Best Selling Crossroads Thrillers series. I’ve been featured in Writer's Digest, was on the editorial staff of ITW’s The Big Thrill, and my short fiction has appeared in a number of anthologies. I’m a Fulbright Grant recipient and State Department selection as a U.S. representative to the 19th Salon International Du Livre D’Alger. I‘ve taught creative writing, presented panels at literary conferences, and appeared on numerous podcasts.

If you think that I might be able to help you with your work in progress, whether that’s just getting started or readying it for submissions or publication, email me at mreyreprice@gmail.com and I’ll be more than happy to share the details of my plan and answer all of your questions.

Podcast #16: Sarah Kendzior

In today’s episode:

• Sarah Kendzior is a columnist for The Globe and Mail, and has contributed to Foreign Policy, The Atlantic, The New York Times, The Guardian, Quartz, Slate and Politico. Sarah received her Ph.D. from Washington University. Her research focuses on authoritarian states. She tweets at @sarahkendzior. You can also quickly find all her articles and writing at SarahKendzior.com.

If you like the show, leave us a review in iTunes here. Thanks. If you want to support this show, visit my Patreon page. Got a comment? Send us an email at our contact page.

Pocast #15 Don’t overthink it, use Createspace for paperbacks

In today’s episode:

• Big news, I’ll be performing at Homolatte in Chicago on Tuesday, Feb. 7 at 7:30. It’s free, and you will hear selections from 13 Secret Cities and 9 Lords of Night.

• Updates on audio issues in the last episode

• A quick primer on Amazon’s book printing service Createspace, and why you should use it for self publishing your book

If you like the show, leave us a review in iTunes here. Thanks. If you want to support this show, visit my Patreon page. Got a comment? Send us an email at our contact page.

Podcast #14 Jeff Curto

Photographer Jeff Curto is Professor Emeritus of Photography at College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, where he taught from 1984 to 2014. Curto hosts two popular podcasts about photography. He hosts The History of Photography, which presents a full semester of his History of Photography course along with other photo history concepts, and Camera Position, which discusses photography’s creative aspects.

If you like the show, leave us a review in iTunes here. Thanks. If you want to support this show, visit my Patreon page. Got a comment? Send us an email at our contact page.

Podcast #13 A special reading: Wandering Star

In this week’s episode:

• I have guests coming up on the show! Bob Paris, Sarah Kendzior and Jeff Curto. First episode with guests starts next week.

• A reading of the chapter “Wandering Star” from my upcoming novel 9 Lords of Night.

If you like the show, leave us a review in iTunes here. Thanks. If you want to support this show, visit my Patreon page.

Podcast #12 Updates on 9 Lords of Night and the launch of 13SC Apparel

In this episode:

• Updates on the podcast, and why I was absent for a few weeks
• Updates on 9 Lords of Night by Cesar Torres, due out in 2017
• The launch of 13SC Apparel, a clothing line designed by Cesar Torres that is bringing community to Chicago strength sports
• Other updates

For more info, visit cesartorres.me

Solar Six and 13SC seeking designers and illustrators

Solar Six, Cesar Torres’ publishing company, and 13SC, its related apparel brand, are  seeking illustrators and designers for Winter of 2016/2017 to actively work on book covers, book illustrations, tee designgs, men’s fitness apparel design, video and web branding. These opportunities are on a freelance basis, with the possibility of more long term options if there is a fit. We prefer to develop a relationship with a business-minded artist, and we select candidates who show promise and interest in working with startups and innovation. We pay a flat fee per project with clear deadlines for deliverables.

We are seeking two kinds of people. If you happen to fit both, even better.

• Illustrators with strong experience in drawing human figures in movement. Any artists who have comic book experience are welcome, though this is not required.

• Graphic designers who can develop branding elements for tees, posters and other physical products in photoshop and illustrator. We are looking for folks who have a real visual style but can adapt to the needs of the creative vision.

To apply, please email your resume, cover letter and link to an online portfolio to editor@solarsixbooks.com.

More information about Cesar Torres:

Cesar Torres is a writer and journalist with more than 20 years of experience across various areas of publishing and business including digital news, book publishing (fiction), startups, human-computer interaction and emerging technologies.

Cesar graduated from the undergraduate program from Medill at Northwestern University in 1996, and he earned a masters in science in human-computer interaction from DePaul University. He spent the first ten years of his career at Tribune Company and Tribune Interactive as a producer, developing breaking news content for Tribune’s network of newspaper web sites. During the tech boom of the late 90’s he also served as a syndication producer for Encyclopaedia Britannica’s foray into search technology and web-based encyclopedic content. After spending a few years in the middle aughts as editor and web publisher for healthcare entities such as HIMSS and The Rehabilitation Institute in Chicago, Cesar made a change in his focus by turning his focus to technology and the ways in which tech is impacting human culture and human behaviors. He served as Social Editor for the Conde Nast tech publication Ars Technica. Cesar also served a key role as managing editor in the founding stages of the consumer-product sites The Wirecutter and The Sweethome.

Cesar is also a longtime fiction writer. Even as far back as his undergraduate days at Northwestern, he wrote short stories. Cesar’s first published short story ran in the now-defunct Willows magazine in 2008. In 2012, Cesar created Solar Six, a startup that publishes his books in paperback and as e-books. Cesar’s debut novel 13 Secret Cities, launched in 2013. Since then, Cesar has published three more novels under a pseudonym. His next novel, 9 Lords of Night, a thriller set in Chicago and New York City, is scheduled to publish in 2017.

Cesar is also the designer and creator of 13SC apparel, a brand of gym and fitness wear inspired by mythical figures.

Podcast #11: What happened to me at Tuesday Funk

In which I tell you what happened to me at Tuesday Funk, and I discuss a different kind of "Tuesday funk", which could happen on November 8 in the U.S.

The Cesar Torres podcast is dedicated to coaching people in fiction writing and self publishing, as well productivity and digital strategy. Cesar is the author of the novel 13 Secret Cities and How to Kill a Superhero (under the pen name Pablo Greene). For more info, visit cesartorres.me. 

Podcast #10: Why you need $1,000 to self publish your first book

The Cesar Torres podcast is dedicated to coaching people in fiction writing and self publishing, as well productivity and digital strategy. Cesar is the author of the novel 13 Secret Cities and How to Kill a Superhero (under the pen name Pablo Greene). For more info, visit cesartorres.me. For more episodes, please subscribe via Stitcher or iTunes.

Podcast #8 The Day You Wrote Down Your Busines Vision

The Cesar Torres podcast is dedicated to coaching people in fiction writing and self publishing, as well productivity and digital strategy. Cesar is the author of the novel 13 Secret Cities and How to Kill a Superhero (under the pen name Pablo Greene). For more info, visit cesartorres.me. For more episodes, please subscribe via Stitcher or iTunes.

Podcast #7 This Isn't Going to Work

The Cesar Torres podcast is dedicated to coaching people in fiction writing and self publishing, as well productivity and digital strategy. Cesar Torres is the author of the novel 13 Secret Cities and How to Kill a Superhero (under the pen name Pablo Greene). For more episodes, please subscribe via Stitcher or iTunes.

Podcast #6 The Day You Wrote Down Your Editorial Vision

The Cesar Torres podcast is dedicated to coaching people in fiction writing and self publishing, as well productivity and digital strategy. Cesar Torres is the author of the novel 13 Secret Cities and How to Kill a Superhero (under the pen name Pablo Greene). If you would like to support this podcast, you can do so at Cesar Torres' Patreon page.

Podcast #4: You Should Self Publish Your Book

Direct download link: http://traffic.libsyn.com/cesartorres/ep_4_yes_you_should_self_publish.mp3 For more episodes, please subscribe via Stitcher or iTunes.

Podcast #3: A Writing Lesson All Novelists Can Use

For more episodes, please subscribe via Stitcher or iTunes.

Podcast #1: The difference between happiness and satisfaction

Kicked off a new podcast, cheers. You should see it appear shortly in iTunes, iHeart Radio and Stitcher. You can play it in the player below, too.