The Story Behind the Story
Let's face it, there are a zillion children's books about zoo animals (I have one coming out myself). There are thousands of novels about World War II. It can be tough to stand out as an author in a crowded field. And while we hope each of our ideas are unique, I really believe that it's "the story behind the story" that compels someone to buy and read our books.
Don’t just talk about your book; tell your story.
As authors, when someone asks us about our books, we tend to give them the “elevator speech” about the book storyline and maybe a few other details such as the intended audience and where it can be purchased. But what we often miss is the opportunity to talk about WHY we wrote the book in the first place. And that can be so much more compelling than anything else!
Let me use a personal example. If someone were to ask me about my work, I could explain my books in one of two ways:
Option 1: I could say…
“The Great Latke Cook Off” is about a family cooking contest over the 8 nights of Chanukah.
“Places We Have Never Been” is about traveling to new places using your imagination.
“Let's Meet on the Moon” is about staying connected when we can't be together.
Option 2: Or I could say this instead…
“The Great Latke Cook Off” is about a family cooking contest over the 8 nights of Chanukah. I wrote it because we are an interfaith family and I couldn't find enough Chanukah books for my kids that I really enjoyed. So I created this story about family traditions, friendly competition, and delicious recipes- and it comes with my grandmother's latke recipe!
“Places We Have Never Been” is about traveling to new places using your imagination. I wrote this book because I was concerned about how our society was talking about immigrants and people from other countries. I wanted to write a book of questions that helps kids think about what it would be like to explore new places, meet new people, and learn about places they have never been. And because you can pick a new place to explore every time you open the book, it can take you on a different journey each time you read it!
“Let's Meet on the Moon” is about staying connected when we can't be together. It's told through the eyes of two friends writing letters back and forth about meeting up in places like the north pole, on a pirate ship, or on the moon. I wrote this book when we had friends who moved away and my kids were sad and wanted to think about how they could stay in touch. But then the book took on a totally new meaning when it was released during the COVID-19 pandemic and we had to think about ways to stay connected to friends and family who may live in the same town, but we weren't able to see. Every book comes with postcards that you can send to your loved ones near and far!
Do you see a difference?
Let me ask you, which descriptions of these books are more interesting or compelling to you? I think I can guess your answer.
So how can you begin to do this in your own daily interactions? Remember, don't just talk about your book, be sure to tell your story!
Do you have a story to tell?
Share in the comments below!
Need help sharing your story? Let’s set up an author coaching session to discuss how you can better engage with readers and sell more books!