Max Elliot Anderson Shares Insight On Finding A Platform

Today I had the honor of interviewing Max Elliot Anderson, author of Newspaper Caper and other tween books. I met Max through an online writer's group and have been amazed at how devoted he is to his cause-helping reluctant children discover the love of reading. Prior to discovering his natural talents as a children's author, Max was a television producer with 500 commercials and the PBS special, Gospel At The Symphony, under his belt. Discover why he feels it's important to reach these young readers...

What was your biggest obstacle when it came to pitching your work to a publisher or agent?

The problem was, and continues to be, convincing larger publishers that there is a substantial market for action-adventures and mysteries written especially for boys.

What is your platform, how did you discover it, and how do you work it to help promote your books?

I didn't like to read as a child. I found that this is primarily a problem shared mostly by boys. Since I've produced or shot a number of dramatic films in the past, for children, I understand this market.

I'm writing books for readers age 8 to13, especially boys. However, girls and adults enjoy these books, too. I chose this age because it's right between being a little child and an adult-a stage that is often referred to as tweeners. My books include moral, ethical, spiritual, and character issues. Tweeners are at a stage in their lives where they will finish making most of their life's decisions by the age of 14-I want to be a huge influence in their lives.

Books sales rely on marketing efforts, what is your best marketing tip?

Look under every rock. No opportunity is too small or too large for you to consider. What I find interesting is how one door opens another, then another, and another.

I give a number of school presentations for my intended age group. I also write articles, and send promotions to appropriate education associations, school groups, teachers, libraries, and others. My most recent article, Hating To Read, appeared in Education Matters. And it's about why an author who hated to read as a child is writing books for boys.

You need to live and breathe marketing and promotion because fewer and fewer publishers will offer much help in this area-once your book has been out for a little while.

Visit him at http://www.maxbooks.9k.com/

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