Assigned to create a publishing company for my Editing and Publishing class, my group came up with “Cult Publications.” We had to come up with an idea for three books, all different budgets, and one marketing plan. Although we came up with 15 books total, I am only including mine in this post.
For the “A-List Author (big budget)” category, this is what I created.
The Daily Prophet by J.K. Rowling
Based off of the Harry Potter series, J.K. Rowling brings you The Daily Prophet. This is a collection of short stories by Rita Skeeter, a reporter in the Wizarding World, written at the same time as the original books.
“This collection of stories will bring you right back to your childhood in the best way possible.” -The New York Times
- Release date: July 31, 2018.
- 300 pages
- $11.99 (paperback) $14.99 (hardcover)
I chose to create a marketing plan for this particular book, putting myself in the shoes of the customer, a fan of the Harry Potter books.
The Marketing Plan:
- Pottermore.com
- Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook
- Book Clubs
- Bookstores
- Barnes & Noble
- Borders
- Book Trailer
- Big budget
- Review by “America’s Biggest Harry Potter Fan”
- Steve Petrick
The next book was meant to be a “Money Maker (medium budget).” I created this:
Ms. President by Jo Wilson
It’s 2044, and the United States has become a broken skeleton of a country, with riots and revolutions happening left and right. Helen Murray decides to run for the first real presidency since 2020, when the country started to deteriorate. Helen and The Cabinet (her faithful group of followers) try to gather the American people to overturn the corrupt current “president,” who took charge when the country was weak.
- Release date: November 2018
- 400 pages
- $12.99 paperback / $15.99 hardcover
The last book we were made to create was “The Longshot (low budget).” I created this short novel:
Slumber by Cat Stark
How do you get over the death of your loved ones? According to Rose, you sleep it off. Based on “Little Briar Rose” or Sleeping Beauty by the Brothers Grimm, Slumber follows the story of 17-year-old Rose. Living with her godparents after the death of her mother and father, she struggles with depression, but then meets 18-year-old Philip in a dream. Mixing fantasy and reality, Slumber brings you into a dream world of risk and romance.
- Release date: December 25, 2018.
- 400 pages
- $11.99 paperback / $15.99 hardcover.
Lauren O'Neil 