I'm delighted to announce that the book and its book trailer are finally out! You can watch the book trailer here and buy the book here
Everyone, I can't thank you enough for your ongoing encouragement and support; I truly appreciate it. Your support is what made this possible. And here's a special shout-out to my web designers at Educo Web Design. They're nice people to deal with, and they do outstanding work!
Once the new blog site is up and running (which will be soon, hopefully), it will have a special, downloadable excerpt from my next book exclusively for readers who have bought The Sojourner's Passport. I can't wait!
Khadija,
ReplyDeleteCONGRATULATIONS!!!
Onward and upwards to an abundant life!
The ad is really great, there was nothing that turned me off about it at all. Will it be made available on Kindle?
ReplyDeleteKaren,
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU so much for your ongoing support and encouragement!
Onward and forward into full-spectrum abundant life!
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Zoopath,
You said, "The ad is really great, there was nothing that turned me off about it at all."
I have to ask: Were you expecting to be "turned off"? If so, why? Your feedback about this would greatly help me with my martketing efforts.
And your immediate reaction (which sounded like surprise that you didn't see something that turned you off) ties into an issue that I'll discuss at the new blog:
I really like the book trailer. Of all the players involved, the web designers (who created the book trailer) were the ONLY ones who didn't try to suggest images that were scary and off-putting. They worked with the color palette, and other specifications that I wanted for the book trailer. And did so in a way that was totally consistent with the "vibe" that I wanted reflected in the trailer.
This was a complete contrast from the EXTREMELY scary and off-putting cover design and back cover ad copy suggested by the publishing company. [This scary and off-putting stuff was suggested even after I gave and explained detailed examples of what I wanted.]
I rejected the publishing company's suggestions in those matters in favor of my own vision for the book cover and ad copy. The ad copy used in the trailer is from the book's back cover ad copy (that I wrote). I can only imagine what happens with independent authors who haven't given any real, DETAILED thought to their book's cover design and back cover ad copy.
It's strange...do otherwise competent marketers suddenly lose their minds when it comes to products directed at BW? I wonder...
Moral of this story for newbie BW authors: Have a detailed vision of your own for your work!
As far as Kindle availability, that's still being worked out. Depending upon how that goes, I might ultimately decide that I don't want the book on Kindle after all.
Peace, blessings and solidarity.
Congratulations. Will be ordering this weekend as one of my gifts to myself.
ReplyDeleteNikita
Wow. That was awesome. I really wasn't expecting the amount of detail you put into the presentation but see why it was so important. You didn't low-ball us Khadija and have raised the bar. I appreciate that because the content is important on its own. This just makes it more exciting. Have you set up a Facebook Fan page and Twitter account yet? I think you should.
ReplyDeleteKhadija,
ReplyDeleteI'm ecstatic you’re back. I'm completely late to the game. I came back to your website after my dad of all people emailed me and said "Kiddo you really need to check out this blog. This lady has a lot of common sense. It's refreshing. I want to certain students her website." (My dad is an educator). When I saw the address, I was like "Pops you are so late on the game, I've known about this blog forever but fortunately and unfortunately the owner moved on to greener pastures." Then my dad replied "No, she updated recently. She has a book out as well. I really like her brain." Then I paused and check out your blog and jumped out of my seat. I’ve been really behind on catching up on my favorite blogs anyway because I’ve been working on my own elevation projects.
I'll spare you the rest of the dialogue with my dad but I was so delight to find out that not only did you update your blog but you have a book out as well. I just purchased my copy a few minutes ago on Amazon. I can’t wait to read it. You are truly a talented individual with so much valuable insight. I really appreciate your presence on the blogosphere because you challenge my thinking and allowed me to critically analyze my own views, mindset, and purpose in life. I have to admit that prior to reading your blog and a few others, I was truly in a bubble and rather sheltered. I had absolutely no idea the plight of so many black women. I thought it was just a certain segment of the black community. I was unaware and thought that I wouldn’t be impacted at all. However I’m starting to notice the onslaught of attacks on all black women regardless of socio-economics. It’s quite disturbing.
Even my father has made comments and how deprived so many young black people are these days. He is passionate about teaching but he also sees the very bottom of society since he teaches in the juvenile facilities. From his observation most of the kids are there because of broken homes and acceptance of criminal behavior within their perspective communities. Most of his students are black males with a few Latinos. Many of them are PROUD that they got locked up and often brag about how they’ve victimized innocent people. My pops has a special gift with dealing with the kids because they respect him but I hear some of the stories from his class room and a chill goes down my spine. He’s even thinking about retiring early because every year the kids get more deprived and someone of them seem spiritually dead. A kid even had the audacity to attack my father with a hidden weapon after being reprimanded him for not doing his assignment. My father is fine and more than capable of taking care of himself but the whole incident left him shaken since it was the first time a kid was ever bold enough to attack him. He went into teaching from another prestigious career because he wanted to give back and money wasn’t an issue. He actually cares a lot about people and genuinely wanted to help. But now after 18 years of teaching he’s starting to really see how sick some of these kids are and is considering reaching at a state school since he doesn’t want to retire. What my father is going through now reminds me of another post you made about black women avoiding certain soul draining occupations because of the risks involved.
But I digress. I’m excited about your book and can’t wait to receive my copy within a few days. Besides Black women getting their own lives together and making better choices, we have to be cognizant of what’s our there, even if we don’t live in dangerous neighborhood. Predators are everywhere and we need multiple layers of protection to survive and thrive. That protection includes people who make our interest and safety a priority along with financial and geographic security.
Khadija,
ReplyDeleteI believe that the surprise zoopath expressed is due to reputation that many indy authors produce work that is of poor quality. They don't take the time to have someone properly edit their material or advertise the product. I honestly don't think it was meant as an insult to you. As someone who is an avid lover of books, I tend to stay away from indy authors and publishers because often times the quality simply isn't there. It's rare that someone puts in the time and effort needed to be a successful self published author. In other words a lot of their material, cover, and quality of work are bootleg. I was also blown away by the trailer because typically a lot of indy authors don’t put forth that type of effort or quality due to various reasons such as lack of resources.
Media or marketing aimed at black women almost always irritate or insults me, your trailer was so refreshing. It was refreshing because it lacked lazy thinking, dog whistle type of black female (often assumed lower class) marketing such as but not limited to: gospel music, kente cloth, some manner of hip hip beat, rapping, some narrative with a really grating blaccent, the Obamas (like them, don't like people using them to market), overemphasizing that it's for black women (like mentioning it over and over), it wasn't some dude narrating (why would I want to listen to some guy re BW issues), strong religious/evangelical overtone and does not overuse the following words: abudantly, positive, energy, secret and other magical thinking words. This trailer looks like someone both knew more than 3 black people *and* wasn't a lazy thinker. If I didn't already know that your advice is useful for women across the class spectrum, I wouldn't assume it's only for lower class black women and therefore not so relevant to me.
ReplyDeleteHope that helps.
The Kindle availability isn't a deal breaker for books that I really want it that's okay if it won't be available.
Hello Khadija. Congratulations! The trailer was on point. I especially liked the selection of music, the content and the color scheme. I will definitely order a book for myself and friends. Well done!
ReplyDeleteI will be ordering my copy this week as well. I'm so excited to see that this book is out!
ReplyDeleteThank you Khadija! Well done!
ReplyDeleteEnigma/Nikita,
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU so much for your ongoing support and encouragement!
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Faith,
THANK YOU so much for your ongoing support and encouragement!
My web designer convinced me to open a YouTube account (they've set up the page and the book trailer is there now), and the trailer will be posted at the new blog, iTunes, and some other sites.
He also suggested establishing Facebook and Twitter pages, but I've decided against that for the time being. Mostly because I don't like starting things that I'm not going to see all the way through. I'm not into "half-steppping." I'm extremely busy, and I've had to figure out how to streamline certain things about blogging for the new site.
I don't have time to actively deal with Facebook or Twitter. I know that I wouldn't add any new content to Facebook, and I know that I don't have time to do any "tweeting" (I think that's the terminology regarding Twitter).
As I mentioned in an earlier comment, I'm setting things up so that they are sustainable for me in the long-run.
It's a marketing trade-off. From what he explained, and what I've been studying about about search engine optimization (SEO), I believe my overall marketing goals would probably be better served by maintaining a steady stream of fresh content at the new blog.
Potential customers who aren't already active supporters won't buy a product on the first exposure to it. It's better to give potential readers a reason to keep coming back to one's site (such as a steady supply of fresh content), and then some of them will eventually buy the product after several visits. There will be a "buy at Amazon" button at the new site.
In terms of SEO, it's good to have incoming links from a variety of other sites. And hopefully, that will happen naturally and organically for the new blog. But I don't want potential customers' attention directed to avenues where I know I won't be supplying fresh content which would give them a reason to come back.
Peace, blessings and solidarity.
Muse,
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU so much for your ongoing support and encouragement!
I'm flattered and tickled by your Dad's comments about the blog; thanks for sharing. {chuckling}
You said, "What my father is going through now reminds me of another post you made about black women avoiding certain soul draining occupations because of the risks involved."
It's unfortunate, but the reality is that the increasingly depraved AA underclass needs more than is humanly possible to provide. It's too late for 99.99% of them. And trying to help them ultimately destroys the decent, sane and productive Black folks who deal with them.
Let me stress: I did NOT take Zoopath's reaction as an insult. I'm simply trying to figure out what created that reaction, so I can increase the odds of my own marketing efforts being successful. And thankfully, she's given some detailed feedback in her follow-up comment! *Smile*
I know that I'm not a "mainstream" AA woman consumer. I don't watch television. I haven't listened to Black broadcast radio since the 1990s. So, I have NO CLUE about how various products are currently being marketed to BW. This is why I asked her questions about her reaction.
Oh yes, I've seen the problems that you've described with many (most?) indie books. I suspect that a lack of a detailed vision is what's causing this. I'll put it this way: It's been my impression from browsing various indie writers' and aspiring authors' blogs, that they haven't given much DETAILED thought to how they will package and position their work.
It seems to me that many of them are trying to function like the authors backed by major publishing houses---minimally involved in marketing and design strategy, and as passive spectators who only write the book content--period. I would expect that when one is an indie author, taking this kind of posture would most likely lead to a low-quality product.
The other thing is that this particular system is even beginning to unravel with traditionally-published authors. The major publishers are beginning to demand that the authors they publish come with a pre-existing "platform" of their own (= pre-existing customer/supporter base).
In terms of lack of resources leading to low-quality products/marketing efforts: not everything is ridiculously expensive, including the book trailer situation. As with everything, it pays to shop around.
Part 2
ReplyDeleteZoopath,
THANK YOU so much for your ongoing support, encouragement, AND detailed feedback about current marketing directed at BW (you've helped me A LOT with your feedback)!
You said, "Media or marketing aimed at black women almost always irritate or insults me, your trailer was so refreshing. It was refreshing because it lacked lazy thinking, dog whistle type of black female (often assumed lower class) marketing such as but not limited to: gospel music, kente cloth, some manner of hip hip beat, rapping, some narrative with a really grating blaccent, the Obamas (like them, don't like people using them to market), overemphasizing that it's for black women (like mentioning it over and over), it wasn't some dude narrating (why would I want to listen to some guy re BW issues), strong religious/evangelical overtone and does not overuse the following words: abudantly, positive, energy, secret and other magical thinking words."
Reaction: Lord, God, have mercy...I had no idea...as I mentioned above, I haven't been watching tv or listening to Black radio, so I had NO CLUE about how things are currently being marketed to BW.
THANK YOU for this detailed feedback; you've helped me a lot. Now I know that I need to watch how many times I say any variation on the word "abundance" in my marketing. Again, THANK YOU!
___________________________
Nathifa,
THANK YOU so much for your ongoing support and encouragement!
____________________________
Zabeth,
THANK YOU so much for your ongoing support and encouragement!
Peace, blessings and solidarity.
Tee,
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU so much for your ongoing support and encouragement!
Peace, blessings and solidarity.
Hey Khadija:
ReplyDeleteI really love the trailer. There was so much that you pointed out in the trailer that many Black women can identify. I'm studying web design so the animation really stood out to me.
I'm so excited for you :-) I wish you much success and I'll be sure to purchase my copy.
Khadija,
ReplyDeleteA BIG CONGRATULATIONS!!!!
I couldn't be more proud...You can count on my order and I'll be telling everyone about this book...And Zoopath was correct in her assertions, the advertising was breath of fresh air...None of the typical "hooks" we often see when Black people are being market to...
Anonymiss,
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU so much for your ongoing support and encouragement!
___________________________
CW,
THANK YOU so much for your ongoing support and encouragement!
Yes, Zoopath really helped me out with her feedback!
Peace, blessings and solidarity.
Khadija,
ReplyDeleteThat trailer was FANTASTIC! Very positive and uplifting. GOOD LUCK on this new venture of yours.
I can see a lot of time, thought, love, and consideration went into producing it.
BRAVO and two thumbs up.
Black women can have ALL of what was described in that clip IF they truly want it. The EXPOSURE to these common sense ways of thinking and behaving is the only thing necessary.
That, and the willingness to focus on SELF - and what's best for self - first and foremost.
To put these principals into practice.
Congrats Khadija (smiling)I can't wait to get my copy.
ReplyDeleteKhadija I just was reading your "I told you so" post on Obama and you spoke out alot about "black displacement"so to speak, which I took very seriously btw.Well you had already said that black men could be replaced in the sports arena which was something I never really thought about but it's already happening.Did you read the story about the all white basketball league?WOOW I'd like to point out that you said that BEFORE this story even broke on the net.The guy who's starting up the league says that he's starting up an all white league to take the sport in a new direction and that he was sad about where the NBA had gone in regards to the players and their lack of ethics.He says his league will be more family oriented.Anyway, I just wanted to say yeah you told us so.Keeping in mind that I can be replaced and displaced i'm striving to become more educated and hope someday to be able to employ myself and others.Thanks for the heads up Khadija!That's one of the many reasons I will be purchasing your book.
God bless you.
Congratulations on the book. The promo was catchy and to the point! I will be getting the book, and hope black women who are in contact with college students and high school students will expose them to this book. I think that's a great age to dismantle indoctrination.
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to your new site.
Khadija!!! YES!!!! I just ordered the book!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you for EVERYTHING you do!! Can't wait for the new site!
ReplyDeleteLove,
SweetSoulSister
Felicia,
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU so much for your ongoing support and encouragement!
Yes, as you noted, BW can have optimal lives if they would just take advantage of ALL of the available opportunities.
As has been noted in recent conversations, it's a paradox, but it's the worst of times for most clueless, self-martyring BW; but it's also potentially the BEST of times for those of us who look after our own interets.
__________________________
Truth P.,
THANK YOU so much for your ongoing support and encouragement!
And before I say anything else, THANK YOU for "holding it down" in support of common sense during the recent "Marital Mogadushu" conversations at What About Our Daughters!
You said, "Did you read the story about the all white basketball league?"
No, I'll have to look into that. Thanks for bringing this story to my attention.
You said, "WOOW I'd like to point out that you said that BEFORE this story even broke on the net."
Well, as much as I'd like to claim some special analytical ability, this trend has been in progress for a while. It's a gradual process, so most people don't notice. And by the time the changeover is complete, most folks will have forgotten that it was ever any different. Like most AAs have forgotten how many AA players used to be involved in pro baseball.
The first tip-off to me about this was quite a while ago when I noticed the different way the tv commercials were advertising the local basketball team's games. Suddenly, instead of saying "the Chicago Bulls" during the commercials, I noticed that they were saying "White Coach's Name and the Chicago Bulls."
That struck me as odd, because I didn't remember previously EVER hearing sports commercials using (much less emphasizing) the coach's name in the commercials for the TEAM'S upcoming games. That's when I realized that the spotlight was slowly being shifted OFF of the Negro players on these various teams, and ONTO any nonblack participants that could be found.
You said, "The guy who's starting up the league says that he's starting up an all white league to take the sport in a new direction and that he was sad about where the NBA had gone in regards to the players and their lack of ethics.He says his league will be more family oriented."
Yes, that's the rationale that will be used to justify this: a desire for "family entertainment, wholesome entertainment that's suitable for the whole family," etc.
And he DOES have a valid point. I doubt that it's totally about racism. I can see large numbers of people...who are religious, or deeply concerned about maintaining a wholesome atmosphere around their children NOT being comfortable taking their children to see tatooted, gun-toting, criminals play sports.
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Palmwater,
THANK YOU so much for your ongoing support and encouragement!
__________________________
SweetSoulSister,
THANK YOU so much for your ongoing support and encouragement!
Peace, blessings and solidarity.
Congratulations, Miss Khadija!
ReplyDeleteI have ordered your book just now and I am very pleased and excited to own a book from such a fine-minded lady such as yourself. Cheers to you!
Congrats on your new book Khadija! Yay!
ReplyDeleteAnd PLEASE, PLEASE RUN FOR US PRESIDENT IN A FEW YEARS! LOL
You're a lawyer and you know politics so you can do it!!!
Very nice trailer and Well Done for the book.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations and well Done!
ReplyDeleteGreetings, Khadija!
ReplyDeleteI have to register now for Amazon in order to buy your book!
Will it be available through Barnes and Noble?
Hello Khadija!!!
ReplyDeleteLove your blog. I found it during my final exam period so never had time to comment.
It touches on many issues I myself have noticed and talked about with a few friends who have observed the same things.
Congratulations on your book. I look forward to you new blog and will definitely be giving my input and feedback.
NijaG
Peachmari,
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU so much for your ongoing support and encouragement!
__________________________
AK,
THANK YOU so much for your ongoing support and encouragement!
No politics for me! LOL!
____________________________
Felicity,
THANK YOU so much for your ongoing support and encouragement!
_____________________________
PioneerValleyWoman,
THANK YOU so much for your ongoing support and encouragement!
Yes, I just checked to confirm--the book IS available at the Barnes & Noble online site.
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Anonymous/NijaG,
THANK YOU so much for your ongoing support and encouragement!
**And with that, I'm closing the comments to this post. Everybody, THANK YOU! See you at the new site, which is now up and running! Onward and forward!**
Peace and blessings,
Khadija Nassif