Lennon Biographer Breaking Records with Self-Published Series

PRLog (Press Release) - Feb. 27, 2013 - Jude Southerland Kessler, author of the hot-selling John Lennon Series, has broken the mold. Her sales on Amazon exceeded 115,000 two weeks ago, and her first two books (Shoulda Been There and Shivering Inside) are bringing in sales and re-sales each day.

Kessler, who is part-owner in On The Rock Books – the small publishing house founded by her husband, Rande, who publishes her John Lennon Series – loves the idea of being an independent entrepreneur as well as a writer.

         “My husband is the Director of the Northwest Louisiana Small Business Development Center,” Kessler commented, “so his business acumen goes a long way in helping us run a successful small publishing house. He never stops looking for new ways to increase sales, to open new markets, and to reach new readers.”

         “And without a doubt, my on-fire publicity agent, Jenn Vanderslice of MoonGlow PR is one of the major reasons for my success. Jenn keeps thinking of new ways to tell the public about my 9-volume series on the life of John Lennon. Six months ago, that included convincing me to take a slot as a D.J. on Beatles-A-Rama radio. I had minored in Speech in college and participated in Northwestern’s forensics and debate teams, but being a DJ was out of my comfort zone. I had to learn new techniques and discipline myself to hours of additional research each week, just to write the shows. However, it has paid off, big time!”
         Kessler’s radio programme, The John Lennon Hour, on Beatles-A-Rama internet radio has been gaining popularity since October. Kessler has invited many of the people whom she has researched and interviewed for her books on Lennon to appear on her weekly Sunday night program. In the last month, she has hosted Former Head of Apple, U.S., Ken Mansfield, and former drummer for The Beatles, Pete Best.

         “Authors who want to sell books can’t just sip coffee, research, and write. You have to put yourself out in the public eye,” Kessler stated. “You have to speak to libraries, book clubs, civic organizations, fest, conventions, and classrooms. I speak every month to anyone who will listen!”

         In 2012, The New York Times, in an article entitled “The Joys and Hazards of Self-Publishing” stated that, “Most self-published books sell fewer that 150-200 copies.”

Similarly, Mark Coker, founder of Smashwords, an organization that publishes e-books said, “a huge majority of self-published books don’t sell a lot of copies. We make that clear to our authors.”
         So why has Jude Kessler sold so many books on Lennon?

“Hard work!” Kessler smiles. “I’ve devoted 8-12 hours a day to Lennon research for over 28 years, making certain that these expanded biographies on Lennon are accurate. I’ve interviewed hundreds of primary sources and am continuing to do so each week. I don’t rely on other biographers; I go out and do the groundwork that uncovers new facts and information.”
         Kessler, who will be a Guest Author at the New York Metro Fest for Beatles Fans, will be speaking to the convention on “Facts, Exaggerations, and Lies: The Myths of The Beatles 1957-1964,” uncovering  inconsistences found in long-accepted Beatles legends and stories that she’s unearthed in her research.

“People want the facts, the truth. If you give them that, and if you do it in a format that’s palatable to a reader, he or she will return. They will buy another copy of your book for a friend. And they will buy your next book.”

Kessler’s publishing company, On the Rock Books, is currently planning to release a new book by one of John Lennon’s high school mates. “We’re finding a niche with Beatles authors,” Rande Kessler said. “Jude just started that trend.

For more information on Kessler’s John Lennon Series, go to http://www.johnlennonseries.com. Her books are also available on http://www.amazon.com.

Photo:
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