A book sell sheet (also called a one-sheet) is a handy compilation of the physical aspects of your book, what it’s about, and where a retailer can order it. It’s normally used as a sales aid at trade shows and also for sending to a bookseller who is interested in stocking your book. A sell sheet can also be included in a media kit on your website as it gives a comprehensive overview of your book.
The design of a sell sheet can vary but here’s a list of what information should be included:
- Photo of the cover of your book
- Book title, genre
- Short description of who your book is for – the ideal reader
- Short summary of the plot (fiction) or the topic (nonfiction)
- Name of publisher
- Name of author, short author bio and contact info
- Publication date
- ISBN
- Price
- #of pages
- Dimensions of the book
- Formats – hardback, paperback, ebook, audio
- Excerpt from a trade review or endorsement from an author or expert in your field
- How to order – distributor info, or author.
Looking for design ideas for your book sell sheet? Here’s a few examples via Google Images.
If you’ve got some design experience, you could probably do this yourself. I recommend checking with your cover designer to see if they can do your sell sheet, along with bookmarks, postcards and any other marketing materials.
Struggling to write your author bio? Check out this post: How to Write An Author Bio That Doesn’t Scream Amateur!
