The pioneering AS – Marketing and Communication Agency for Authors, «exclusively dedicated to the craft of writing», promises to enable Portuguese writers to prosper in the competitive world of publishing.
Analita Santos, literary activist, mentor to emerging writers and author of Portuguese Errors Never Again, a book dedicated to linguistic doubts that was in the top national non-fiction sales list, I wanted to create a project that brought together the marketing with the passion of writing: «Each author has a unique voice that deserves to be heard, a unique story that deserves to be told and a vision that deserves to be known», reads on the agency's website.
AS integrates into its team strategic partners of national reference, independent professionals with experience and a taste for literature who ensure the highest quality of services provided from editing, proofreading, pagination, editorial design and, as stated in the agency's name, marketing and communication.
What is the need for this type of service in Portugal? The truth is that the Portuguese read more and more, especially young people.
Last year, the Portuguese Association of Publishers and Booksellers (APEL) developed a study that indicates that 62% of the national population bought books, with people between 15 and 34 years old being the ones who bought the most.
Books in English, however, are gaining ground in this market in relation to national works. APEL indicated that the sale of books in English represented, in the first quarter of 2024, a growth of 33% compared to the same period last year, which is generating concern among Portuguese publishers. Books published in the United Kingdom or the USA “have infinitely greater circulations”, says Pedro Sobral, president of APEL.
This gives rise to another objective of the pioneering agency AS: in an editorial market in which international writers are preferred by readers (and publishers), the combination of literary quality in writing with marketing and communication strategies becomes essential for success. of national authors.
This is largely due to the phenomenon of booktok, a community of literature lovers that was established on Tiktok and spread across other social networks. The so-called literary influencers dominate the book market like never before, recommending, above all, books by foreign authors and similar genres. Y (YA).
As a result, the need to be present as an author in these online spaces has gained notable importance since the pandemic. Now, an author needs to be up to date with trends in the digital world, to make themselves visible and create an online audience through social networks or their own website, without forgetting their presence at literary events, book fairs, reading clubs.
Literary quality continues to be an imperative, and it is equally important for Portuguese authors to understand whether their writing is more commercial or literary. This positioning will influence your online presence, communication strategy and personal brand.
Despite these changes in the literary world, the writer's focus should always be on writing. AS proposes close collaboration with authors to improve writing through careful editing and proofreading, subsequently ensuring that works are promoted in a clear and striking way, regardless of whether the writer is represented by a traditional publisher or prefers the independent publishing model .
«We are here to help bring life and visibility to your words, whether you are an aspiring writer who wants to build a literary career, a professional who wants to promote your business through a book, a publisher, or someone who wants to share their story personal to inspire others», reads the website.
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