Turn your book into a Hollywood movie

So, you think Hollywood will go ga-ga over your book?

Not so fast. Lots of authors think the same thing. And if you want to break through all that competition, you have to take the right steps. 

Rick Frishman of Planned Television Arts is offering a free teleseminar from 8 to 9 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, January 17.

His guest his Dr. Ken Atchity, manager of Atchity Entertainment International and The Writer’s Lifeline, Inc., who specializes in shaping stories that work both in New York publishing and Hollywood. He has developed seven bestsellers, written four books for writers, and has produced over 20 films for television and theatrical release.

Ken will answer these questions:

—What are the essential components for succeeding in Hollywood?

—What involvement can I expect once I sell my book?

—What’s the difference between what an agent can do for me and what a literary manager can do?

—Do I need both an agent and a manager?

—Should I sell my book to a publisher first, or to Hollywood first?

—What is literary management, and why do writers need it today?

—How do you make your book project film-friendly?

—What do producers do?

To participate, call 620-294-4000. The access code is 222089#.

Here’s a tip from The Publicity Hound: If you have your sights set on Hollywood, make sure you’re working NOW to build your platform. That means generating as much buzz as you can for yourself and your book, online and offline.

Susan Harrow, the expert on how to get onto “Oprah” and author of the book “Get into O Magazine,” says a strong platform is essential if you hope to hook a major publisher. I interviewed her last year for a CD and electronic transcript we produced called “How to  Build a Publicity Platform That Leads to a Six-Figure Book Advance.”