In his book, Lessons Learned on Bay Street, Johnson wrote a powerful chapter on philanthropy. Now he’s followed up with a historic donation to the Donald K. Johnson Eye Institute at Toronto Western Hospital—$50 million! That’s truly a […]
JUNE 2, 2021 Big congrats to Barlow author Norman Bacal. His mystery novel, Ophelia, is a finalist in the National Indie Excellence Awards. It’s the second in the series that began with Odell’s Fall. These […]
MAY 20, 2021 What an endorsement for Disaster Proof author Lance Mortlock, from the head of the very influential and prestigious World Economic Forum. Congratulations to Lance and the whole Barlow team.
May 3, 2021 It’s a Canadian bestseller! I was so pleased to see Don Johnson’s new book, Lessons Learned on Bay Street, become the #1 Canadian business biography in this country.
March 25, 2021 Why aren’t women moving up in the corporate world? The Invisible Rules will reveal why, and what you can do about it.
February 21, 2021 A final toast to Barlow author, Fredrik Stefan Eaton: Philanthropist, businessman, outdoorsman.
January 20, 2021 We were still in the middle of the pandemic, and most of us missed our friends, the restaurants, and the gym, not to mention to chance to fly south for a few […]
OCT 15, 2021 When I was a journalist at The Montreal Gazette, Norman Webster was the editor, and in 1990, just after I came home to Montreal from three years in Quebec City, he kindly […]
Are public libraries really to blame for the troubles of Canadian publishers? In a recent article in The Globe and Mail, Whyte argued that libraries are to blame because they’re loaning books to readers for […]
Barlow Books and Login Canada have announced a new Canadian distribution agreement. Read more here. https://barlowbooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/WebPage.pdf
If you’re interested in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, here’s a fresh analysis from author Michael Dan. He uses game theory to make his case that the best solution is mutual cooperation. Check out the review, just […]
For publishers and just about everyone else, the COVID-19 disaster is a classic snafu – situation normal all fucked up. Consider: Just after we went to print with a couple of spring books, our printer […]
Author Laura Beauparlant is a branding expert and an extrovert. So I was wondering how she was doing at home, juggling her branding business with home-schooling her two boys, age 8 and 12. “I’m working […]
Thinking of your book as a brand will guide you every step of the way — from the outline to the title. Read the Barlow Brand Strategy Webinar.
As a publisher and lifelong journalist, I always thought the book was the thing. Publish the book, with the requisite launch party and media attention to drive readers into stores to pick up a copy. […]
As a lawyer and a managing partner at a top law firm, Norman Bacal dealt in facts. He stuck to the facts after the law firm collapsed when he wrote his bestseller, Breakdown: The Rise […]
Ted Rogers, the late founder of the Rogers communications empire, and Phil Lind, his right hand man, have a few things in common in the book department. Both men wrote memoirs. Both were finalists in […]
I’m so pleased to share the news that Right Hand Man, by Phil Lind with Robert Brehl, is a finalist for the prestigious National Business Book Award. As long-time second-in-command to Canadian entrepreneur Ted Rogers, Lind […]
Are you good at what you do? Of course you are, but that’s not enough to be successful. You need to think deeply about your brand, how you show up in the world. Everything you […]
Why do so many organizations waste money on design thinking? Yes, it’s a popular topic in the business world, but many millions are squandered on cool new ideas that don’t fit the business. How can […]
What’s it like to be the power behind the throne, especially when the occupant of the throne is a creative genius? You might wonder in today’s wild political world, when U.S. President Donald Trump routinely […]
At a time when the world is increasingly divided, it was a true honour to meet Izzeldin Abuelaish, the doctor from Gaza who lost three daughters when his apartment was shelled a decade ago by […]
A couple of years ago, I got a call from a former senior banking executive and adviser, Patricia Meredith. She had some deep and startling thoughts about the state of Canadian banks, and she needed […]
Do you live on one of Toronto’s lost golf courses? If you live in Toronto, you might be residing on a golf course that was long ago paved over to make way for residential development. It […]
I’m delighted to announce that The Greenbelt has won a silver medal at an important American publishing competition. Our Benjamin Franklin Award was handed out last weekend at the annual Independent Book Publishers Association conference […]
Great news! The Greenbelt is a finalist in a big U.S. competition held by the IBPA — the Independent Book Publishers Association. Our book made it to the final circle of 3 in a competition […]
It’s a big week for some of our Barlow authors. They’re giving talks about their books to very important audiences in Toronto and Los Angeles. Norman Bacal is speaking about his book, Breakdown: The Inside […]
Barlow Books had a stellar year for bestselling books in 2017. Our books made it onto several bestselling lists, from amazon to the prestigious Globe and Mail bestseller list. Breakdown: The Inside Story of the […]
I love giving and receiving books for Christmas, but have you ever considered the ultimate book gift? You could give someone you love the chance to write their own book. Now some of you might […]
If you’re thinking of writing a book, you might wonder: Where do I start? My answer might surprise you. Put down your pen, shut down your laptop, and think about the following question: What is […]
When a traditional publisher says no to your book, it’s painful. You’ve worked hard on that book, and you’re convinced that it can change minds and make a real difference in the world. But the […]
If you are looking for a publisher, what do you do? With the explosion of book publishing options online, it’s getting confusing, so here is the lowdown on the three options you have to publish […]
If you’re looking for a publisher, what are your options? You can try to land a deal with a traditional publisher like Penguin Random House or HarperCollins. If you get one, you’re very, very lucky. […]
We all want to look like we’re strong and confident. We want people to think that we never make mistakes and that we always know what we’re doing. But have you ever considered the power […]
How do you create true wealth in your family? By earning more money and handing it to the kids so they have an easier life than yours? That would be a mistake: Just look at […]
I’ve been watching The Defiant Ones, the terrific documentary on the two great record producers, Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre. The four-part series is hugely entertaining, but it also reveals a lot about the collaboration […]
Why now? If you want to get into major media with news of your book, you’ll need to answer this question. And you should ask yourself why your book is relevant now before you start […]
For the last few years, I’ve been walking the Bruce Trail with my sister Martha, my partner David, and all kinds of friends. We started in Queenston, ON, at the beginning of the 885-kilometre trail […]
Barlow author Eric Termuende is a hot property on the speaker’s circuit these days. His calendar is packed with engagements all over Canada, and when I met him in one of his favourite restaurants in […]
Norman Bacal’s new book, Breakdown: The Rise and Fall of Heenan Blaikie, has hit The Globe and Mail’s bestseller list! Congratulations to Norm for writing a compelling book about the sudden collapse of the law […]
It’s a great time to be on a mission. Take Eric Termuende, the 24-year-old hotshot on the speaker’s circuit. In his new book, Rethink Work, Eric is on a mission to redefine what work is […]
Are you on a mission? What is it? If you’re not sure, you might ask yourself: What’s driving you? Why do you do what you do? It took me a long time to find the […]
Facts actually matter—not alternative facts, but cold, hard facts. So began the great Toronto defence lawyer Marie Henein in The Globe and Mail last week week: “In the justice system, where I work, evidence grounds […]
If you are trying to tell the world about your idea, as most Barlow Books authors are, a TEDx Talk is a great way to do it. You might even get onto the big stage […]
As a publisher, one of my favourite things is seeing Barlow authors in the major media. So it was great to see Jim Beqaj on Global News this morning to talk about his new book, […]
Why now? It’s one of the basic questions of publishing. Why should your book be read right now? What makes it relevant to your target audience? If you can answer this question convincingly, you’ll be […]
For many writers, getting the opportunity to speak in front of hundreds or thousands of people is the ultimate opportunity to sell books, promote the mission, and potentially earn some money. Yet most people find […]
Heather’s Pick: It’s the book world’s version of a home run. So it is with great delight that I can share the news that Barlow Books author Clare Morneau’s new book, Kakuma Girls, has been […]
Writing an op-ed, an opinion piece that goes on the page opposite from the newspaper’s editorial page, is a great way to get noticed. It will give you a wonderful platform to sell your idea, […]
If you’re one of the great speakers on the circuit right now, you might be thinking of writing a book to boost your career. How hard can that be? I asked that question to a […]
This week, to celebrate the International Day of the Girl, we are publishing Kakuma Girls, the inspiring story of teenage girls at Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya. It’s by 17-year-old Clare Morneau. Ever since this […]
The short answer is yes. People often buy a book based on word-of-mouth—what people say about your book—and reviews can influence what people say. Reviews can also help you if you are writing a book […]
If you are writing a book because you have something important to say to the world, it’s crucial to get your message into the media. This way, you can get the word out, about your […]
At our first Barlow Young Writers Night, we heard some fantastic stories from a dozen Toronto writers under 30. They shared a full range of inspiring book ideas, from a devastating story of recovery from […]
When it’s steaming hot in Toronto, it’s heartening to know that less than an hour away there is a huge stretch of land where you can walk in the shade past spectacular waterfalls and streams, […]
At a time when Donald Trump and the Brexiters are turning their backs on people fleeing from terror, it’s heartening to see that Canadians are still reaching out to the world. Let me introduce you […]
Do you have trouble asking for help? For entrepreneurs, it’s tempting to say, I’ll do it myself. I don’t want to impose on anyone by reaching out for help. But the incredible thing is that […]
When you’re working for a newspaper or magazine, you don’t have to think that hard about your audience. The readers are already on the page. You have to make readers want to read your story, […]
Are you writing a book? A non-fiction book about something that matters to you and to the world you live in? We want to help! It’s tough out there. It’s tough to get a book […]
What’s the secret behind the greatest TED talks? Who better to ask than Chris Anderson, head of TED. He’s got a new book out, TED Talks, and recently he came to Toronto’s Rotman School of […]
Barlow Book Publishing author Steve Pinkus will be the key speaker at an annual conference of 500 energy industry professionals in January. Pinkus, a longtime consultant in organizational change, will share insights from his new […]
Should you judge a book by the way it’s financed? A lot of people do. They think that if someone else pays for your book, it will be better than one that is partly or […]
Who’s the average book buyer in Canada? BookNet Canada has just released a terrific survey to answer that question, and some of their findings may surprise you. The survey of 4,277 Canadians in early 2015 […]
If you are writing a non-fiction book, who do you think will read it? Do you know who your readers are? Really? It matters if you want to sell books to anyone other than your […]
What should you do in the year before publication day to sell your book? A lot, as it turns out. What you do in this time is just as important as all the effort you’ve […]
Every author should be building an email list. Why? It gives you direct access to your readers, which is gold in the new publishing business. An article in this week’s Publishers Weekly explains why. An […]
Book Review of A Life in Psychiatry: Looking out, Looking in Gerald Russell, The British Journal of Psychiatry, Nov 2015, 207 (5) 462-463; DOI: 10.1192/bjp.bp.115.166843 For a psychiatrist to write an autobiography is a rare […]
How can a self-published writer get into a bookstore or library? It takes a lot of effort, as this week’s Publishers Weekly describes. You have to take books in hand, plus a sell sheet, and […]
You’ve written your book. It reads well. But will it sell in physical stores? Anyone can put a book up for sale on amazon. But will your book get on the shelves of bookstores across […]
If you want to write a book to strengthen your brand, does it make any sense to publish one that is poorly written and edited? No, it doesn’t. That’s why we at Barlow Books sometimes […]
There are different kinds of editors, and all of them help to create a successful book. Early in the project, you might need an editor to develop and sharpen the idea, and make sure the […]
If you’re writing a book, and you think young readers might like to read parts of it, how do you get through to the 18-25 demographic? Here’s one way: Publish excerpts on Wattpad. This Toronto-based […]
Not so long ago, literary agents wouldn’t consider representing a self-published writer. Some still feel that way, because most self-published books are not professionally edited, produced and designed. Yet as this Forbes article explains, some […]
If you can brand a company like Disney or Volvo, can you brand an author? Or a book? One of our authors, neonatologist Karen Pape, was working on her book about the promise of baby […]
Rebecca Eckler is a sharp and funny writer, well-known for her books and newspaper articles about single life and finding a man. After having kids with her fiancé, as she likes to call him, Rebecca […]
Barlow Books is proud to announce that Lesley Stowe has won a gold medal in an international competition for her luscious book, Desserts from My Kitchen. The competition, run by the Independent Publisher Book Awards, […]
What should you do in the year before publication day to sell your book? A lot, as it turns out. Pre-publication PR is crucial for the success of a book, according to Jared Kuritz, managing […]
There are now 52 million books on Amazon. How will you sell yours? It’s a big question, and to answer it, you have to remember the three pillars of selling books, said Peter Hildick-Smith, president […]
Anyone who publishes a book knows that book returns can destroy profits and potentially put you out of business. Bookstores are a consignment business: If they don’t sell a book, they can return it and […]
Barlow Books is delighted to announce that we will be a publishing a groundbreaking new book about baby brains. The author, neonatologist Karen Pape, makes a provocative and inspiring argument: If adult brains can change […]
If you are writing a non-fiction book, it may be hard to find a Canadian publisher who will give you enough money to research and write your book. Advances have plummeted; publishers are reluctant to […]
The Barlow books we launched this fall are all making their mark in the Canadian book trade. The Ultimate Cookbook for Hockey Families, by Erin Phillips and Korey Kealey, is one of the top 200 […]
An excerpt from trade magazine Forum, featuring Barlow Books owner and publisher Sarah Barlow Scott. So how does one get from manuscript concept to bestseller? First, recognize that writing and launching a book is not […]
Part Four in a series on self-publishing vs. professional publishing Look inside one of your favorite books. Now take a look at a Word document. You can see the difference right away. A professionally published […]
Part Three in a series on self-publishing vs. professional publishing Are you writing for yourself or for an audience? There’s nothing wrong with a selfie. I have lots of them on my shelf. After every […]
Part Two in a series on self-publishing vs. professional publishing A book is sold by its cover, and if you care about selling books to readers, you’ll find there is a big difference between the […]
Part One in a series on self-publishing vs. professional publishing Authors often wonder how self-publishing differs from professional publishing, either by one of the big traditional houses or by a new independent publisher like Barlow. […]
If you are considering crowdfunding your book project, you have lots of options to choose from. But which crowdfunding platform is best for you? Justine Schofield, the development director at Pubslush, outlines the different options […]
Originally published in the Monteal Gazette, October 26, 2013 © Copyright (c) The Montreal Gazette MONTREAL — On one point, just about everyone can concur: These are trying times for those in the book-publishing industry […]
Want to attract more customers or more high-profile clients? Traditional marketing might get you there. But Barlow Publishing’s Sarah Scott thinks you’ll have better luck if you write a book. When you author a book, […]
Author and executive coach Leslie Strong launched her new book, The YOU Factor, at a popular bar in downtown Toronto last week. Some of Canada’s best-known writers turned out to celebrate the book, including Ann […]
In a 15-minute interview, Sarah Scott explains the difference between self-publishing, traditional publishing, and the Barlow hybrid model.
Make the author accessible to fans through social media; e.g., host scheduled Q&A sessions Generate hype before launch by seeding it with like-minded opinion makers Encourage reviews on Amazon and in app stores Tease and […]
Barlow Book Publishing’s first book, The YOU Factor, has been sold to two key markets in Canada: Indigo and airport bookstores. The sale was made by Barlow’s sales agent, Toronto-based Manda Group. The books should […]
“Authors have the power” is the mantra of Barlow Book Publishing, a Toronto-based publishing upstart whose first title, The You Factor by life coach Leslie Strong, will appear this fall. Barlow is a niche press […]
If you want more people to read your book, use social media to spread the word. And don’t wait until you’ve finished writing your manuscript. “Start yesterday,” says Silicon Valley author and speaker Guy Kawasaki. […]
At a time when the book publishing business is in turmoil, Barlow Book Publishing Inc. begins life as a new kind of publisher. Led by Sarah Barlow Scott, Barlow Book Publishing helps authors who want […]
Barlow authors now have the opportunity to sell books on the shelves of national on-the-ground bookstores such as Indigo. This new distribution channel gives authors one more way to sell books–in addition to selling printed […]
Just over a quarter of Americans currently buy eBooks and nearly half plan to do so in a year’s time. Does this mean that the days of paper are over? The survey of 6,000 American […]
The number of self-published titles has exploded in the last decade, but most of the books are read only by friends and family. This information comes from Mark Levine’s helpful book The Fine Print of […]
Some of the questions you have to ask yourself at the very beginning of a project may resemble a strategy workshop in a business. Here are the key ones: Who is your audience? What will […]
Many authors have trouble interviewing people, especially if the authors are experts. To make a story or a person come alive, you have to ask deceptively simple questions that encourage your subjects to reveal themselves. […]
We have the social network. Is it time for the social book? That question was raised on CBC’s Ideas recently in a provocative show called What Is a Book? Electronic books change the static nature […]
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