Cover blurbs and platform

It might be helpful but would not make a huge difference. You could approach said experts ahead of time, then in the overview of your book proposal mention that "Dr. So and So, of such reputation, has indicated his willingness to provide a cover blurb."

"Platform" is publishing shorthand for both your credentials and your ability to promote the book. If your credentials are not so stellar, but you have a proven ability to promote (for example, you have a daytime television talk show or a column related to your book topic that's syndicated in two hundreds newspaper or a well-establishing motivational speaking career) then that can outweigh the lack of credentials. (As far as I know, Dr. Phil is no dietician or personal trainer, yet his weight loss book was published and sold a gazillion copies.)

But if you have neither solid credentials nor proven ability to promote, you will have considerable difficulty finding a publisher. One simple way to "get" credentials is to find a co-author who does. This doesn't necessarily mean splitting everything 50-50; if you're doing the lion's share of the work and the expert is merely windowdressing (so to speak), then you can share the rewards proportionally to the work. But all of that must be decided and agreed upon ahead of time.

There's a lot more I could say about platform/credential building/promotion but I've probably given you eyestrain by now. I think your best bet now is to decide if you can take on a co-author. If you absolutely don't want to, then you do need to buff up both your credentials (which could be as a reporter on medical topics, not necessarily as an MD) and your ability to promote.

Hope this helps.

Jennifer Lawler

Hi KCathy,
If you don't have any credentials, you aren't going to get this book published. Are you a science writer? A medical professional of any kind? An OB-GYN nurse? A daycare provider? Anything related to babies and childbirth will help. Otherwise, you are pretty much out of luck. If you want to pair up with an expert, great--but the book will turn out to be the expert's book, not yours.