Russian prosecutors ask for 3 years in punk case

Maria Alekhina, foreground right, a member of feminist punk group Pussy Riot is escorted to a court room in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2012. Russia's President Vladimir Putin on Thursday criticized the feminist punk rockers facing trial for performing a "punk prayer" against him at Moscow's main cathedral, but said that a punishment for them shouldn't be too severe. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Maria Alekhina, foreground right, a member of feminist punk group Pussy Riot is escorted to a court room in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2012. Russia's President Vladimir Putin on Thursday criticized the feminist punk rockers facing trial for performing a "punk prayer" against him at Moscow's main cathedral, but said that a punishment for them shouldn't be too severe. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, centre, a member of feminist punk group Pussy Riot is escorted to a court room in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2012. Russia's President Vladimir Putin on Thursday criticized the feminist punk rockers facing trial for performing a "punk prayer" against him at Moscow's main cathedral, but said that a punishment for them shouldn't be too severe. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Yekaterina Samutsevich, left, a member of feminist punk group Pussy Riot is escorted to a court room in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2012. Russia's President Vladimir Putin on Thursday criticized the feminist punk rockers facing trial for performing a "punk prayer" against him at Moscow's main cathedral, but said that a punishment for them shouldn't be too severe. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Supporters of members of feminist punk group Pussy Riot shout "Freedom Pussy Riot" during an action at a court room in Moscow, Russia, Monday, Aug. 6, 2012. The woman wears a T-shirt with President Vladimir Putin's picture and the inscription: "A very dangerous criminal wanted. Reward: A free Russia." holds a poster that reads: "This is not the court, this is a lynching!" Members of a feminist Russian punk band on trial for performing a stunt against Vladimir Putin in Moscow's main cathedral sought to dismiss their judge on Monday, accusing him in court of being politically biased and ignoring their side of the story. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

MOSCOW (AP) ? Prosecutors on Tuesday called for three-year sentences for the members of a feminist punk band who performed an anti-Vladimir Putin stunt in Moscow's main cathedral, ignoring demands by human rights groups that the three women be set free.

Prosecutor Alexander Nikiforov portrayed the request as lenient, saying it takes into account the fact that two of the defendants are young mothers and that they have good references.

The hooliganism charges the three women face can carry a sentence of up to 7 years in prison.

The three women ? Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 23; Maria Alekhina, 24; and Yekaterina Samutsevich, 29 ? have been in custody for five months following the February stunt, in which they took over a church pulpit in Christ the Savior cathedral for less than a minute, singing, high-kicking and dancing.

Their case is part of a widening government crackdown on dissent that followed Putin's election in March and caused strong protests in Russia and abroad. Musicians including Madonna, the Who's Pete Townshend and Neil Tennant of the Pet Shop Boys have urged their release, and Amnesty International has called them prisoners of conscience.

The verdict is expected this week.

The trial has sharply divided Russia. Some believers felt insulted by the act, while rights groups have declared the women prisoners of conscience.

Orthodox leaders have ignored calls by many believers to pardon the women and urge the court to dismiss the case.

The defendants have said their goal was to express their resentment over Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch Kirill's support for Putin's rule. But prosecutors have insisted throughout the trial that there were no political motives behind the performance.

"They set themselves off against the Orthodox world and sought to devalue traditions and dogmas that have been formed for the centuries," Nikiforov said Tuesday.

Members of the band say they did not mean to hurt anyone's religious feelings when they performed the "punk prayer."

Larisa Pavlova, a lawyer for the church employees who were described as the injured party in the case told the court on Tuesday that she supports the sentencing recommendation.

Pavlova said most hooliganism in Russia is committed when people are drunk and they often regret what they have done ? but the defendants "thoroughly planned, rehearsed (their performance) and were fully aware of what they were doing."

"And they had the audacity to say in court that they did the right thing, that it's OK and that they're ready to keep on doing such things," Pavlova said.

Tolokonnikova chuckled as Pavlova mentioned in her speech that feminism in Russia is incompatible with Orthodox faith.

Pussy Riot lawyer Violetta Volkova voiced the band's complaint that the women had been deprived of sleep and food throughout the trial, describing it as "torture."

"In this trial, authorities, not the girls, have dealt a crushing blow on the Russian Orthodox Church," Volkova said. "Time has turned back ? back to the Middle Ages."

The trial has sharply divided Russia. Some believers felt insulted by the act, while rights groups have declared the women prisoners of conscience.

Orthodox leaders have ignored calls by many believers to pardon the women and urge the court to dismiss the case.

Mark Feygin, a lawyer for the band, told the court that the charges the women are facing are disproportionate to what they have done:

"Many of the things they have done were clumsy and too shocking, but there are no grounds for criminal prosecution here," he told the court.

Feygin said that the guilty verdict would "break a bond between the government and people for good" and that "society will never forgive the state for persecuting the innocent."

Russian veteran rights activist Lyudmila Alexeyeva told the Interfax news agency that a jail sentence for Pussy Riot would be "a disgrace for Russia and the Orthodox Church."

Amnesty International has said it considers the three women to be prisoners of conscience "detained solely for the peaceful expression of their beliefs."

Archdeacon Andrei Kurayev, an influential Orthodox blogger and Professor of the Moscow Theological Academy, warned in an interview with the RIA Novosti news agency on Tuesday that jail time for Pussy Riot would "turn them into martyrs" and would only feed hostility towards the church.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/4e67281c3f754d0696fbfdee0f3f1469/Article_2012-08-07-Russia-Punks%20vs%20Putin/id-f797e7de3cc64524ad07c2e62c361f4d

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Wheeler's Pest Control Offers Excellent Bee Control Services

Wheeler's provides excellent bee control, animal control, and other services throughout the southern california area.

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Wheeler's Pest Control has been offering excellent pest control services throughout the Southern California and Los Angeles area for many years. They specialize in many different types of pest control, and pest removal in both residential and commercial buildings. However, one of the most common problems that they run into his bees. The control can be very difficult for a homeowner, or individual renting a commercial space, and often it is required that you call a professional company to handle the removal of the bees. Not only is an established colony of real nui but it can become a very serious problem if you let it grow out of control. Wheeler's is an excellent Bee Control Los Angeles company.

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Darjeeling Hotels ? An Ultimate Destination among the clouds ...

Darjeeling is a small hill station located in the state of West Bengal. Being at an elevation of around 2,000 m above sea-level, it offers an exasperating view of the third largest peak in the world, the Kanchenjunga peak, which is why it has become one of the most loved tourist destinations in the world. But, like any other travel destination, it is very important to know of the best time to visit Darjeeling so as to not mar your tour. Moreover, hotels in Darjeeling have the capability of making your vacation a memorable and enjoyable one with their superb services and hospitality.

Darjeeling has a pleasant climate all throughout the year, with certain specifications which need mentioning before you go ahead to plan your holiday there. While the summer temperatures, from April to June, remain within 25 degrees and is flocked by millions of tourists to beat the heat of the peak summer months, from September to November the hills look amazing beneath the cascade of occasional showers of mild rain making the weather extremely pleasing for sightseeing and vagabonding at the Tiger Hill, Rock Garden and Maya Ganga Park and even for boating at the Sachel lake. This is the time when one can enjoy the golden sunrise over the Himalayas .During peak winters when the temperatures drip down to range between 5 to -2 degree, it is perfect for those who like chilly climatic conditions, especially for honeymooners. Spring here stays for a period of February to June which is ideally perfect for carrying out all kinds of tourist activities. One can enjoy the visit to the Batasia Loop and the War Memorial, which is the gigantic railway loop where the toy-train takes a 360 degree turn. This is the best time to visit Darjeeling and indulge in a whole array of activities and adventurous sports like trekking and rock climbing, basking in the beauty of the orchid gardens and the widespread Darjeeling tea-estates, sight-seeing at the Zoological and Botanical Gardens which showcase a whole range of exceptional flora and fauna, native to this part of India and also for visiting its various Buddhist monasteries. The picturesque view of the lofty tracks, the mesmerizing weather and the enthralling sports activities are sure to bowl you over in Darjeeling. Just remember that you should avoid the monsoon season, from July to August, at all costs as during this time of the year Darjeeling experiences intense torrential rains causing roadblocks and limiting your vacation to the confines of your hotel room.

Darjeeling Hotels cater to the needs and requirements of people from all walks of life. One such, among good hotels in Darjeeling, is Hotel Seven Seventeen which is recommended by about 90% of its guests. It is a 3-star property located right at the central area of Darjeeling town, just 5 minutes from the main Mall. The hotel has access to all latest modern amenities and even has a shopping mart, a gift shop and currency exchange facilities. The room tariffs here are Rs. 960 for every night.

Author is an editor of Darjeeling hotels and tour packages. Book in advance the hotels in Darjeeling to make your trip memorable and hassle free. Online booking is available from hotelpushpak.com for hotels in India in over 100 cities across the country.

Source: http://articlereference.net/travel-leisure/darjeeling-hotels-an-ultimate-destination-among-the-clouds.html

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Easy Slow Cooker Pork Recipes | Only Drinks

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Easy Slow Cooker Pork Recipes ? Food ? Recipes

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The slow cooker is a wonderful solution for fitting home cooking into a busy schedule. Load the cooker in the morning and come home to a hearty meal that has practically cooked itself!

Quick and Easy Pork Roast, Asian Style

Do you enjoy Asian flavors? Combine oriental cuisine with the convenience of the slow cooker with this easy recipe and serve with a side of plain boiled white rice. Cook the rice a day or two in advance for extra convenience.

Ingredients:
4 pound pork roast
1/2 cup orange juice
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 Tbs. ketchup
1 Tbs. sugar
1 Tbs. flour
1 Tsp. garlic powder
1/2 Tsp. salt
1/2 Tsp. ginger

Directions: Place the pork into the crock pot. Mix the remaining ingredients and pour over the pork. Cook on the ?Low? setting for six to eight hours.

Country Pork Ribs

This recipe requires advance preparation which can be done the night before and stored in the refrigerator until being loaded into the slow cooker in the morning. After 6 to 8 hours, your dinner should be ready to serve.

Ingredients:
3 pound pork loin country-style ribs, cut into serving pieces
1/3 cup flour
1 Tbs. salt
Tsp. pepper
2 Tbs. oil
1 ? cups apple cider
1 cup water
1 Tsp. caraway seeds
1 cabbage, small, shredded
2 pound red potatoes, small
1 onion, coarsely chopped
16 oz carrots, cut into 2 inch pieces

Directions: Dredge the meat in a mixture of flour, salt and pepper. This can be done by combining the flour with the salt and pepper and placing in a plastic bag. The meat can then be dropped into the bag and shaken until the ribs are covered evenly. Brown the ribs on all sides over medium-high heat in the oil in a frying pan and remove once browned. Bring the heat down to the medium setting and mix the flour that was left over from dredging into the pan drippings. Add apple cider a bit at a time and simmer until the gravy thickens. Once thickened, set the gravy aside. Place the vegetables, caraway seeds, meat and gravy into a six quart slow cooker and cook on the ?Low? setting for 8 to 10 hours or on the ?High? setting for 6 hours. Enjoy this slow cooker pork recipe with your favorite side.

Cranberry Roast

Pork and fruit are a natural combination. Take the sweet tanginess of cranberries and pare it with pork sirloin for a taste that is all its own. Serve this pork recipe dish with a side of mashed potatoes.

Ingredients:
1 sirloin pork roast, extra-lean and boneless
16 oz. jellied cranberry sauce
1/2 cup cranberry juice cocktail
1/2 cup sugar
2 Tbs. cornstarch
2 Tbs. cold water
1/4 Tsp. cloves
1 Tsp. dry mustard
Salt to taste

Directions: Use a fork to loosen the cranberry sauce and combine with cranberry juice, sugar, mustard and cloves. Place the pork into the slow cooker and pour the cranberry mixture over the roast. Turn the slow cooker on to the ?Low? setting and leave to cook for six to eight hours. Once cooked, remove 2 cups of the liquids in the slow cooker into a small pan and bring to a boil. Dissolve the cornstarch in a bit of cold water and add to the boiling sauce while stirring. Continue to stir until the sauce boils and thickens. Add salt if needed and serve along with the pork.

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Source: http://onlydrinks.com/beverages/easy-slow-cooker-pork-recipes-19300

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Exactly what is change management and is it required for an ...

Your business needs to send key personnel to the excellent business courses offered, which include p3o training, business analysis training and change management training. With the p3o training the personnel who complete this course will make decisions without bothering upper management. The p3o training will give you better employees, with a renewed sense of confidence. P3o training makes your deployment of staff more flexible.

Business analysis training is geared to educating employees in how to determine the customers needs and the goals your company wants to reach. The business analysis training is course packed with powerful information that will help your company compete in your industry. The business analysis training is something to be considered, if improvement in your staffs capability is one of your goals.

Change is something that should not be feared. Employees who take the change management training seminar will deal with change instead of putting off decisions. The more time wasted on methods that are not working, the more time lost, which can be better utilized. Change management training helps determine the needs of your company in relation to the workforce. The number of employees might have to be decreased or increased. Transfers to different departments or divisions could be necessary. Change management training covers topics such as deployment of personnel and covers the options open to management in order to deal with the issue.

Learn more about employee engagement or Agile project management

Source: http://bishoprosary.org/?p=387923

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Analysis: Euro zone action inches forward in game of chicken

PARIS (Reuters) - "After you."

"No, after you."

The euro zone is inching towards a new plan to tackle its debt crisis in a three-dimensional game of chicken among all the main players.

The European Central Bank's heavily qualified offer last week to step in and buy bonds to bring down the borrowing costs of Spain and Italy was the latest gambit in this game.

Each of the main protagonists - the central bank, the countries under pressure, EU paymaster Germany, and governments already under a bailout program - is angling for others to make the first move and carry the brunt of the cost.

There is also a game of chicken between the ECB and bond market investors, who have driven the 17-nation currency area to the brink of dislocation due to a lack of confidence in its policymakers' ability to overcome the crisis.

Draghi sought to intimidate speculators out of betting against the single currency, saying European monetary union was "irrevocable" and it was pointless to short the euro.

Expect things to get worse in the markets, in political arm-wrestling and perhaps on the streets of Athens and Madrid before decisive action is forthcoming in late September.

Spain and Italy had hoped the ECB would step in to support them on the basis of their existing austerity measures without having to endure the political stigma of applying for a bailout.

But the ECB, the only federal institution capable of rapid and massive intervention, is willing to act only if Spain first requests assistance and accepts strict policy conditions and surveillance, and if euro zone governments commit their own money by activating their rescue funds.

"The Spanish seemed to think they could get a free ride from the ECB without conditions. That was never going to happen," said a senior euro zone policymaker, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has now opened the door to requesting help, saying he will take a decision in "what I believe to be in the best interest of the Spanish people" once he knows what is ECB was prepared to do and on what terms.

Italy, with a bigger debt mountain but a far better budget position, strong domestic savings and more robust banks, is hoping its borrowing costs will fall once the ECB intervenes to back Spain, without having to request a program itself.

Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti sought to nudge Rajoy in that direction when they met last week, diplomats said, although he is aware of a risk that if Madrid gets a bailout, markets may speculate that Italy will be next, and turn their fire on Rome.

HOMEWORK

Germany, the biggest contributor to euro zone rescue funds, is maneuvering for others to do their "homework" so that its overall financial liability does not increase. Chancellor Angela Merkel does not want to go back to parliament to seek more bailout money in a pre-election year, least of all for Greece.

Merkel and Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble have kept quiet on vacation, deflecting pressure from the United States and the International Monetary Fund for quick action to support Spain and Italy.

EU leaders cannot do much until the German Constitutional Court gives an expected green light to the euro zone's permanent bailout fund, the European Stability Mechanism, on September 12. The caretaker Dutch government is also keen to avoid any new rescue before a general election in the Netherlands on the same day.

Meanwhile Greece, which could run out of money next month, is hoping international lenders will be so scared of the mayhem a Greek euro exit would wreak on the European economy and the single currency that they will give it more time to implement a second bailout program and write down more of its debt.

And Ireland, bailed out in 2010, is seeking to ensure it gets the same concessions granted Spain or Greece, to reduce the cost of cleaning up its own shattered banks.

BURNED

ECB President Mario Draghi's carefully hedged announcement of possible bond buying should not have surprised investors, although the initial market sell-off reflected dismay that there would be no immediate action.

Draghi has his own constraints, with Germany's powerful Bundesbank looking suspiciously over his shoulders. For the sake of the ECB's credibility he cannot print money unconditionally to support indebted governments.

The ECB was burned last year when then Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi reneged on reform commitments as soon as the central bank began buying Italian and Spanish bonds to bring down their borrowing costs.

So Draghi was bound to look to the European Commission and euro zone governments to enforce stricter fiscal and economic reform conditions on any assistance this time.

Furthermore, the ECB said it would buy shorter-term debt, easing the immediate funding stress and repairing the transmission of its monetary policy while maintaining longer-term pressure on the beneficiaries for economic reforms.

The aim of the plan taking shape is to keep Madrid and Rome in the capital markets at an affordable cost both to them and to euro zone governments, whose rescue funds are too small to cover Spain's full funding needs for three years, let alone Italy's.

The ECB remains the only body with unlimited firepower to make the markets blink. Aware of design flaws in its previous limited bond-buying program, Draghi did not rule out much more massive intervention this time, saying it would be "adequate".

The trick in the ECB's game of chicken will be to cow speculation against the euro zone without losing German support or letting the assisted member states off the reform hook.

Rajoy's shift suggests it may be "game on".

(Writing by Paul Taylor; Editing by Toby Chopra)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/analysis-euro-zone-action-inches-forward-game-chicken-055453917--business.html

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Understanding Discount Auto Insurance - Non Owner Car Insurance

Understanding Discount Auto Insurance - Getting the proper information along with data in the discounted automobile insurance firms will probably certainly allow you to have got huge benefits. Just like in different marketplace certainly discounted automobile insurance firms are usually right here to experience an income.

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By you could exploration a variety of auto insurance firms that delivers in depth data, benefits, insurance policy coverage and of course your arrangement involving a person along with these individuals.

How to Get Your Discount Auto Insurance

Obtaining a low cost car insurance policy can help you spend less a great deal; as well as you can find the item in many means, specifically by way of websites on the internet.

As you know you'll find major numbers of insurance firms that has on the internet quotes in addition to permit you to purchase the car insurance appropriate facing your laptop.

For you to get the very best low cost car insurance policy deal, it's always best to obtain as much quotes and review almost all insurance policy coverage. Purchasing your web low cost car insurance policy can be a very successful method on how you can spend less and time period.

As well it's also possible to include the opportunity to conserve to be able to 40% whenever paying for low cost car insurance policy on the internet. As you know the planet of insurance business can be quite feasible and obtainable on the internet, it has turn into an easy task to purchase low cost car insurance policy.

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Source: http://nonownercarinsurance.blogspot.com/2012/08/understanding-discount-auto-insurance.html

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Bloomberg: Nokia will announce Windows Phone 8 handsets at Nokia World

Bloomberg is reporting that, perhaps unsurprisingly, Nokia will bust out its Windows Phone 8 handsets at Nokia World 2012. The shows, which kick off September 5th, will tour various locations to drum up trade for the new kit. The news agency is also reporting that any revamped Lumia phones will be ready to purchase for the Holiday buying season -- hopefully dropping close to the October 26th release date for Redmond's newest OS. Unfortunately, Nokia isn't giving anything away, saying that it "never comments on rumor or speculation," but at least we don't have long to wait.

Filed under: Cellphones

Bloomberg: Nokia will announce Windows Phone 8 handsets at Nokia World originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 06 Aug 2012 04:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/1okCCjOFGvw/

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Webbiegrrl's Writings: MONDAY MARKETING Branding (for Indie ...

Welcome back to my marketing series on Branding (for Indie Authors). Over the course of the series, we're talking about something called "branding" which many Indie Authors do not actually understand. I'll define the term for you below but you may want to review some of the earlier entries in this series here. To help refresh your memory, here's the definition of a brand:

A brand is an idea in the mind of the consumer whose power lies in the ability to influence purchasing decisions.

Branding is all about the idea, the "one word" which you plant inside the reader's mind to establish and grow your "position" there. Okay, you're thinking, so if that's your brand, then what is your company? Click through the jump-break to find out.

The Company vs. The Brand(s)
As an Indie Author, you might not have formed an official business. You might be operating as an individual who pays "Self-Employment Tax" on your "additional earnings" that come through as royalties from various eTailers where your book is on sale. I've done this for the first year I was in business, but in this, my second year of earning money from my writing, I decided to expand a little and establish a Company so I could operate as an Indie Publisher. You might still be the Indie Publisher's only Indie Author (as I am for mine), but you decided to create a company name under which to do the business of writing and selling your books.

That makes you both a Brand and a Company.

From a marketing standpoint, you benefit from being an Indie Publisher with individual Author Brands rather than being an Indie Author who writes across multiple genres for one reason: your Company can be branded as well. Why would you want to do that? Because although readers buy an Author Name Brand and 90% of the time don't care who the publisher is, readers do come to associate a publishing Company with a specific kind of book--the Company ends up branded even if it's in spite of themselves. Sadly, in most cases it is indeed in spite of themselves.

Also unfortunately, this is where the grey lines start blurring. People really become confused as to what's the Company versus what's the Brand, so to alleviate a little bit of the confusion, I'll use the term "Author Brand" rather than just "Brand" in today's discussion. I'll also capitalize the word "Company" when I'm referring to the Indie Publisher entity acting as an umbrella over multiple Author Brands.

Widget Brands vs. Author Brands
In the widget world, it's easy enough to see the difference between the Company and the Brand. As the following 3 questions:

1. What's a Coca-Cola?
2. What's a Zippo?
3. What's a WD-40?

And you'll probably have no trouble guessing the answers (at least, if you're American and over 40):

1. A cola-flavored soft drink
2. A windproof lighter
3. A lubricating spray

I should note, these answers are also the "one word" concept which applies to each of these Brands (none of which is literally ONE word but all of which are extremely effective brands that have lasted for decades, dominating their fields). These Brands are so effective now, they are no longer just a name on the package; the brand has become the product inside. People don't ask for the facial tissues; they ask for the Kleenex -- because Kleenex brand has become synonymous with the concept of facial tissues. This is the goal of a strong brand, to become the "thing."

So how does this relate to Author Brands? When a customer asks a sales person in a book store for a scary horror story, they might ask "Are there any new Stephen King novels out?" and the salesperson will know what kind of book they seek even if they don't have any new Stephen King titles. If a customer wants a spy thriller, they might just ask "Do you have any new Tom Clancy novels?" instead of asking for a spy thriller. These are strong Author Brands. Do you know who the publisher is for any of these books? Probably not. Do you care? Again, probably not.

As I said earlier, readers buy Author Brands, not the publishing Company name.

Then again, readers do often come to expect certain types of Author Brands from the publisher Company names. For example, if you buy a Tor/Forge book, you know it'll be science fiction or fantasy genre. You would notice if it were not.

Likewise, if you buy a Kensington book, you know it'll be a romance novel. You definitely would not expect it to be a science fiction or gritty detective novel.

As an Indie Publisher, we have to maintain two branding campaigns:

1. the Company Brand
2. the Author Brand(s)

In the widget world, a marketing executive at General Motors (for example) never wants to hear people asking for a General Motors Luxury Sedan. Instead, they want to hear people asking for a Cadillac as though the Cadillac Brand is all people think of when they think of luxury sedans.

In the Indie Publishing world, however, a marketing executive at Tom Doherty (the parent company which owns Tor/Forge or Simon & Schuster, the company which owns Tom Doherty) might enjoy hearing people asking for a Tor Book--but they'd be cutting themselves off at the knees to promote that behavior.

When a Company Name is used by a customer instead of an Author Brand, you have a serious branding problem.

In fact, your branding strategy has turned upsidedown if the Indie Publishing Company Name is used instead of the Author Brand Name. How could you possibly know you'd be getting a "Stephen King" if you were offered a "Simon & Schuster" book? They publish him but they also own and publish science fiction through the Tom Doherty Company called Tor/Forge.

The point is your readers are going to buy your Author Brand. The purpose of your Publishing Company is to make your Author Brands recognizeable Brand Names. As a Company, your Indie Publishing name can become a Brand unto itself (as Tor Books has done; every librarian will know Tor publishes SF); but the purpose is to be the company behind the Author Brand. Keep your priorities straight as you define your branding strategies.

What's Next....
Next week's entry in the Monday Marketing series will be Immutable Law of Branding (for Indie Authors) Law 14: Subbrands, which will revisit and continue this discussion of "Simon & Schuster" versus "Stephen King." I hope to see you then!

Tomorrow's Tuesday Tip will be another entry in the miniseries on how to use Amazon/Shelfari's Book Extras. Stop back at 10:00 AM Eastern (ET/USA) to learn more.

Source: http://webbiegrrl.blogspot.com/2012/08/monday-marketing-branding-for-indie.html

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