Thank you for your interest in joining the LI Authors Group.
Below you will find the answers to frequently asked
questions about membership and the LIAG. Among the answers
are step by step instructions on how to join. At the very
bottom of this page is the LIAG application which you’ll
need to print out.
We are very excited about our organization and look forward to your joining very soon.
LIAG Submission Criteria
LIAG has, among its primary objectives, the desire to guide
writers toward the production of professional work, and with
that, assist them in promoting, distributing and selling their
publications. We have no bias regarding self-published work,
alternative press publications or commercial (mainstream) books.
We also recognize that authorship can take many forms and that a
published book may fall into special categories such as edited
guidebooks and works of art including collections of photographs
and or illustrations. While the LIAG acknowledges the value of
such books and welcomes the published authors to submit a LIAG
Membership Application, we also reserve the right to limit
membership if the book being reviewed is not up to our
submission guidelines or falls outside of the LIAG Mission
Statement.
To become a member of LIAG, all books submitted for consideration must demonstrate that they are:
1. Free of typos, misspellings and grammatical errors (except where, in context, stylistic license may apply).
2. Designed and laid out professionally including typography; margins and spacing; choice of paper and binding; illustrations and photos (where such graphics apply).
LIAG embraces diversity, while holding to high standards of authorship. Should a book not meet the basic professional standards we require, we will advise the author and hope he or she will resubmit a re-edited or other work at a future time.
Q 1 What are the requirements to become a member?
A. There are basically three requirements. First, the applicant must have written a book that has been published – the book must have an ISBN. Second, the author applicant must live in either Nassau or Suffolk Counties, or grew up on LI. It is acceptable if the author applicant has a Nassau or Suffolk mailing address, but lives in NYC because of employment. Third, that the book be submitted to the LIAG membership committee for review and approval – the book must meet the usual book design and interior standards found in literary works.
Q 2. Can I join if I was an editor or contributed to an
anthology or collection of stories or Poems or if I authored a
magazine or journal article?
A. No, the requirement is that the applicant be an author or co-author of a book, not just a contributor.
Q 3. Why do authors have to submit their book(s) for review
and approval in order to join the LIAG?
A. Quality is a vital and important part of book publishing. If a book that is submitted does not meet what we believe are the minimal “general” quality standards that would make this book attractive to the general book-buying public, the book and the author’s membership application could be rejected. The Membership Committee, at its sole discretion, will point out what needs to be fixed in a general way – this might be in the book design, interior layout, writing level, or editing issues.
Q 4. What is the process – how does an author go about
joining the LIAG?
A. We suggest that an author interested in joining review the various pages of the LIAG website including the about us pages, the events pages, and the Join US pages to learn more about the LIAG. If the author decides to apply, here are the steps. Step 1: After visiting the LIAG website, the author applicant should click on the join us tab, double click on the application form, select open, then fill in the LIAG Membership Application form and printout a copy. Step 2: Send in the application with a copy of your book(s) to the following address: LI Authors Group, PO Box 3065, Ronkonkoma, NY 11779 Step 3: The book(s) and application are collected and forwarded to the Membership Committee for review and consideration. Step 4: Once the review process is completed, the applicants are contacted regarding their application status. Step 5: Authors approved for membership are then sent the official LIAG online information template. Information on this form is needed for the author applicant to be placed on the author pages of the website. In addition, the applicant will receive instructions to send in a suitable image file of their book cover(s) and a head shot image file. These images should be in JPEG format. Step 6: The applicant must send in their membership dues to the LIAG treasurer at this address: LIAG Treasurer, PO BOX 594, Huntington, NY 11743 Step 7: When all 6 steps described above are completed, the author applicant is sent an e-mail welcome to the Group and mailed a LIAG Membership card.
Q 5. How long does the membership process take?
A. The application and book review process can take up to 2 months to complete. After that, the time-frame is determined by the applicant sending in the right materials in the correct format. The Membership Committee Chair or Assistant Chair will follow up with the applicants during the application process.
Q 6. Can I participate in any of the LIAG events and
activities while waiting to be an approved member?
A. No, except for activities that are open to the public, author applicants cannot participate in LIAG events that are closed to the public until the application process is completed. This includes any seminar or workshop, and any book selling event such as book fairs. We hope that all applicants will expedite the submission of materials and follow-up as needed. The LIAG Board appreciates the applicant’s cooperation and patience.
Q 7. What is the fee to join the LIAG?
A. The annual membership dues are $50 payable to the Long Island Authors Group. The annual dues paid by members help support the organization, but may not include certain participation fees for LIAG activities.
Q 8. About the money that is collected, what is it used for?
A. All monies collected, this includes membership dues, seminar admission, book fair table fees and so on, are used to maintain the organization. The money collected pays for expenses such as, liability insurance, website/domain name fees, artwork created to promote events, LIAG banners and event signs, and for LIAG Board approved expenditures as needed. No officer or Board Member receives any compensation. The LIAG Treasurer maintains the organizations checking account and books, and prepares a financial report to the LIAG Board each quarter.
Q 9. What is the membership period?
A. The LIAG membership is renewed on an annual basis – membership runs from January 1st to December 31st.
Q 10. If I join the LIAG in June, is there a reduction in the
dues I have to pay?
A. No, the annual dues authors pay is a donation that supports the organization. While there is a membership renewal drive that takes place in the first quarter of each year, authors joining later in the year are asked to pay the full $50 dues which is used to support the LIAG. There is a policy that if an author happens to join the LIAG during the last quarter of a year, the dues collected covers both the current year, and is carried over as paid dues for the following year.
Q 11. What about co-authors, can a co-author participate in
LIAG activities without also being a member?
A. No, co-authors interested in participating in LIAG activities such as book fairs, book talks, and seminars must also be official members and have paid dues.
Q 12. What type of organization is the Long Island Authors
Group?
A. The LIAG is a not-for-profit corporation under a 501C filing. The LIAG was established to be a grass-roots organization with the members themselves doing the work needed to conduct the Group’s activities. The LIAG at this time does not provide members with any individual writing, editing, or book selling services. Ideas for activities and events are presented to the Board and voted on in accordance with the mission statement and by-laws of the LIAG.
Q 13. What is the mission statement of the LIAG?
A. The mission of the Long Island Authors Group is to encourage, support and promote authorship, primarily in the Long Island, New York area. We are a group of local book authors who have joined together to conduct activities and events that add to the availability of our published works while promoting the Long Island writing community. Our group works with retail bookstores arranging book talks and signings, and conducts events at various locations that are open to the public. Our group fosters knowledge and experience by conducting educational seminars on assorted topics such as writing workshops, marketing techniques, promotion strategies, and the use of emerging Internet outlets & new technologies.
Q 14. After I become a member, how can I get involved in the
organization – what can I do to help?
A. This starts with participating in the LIAG events and activities – including supporting individual members by attending their author events when possible. Any member, even new ones, are encouraged to get involved by offering to help with new ideas for events, serving on the various committees, coordinating events, and helping the LIAG where needed. Members can speak to any LIAG Board member to learn more about getting involved and to ask about available volunteer positions within the LIAG.
Q 15. Will I have fun as a member of the LIAG?
A. Yes, without a doubt. Generally, you will find members of the organization are willing to help each other with the answers to questions about book promotion and marketing, about the book publishing industry, and to offer advice based on the experience level of the authors. Authors are free to socialize and to network with other people of similar creative minds. Meetings and events are always upbeat – members have opportunities to meet other authors and to learn from each other what they can do as authors. As one writer explained following a long conversation with one of the authors, “You know, this isn’t a conversation you can have with just anyone.”
Click on Application to apply!
