Marcela put it honestly if somewhat bluntly: If she had to make a decision between two equally good novels, and one author had a platform and the other did not, she'd choose the author with the platform every time.Algonkian sent me this to post, and it's worthwhile. Some useful links regarding the building of platform for fiction writers and aspiring authors:
Why? Because an author's having a platform means the likelihood of the publisher selling many copies of that novel increases.
http://www.redroom.com/blog/karen-dionne/the-fiction-authors-platform
http://blog.writersdigest.com/norules/Fiction+Writers+Need+Platforms+Too.aspx
http://www.amazon.com/Get-Known-Before-Book-Deal/dp/158297554X/ref=as_li_tf_mfw?&camp=212361&linkCode=wey&tag=wwwwritersont-20&creative=391825
http://cba-ramblings.blogspot.com/2008/02/fiction-platform.html
