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Updated February 22, 2024
Subtitle
Dedications are an easy way to make an emotional connection with the reader
Synopsis
To be a successful book marketer, you must never miss an opportunity to reach out and make a connection with the reader. Whether your book’s dedication is only a few sentences or an entire paragraph, you shouldn’t miss this opportunity to give the reader a small look into your life’s story. Here are various book dedications that will help you formulate your own.
What You Will Learn
1. You will learn how and why a book’s dedication can become a marketing opportunity.
2. You will see how the dedication can connect emotionally with the reader.
3. You will learn why a dedication is not difficult to formulate.
Introduction
I have always been fascinated by book dedications. Unfortunately, most books don’t have them. In many books with one, the dedication is usually too simple and cryptic to understand.
Some lame examples are: “To my wife;” or “To Betty.” But luckily, some dedications will give you a peek into the author’s life. They will hint at a personal story or relationship we will never learn more about.
Despite that, I always enjoyed finding a book dedication making an effort to honor someone who had an impact on the author’s life. But, at the same time, it is especially nice to find a dedication that can also reach out to me and make an emotional connection.
Here are a variety of book dedications that will help you to start to formulate your own:
1. Dedication (appreciation, hope)
We dedicate this book to healthcare professionals everywhere who have devoted their lives to helping those in need and,
To healthcare students who do not yet realize the potential and importance of the career they have chosen; and,
To healthcare students who do not yet realize the potential and importance of the career they have chosen; and,
To our students all over Long Island and New York City (and those who have spread out over the 50 states), and our readers all over the world who work every day at making their careers a success and our world a much better place in which to live; and,
Finally, we dedicate this book to you with our love, appreciation, and thanks for allowing us to be a part of your lives.
2. Dedication (honor, reverence)
We dedicate this book to those who lost their lives on 9/11/01;
and those who have given their lives in the Global War Against Terrorism.
3. Publisher’s Dedication (hope, encouragement)
We dedicate to every person, young and old, employed and unemployed, educated and uneducated, who dreams of becoming financially independent and building a happy, successful, and rewarding life but is too intimidated to take that first step. It is the hope and dream of the Dickson Keanaghan family that this book might be that first step.
The Dickson Keanaghan Family
Long Island, New York, 2010
4. Dedication (predictable, sentimental)
I dedicate this book to my wife, Michele, who has been my partner in life and business since 1984.
5. Dedication (sentimental)
To my wife Michele – it’s a privilege to share my business, life, and love with you.
To my children, Eric and Erin – your growth provides a constant source of joy and pride.
6. Dedication (explanation, friendship)
To Mom, who pushed me to “do”;
To Dad, who loved me even when I didn’t;
And to Mary, who, after 35 years, has given me unconditional friendship and love.
7. Dedication (general, simple)
We dedicate to the mentors, friends, and family of Dickson Keanaghan:
John Doe, Jane Smith, Bob Squarepants, Jennifer Johnson, and Peter Pickles.
8. Dedication (hope)
To my children, Eric and Erin, who will inherit this world and make it a much better place.
9. Dedication (predictable, simple)
To the reader . . .
I hope you have at least half as much fun reading this book as I’ve had in writing.
10. Dedicated To (name dropping)
Capote, Talese, and Wolfe: They had the courage to break away and report the world to us in more vivid, dramatic, and accurate words.
11. Dedication (friendship, respect)
For Oliver Wendell Holmesian, Jr.: My law partner and cherished friend – an attorney of superb skill and perfect integrity, a trusted confidant, and a real mensch without whose encouragement, emotional support, good advice, and good cheer, none of my books would have been written.
12. Dedication (humorous)
To Evelyn Woodwind, whose suggestions made this a much better book than it might otherwise have been; And to Roberto Boscoe, who taught me most of what I’m now teaching, with apologies for beating him to the punch with this book.
13. Dedication (introspective)
This book is gratefully dedicated to my children. My mother and my wife taught me how to be a man. My children taught me to be free.
NAOMI RACHEL KING, at fourteen;
JOSEPH HILLSTROM KING, at twelve;
OWEN PHILIP KING, at seven.
Kids, fiction is the truth inside the lie, and the truth of this fiction is simple enough: the magic exists.
Steven King
Conclusion
To be a successful book marketer, you must never miss an opportunity to reach out and make a connection with the reader. Every section of your book has a chance to achieve this, including the book’s dedication.
Whether your dedication is only a few sentences or an entire paragraph, you shouldn’t miss this opportunity to give the reader a small look into your life’s story. You must never forget that successful book marketing is about connecting emotionally with the readers.
Questions to Think About
1. Do you have a favorite book dedication? Maybe one you would like to emulate?
2. What should/must be included in a good/great dedication?
