The Cattle-Log

Catalogue? Catalog? Or is it: Cattle-log?

Not to suggest that authors are cattle or anything. We'd never! (Heck, we’re authors ourselves. But, after all, we are Bell Cow Productions!)

In case you're wondering, "catalogue" is the standard British English spelling, and "catalog" is the standard American English version. There, saved you having to look it up. But, this is a cattle-log--because we like to play with words and add a little whimsy to the otherwise painful and plodding (like those non-bell cows) world of book marketing.

A different kind of Cattle-Log for 2027

The original Cattle-Log was created with a simple goal: help regional authors get discovered and connect their books with local readers, bookstores, and libraries.

That part isn’t changing, but pretty much everything else is.

After our first year, we listened to feedback from authors, booksellers, and librarians and realized that even an interactive PDF has limitations. It has to be downloaded, saved, located again, and periodically replaced with a newer version.

So for 2027, the Cattle-Log is moving permanently online.

Instead of a page in a PDF, every participating author receives an individual profile on the Bell Cow Productions website, connected to a searchable directory where visitors can discover writers by genre, location, library region, and more.

Take a look at the new Cattle-Log: https://www.bellcowproductions.com/newcattlelog
And here’s what an individual author page can look like: https://www.bellcowproductions.com/christinehusom

An author page can include books, covers, purchase links, biography, website and social media, Speaking Bureau information, upcoming releases, and Bell Cow podcast, television, radio, video, and other appearances.

Best of all, it isn’t frozen in time. The Cattle-Log can grow as you do.

Have your own website? Your Bell Cow profile creates another path to it and another source connecting your name with your books online. Don’t have a website? Your profile can give you a permanent author webpage without having to build or pay for one yourself.

And when it comes to selling your books, you decide where the links go. Support the independent bookstore you’ve built a relationship with. Use Bookshop.org. Send readers to Amazon. They’re your books, and that choice belongs to you.

We’ll continue promoting the Cattle-Log to bookstores and libraries while also connecting it with Bell Cow’s podcasts, events, television, radio, social media, and growing literary network.

The Cattle-Log is no longer something we publish once a year. It’s something we build with you all year long.

How do I get started?

Jump the fence to the submission page, send your fee our way, and we'll reach out with the instructions and form to complete your submission.

Frequently Asked Questions (Or, "Questions We Totally Expected")

What kinds of books can be included?

Adult Fiction is what we're sticking with now, but any sub-genre within that works for us. Mystery, Thriller, Romance, Rom-Com, Bookclub, Contemporary, Historical, Literary, you know the deal. That said, we do reserve the right to decline listings that don’t align with our mission. (Example: If your book is titled How to Outsmart a Library Late Fee, this might not be the best fit.)

Will this guarantee my book gets into bookstores and libraries?

We wish! But no, we don’t control what bookstores and libraries choose to stock. Bell Cow makes sure they know about your book, which is half the battle. The rest is up to them (and, let’s be honest, the whims of the literary universe).

How much does it cost to be included?

Cattle-Log membership is $60 per year, per author — not per book. Your membership includes your author profile, your books, inclusion in the searchable directory, ongoing updates, and eligibility for additional Bell Cow opportunities. Membership renews annually, but we’re not fans of surprise subscriptions either. We’ll contact you approximately 90 days before renewal and make it easy to cancel if you decide it’s time to leave the herd.

Why should I have a Bell Cow page if I already have my own website?

Great question, and we hope you do have a terrific website.

Your Bell Cow page isn’t meant to replace it. It creates another substantial presence online that links back to your website, books, and social media while letting you benefit from Bell Cow’s growing traffic and network.

Those connections can also support Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), and Answer Engine Optimization (AEO)— helping search engines and AI tools more clearly associate your name with your books, genres, appearances, and website.

And if you don’t have a website, your Cattle-Log page gives you a permanent place online without having to build and maintain one yourself.

Why is the Cattle-Log a subscription?

The new Cattle-Log isn’t a once-a-year publication anymore. It’s an ongoing service.

Your author page stays live throughout the year, can be updated as your books and career change, and remains part of Bell Cow’s searchable directory, bookstore and library outreach, media ecosystem, and broader literary network.

The subscription model lets us keep doing that work without asking everyone to start from scratch and resubmit payment every year.

We also know subscriptions can make people uneasy. Frankly, they make us uneasy too.

So we’re building this one around transparency:

We’ll notify you approximately 90 days before your annual renewal
We’ll remind you what the renewal is for
We’ll make it easy to cancel if you decide to leave the herd
We won’t rely on surprise charges or hoping you forgot you subscribed

The goal is convenience, not lock-in.

If the Cattle-Log continues providing value for you, your membership can simply continue. If it doesn’t, you should be able to leave easily.

What happens after I submit?

We’ll review your submission, make sure everything looks good, and create a subpage for you. We connect with the libraries and bookstores throughout the year, to remind them about the Cattle-Log and give them tips about how to use it and connect with authors nearby.

Can I submit more than one book?

Absolutely. The Cattle-Log is built around authors, not individual books. Your page can feature your newest or most important titles while also including your broader catalog. And unlike the old PDF, we have room to add books as your bibliography grows.

I remember hearing something about a podcast...

That's not a question, but we'll accept it. Yes, Bell Cow Productions has podcasts. And you are welcome to be part of them. We have a lot, and we're building more. How do you join? Shoot us an email, let's chat.

What if I make a mistake on my submission?

Double-check before you submit! But if you realize there’s an error, email us. we'll fix it.

How often is the Cattle-log updated?

All year long.

Unlike the old annual PDF, the online Cattle-Log is designed to evolve. We’ll formally reach out twice a year for updates, but individual author pages can be refreshed throughout the year as books, bios, appearances, and other information change.

Can bookstores or libraries request a copy?

Absolutely! We have a distribution list that should catch everyone, but it's possible someone will slip through the cracks (or get caught in the email filters). Either way, we’re happy to send a copy to any Minnesota bookstore or library that wants one. If you’re a bookseller or librarian, email us to get yours.

Is there a deadline to submit?

Good news: now that the Cattle-Log has moved to a year-round online format, there is no hard deadline. Authors can subscribe at any time, and we can add new members to the directory throughout the year.

I'm someone who would love to advertise in the Cattle-Log. How do I do that?

Great question! We had spots in the Cattle-Log for ads for 2026, and are doing that again. We also have added the podcast, which has advertising options as well. The best course of action is simply to contact us, so we can chat about the various options.

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