Required reading for would-be authors
345907
I have taught from her data mining text for years.  I have read some of her other work, including self-published books.  She has done it from both sides, and continues to do it from both sides.  Some book are better with publishers, other books are better self-published.  She very well describes the pluses and minuses of each approach.  Most importantly for me, she describes many of the publishers' standard tricks and traps that catch unwary (or gullible and trusting!) authors.  Certainly, if I hadn't read her book first, I'd have made a couple huge mistakes negotiating my contracts with publishers.  This is a must-read if you're going to write a book, especially a textbook.
1702781
You'll have to read this more than once to appreciate all the information the author imparts. No fluff here but be prepared. She lets you know that becoming a best-selling author doesn't come easy.
517182
This book provided excellent guidance for a wide variety of authors.  It provides comprehensive sections about how to publish and promote books via digital or printed page  I especially like a section about living the life of a writer;  finding the  courage needed to recognize personal  vulnerabilities that may enrich  one's  writing, recognizing  that optimum balance between confidence and humility,  exploring  the value and challenges of criticism, and coping with many other challenges.
685236
Having read this book, I understand that my goals regarding being a published author were short-sighted. I know that I need to think bigger, and this book has helped me to do exactly that. I needed straight-forward information that wasn't hyped-up. Now I have a direct, stepwise journey to take me through the stages of publishing.
1374375
Award winning authors Eva Marie Everson and Janice Elsheimer collaborate in the story of a successful writer's critique group. Within the pages of their book "Word Weavers" are the ingredients for starting a Christian writer's critique group or to infuse new excitement into an existing group.

The book helps the reader understand what to expect from a critique group and the importance participation in a group. Published authors and new writer's alike need the unique encouragement, feedback, motivation, inspiration, and support provided by a group such as Word Weavers.

Eva Marie opens the book by giving the background and beginnings of Word Weavers founded in Central Florida. The book follows a logical progression of important steps to consider in the formation of a critique group enabling the reader to benefit from the learning curve of Word Weavers without experiencing the pitfalls.

The authors emphasize the need to define your purpose, list your goals, and establish a clear mission statement for your group. They discuss alternative configurations for a group as well as how to determine potential membership, the mechanics of the meeting, critique fundamentals, developing a leadership team, with additional ideas for conferences, seminars, and other learning opportunities.

A comprehensive Appendix contains detailed information on organizational, promotional, leadership roles, and critiquing procedures.

"Word Weavers" invites every writer to consider the benefits that accompany participation in a writer's critique group, inspiration, encouragement, and motivation to develop their divine gift of writing, as well as creating and producing cutting edge, life changing material for their readers.
1710453
Literary Agents A Writers Introduction by John Baker is a must read for anyone who is serious about writing, or for anyone considering taking the step into serious writing.  This book consists of interviews with forty-four of the biggest name agents in publishing, I should know I've had  rejections from a lot of them, but now I know why. Each interview is an  easy 3-4 pages long but packed with information  Of interest is the near  universal opinion of the state of the publishing industry and the changing  role of the agent, and the agent's reaction to this changing role and how  it affects how they interact with authors and potential authors. You can  also witness how close this community is, as people appear and reappear  from interview to interview.  The one drawback is that more agents weren't  subjected to the interview, but then of course it would be a voluminous  volume.  Another item that would be of interest to a reader is number of  people who claim to have discovered Stephen King and John Grisham.
3815455
Guy Kawasaki and Shawn Welch have collaborated on an extremely worthwhile book for aspiring and accomplished authors embarking on the journey to self publish.  APE, How to Publish a Book presents, in appealing and organized form, authorship, publishing, and entrepreneurship as the necessary components for successful Artisanal Publishing.  No matter where you are in the self-publishing process, with Guys and Shawns clear cut explanations of the variety and vagaries of the future of publishing, youll be well equipped to create your own success story.
I certainly have taken inspiration from them.
J. Morrill
Aspiring Author
993824
In Is Self-Publishing for You, Libi Astaire guides aspiring authors through the maze of publishing, whether traditional publishing or self publishing.  While she promises success to no one, she allows writers to come to a solid understanding of what to suspect.

Astare knows, in part from personal experience, that it's not just a matter of attaching the Word document to an email, shipping it off to the publisher and immediately appearing on the New York Times Bestseller list.

In fact, she has no problems telling writers that selling 500 copies of their book could be considered success.

The best part is that this is not just a read it once, put it down, kind of book.  Instead it will be handy to have around as a resource when the next manuscript is ready.

Astaire gives writers all the options to allow them to make an informed decision regarding which route to pursue towards publishing their book.  Any writer considering self-publishing would benefit from reading this book first.

I received an electronic copy of this book from Story Cartel in exchange for an honest review.  I received no other compensation.
4067615
Guy Kawasaki and Shawn Welch take the reader on an educational journey through today's writing, editing, publishing, and promoting process using their book, APE: Author, Publisher, Entrepreneur. How to Publish a Book. The well-researched advice in this most useful publication is excellent. This author/reader needs to refer to this book often while on that very trek of writing, refining, and eventually publishing a quality book worthy of promoting and occupying someone's time in its reading.

This book is also for those who wish to learn the ropes of today's book business with all of its modernization. Today's market allows authors to self-publish for a fraction of the cost and appeals to a broader population with an immediacy that before never existed. This book is a guide that reveals which process, company, software, and other key factors necessary for a successful, top-notch book. It can make one's commitment, hard work, energy, and significant contribution available to the public anywhere in the world.
78224
Another very useful book from Brooke Warner. When I read her "What's Your Book," I entered a new world. Since then, I've done a lot of reading about publishing, yet I learned a few new things in "Green-Light."

"Green-Light" would be a great book for someone who knew nothing about the business of publishing. For someone looking for "how to do it," this is not the book; this book tells you what you need to know about publishing without filling in all the nitty-gritty details of what those things actually are.

Well worth reading for anyone who is hesitating to publish, for people looking to understand the current state of the publishing industry, and for those who may need a little push to get their manuscripts into print.
157958
If you have written a book and published, you know that the writing and the publishing were the easy parts. The most vital-and most difficult-task is promoting the book so that people will buy it. Distributors are fond of saying to authors, "Our job is to get the book onto the shelf; your job is to get it off."
In ten chapters, this author presents the how-to, step-by-step, of how to promote a book to distributors, retailers, and consumers. She covers a lot of ground to help authors get the word out. Plenty of examples to give authors guidance. Ground Rules In Action sections and Key Points summaries at the end of the chapters added value
Josephson is founder and president of Cameo Publications, a firm that has published eight books, including this one. Her experience includes writing over 1,000 articles. From my research on amazon.com, this appears to be her first book. She uses herself heavily in her examples, to the point that this reviewer felt the book was bordering on self-promotion. With her experience as a publisher and a magazine editor, she has gained a body of knowledge that is valuable for authors. The knowledge is conveyed effectively in this book. Authors would be well-advised to read and heed the advice in these pages.
102552
Whether or not you agree with the methodology detailed in this book, I believe that this is a must-read for every indie author competing in what we can all agree is a very competitive market.

The author doesn't meander along with side stories and anecdotes. He tells you what to do and how to do it. He gives examples of those who've succeeded and those who have failed. He then gives you practical to-do's that you can choose to apply or not to your own writing career.

Some of his suggestions go against the grain, for sure, but if you - like me - are serious about wanting to make a living as a self-published author, then you have to at least know that this path exists and how it works.

I'll definitely be recommending this to fellow writers!
3490006
Some really good advice, but much of it I had read before. However, those that haven't picked up any books on working as an independent author should definitely check this out. If anything, it was a good reminder for me to get up each morning and write before tackling anything else. That way, the writing gets done! I'll definitely check out other books from this author.
1354634
Although this book is intended for the first time author, after writing seven books, I still found excellent ideas and suggestions. Dr. Sherry Meinberg leads the writer step by step onto a successful path as a published author. This book covers all the nitty-gritty, day to day issues an author has to deal with to put their thoughts into words and get those words onto paper. She provides practical examples as she explains the finer points of writing, editing, publishing, and promotion. She offers words of encouragement to support authors as they persist in their writing career. A well written book, useful while writing and as a reference.
728539
See Your Name in Print is a must have for budding authors. Submitting your work to publishers can be a daunting task.  This book provides you with a blueprint on how to be successful.  Have you thought of submitting your work to magazines?  The book provides you with pointers on how to get your work in front of the right person and even how to write letters to editors that work.  There is even an interesting section on article writing and getting published online.

Are you stuck on what to write?  Chapter 6 provides you with guidance on selecting a niche. If you ar like me you may have thought about a vanity publisher at one point I your career. The basics of what to do and how to avoid a negative outcome are provided.  The is much more in this easy to read and practical guide book. Highly recommended.
2177557
Both traditionally and indie published authors should read this book. It is chockfull of useful information. I'll be returning to it again and again.
3456154
He discusses the pros and cons of free, including piracy.
So does making your book free condition readers to expect more for free or does it help an author level the playing field with traditional publishers?

Understand the "long tail" and learn where you can publicize your "free" campaign.  Wish I'd read this before I did my free campaigns!