Director of Publishing - Mira Digital Publishing
584321
"How do I market my book?"
That's the question self-published authors always ask.
And Jill Mettendorf has the answers!
She has collected the best marketing tips from the hundreds of authors she has worked with over the years and produced a clear, concise book that gets right to the heart of the marketing challenge most self-published authors face.
"Real Answers - Real Authors" is a quick read that lets you hit the ground running!
3498399
This is an all too comprehensive description of the requirements of self-publishing.  One should read it before writing a book.  Had I done so, I would have had second thoughts about writing my book. It wouldn't have stopped me, but the daunting computer skills required are second only to the big stamina psychological traits needed for the promotion afterward.
4914162
UPDATE:  After looking around a bit on Amazon, I have discovered that the review I wrote is being displayed for very different versions of this book.  My comments refer specifically to the version co-written by Luigi Miraglia and published by Focus Publishing.  If the page you're looking at doesn't name that author or publisher, what I'm saying here doesn't apply.

Regarding the Focus Publishing edition:

On the off chance that this might be the updated version of the book from Focus Publishing, I decided to order it.  This is the updated book.  The text is large and clearly printed.  All the macrons are included.  And most important, copious pictures and notes--all in Latin--have been added to the margins by Luigi Miraglia (who has taken up the torch of the sorely missed Hans rberg).

This book follows the same pattern as Lingua Latina Per Se Illustrata.  Short stories in Latin are shown side-by-side with labeled pictures and clarifications of the language being used.  Every word of the stories and the explanations is in Latin.  If you have finished reading Familia Romana, you should be able to read this book quite easily.
3502538
I love how Kathryn structured the book, helping the reader understand the different publishing options, the costs involved (including book marketing and promotion) and, more important, the pitfalls to avoid! Like the title implies, this book is like taking a look at the bigger picture first before choosing one direction or another. The results from the authors' survey added an additional layer of understanding, while the additional resources provided are useful.
4840033
This no nonsense guide will get you publishing in no time. All the major ebook retailers are covered. There are two interesting things about this book. First, the author states that it's fiction. I found that amusing. The other thing is the table of contents is in the back.
4059140
Koehler and Coccaros Pocket Guide to Publishing is written in plain English, making it easy to read and user friendly. I would consider the guide a must-read for new authors.  D.W. Rawlings, author of Peckerwood in the Hood, Misadventures of a Kansas City Cop
1800173
If you dream about getting a book published, you need this book. As a literary agent, Noah Lukeman has seen thousands of manuscripts and book proposals. His experienced eye can decide in a matter of seconds whether to read more or reject it.

I'm intimately familiar with this process since each day, as a book acquisitions editor, I receive submissions from writers. Essentially each of us (editors and agents) are panning for gold--looking for that one manuscript or query or book proposal which stands out from the crowd. The rest are quickly rejected.

Rejection is a part of every writer's journey. With THE FIRST FIVE PAGES, Lukeman has helped writers cut through the learning experience and avoid years of hard knocks.

Here's a taste of this book from the Epilogue:

"Getting published is hard these days, even for great writers, even for writers who have been published before. With the conglomeration of major publishers and the fear of the "midlist" book, many fine books will never make it into print...The ultimate message of this book, though, is not that you should strive for publication, but that you should become devoted to the craft of writing, for its own sake. Ask yourself what you would do if you knew you would never be published. Would you still write? If you are truly writing for the art of it, the answer will be yes. And then, every word is a victory."

I highly recommend this book. Countless writers need to get it and study each page, then follow the advice and pour it into their submissions. It will improve the overall quality of what editors and agents receive each day.
1633349
This is a morale builder, a practical and encouraging how-to for selling books in an industry completely transformed by digital technology. Most authors set out to be writers, not marketers, and, faced with repeated rejection of their work by a series of publishers, turn only reluctantly to self-publishing. While past guides to self-publishing have dwelt on the art of haggling with bookstore owners over credit for returned books (how much scuffing of the cover is too much, etc), Batchelor reveals surprising new opportunities, and shows how authors take advantage of the changing situation. He notes, for example, that publishers have traditionally rejected manuscripts on the basis that they are written for audiences that are "too narrow." The internet has turned that upside down by making it practical to identify and sell to niche audiences. Thank goodness! This book is stuffed with information about the changing structure of the publishing business, who does what, relative costs, how to figure out what to do, and then how to go about it. This is what the overwhelmed author needs to figure out a rewarding course of action. Good stuff.
2943831
Hugh has done a terrific job laying out the process of publishing on Kindle! He goes into incredible detail, doesn't assume specialized knowledge, and includes plenty of screenshots to make clear everything along the way. This guide is accessible to everyone, and the first-time publisher as well as someone with more experience will find useful tips here. Definitely well-worth the price!
1492283
Solid information on how to structure a press release for maximum effectiveness and to increase the chance that it will actually be picked up and published. It is a virtual blueprint for best practices. This is a great resource.
855749
When I recently wrote a non-fiction book and began the fractious journey towards publication, I was fortunate enough to come across "Author! Screenwriter! How To Succeed As A Writer In New York And Hollywood" by Peter Miller. By providing an insider's knowledge of a complex quixotic industry, Miller put my aimless meanderings towards publication onto a more structured and purposeful footing. Knowledge gives confidence and Miller's vast experience and subtle understanding of the ins and out of both book publishing and film production gave me the reassurance and confidence to deal with publishers and realize my dreams. This is an excellent book crammed full of invaluable information for both the prose writer and the scriptwriter.

Danny Vendramini
1559581
Recently I had the pleasure of being a beta reader for APE: Author, Publisher, Entrepreneur-How to Publish a Book by Guy Kawasaki and Shawn Welch. It is easy reading, packed with tips, tools, links, actionable steps, and a supporting website (APETheBook.com,) along with warnings of the pitfalls of self-publishing.

Historically, traditional publishers successfully blocked the door to publication for many authors until digital publishing changed the game. With direct access to their readers via platforms such as Amazon Digital Publishing authors can now enjoy faster success and higher profits.

Kawasaki turned to self-publishing when he discovered that a traditional publisher could not handle an order for 500 ebooks. He became a convert, and enlisted the aid of Shawn Welch to help him understand the complexities of publishing ebooks. Welch created and and produced Kawasaki's book, What the Plus!: Google+ for the Rest of Us

Kawaski strongly believes

  ". . .self-publishing enables you to determine your own fate. There's no need to endure the frustration of finding and working with a publisher. You can maintain control over your book and its marketing, receive a greater percentage of revenues, and retain all rights and ownership."

But he does not suggest that self-publishing is easy. Without guidance, it can be confusing,  inefficient and unnecessarily expensive.

APE makes it clear that to self-publish successfully, you must be willing to don all three hats: author, publisher and entrepreneur.

APE begins with four good reasons and two bad ones for becoming an author. The desire to make lots of money is one of the two bad ones since earning great wealth from book sales, though possible, is rare.

Whether you are writing your first book or fifth, APE will enlighten, inspire and empower you. It is loaded with details about preparing your manuscript, ballpark costs of self-publishing, publishing options, copyright issues, digital rights management and valuable self-promotion techniques, such as how to pitch bloggers and reviewers.

APE offers us publishing Plans A, B and C and urges us not to get stigmatized when we can't find a traditional publisher. He chucks out the stigmatized phrase "vanity publishing" and ushers in a new one.

  "Self-publishing could change from stigma to bragging point--maybe we could change the term to "artisanal publishing" and foster the image of authors lovingly crafting their books with total control over the process."

By crowdsourcing the editing of APE, the authors attracted hundreds of writers, coaches, entrepreneurs and bloggers in the field who gave priceless input to help catch errors and build in real-life examples, anecdotes and sources.

You will learn in one chapter details on navigating Amazon and from another chapter, tactical and practical guerilla marketing techniques.

The section on becoming an entrepreneur is the most valuable section for the self-publisher.  Here you will learn how to create your profile and platform using the major social media sites, as well as details on creating a press release, virtual book tours and using social networks designed especially for writers and readers.

While APE shows us how to self-publish, it does not discourage traditional publishing, nor harnessing the power of  a traditional PR launch.

If you're looking for a get-rich-quick road to self-publishing, this isn't it.

If, on the other hand, you want a content-rich, user-friendly, comprehensive and up-to-the-minute guide for navigating the self-publishing waters, get APE today. It's the new self-publishing bible.
2556504
As an author and a business owner, I find myself periodically needing to write press releases. Its often a daunting task with specific format requirements and things you really need to know to have it not only read by the media, but acted upon by them. Sandra's book does a wonderful job of covering all the angles necessary to do the job well. I find myself referring to it each time I sit down to prepare another press release. I highly recommend this book, as well as Sandra's other well thought out information, for anyone needing to write press releases or market books. Even though this book is specifically geared towards authors. I feel it would benefit anyone in any type of business.
2460994
I received a copy of this free  from somewhere and thrilled to have gotten it, so I had to leave a review.

A must read for any aspiring self-publisher or published author. A simple doable systematic guide on getting yourself out there and seen.
Very well written by someone who know what they are talking about and who is doing what they are talking about.

This is such a nice change  someone who is practicing what they preach!

This is a systematic approach to creating and managing your online persona as a writer before and during publication to ensure visibility for your published prose. From your Author Platform to other usable and useful social media platforms to getting noticed. The need for an e-mail list and a few gentle hints of or for usable software and services.
76266
While I've not had a chance to follow the author's guidance I suspect that her enthusiasm won't translate to a finished book (for me) in three days. However her advice is clear and to the point. The book is an easy read with no annoying glitches in the formatting. My concern is that the author seems to approve (implicitly) of the idea of publishing titles with very little substance, a trend that is already becoming a nuisance in digital self-publishing, and that her endorsement will encourage more of it!
4377731
I purchased this book because of the author.  I had read a short article and like his direct, to the point style at a technical level that met my needs (intermediate to advanced WordPress developer).  While I don't think that I will be writing any plugins, I wanted to understand the mechanics of how they work and are added to the public domain.

By the way, this is the second book that I have purchased from this publisher.  So far they have done a good job.
1370399
I met William Hertling last weekend at the Willamette Writer's Conference in Portland.  He gave a terrific presentation, which was more or less the live version of "Indie & Small Press Book Marketing." It was a fabulous presentation and this is a very good book.  Unfortunately, there are spelling errors and more that a few examples of what looks like hurried editing to me, which is why I am only offering three stars.  The content of this book is excellent.  Clear, actionable advice to new, unknown, or small time authors (like me).  I plan to implement much of his advice starting right now.