The Essential Guide to Getting Your Book Published: How to Write It, Sell It, and Market it . . . Successfully

by Michael Strickland


So you want to be a celebrity by publishing your own book?

Because publishing is becoming more business-oriented each day with more examination of the bottom line, it's harder to break out than ever, wrote Nicholas Sparks. Most publishers desire material that sells. This doesn't apply to all of them, but most. It would be great if the majority of companies produced products from their love of books, but they do not. Bookstores are the same. They want your book to sell early, sell often, and to make money for a very, long time. Editors and bookstores rarely pay much attention to a book they don't think will sell.

What can aspiring authors do to overcome this high hurdle? The Essential Guide to Getting Your Book Published: How to Write It, Sell It, and Market It . . . Successfully, is one of the the best, most comprehensive book on this topic. Written by experts with thirteen books between them as well as many years' experience as a literary agent (Eckstut) and a book doctor (Sterry), this nuts-and-bolts guide demystifies every step of the publishing process: how to come up with a blockbuster title, create a selling proposal, find the right agent, understand a book contract, develop marketing and publicity savvy, and, if necessary, self-publish.

There's information on how to build up a following (and even publish a book) online; the importance of a search-engine-friendly title; producing a video book trailer; and e-book pricing and royalties. Includes interviews with hundreds of publishing insiders and authors, including Seth Godin, Neil Gaiman, Amy Bloom, Margaret Atwood, Larry Kirshbaum, Leonard Lopate, plus agents, editors, and booksellers; sidebars featuring real-life publishing success stories; sample proposals, query letters, and a feature-rich website and community for authors.

The authors previously published much of this how-to guidebook as Putting Your Passion Into Print. However, in the last several years the landscape and expectations have dramatically changed. The role of the author in the book publishing business is now nuanced and complex in ways never seen before. we are now in the in the age of social media, and this text is the most current and relevant set of ideas to guide writers.

Being an author today requires more than writing the manuscript. Authors need to create a market demand for their books and to fill that demand by using social media and other digital channels to sell it to a specific audience. What I really like about this reference text is that it tells authors what is now expected of them, in this brave new world. It answers the question many authors ask: why should I blog? Do I need an agent? How do I prepare a book proposal?

Refreshingly honest, knowledgeable and detailed, with extensive coverage of e-books, self-publishing, and online marketing, this text is more vital than ever for anyone who wants to mine that great idea and turn it into a successfully published book.


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