Cool Book Of The Day

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Question: Who is the intended audience?
Answer: Ohioans, former Ohioans, and fans of writers’ memoirs.

Q: What is the book about?
A: Good Roots is a collection of essays and poetry from 20 prominent writers about growing up in Ohio. Each chapter offers a short profile of the contributor — they range from political satirist PJ O’Rourke to Pulitzer Prize winning poet Mary Oliver — and a childhood photo of the writer as a young Buckeye. The writers’ upbringings range from city to small town to rural. Yet what they have to tell us about their roots resonates with a shared heritage, a sense of what is universal and enduring about growing up in the heartland.

Q: Why are you the best person to write this book?
A: I was born in Cleveland, then returned from the East Coast to Ohio with young children and raised them in a small town for 10 years. I collected the essays because I wanted to explore what it would mean for my kids to grown up in Ohio.

Q: How is this book different from other books on this topic?
A: There isn’t a collection quite like this, that I know of.

Q: Is there anything else we should know about this book?
A:The Ohioana Library awarded the book a first-ever Legacy Citation in 2008 for outstanding contributions to the state’s cultural heritage.

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Question: Who is the intended audience?
Answer: Everyone in North America who dreams of commercial or self-publication for their book, whether fiction or nonfiction.

Q: What is the book about?
A: Easy to read and practical, Book Magic provides all the information and tools aspiring authors need to understand the publishing industry and increase their chances of getting published. Most importantly, it explodes the pervasive myths that discourage writers from trying to get published and demonstrates that it is easier than most believe. Aspiring authors discover: spells to increase their chances of publication; the wizardry surrounding agents; the crystal ball that interprets trends; how Canadian and American publishing scenes differ; how approachable medium and small publishers really are; and some electronic sorcery. Book Magic guides writers to the enchanted moment when they hold their first published book in their hand.

Q: Why are you the best person to write this book?
A: I have been writing for nearly forty years and have had thirteen books published, including three on naval and church history, and six for writers and teachers. When it comes to getting books published, I have done it all: self and commercial, print and electronic, print-on-demand, as well as managed my own short runs at printers. For the last eleven years I have been speaking and instructing on the topic of getting published at writers’ conferences and at a community college. With all this experience under my belt, I wrote Book Magic so others could learn what took me sixteen long years to absorb.

Q: How is this book different from other books on this topic?
A: At 130 pages, Book Magic is short, snappy, and to the point. I designed it to be read quickly and then dipped into when needed. The large appendix contains many examples, useful articles, and vital info and resources for aspiring authors from a writer’s perspective, not that of an agent or editor.

Q: Is there anything else we should know about this book?
Book Magic is available at Amazon.com and through my website at www.beaconlit.com/Book Magic.htm.
ISBN: 978-0-9739493-3-9
$16.99 excl. S&H

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Question: Who is the intended audience?
Answer: Aspiring and working writers, and readers interested in the process of writing and how book publishing works.

Q: What is the book about?
A: The Dog is based on questions asked by writers about writing and publishing. It presents an uncluttered approach to writing for publication, explains how to stay healthy and sane while writing while writing, and provides a strong foundation for present and future work.

Q: Why are you the best person to write this book?
A: Twenty years of experience in trade publishing as a managing editor and freelance editor. I’ve edited and otherwise produced over 300 books of fiction, humor, self-help, cookery, management, and social issues for publishers on both coasts.

Q: How is this book different from other books on this topic?
A: The Dog is a hybrid of commonplace book and book-midwife-in-a-box that invites the reader to take only what they need and leave the rest. The quotes, anecdotes, and advice inspire the writer to keep writing. The Dog covers more than the usual books on writing: how publishing operates as a business, contracts, rewrites and editors to galley proofs, and typography and book design.

Q: Is there anything else we should know about this book?
A: Opinionated, irreverent, and derived from years of hands-on experience, The Dog demystifies the problems faced by both first-time writers and experienced pros.

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For people with a book inside them who want to get published faster, easier and cheaper.

The Self-Publishing Manual is well known by nearly everyone in the publishing industry and is the first book they recommend to newcomers. Since 1979, it has been revised 16 times while going through 20 printings. This is a brand new book—with a track record. It has broken into double digits at Amazon.com and recently made the Quality Books Top Twenty.

Nearly everyone has a book inside him or her. Self-publishing is finally being recognized as a better alternative to traditional (New York) publishing. Now that the large trade publishers are downsizing, consolidating and cutting back on their lists, more and more people are self-publishing. There are only six large trade publisher left, there are some 3-400 medium-sized publishers and there are more than 86,000 self-publishers. The ISBN agency registers some 10,000 new publishing companies each year. Small publishing is growing rapidly.

Dan Poynter has been in publishing for 45+ years. He is the author of more than 120 books, 50 reports, 500 magazine articles, 12 audiotapes and two videotapes—most of them on some aspect of book writing, publishing or promoting. Prentice-Hall and eight international publishers have published Dan. His books have been translated into Japanese, German, British-English, Russian, Italian, Spanish and Romanian. He is a frequent speaker at writing and publishing-industry events such as the Maui Writers Conference and the PMA’s Publishing University at the BEA book fair. He flies more than 6,000 miles/week and has made six round-the-world speaking tours in the past year.

There are other books on self-publishing. Most are modest attempts with very brief coverage and much less detail. Some are out of date.
Beware of books on self-publishing that are not self-published.
(:
Regardless, Dan Poynter supports and recommends the other books.
“Anyone getting into a new field should buy several books and attend a number of seminars. The investment is cheaper than a mistake.”

Some endorsements.

“Poynter is at his best when discussing such specifics as starting one’s own publishing house; dealing with printers; establishing discount, credit and return policies; promoting, advertising and selling a book; and order fulfillment.”
—Publishers Weekly.

“Poynter covers the production basics but his emphasis is on the business of books.”
—American Library Association Booklist

“The strength of this book is the detailed discussion of various marketing methods.”
—Choice magazine

“This is the first book I recommend to those considering becoming a publisher.”
—Jan Nathan, Executive Director, Publishers Marketing Association

“This is the best self‑publishing manual on the market. Poynter offers more information per paragraph than many handbooks put on a page, and it’s all clear and easy to follow. Highly recommended.”
—Judith Appelbaum, How to Get Happily Published

“One essential ingredient to our Chicken Soup success was consulting with Dan Poynter in the early stages.”
—Jack Canfield, co-author, Chicken Soup for the Soul series (over 90 million sold—so far)

“Dan Poynter has generously guided thousands to authorship. Their books make this a better world.”
—Dr. Robert Müller, Past Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations and author of 2000 Ideas & Dreams for a Better World.

“A deeply researched how-to book on writing, printing, publishing, promotion, marketing, and distribution of books.”
—The College Store Journal

“The book is a must for those considering publishing as a business, for writers who want to investigate self-publishing, and is eminently useful for its new and old ideas to those who have already begun to do it. A fine and handy guide by a fine and successful publisher.”
—Small Press Review