Book-to-market

This book is an essential edition to the small publisher's library. Smith teaches self-publishing at the University of New Orleans and practices what he preaches. This book is best read before embarking on a small publishing project, then referred to as specific issues come up, such as dealing with postal authorities or manuscript prep for electronic publication. Highly recommended.

Now available in an updated second edition, Gary Smith's Publishing For Small Press Runs: How To Print And Market From 20 To 200 Copies Of Your Book is a hard, candid, practical look at the serious obstacles to the economic viability of small press publishers. The most profound problem confronting the independent publisher or self-published author, is that small presses lack economy of scale, i.e. they are publishing fewer numbers of their book(s) for with a higher per unit cost. Informative and insightful chapters specifically address how to make the best of small press economic realities and still turn a healthy profit by carefully controlling costs. Publishing For Small Press Runs is an absolute "must" for self-publishers or executives of small presses who seek to profit from tens to hundreds of books, rather than the more traditional tens of thousands of copies traditionally produced by the large corporate publishing houses.

Publishing for Small Press Runs is all about writing,producing, selling and promoting your book. The really excitingrevelations are about the new electronic pre-press procedure, PDF formatting and digital printing. Gary takes you through the growth of independent publishing (there are 55,000 of us out here), how to set up your publishing business, how to get a copyright and otherwise protect your work, how to build your manuscript and, finally, ways to market your finished book. The book has lots of resources with Web URLs. END

Always, Karen Ranney seems to write on the edge, usually drafting a grim tale. "To Love a Scottish Lord" is fascinating material. The author establishes the book's focus in the early pages -- the cruelty of humankind.

Karen Ranney has the gift to write description. With this book, the reader resides in "Castle Gloom". The novel's beginning is excellent. I applauded the decision the heroine makes to remain with Hamish MacRae. Mary's choice was personal and totally selfish. Based strictly on her desire to discover and enjoy physical pleasure, aware of the consequences. This story idea was unique and distinct. I admired it. We were not dealing with a virgin girl here. No Mary Gilly was an experienced lover; yet, an air of innocence surrounded her -- how refreshing.

The initial storyline is serious -- an atmosphere of foreboding questions and answers. The love scenes are sultry and hot -- very adult reading. Found, in these pages, are a troubled man and a caring woman -- a woman who becomes the reader's champion. "Stay with him, Mary".

The beginning of Karen Ranney's novel is superb. Regrettably, somewhere near the middle of the story, the supremacy ends. Now the writing begins to crawl into a familiar storyline. "They" arrest and jail Mary. "They" wrongly accuse Mary Gilly with a bogus crime and the hero turns into the characteristic savior. What a shame! From the middle of the book, until the last page, the words became an average romance, nothing spectacular, just filling space. Based on the fine opening, I expected so much more.

Part of Ranney's "The Highland Lords Series"; it is the best of the lot. Although, it is a page turner, and I read it with devotion, I was discontented. Oh, what could have been!

Grace Atkinson, Ontario - Canada.

I am slowly discovering Karen Ranney as a source of great romance reading. The first novel I read by Ranney was When the Laird Returns and it was no more than an average book in my opinion. Warily, I eventually picked up a second Ranney book, After the Kiss, and was thrilled with its greatness. As I began reading To Love a Scottish Lord, I knew I was testing the author on the quality of her books and this particular book placed her on my favorite authors list. To Love a Scottish Lord was an original romance with very sexy overtones. Both the hero and heroine are unusual for romantic leads. Both are very likable, truthful sorts, and do not have a class-conscious manner of thinking - which was uniquely welcome!

Hamish MacRae, a man of Scottish descent, was a successful captain of his own ship. In port in India, he and his crew are captured and killed or tortured. Hamish suffered through months and months of extensive torture before escaping into the desert. His brother and crew eventually find him barely alive. Hamish is brought to Scotland, at his request, to live in an abandoned castle. Most of his wounds have healed physically but he no longer has the use of one arm. But the worse wounds are those that cannot be seen and they are very severe. Not only has Hamish been tortured, he has also lost all respect for himself and any sense of decency. He just wants to live the life of a hermit at the deserted castle on the sea. His brother however, does not believe Hamish should be alone. He brings a well-known healer to the castle to begin extensive therapy with him. Hamish doesn't want a healer but soon finds himself almost obsessed with his beautiful healer.

Mary Gilly is a widow and healer. Her deceased husband had been a successful goldsmith and Mary now has a comfortable living from the wealth he has left her. She concentrates on healing the indigent since they cannot afford a doctor's care and she is not a doctor. But she is an intelligent woman who studies constantly to further her knowledge and ability as a healer. It is a true calling of her heart and she is very dedicated to the cause. When she is asked to go into the wilderness of an old castle fortress to treat Hamish, she accepts because she knows his family and believes she can help him. When Mary meets Hamish, she is shocked to find all he has suffered both mentally and physically but hides her shock as she begins his therapy. Hamish doesn't want her treatment but Mary can be quite persistent and, armed with a positive attitude, begins treating him anyway. He attempts to push her away with stubbornness, hostility, refusal, and finally sexual aggressiveness. Mary refuses to give into his games and finds she is actually attracted to the withdrawn and beaten man.

Within a few days of the beginning of Hamish's treatment, both Hamish and Mary acknowledge a huge physical attraction between them. Thus, a new form of treatment is added to Hamish's daily regime. Although Hamish is the typical romance hero in that he will never love, he does realize that he needs Mary in ways he does not understand. He admits his need for her and asks her to stay with him for an unknown period of time. He lets the small staff at the castle go and only Mary and Hamish remain. They indulge in their physical relationship endlessly and love just spending time together as well. This part of the book is very sensual. The sensual scenes are actually integral to the book and rate a solid 4.25 out of 5.0 (see More About Me for rating guidelines).

As Hamish and Mary's relationship grows, a sudden change in location is forced upon them. The book takes a sharp turn but does not lose your interest a bit. The situation that forces the two apart only reinforces their care for each other. This is a romance that continues to build. It does not suffer from one or the other of the leads deciding that they can't love, or won't commit or any number of the overused reasons we see for conflict in romance writing. It is only outside forces that push them apart but their hearts are never pushed apart in the process. Although both suffer some scars from their past, they are mature individuals. They know how to communicate truthfully and it is refreshing to have a book about two people who are grown up and know how to act like it.

To Love a Scottish Lord is the fourth in The Highland Lord series. The order of this series is: One Man's Love; When the Laird Returns; The Irresistible MacRae; and To Love a Scottish Lord. I don't believe Ranney is finished with this series yet because there are still some unattached MacRae brothers out there. It would probably be preferable to read this series in order but I have not. Both of the books I have read in this series could be stand-alone books. It is proving to be a great series so if you only have one of the books - go ahead and dive into it. There will be fun reading regardless. I am now searching out the other two books in this series I have yet to read. I am also looking in general for other Ranney books because her book, After the Kiss (which is not a part of this series) was one of the best romances I have read in some time and I want to see how many more of those great books she has out there.

Setting - Scotland 1782 - Hamish MacRae has come home to Scotland, a beaten and drastically changed man. He is being escorted by his younger brother Brenden. Hamish had lost his ship, his crew, the use of his arm and endured unspeakable humiliations and torture and planned to make the desolate abandoned castle, Castle Gloom, into his private hermitage. Worried over his brothers' state of mind, Brenden travels to Inverness to enlist the aid of a highly recommended healer.

Mary Gilly, was a young widow whose late husband had ties to the elder MacRae's brother Alisdair. Mary, much younger than her deceased husband, had been allowed and encouraged to pursue studies of healing and her successes had earned her a nickname as the 'Angel of Inverness'. Having never left the confines of Inverness, not only did Hamish's case sound intriguing but the chance to travel seemed like an adventure after her year long mourning period had passed.

Hamish would not be an ideal patient and the fact that Brenden brought him a beautiful woman seemed like more torture to a man who hadn't had a woman in so long. Several days later and refusing to leave, Mary was not only intrigued by the case but attracted as well to the man hidden in his tower. After agreeing to a challenge to either best him at chess or leave without treating him, Hamish finds he is more than intrigued himself with this independent and forthright woman.

WOW! This is just what I come to expect from this exceptional author - a plot that grabs you from the first page with intensity and emotion that you start and finish in one sitting. Hamish's injuries set him apart from the normal heroes one usually finds, and Mary is an absolute delight whose own secrets add to the suspense of this highly sensual and incredible addition to the Highland Lord series! The romance that develops between Brenden and Mary's best friend Elspeth is an added treat. Up to this point - Book One had been my favorite, but this one is right up there in the running for top spot in this series! Outstanding sensual imagery and writing! In case, you're wondering, YES, this can definitely stand alone but when you have writing this superb, get acquainted with the whole MacRae clan - the journey is well worth it!

I found some helpful hints in How To Market You & Your Book and
used them to promote my own book, Slices of Sunlight. I wish author O'Connor had shared more from his wisdom. I found the book to be in need of more content. Perhaps the next edition
will contain extra pages and extensive resources.

As head of a PR firm that works with 500 authors a year- I know that the publisher usually does very little to promote most books. All authors (self published too) need this book. It has great information and great tips on publicity and promotion.

Rick Frishman President PLANNED TV ARTS (NYC)www.plannedtvarts.com Co author GUERRILLA MARKETING FOR WRITERS (Writers Digest Books)

Whether you sell out to a large (New York) publisher or publish yourself, the author must do the promotion. Publishers do not promote books; they only produce them and place them in bookstores. Those books remain in the stores for one selling season: four months-then they are returned to the publisher. Authors must encourage buyers to visit the stores. Buyers pull the books through the system.

(From page 95): The real meat of "How to Market You and Your Book" is to make writers more successful through a working knowledge of marketing . . . specifically so that the writer becomes a "Marketing Author." This book delivers.

FX is an author and a publisher; the ultimate insider, he has been on both sides of the desk. He knows what you are facing--and he reveals what to do about it. DanPoynter@ParaPublishing.com.

I read and used this book a number of times in high school when asking or answering for school dances. It has some fun ideas for things to do before and/after the dance as well.

Blair Tolman's "Dance Book" is a great resource for anyone who has teenagers! As a high school teacher I have given out numerous copies to my students who have come to me asking for ideas for Prom, Homecoming, Sadie Hawkins,etc. It is so much fun hearing the students' stories of how these ideas really worked!

The practical and down to earth advice is something that anyone--even men--will find concise, helpful and authoritative.

This book is a great idea for someone that wants to solve a minor problem he may be having (such as dry hair, sunburn, or sore throat) without having to pay a doctor or look for advice for hours on the internet. This book lists several ailments and annoyances men suffer from, and provides a 2 to 5 page summary of what it is and how to treat it.

This book is Merriman's third in a series of encyclopedic tomes on the Ultimate Book on Stock Market Timing series:

Volume I. Cycles and Patterns in Indexes
Volume II. Geocosmic Correlations to Investment Cycles
Volume III. Geocosmic Correlations to Trading Cycles
Volume IV. Geocosmic Correlations to Short-Term Trading (not yet completed)
Volume V. Technical Tools and Trading Cycles (not yet completed)

Unfortunately for the reader (including myself) not familiar with astrology and the terminology, the book was hard to understand in many spots. Many of the astrological terms are neither clearly defined, nor explained as to their importance.
I found the book tough going in a number of spots, but totally fascinating. The amount of material to digest is substantial, but the reward can be great if Merriman's findings are implemented.

For readers that are not familiar with astrology, you are encouraged to read Merriman's basic primer on the subject, titled: "Basic Principles of Geocosmic Studies for Financial Market Timing." It is a small book - about 60 pages ... . That's the entry level book for astrology and finances. Moreover, "Merriman on Market Cycles: The Basics" is the entry level book for the study of cycles applied to financial markets. It too is small, about 70 pages ... .

To say that Merriman is a prolific writer is an understatement. His latest exhaustive book (Volume 3) is a mere 439 pages in its 8.5" x 11" paperback format. In this work, Merriman has analyzed 3,000 geocosmic signatures that he correlated with varying cycles in the DJIA and S&P 500 futures prices.

Merriman begins with a discussion of "critical reversal" dates. He focuses on pinpointing astrology signs that have a high correlation with major stock market turning points, especially primary cycles (occurs approximately every 19.5 weeks (mean)).

The book's hypothesis is that astrologically determined reversal dates (a reversal of at least 4% in price) will accurately time a "major half-primary and/or primary" cycle low or peak within three trading days a large percentage of the time. According to Merriman, trading cycles are those encompassing the primary cycles and sub-cycles. His focus is to help position traders (not day traders) who are in the market a few days or longer improve their overall performance by using his methodology.

There is a short chapter covering the primary cycle and its phases. Another chapter covers geocosmic studies. A key point is that planetary cycles correspond with stock market cycles. Merriman spent a great deal of time and effort in analyzing the massive database and then presenting the data and conclusions to the reader.

As far as I can understand, the findings of using geocosmic signatures as a timing tool indicate that the probability of a major price reversal in stock prices ranges between 74% to 91% when a timing signal is given. There is a minimum probability of 74% that a stock market reversal will occur within 3 days of a geocosmic signature and almost a 60% probability that this signature will be within two trading days.

Merriman provides an interesting 7-page table showing ALL the significant turning points in U.S. stock prices between 8/1/82 through 5/1/01. It showed that 74 turning points are within their cycle times, geocosmic signatures (probability), and critical reversal dates. This data validates Merriman's hypothesis that there is strong correlation between these variables. After all, Merriman objective is to identify the high probability cycle times for position traders.

In summary, this book is a significant contribution in the area of timing the market using astrological signs and cycles in combination. For those readers with a solid understanding of these subject areas, the usefulness of this book is self-evident. For other readers who feel that the material presented is useful, but cannot fully understand it to use it, then consider Merriman's other services that include newsletters, seminars, software, annual forecasts and reports. ... In any case, Merriman has continued to add scholarly works with significant value to the trading arena.

Wish I would have read this book before Sept 11th, 2001 because a strong market move (80% chance to be downward) was likely to occur within 4 days of 9/6/01. Provides a plethora of unbias qualitative observations which are organized & presented from multiple angles, so the reader can quickly integrate celestial factors which currently are and will in the future open the door for the S&P to abruptly move. Glad I bought it.

On a side note - Merriman's annual "Forcasts" series is a steal.
In the 2001 edition (written in fall of 2000) p71 Merriman explores the strong possibility for terrorist tensions rising in August of 2001 with one focal point around Sept 7th 2001. Since I had read his comments prior to, the fateful events of 9/11/01 were not as much a shock to me as they were a "a-ha, so thats how this is going to play out this time..." One should check out the ominous possibilities he explores with Bush.

This book did a good job of explaining the sales office process, but skipped over the really scary things, like buying the lot, lot upgrades, working with contractors, water, sewer, septic, etc...If Mr. Burnsides wanted to be really thorough, he would have given us better statistics, like the Consumer Guide info he refers to, but does not elaborate on nearly enough. A manufacturer list or customer service survey of manufacturers would be nice too. Last but not least, the author's credibility was not helped by all the mis-spellings and errors. Didn't anyone edit this book for him?

This book should be required reading for anyone considering a manufactured home. A few evenings spent with this book will not only save you thousands of dollars it will result in you getting a much better home. Be sure to make notes and take them with you when you visit the dealers and the manufactured home factory (something you really must consider doing before you sign). Buying a manufactured home isn't like buying a car - so don't treat it that way.

Aloha,If you are in the market for a manufactured home you *must* get this book. He tells all the ins and outs of the manufactured home buying process written from the perspective of a guy who is simply trying to tell you the truth. He is sincere and *very* knowledgeable and will save you significant money and hassle.As one reviewer noted, this is not the best editing job. There are a number of grammatical errors, careless things like a missing pro-noun or mispelled words. But you don't buy a book like this looking for pulitzer prize level literature. You buy it to arm yourself with information. Mr. Burnside does a very good job of doing just that, arming you, and does so in an easy to read/understand fashion. I read the whole thing in about 4 hours.He gives tips on all aspects of buying a manufactured home and setting it up on your property. But the primary focus is how to handle the home dealers and how to get the best deal with the right options. In that light it would be wise to have this book as but one book in your home buying collection. A great book that covers other important areas like finding and buying land (etc) in a more comprehensive way than Mr. Burnside's book is "Finding and Buying Your Place in the Country" by Scher & Scher (husband wife team). This is also a *must* have book. Do not as much as set foot inside a manufactured home dealer without reading this book.Good Luck! It is a best seller for a reason.

When I received my book contract, my publisher recommended this book, and I hurried out to the library to pick up a copy -- but I found that it wasn't exactly what I was looking for. If you're starting a publishing house of your own, this is an excellent resource, but it's not ideal for authors. I flipped through chapters full of information that didn't apply to me -- and I often felt that authors were an afterthought, spoken to only in the occasional box at the end of a section. I did get a few good ideas from this book, however, and if you're preparing to promote a book of your own, pick it up from the library and page through it. For authors, I recommend Publicize Your Book! by Jacqueline Deval -- it will give you more of what you need.

I am a one-book publisher. About two years ago, when I first began to think about writing and publishing, I read this book. I should tell you that I am extremely thrifty and I only buy books that I will refer to again and again. I'll even admit that I first read the library's copy of this book. However, after I read 1001 Ways to Market Your Books, I immediately placed an order so that I could have a copy of my own. It has been worth its weight in gold to me. It's the best marketing tool for books that I know of, with clear explanations and lots of examples. If you are an author or a publisher, or even thinking about becoming one, I strongly suggest that you get this book. I can't think of a better $20 investment in your book-selling future. Lisa Reid, author and publisher of Raising Kids With Just a Little Cas

Of course, I think it's the best book on book marketing out there. But the publisher is NOT Ad-Lib Publications (my old company), but Open Horizons, my new company. Get it straight. John Kreme

I was lucky enough to receive both Sailing to Sarantium and Lord of Emperors at once, so I could immediately continue reading, and I think it definitely helped my opinion of the book. So much of what we see and feel on Crispin's journey to Sarantium comes back to haunt us in Lord of Emperors. These are two books that should really have been one volume, except it would of course be far too thick.

However, I recently reread Sailing to Sarantium without its sequel, so I was forced to look at is as just one book, and I think that it works, albeit imperfectly. To be sure, this is VERY far from the usual fantasy fare, but that's an excellent thing. Kay has a way of making his readers think, and not just about whether or not the hero will defeat the bad guy. There is no bad guy in the Sarantine Mosaic-- these are real people, with real motives and complications behind their actions. How often can an author make you cry at the death of a character who has killed someone you have come to admire and even love? Kay's characterisation is, as ever, absolutely brilliant, and although on first reading you might find Sailing to Sarantium a bit slow, if you take the time to appreciate the underlying themes and messages within, you will be richly rewarded. And then, when you read Lord of Emperors, all of what you have experienced while Crispin makes his journey will come together and greatly enhance the more action-filled second volume.

On a final note, one of the most powerful scenes I have ever read occurs in this book, when Crispin enters a small chapel with a mosaic of Jad, the god, overhead. It is utterly impossible not to feel the intensity of Crispin's emotion as he sees that image on the dome. Every time I read it I just shiver.

Guy Gavriel Kay is one of my favorite fantasy authors, because he is able to portray some of the most believable characters I've ever read. After a string of fabulous single-volume novels, he has now published the duology "The Sarantine Mosaic". This story appears to be set in the same world as "The Lions of Al-Rassan", but in a different country and time. Still, there are references to Esperana, Trakesia and other countries in both novels. And once again this is a historical novel disguised as a fantasy novel. Magic doesn't play a very strong part, and anyone with some basic notions of history can draw easy parallels between this novel's characters and settings, and their real-world counterparts. Still, the novel will be enjoyable even if you are not familiar with the historical period. When someone says they are "sailing to Sarantium" (an obvious reference to "Sailing to Byzantium" by W. B. Yeats), it means they are going through a time of change, even upheaval, in their lives. Likewise, the major characters in this novel are experiencing change. The mosaicist Crispin, the guard Vargos and the former slave Kasia arrive in the city of Sarantium. This is the story of how they arrive there, and how the city influences them, and vice versa. I can't urge you enough to buy this novel, and any others by Guy Gavriel Kay you can find.

If your type of fantasy is filled with swords and sorcery, non-stop action, and vivacious babes in see-through nighties, Sarantine mosaic is NOT for you. (Although there are a number of beautiful women in varying stages of undress.) Both Sailing to Sarantium and Lord of Emperors are more "literary" than your typical fantasy novel. Kay gives his characters well-formed personalities and doesn't shy away from moral or philosophical dilemmas they find themselves in.

The Sarantine Mosaic reads more like Historical Fiction than fantasy. Kay's world is an imaginative alternative to the Eastern Roman Empire. It works well by replacing actual history with similar fantasy constructs. However, these constructs are usually different enough to avoid confusion.

I disagree with the editorial review that claims this is a small story. It is a huge story. It is the story of Emperors and Kings and how history hinges on minor events and characters. Don't let the seemingly minor importance of the characters fool you, this is a big story.

I would recommend Kay's books to any intelligent fantasy reader. They may not be non-stop action, but the pacing is quick and the suspense draws ever further into the mosaic Kay has created.

I am an avid fan of everything that has to do with Drizzt Do'Urden, and I was looking forward to this one more than you can know. However, I was rather disappointed when it actually came out. Starless Night was my favorite, and the books had, in general, been getting better each time. However, this Passage to Dawn does not continue this trend. The characters seem to have less depth, and the plot certainly does. It is predictable and rather destructive to the masterful stories Salvatore has told in the past. He always had two strong points: interesting, well-developed characters, and cool fight scenes. Unfortunately, neither of these shows up very well in this book. The great characters, other than Drizzt, are gone (Jarlaxle and Entreri) or poorly portrayed (Cattie-Brie, Regis). Even Drizzt doesn't seem to "think" as much as he used to. I think Salvatore got tired of writing the series, and he should have stopped at the last book.

This may be the last book in the series "The Legacy of the Drow", but only a turning point in Drizzts life. Drizzt thinks that the Drow threat is gone, but what he doesnt know is that the Spider Queen has sided with an evil demon in the Abyss. A demon that Drizzt sent to the Abyss. And this Demon holds a dear friend with him in this Hell. In this book we follow Drizzt and his friends to confront the fiend and to retreive this "valuable" prize. But there is much more in store for Drizzt then he knows. The person held in the Abyss may or may not be who he thinks it is. This is a book that will change Drizzt all Drizzt novels to come. He changes so much in this book, realizing what he wants and who he is. This is a thrilling finale to a thrilling series. A must read.

Drizzt can be imitated and duplicated but there can only be one Drizzt. Drizzt is a very original character, in each book he discovers more of himself. I must admit if you're a new reader to this book you might feel you may want to read the previous books. I feel that there has never been a story about a drow as complex as he is. Drizzt learns honor through friendship, he know his friends are very important to him. He's brave for facing hatred every where he goes because of his race. I love the way that R A Salvatore tied up loose ends and he has left more room for cliff hangers. Which, by the way, are tied up in future books. Even though, readers might feel this character is too powerful, this powerful drow, over time he learns to use his brains over brawn. If you read the previous books, be in for a surprise. I was shocked to find out who was his equally powerful foe on the loose in this edition.