A resourceful directory for self-publishing writers

Review of the following book: 2009 Writer Watchdog Self-Publishing Directory Author: Deana Riddle Publisher: New Vision Media

Calling All Authors - How to Publish with Your Eyes Wide Open BY: Valerie Connelly PUBLISHED BY: Nightengale Press PUBLISHED IN: 2007 ISBN: 978-1-933449-43-2 Pages: 291 Reviewed by Billy Burgess Have you ever wanted to be a published writer? “Calling All Authors - How to Publish with Your Eyes Wide Open” tells what traps and mistakes to avoid during publishing. Should you use a traditional publishing company or should you publish the book yourself? Will you need a publicist? An editor? Or a proofreader? These are just some of the questions that author Valerie Connelly, founder of Nightengale Press, answers in this book. There are many myths and tales about the publishing world. “Calling all Authors,” explains these myths and brings them into reality for writers. A lot of new writers think their books will be an instant bestseller. You’ll learn that books don’t become bestsellers overnight. As a writer myself, I enjoyed reading “Calling All Authors.” I learned that even in traditional publishing you’ll have to do some marketing of your own. You can’t just sit back and expect the book to just sell itself. Learn how to promote your book by using the internet. Learn how to benefit from good and bad book reviews. I recommend “Calling All Authors” to all upcoming writers of any genre. This book will help you with those difficult decisions you will come across while publishing your novel.

Writer Watchdog 2009 Edition: Self-publishing Directory BY: Deana Riddle PUBLISHED BY: New Vision Media PUBLISHED IN: 2009 ISBN: 978-0-9822674-9-3 Pages: 213 Reviewed by Billy Burgess With a flashy cover, the Writer Watchdog 2009 Edition: Self - publishing Directory will catch any writer’s eye. Being a writer myself, I have read several resource and writing books, but this is the first I’ve read about self-publishing. The book is filled with over two hundred resources and over thirty articles. You learn every step there is in publishing your own book. Learn the difference between a book printer and a self-publishing service. Find out how to use social networking websites, blogs and book reviews to promote your book. My favorite sections are the Book Review Resources, and the Informational Sites and Writer Organizations. The tips in these sections are very helpful. I found the Writer Watchdog 2009 Edition to be full of wonderful information that any writer can use. Before jumping into the self-publishing world, I recommend reading this. Any questions you would ever have will be answered in this amazing book.

Authors Access: 30 Success Secrets for Authors and Publishers BY: Irene Watson, Tyler R. Tichelaar & Victor R. Volkman PUBLISHED BY: Modern History Press PUBLISHED IN: 2009 ISBN: 978-1-932690-98-9 Pages: 220 Reviewed by Billy Burgess Authors Access: 30 Success Secrets for Authors and Publishers is a wonderful handbook for any writer. It is a compilation of podcasts from the internet radio show called Authors Access. The authors share great tips about the craft and myths of writing. You learn about writing about romance, mystery and other genres. Being a writer myself, I found the book interesting. I enjoyed the chapters on children’s books and the article “Exploring Ghostwriting, co-Authoring, and Collaborating” by Ami Hendrickson. This is the first time I have read anything on ghostwriting. It was a joy to read. There is a lot of information on promoting your book by the use of the internet. In “Book Marketing on MySpace,” you learn how to set up a successful myspace profile, and learn how an author can use it to promote their work effectively. Every author needs to know how to use Amazon.com to sale their books. In “Amazon Adventures: Staring Down Earth’s Largest Bookstore,” you learn how to use advantage and associate programs. There are four wonderful articles about book reviews and how to use them to your advantage. My favorite was, “Negative Book Reviews: How to Avoid Them, and How to Use Them to Your Advantage.” One of the downfalls of the book is that it concentrates too much on self-publishing. I would’ve liked to have read more article on traditional publishing in magazines and big publishing houses. Overall I found Authors Access to be a great reference tool that every author should have on their desk.