MBR: The Writing/Publishing Shelf

The Writing/Publishing Shelf

Jeff Herman's Guide To Book Publishers, Editors, & Literary Agents
2009
Jeff Herman
Three Dog Press
c/o The Jeff Herman Agency
3 Elm Street, Stockbridge, MA 01262
9780977268245, $29.95, www (dot) jeffherman (dot) com

Having written a manuscript is only the first and initial step toward
being published. In many ways, it is the easiest part of the
publication process. Turning that manuscript into a published book
requires special knowledge, targeted skills, and useful contacts
beyond those required to simply write well. That's where a reference
and resource like "Jeff Herman's Guide To Book Publishers, Editors, &
Literary Agents 2009" will prove invaluable. Now in a completely
updated and substantially expanded 19th edition, "Jeff Herman's Guide
To Book Publishers, Editors, & Literary Agents 2009" is a 1070-page
compendium of practical and descriptive information that begins with
five individual sections listing publishing conglomerates, independent
U.S. publishers, university presses, Canadian publishers, and literary
agents. That alone would make this exhaustive reference a worthwhile
addition to any writer's reference shelf. But "Jeff Herman's Guide To
Book Publishers, Editors, & Literary Agents 2009" is made even more
useful with the inclusion of an impressive 'Advice for Writers'
section providing 'real-world' information on all aspects of the
publishing process from literary agents, to book proposals, to time
management, to rejections, and more. Of special note are the
concluding sections dedicated to providing insight and information
with respect to Independent Editors and Resources for Writers.
Enhanced with a Glossary and an exhaustive Index, "Jeff Herman's Guide
To Book Publishers, Editors, & Literary Agents 2009" is an
enthusiastically recommended resource guide for novice and experienced
authors alike!

My Book's Published -- Now What???
John F. Harnish & Jane M. Martin
Infinity Publishing (dot) com
c/o Buy Books On The Web
1094 New Dehaven Street, #100, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2713
0741450003, $19.95, www (dot) amazon (dot) com

'Now What?' is a question that ever published author will have to
address whether or not they are self-published, published by an
independent small press, an established university publisher, or one
of the large New York publishing conglomerates. John F. Harnish is the
voice of experience, practicality, and authority in all things related
to publishing. Co-authored by Jane M. Martin and featuring
contributions by dozens of authors and publishing professionals,
Harnish has now published "My Book's Published -- Now What???: The
Owner's Manual For Your Books", a compendium of informed and
informative essays on every aspect of post-publication operations for
the novice author and the neophyte small press publisher. Addresses
such diverse but thematically appropriate issues as copywriting;
Amazon (dot) com; a 'first book order'; selling in non-bookstore
venues; the roles of freelance marketers, book reviewers, and the
internet; conferencing, networking, and so much more, "My Book's
Published -- Now What???" will prove to be an invaluable source of
advice, insights, tips, and ideas for marketing a published book. Of
special interest is the extensive chapter on 'Increasing Your Book's
Revenue Flows'. Novice publishers should consider "My Book's Published
-- Now What???" a critically important addition to their studies as
they seek to master the 'learning curve' for successfully marketing
and selling a published book, while even experienced authors will find
a great deal of useable background information and insights into the
marketing and promotion process. Also highly recommended is John F.
Harnish's "The Amazing Book Publishing Evolution In The United
States" (074145100X, $14.95).

The Amazing Book Publishing Evolution In The United States
John F. Harnish
Infinity Publishing (dot) com
c/o Buy Books On The Web
1094 New Dehaven Street, #100, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2713
074145100X, $14.95, www (dot) amazon (dot) com

Author and writing seminar instructor John F. Harnish draws upon his
many years of experience and expertise in "The Amazing Book Publishing
Evolution In The United States: What Every Writer Needs To Know Before
Becoming A Published Author!!!". This is a compendium of solid, real-
world, 'Dutch Uncle' advice offering insights, tips, techniques, and
resource information that will stand any and all aspiring authors
wanting to break into print, as well as an invaluable refresher for
newly published authors wanting to more firmly establish themselves as
professionals able to support themselves through their literary work.
Of special note are the chapters devoted to the disadvantages of
traditional publishing, considerations associated with subsidy
publishing, as well as the advantages of self-publishing. Informed and
informative, "The Amazing Book Publishing Evolution In The United
States" is a very highly recommended and thoroughly 'reader friendly'
addition to any writer reference shelf and supplemental reading list.
Also very highly recommended by John F. Harnish is "My Book's
Published -- Now What???" (Infinity, 0741450003, $19.95).

Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus
David Auburn, et al.
Oxford University Press
198 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016-4314
9780195342840, $40.00, www (dot) oup (dot) com/us

Words are a writer's tools. The larger the writer's vocabulary the
more options available for expressing ideas. That's why every
dedicated writer seeking to master their craft will have a good
thesaurus as a core part of their personal and professional reference
shelf. Now in a completely updated second edition, the "Oxford
American Writer's Thesaurus" provides more than 300,000 synonyms and
10,000 antonyms, with real-life example sentences. enhanced with notes
on American English usage by Bryan Garner, Word Spectrums showing
shades of meaning between polar opposites, and a comprehensive
language guide, The "Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus" is a core
reference work suitable for professional authors and non-specialist
general writers alike. This new edition also features Word Toolkits
and Wordfinder, two invaluable aids that will help to define and
delineate nuances of word usage. Simply stated, the "Oxford American
Writer's Thesaurus" is a core and recommended addition for personal,
professional, community, and school library Writing/Publishing
reference collections.

Time to Write
Frank Milligan
Quill Driver Books
1254 Commerce Way, Sanger, CA 93657
1884956769, $16.95 www (dot) quilldriverbooks (dot) com

Frank Milligan's TIME TO WRITE: DISCOVERING THE WRITER WITHIN AFTER 50
is for any who believe themselves 'too old' to learn new tricks. It
offers a set of tips on how to take a work from initial idea to
published manuscript, reviewing writer's secrets, shortcuts to help
make up for lost time, and details on how to make the most of the
second half of life. General-interest libraries - especially those
catering to older adult would-be writers - will find this a popular
lend.

The Grammar Detective
Gillian Hanson
Continuum
80 Maiden Lane #704, New York NY 10038
9780826498076, $14.95 www (dot) continuum (dot) com

THE GRAMMAR DETECTIVE: SOLVING THE MYSTERIES OF BASIC GRAMMAR offers
up a series of short illustrated murder mysteries and exercises based
on puzzles, from word searches to crosswords - to introduce and
reinforce grammatical skills. From nouns to clauses and phrases, this
covers punctuation and grammar and provides a fine method of either
introducing English grammar or offering an easy refresher course for
adults.

Adventures In Pen Land
Marianne Gingher
University of Missouri Press
2910 LeMone Boulevard, Columbia, MO 65201
www (dot) umsystem (dot) edu/upress
9780826218179, $19.95, 1-800-828-1894

Marianne Gingher is the author of four published books, as well as
numerous pieces of fiction and essays which have appeared in a number
of periodicals ranging from the Southern Review; the Oxford American;
and the North American Review; to the Washington Post Magazine;
Redbook; Seventeen; and the New York Time Book Review. So it is only
to be expected "Adventures In Pen Land: One Writer's Journey From
Inklings To Ink", her biographical memoir of life as a writer, be a
particularly deftly presented and thoroughly engaging account that
begins with her story of being a child working a con to obtain a copy
of the 'Ding Dong School Book' (which was a blank book in which
children could write their own stories), continues her adventures in
the world of competition to be a published author, to her experiences
as an established Southern writer within the broader context of
American literary culture. Packed from cover to cover with anecdotal
stories, "Adventures In Pen Land" offers insights into the impact her
marriage, family, teaching career, pop culture, writing workshops, and
other hinderments to publication has had upon her career as an author
of fiction and essay. Although there are a sprinkling of insightful
advice and ideas to be gleaned by other aspiring authors yearning for
publication, "Adventures In Pen Land" is especially recommended
reading for anyone wanting to know what the life of a working writer
in the real world is like.

The Successful (Liberty Nut) Author 2009
John Longenecker
Contrast Media Press
PO Box 6195, Lakewood, CA 90714
9780981738253, $16.95, www (dot) ContrastMediaPress (dot) com

The well known constitutional principle of "Freedom of the Press"
throughout most of American history meant that whoever owned the press
was the one who would enjoy the freedom to publish. With the
revolution in publishing technology thanks to the computer and the
internet has come an expansion of that privilege to the point that
anyone can now have their work published thanks to the 'desktop
computer revolution' and access to the World Wide Web. This has been
especially true of those who would publish in the area of politics,
social issues, and the culture wars. John Longenecker is a dedicated
advocate of all the constitutional freedoms fundamental to the
preservation of an American democracy founded upon freedom of speech,
freedom of thought, and freedom to participate. Toward those ends he
has published "The Successful (Liberty Nut) Author 2009: The Liberty
Purist's Guide to Patriotic Platforming Before You Publish", a
compendium of advice, insights, observations, practical information,
and real life counsel on how to successfully publish as an independent
in an era of expanding government and high-speed communication. "The
Successful (Liberty Nut) Author 2009" is especially commended to the
attention of aspiring authors of controversial works, novice
publishers of iconoclastic materials, and anyone else with an interest
in successfully getting published and effectively marketing their work
once it has seen print.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

The Midwest Book Review is an organization of volunteers committed to
promoting literacy, library usage, and small press publishing. We
accept no funds from authors or publishers. Full permission is given
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The Midwest Book Review publishes the monthly book review magazines
"California Bookwatch", "Internet Bookwatch", "Children's Bookwatch",
"MBR Bookwatch", "Reviewer's Bookwatch", and "Small Press Bookwatch".
All are available for free on the Midwest Book Review website at www
(dot) midwestbookreview (dot) com

Anyone wanting to submit books for review consideration can send them
to:

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129

To submit reviews of any fiction or non-fiction books, email them to
Frugalmuse (at) aol (dot) com (Be sure to include the book title,
author, publisher, publisher address, publisher website/phone number,
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James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review