Book Publishing 101

Book excerpt: Nothing rivals the sense of accomplishment that comes from getting your first book published. It is thrilling and exciting to see your name in print. As a first-time author, you are eager to share your work and voice with the world, but you may be wondering just how to break into this challenging and ever-changing industry. The Complete Guide to Getting Your First Book Successfully Published is here to help make your dream a reality. This helpful book details the types of publishing you may choose, including traditional, subsidy, vanity, print-on-demand (POD), and self-publishing. You will learn about the tried-and-true basics of book publishing as well as about innovative additions to the industry, such as e-readers like Amazon s Kindle and Apple s iPad. You will learn everything from copyrighting and cataloging to book printing and binding. This book will also show you the different tax write-offs available for authors. You will be taught how to write a killer query letter and a perfect book proposal to increase your chances of having your book considered by traditional publishers. You will also discover what to look for in a literary agent and how to read the fine print on publishing contracts. This book discusses how to create, develop, and maintain a strong relationship with your editor, which is an integral part of getting your publishing success. Recognize how to find the right freelance editor to objectively edit your book without compromising your tone. And learn about the types of editing you may need and how much to charge an editor for those services. Once the editing is complete, you re ready for the design process. But don t worry this book will guide you through it. Learn how to create a cover and interior design that will grab your readers attention and complement your book s theme and tone. Reader familiarity is the biggest factor in sales, with 60 percent of readers saying their decision to purchase a book hinges on already being fans of the author. Thus, it s important to establish yourself as a likable and talented author. Although you may be tight on your promotion budget, this book arms you with dozens of low-cost tactics to get your book and your name in the limelight, increase your following, and maximize your sales. You will learn about book tours and signings, sending out press releases, preparing for news interviews, getting your Web site high in search engines, and tapping into social media networks like Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter. You will also learn how to market your book on Amazon, the key player in book sales, in order to get your book maximum exposure. Take advantage of the expert advice we ve gathered from all types of publishers and authors to give you a real-life glimpse into today s publishing industry. An extensive resources section of this book includes places to find literary agents and POD companies as well as a sample query letter, a book proposal, and a press release. You ll also benefit from referring to a sample blog post and a fact-based article to craft your perfect marketing campaign from these examples. With The Complete Guide to Getting Your First Book Successfully Published in your hand, you re sure to hit the ground running to becoming an established, respected author in the publishing industry.