Author-envy: We All Have It
I’m a huge fan of Erik Larson. Devil in White City kept me spellbound–in part because I grew up near Chicago and my great-grandfather lived less than six blocks from the serial killer in that
Best Book Covers
Just back from BookExpo in New York, where I saw some extraordinary book covers. Over at Pinterest, I’ve put together a little board with comments on why each deserves special attention. If you believe, as
CreateSpace Opens European Market for Self-Published Books
If you’ve published a book through CreateSpace, you now have the option of making that book available throughout Europe. With just one click on the CreateSpace website (distribute>channels), you can make your book available on
Tips for Hiring an Editor
Do you really need an editor? Yes! Absolutely. Without question. Regardless of how good your writing is, you need a professional editor to work with you before you publish. Think of it this way: your
How to Find a Literary Agent
I’m often asked by writers who want to take a traditional publishing route: how do I find an agent? The best answer to that: check out the discussion that has been percolating over at Book
A Smart Attempt to Redefine the Bookstore
If you read last Sunday’s article in The New York Times about Barnes & Noble’s struggles, you know that we’ve lost one in five independent bookstores in the US since 2002. But what if the
Another Book Awards Program for Independent Publishers and Self-Published Authors
In yesterday’s blog, I listed three awards programs I’ve had some experience with and can recommend to independent publishers and self-published authors who would like to garner some kudos for their work. But I forgot
Three Book Awards Programs: Deadlines Soon
One of the difficulties of self-publishing is that the responsibility for getting the word out about your book lies squarely with you. There’s no publisher cranking out press releases, no publicist lining up media tours
Creating an Illustrated EBook
Are you considering republishing your children’s book, cookbook, graphic novel, crafts guide or travel book in digital format? For these kinds of books, the ePub format–which allows words to flow from one page to another
The Future of Book Publishing: Two Predictions
Here’s a prediction: within three years, we’ll see the publishing industry split into two tiers. Bestselling authors will work with traditional publishers–Simon & Schuster, Random House, and HarperCollins. And new authors will prove themselves in