The Essential Guide to Getting Your Book Published : review

Released five years ago as Putting Your Passion Into Print, authors Arielle Eckstut and David Henry Sterry helped writers brave the waters and move forward in their quest for publication. Updated under a new title and including timely information about the importance of social media and the larger role for the author makes The Essential Guide to Getting Your Book Published a go-to book for writers - those experienced and not-yet-published. As social media becomes our word-of-mouth for the book business, Eckstut and Sterry go over how websites, blogging and communities specific to your topic (plus Twitter and Facebook) can help you establish a market and fan base for your book. I found particularly useful the sections regarding the business side of publishing. This is not a book on how to write a novel nor nonfiction title but practical advice on what comes next, taking the idea or finished project to the next step: how to pitch your ideas, finding an agent, connecting to your audience, and into working with your future editor and publisher with a separate chapter on self-publishing.

Interviews with authors and publishing insiders make the book more insightful than a compilation of steps, however. The authors’ own experiences in the world of publishing lends a credibility to the Guide, giving the book a more personal touch than I've found with many other authors on these subjects. I recommend The Essential Guide to Getting Your Book Published as a practical addition to the serious writer's personal library and will be using their advice in my own work as an author.


And now for the fun stuff *rubs hands together*

Beth Bartlett of Squiggle and I have teamed up for a double giveaway! (I can hear you cheering out there) Two chances to win a spankin' new copy of The Essential Guide to Getting Your Book Published from Workman Publishing.

Entering is a snap with three ways to win:
  1. Follow @plaidearthworm (Beth) and I (@staceyigraham) on Twitter and mention the giveaway with a link back to our blogs, using the hashtag #GTBPgiveaway
  2. Give both sites a "thumbs up" using StumbleUpon
  3. Tell us on both blogs why you need this book in our comments section. Be sure to tell us if you are following us on Twitter - please leave your @ID and your email address so we are able to contact you if you win
Winner will be chosen November 2, 2010, by random.org and announced on both sites.
    Good luck, Sparky!

    photo credit: Workman Publishing

    6 comments:

    1. Ana GoncalvesOctober 28, 2010 at 11:20 AM

      Seems like I am already following you both via Twitter. :) My ID on Twitter is: TruAnaGoncalves. I am truelyana from Absolute Write and have also just tweeted about this Giveaway. Much love and this is a great opportunity to give away such an insightful and helpful book. I would use this book to help me with my current publishing work. I think that as a Writer one can never have enough help, and I think it will only increase my knowledge of the writers world. I wonder whether this book takes into account writers from the UK? Or is it just a universal book to help one get published? And see which is the most accessible way to go about it?
      P.S-Also having a giveaway on my blog if interested. Giving away a pick of 3 fantasy books and 1 craft book, for two winners.

      ReplyDelete
    2. Dana FredstiOctober 28, 2010 at 4:24 PM

      Hmph! I thought I left a comment, but it didn't take! I would love a copy of this book - I'm especially interested in seeing why the authors feel Twitter is a good option for promotion. I don't have the hang of the tweeting...

      ReplyDelete
    3. Michelle at Clover Hill Book ReviewsOctober 28, 2010 at 6:42 PM

      I've also replied on Beth's blog. I started my book when I was in my teens but didn't get very far. maybe this will give me some much needed umph and help. I'm not following on twitter as haven't made that jump as yet.

      ReplyDelete
    4. weeghostiesOctober 28, 2010 at 7:52 PM

      Hello ladies! Twitter is an excellent resource, this book will give you some great tips on how to utilize it for publishing good instead of evil. Hmmm, I may do a few blog posts on this myself as a lot of writers may have some questions on it as well. =]

      Thank you for entering!

      ReplyDelete
    5. weeghostiesNovember 2, 2010 at 5:16 PM

      Congratulations to Michelle and Andrea (posting at Beth's site) for each winning a copy of THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO GETTING YOUR BOOK PUBLISHED!

      ReplyDelete
    6. Rhonda SchrockNovember 2, 2010 at 6:20 PM

      Stacey, I love your title script at the top of the blog. Did you remodel? Sorry I missed the giveaway. It sounds like a wonderful resource. Hope you're feelin' better soon.

      ReplyDelete

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