Reviewed By Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite

Most writers have that one big dream: to write and publish a best-selling novel. After writing the so-called bestseller, the author has to land a big contract with a traditional publisher. And, then the fun begins: promoting oneself, creating an author’s platform that really sells. It’s a big task, perhaps even bigger than the actual writing of the novel. Even if writers are unsuccessful in landing that big contract with a traditional publisher (and most authors fall into that category), there are ways to be successful in the world of writing and publishing.

Author Colleen M. Story has the tool to help all writers achieve success. Writer Get Noticed! A Strengths-Based Approach to Creating a Standout Author Platform is both a guidebook and a workbook, aka journal, to coach writers at all levels of success, to help them achieve even greater success. The author leads the reader through careful steps to prepare them for the successful writing career they so desire. Each chapter is well laid out, complete with exercises and space to jot down notes and answers to questions presented.

Colleen stresses in her introduction that it’s imperative for the reader to follow through with all of the exercises because she wants the book to act as a writing coach to prepare writers to be the best they can be in their chosen writing field. Colleen asks readers some pretty poignant questions, like why writing matters to them, forcing the reader to look more deeply into themselves and their writing goals and aspirations. This is definitely an excellent resource and tool to help all writers achieve greater success in their writing careers.

Reviewed By Shaul Behr for Readers' Favorite

Are you an independent (“indie”) author, struggling to get people to buy your books? I know I am. Let’s face it, we authors are (hopefully) good at writing, but not often good at the sales and marketing side of our business. And it’s exactly for people like us that Mike Kowis has written his outstanding guide, Smart Marketing for Indie Authors. It’s packed not only with generalities of how to approach the challenge of marketing your books, but also with lists of real, practical actions you can take, including step-by-step instructions in many cases. Even better, Kowis has rated each of these actions, based on his personal experience, for effectiveness, cost, and time investment, so you can decide where your time and money are best spent.

For me as an indie author, I felt my heart rate quicken as I read this book. This is pure gold. It is written clearly, concisely, and candidly, interspersed with gentle touches of humor. Kowis shares his experiences, both the successes and the failures, establishing his credentials without ever coming across as boastful, and giving the aspiring bestselling author a toolbox packed with practical advice, tips, and suggestions, all expressed clearly with easy-to-follow instructions. The fact that he shares his personal experience relating to each of these actions, both positive and negative, gives his advice so much more credibility. I found Smart Marketing for Indie Authors a pleasure to read, and I am excited to start putting what I’ve learned from this book into practice! Fantastic book, all round.

Reviewed By Alyssa Elmore for Readers' Favorite

Do you want to write a book? Is there a novel inside, screaming for you to release it? Writing a story can be a daunting task, especially if you don't know the first steps. Write With Fey (Ten Sparks to Guide You From Idea to Publication) by Chrys Fey is a comprehensive guide to starting a novel, leading the reader all the way to the finish. From creating realistic, fully fleshed-out characters, to planning a stellar plot, this book breaks down the writing process into small, bite-sized portions of instruction, and condenses years worth of reading and hundreds of dollars worth of courses, giving the reader the most substantial amount of information with the least amount of effort. With steps that help the writer maintain momentum, and questions to challenge the writer's process, this book can't help but bring a plot and characters to the forefront and inspire the reader to create a scintillating story.

Write With Fey (Ten Sparks to Guide You From Idea to Publication) by Chrys Fey is a must-read book for those who are serious about writing, but are clueless or doubtful of their writing capabilities. I have read many writing books, and have completed many writing courses, but this book seems to have it all. Initially, I wasn't very impressed with the title, as it indicated (to me) that it was just little bits of information and ideas to help guide the writer to a better writing experience. However, this book is so much more and condenses years worth of research and learning into a more accessible medium. "Sparks" is a great word, and I love how the author created a whole book using the premise. Plus, I found the information within to bring about more than just mere sparks! It actually fanned the flames of inspiration and creativity, creating a blaze. I would suggest this book to all who write as a desk reference book - it will be worth it!

Reviewed By Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite

Publish with Purpose: A Goal-Oriented Framework for Publishing Success by Tara R. Alemany is a practical guide to a successful writing and publishing career. With the number of book publishing options in the market, authors still find themselves trapped, unsure of what to do when it comes to getting their book in front of the right audience. While writing can be hard work, marketing a book can be even more demanding. Making the right decisions when it comes to publishing tools and an effective marketing strategy is the secret to not only getting books to the right audiences but building a career that is fruitful. In this self-help book, the author offers great advice and helps authors with tools they need to create a winning publishing strategy.

Tara R. Alemany breaks ground for both new and existing authors and discusses the importance of knowing why they write and connecting that why to the needs of their audiences. This book will help any writer learn the art of defining their purpose of writing, of knowing who their audience is, and of writing a book that addresses concrete needs while helping the author reach specific goals. The author explains the framework in this book and what it is designed to achieve: reader experience and the experience the author wants them to have, the author and their business, and the overall impact of the book. The ideas in this book are well arranged and the bullet points, combined with the step by step process, make a great working tool for readers. Publish with Purpose: A Goal-Oriented Framework for Publishing Success is written in an easy-to-understand conversational style that makes for a great reading experience. Filled with wisdom and insight, it is an excellent companion on the publishing path.

Reviewed By Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite

What is literary fiction? And what makes it different from memoirs or genre fiction? Literary fiction is something that will stand the course of time; it will make a bold statement and allow the individual reader to grow in his or her experience merely by reading the story. Basically, literary fiction is a complex work of art, something to be savored, studied and analyzed. So, how does one write literary fiction? It must be assumed that any writer can write a good story, but is it literary fiction? Does it have the potential of becoming literary fiction? There are many elements essential in the creation of a good piece of literary fiction. First of all, characterization is important. “The author who wants to create great stories must characterize well.” The characters give the story focus, meaning, direction and so much more. And that, in the art of literary fiction, is what makes it. In effect, “Meaning and purpose are crucial.”

Author William H. Coles’ Creating Literary Stories: A Fiction Writer’s Guide is a powerful tool to help writers, both beginners and established, to create their great work of literary fiction. Starting with a discussion and comparison of literary fiction versus memoir or genre fiction, the author proceeds to outline the important elements of a good work of literary fiction. Step-by-step, he leads the reader through the complexities of characterization, narration, dialogue, conflict, point of view and so much more. Using examples from classic literature, each important element is explained and compared to help the reader comprehend the complexities of the story’s structure. This is a must-have guide for all writers. Well written and laid out, this is an interesting read.

Reviewed By Lorraine Cobcroft for Readers' Favorite

Adam Dreece is a successful author. It took a while to get there. He had to overcome a lot of self-doubts. And then, having written a book, he faced the daunting prospect of standing up in public and talking to people about it; trying to find ways to sell books. That took some trial and error. So he wrote 5 Critical Things For a Successful Book Signing to smooth the learning curve for other authors; to give writers a brief, well-constructed guide containing all the secrets he had to experiment with to learn. Eventually, Adam learned a great deal about what works and what doesn't. He learned how to talk to people about his books, and that talking worked where selling didn't. The sales just happen when you connect to readers. To connect, you need to develop an author persona. You need to know how to set up a display. It helps to know the different kinds of people you will encounter: dashers, boomerangs, ear worms, castaways, time-eaters, booth barnacles, not-helpers, and even jealous hostiles and angry jerks. Do you know what those terms mean? Do you know how to deal with people in each of those categories? In 5 Critical Things For a Successful Book Signing, Adam Dreece explains in simple terms that anyone can understand.

Unlike some writers of 'How To' books, Adam Dreece doesn't boast about his success but leave you confused as to how he achieved it. He tells all. He keeps no secrets. In 5 Critical Things For a Successful Book Signing, he lays out clearly and concisely his simple formula for thrilling fans and selling books at book signings. If you are an author and you don't do book signings, you will after you read this book. You 'll not only do book signings, but you will delight fans, sell books, build self-confidence, and experience great thrills when people approach you to tell you how your writing affected them positively, or when ear worms walk away momentarily and return with a group of friends, telling them how great your books are and why they should buy. Adam Dreece has experienced these thrills. In 5 Critical Things For a Successful Book Signing, he gives you all the knowledge you need to ensure you experience them too.

Reviewed By Charles Remington for Readers' Favorite

The latest edition of Naked News For Indie Authors – How NOT to Invest Your Marketing $$$ by Gisela Hausmann was updated and revised in January 2018 and deals with the sensible management of your marketing budget. Packed with excellent advice, it will prove an invaluable resource for authors who intend to self-publish. It covers the difficulties of finding a reliable and competent publisher, and the scams one might come across in the process. It outlines the routes to self-publication with Amazon, Create Space and methods of promoting your work without wasting money on ineffective marketing strategies. Subjects discussed include the best way of attracting the attention of the media, radio, TV, bloggers and more; how to contact media personnel and how to link your work with current news, along with examples of the author’s own failures and successes in this area; how to get reviews and the best way of using social media, your website or blog to promote and publicise them. There are notes on taking advantage of free webinars and using Bookscan Data to your advantage, using Goodreads groups and give-aways, entering writing competitions and sensible pointers on how to spot suspect pitches, exaggerated claims and testimonials. This volume contains a huge amount of pertinent information on marketing a self-published book.

Naked News For Indie Authors – How NOT to Invest Your Marketing $$$ is packed with sound advice and I can personally verify a good number of her suggestions. I know several self-published authors who have achieved a good measure of success, selling literally thousands of books every year but spending very little on marketing. It is written in a chatty, accessible style, making it easy to follow along with many of her own recollections on the subjects discussed, which add a personal touch to the narrative. If you are planning to self-publish, I cannot recommend Gisela Hausmann’s book highly enough - you will not go far wrong if you follow her advice.

Reviewed By Kim Anisi for Readers' Favorite

Are you a writer who often feels like he/she is getting nowhere? Then Overwhelmed Writer Rescue by Colleen M. Story could be a life-saver (or rather book-saver). Many writers are, for some reason, not finishing what they start, or never even start on their project. They are either too busy, too stressed, too depressed, too tired, too something. Not many would admit it's all just an excuse to keep yourself from writing. Fear, as this book teaches us, is one of the saboteurs that stand in the way of your productivity and creativity. The author promises the reader practical steps to overcome distractions and focus faster, information that will help you to figure out why you even have a problem with being productive, and what you need to do to find your very own personal motivation style. You will also learn how to regain control over your time. And this all - drum roll - without silly affirmations and "secrets".

I was positively surprised at the wealth of information contained in Overwhelmed Writer Rescue by Colleen M. Story. I expected more of the same, as I've read many books on writing and being a writer. This one stands out from the others (at least for me) because the advice given is not only useful for your life as a writer, but also for your life in general. I also learned a few new things, e.g. I wasn't aware of the existence of time personalities and how this affects writing (and life in general). The book was a very refreshing read as the author clearly knows how annoying it is when you tell a writer - or anybody - that positive thinking and affirmations will get you where you want to be, if only you are positive enough. To me, it always seems like a personal attack if a book tells me I don't get what I want because I am not positive and smiley-happy-chappy enough. Most introverts will probably be able to relate.

This book offers a wide variety of solutions. Not all will be useful for everyone as some are aimed at particular personality types - but that makes them helpful because the author understands that one size never fits all. I was delighted to find some ideas that seem like they were written down just for writers like me. Others I could simply ignore because some issues aren't an issue for me, but will be for other writers. In addition to content you really can't fault, the design of the book is also worth mentioning. It's a joy to get through the book as readability and the design can motivate you to keep going, and have both clearly been taken into account. You don't just get one long block of text after the other. Even if you don't struggle with your writing, this book can be a great resource to keep you on track and remind you of what's really important.

Reviewed By Viga Boland for Readers' Favorite

From its eye-catching cover, to the warm, friendly tone, to the important and comprehensive information supplied by Julie A. Gerber and Carole P. Roman in Navigating Indieworld: A Beginner's Guide to Self-Publishing and Marketing Your Book, this book is a must-have for all those who dream of publishing a book and don’t know where to start. Gerber and Roman, experts in their respective fields, will tell you all you need to know without leaving you reeling from information overload.

While you may have decided your manuscript is finished and it’s as perfect as you can get it, the first thing the authors will suggest is that you find yourself a beta reader to locate the imperfections. After agonizing, possibly for months or years, over a manuscript, our eyes blur over reading the pages for the umpteenth time while looking for errors. A beta reader, seeing your manuscript with fresh eyes, will spot what you miss. After that, are you ready to publish? No. There’s a whole lot more to do and you have to decide how and through what channels you will publish. If you dream of getting a publishing contract, do you know how to approach a publisher in the first place so your book doesn’t end up in the slush pile? You might need to hire a literary agent to avoid that. And what is your alternative if you can’t find a traditional publisher? Should you try a hybrid or vanity publisher? What are the pitfalls of taking that avenue? Or how about self-publishing? If so, how is that done? And should you bother with digital and/or audio books? What about costs? Whereas a traditional publisher covers all costs, what are you likely in for if you do it yourself?

And once you’ve decided which approach to take, is that it? Far from it. As anyone who’s ever self-published will tell you, it’s not a case of “write it and they will buy it!” What follows after the publication of your book is the really hard and often expensive part: marketing and promotion. Without it, who, apart from your loving family and good friends, will know you published a book? Well, you can just get them all to put up reviews on Amazon, right? Wrong! Well if that’s wrong, how will you get reviews? And if you do have to do all the marketing yourself, where do you do it? Facebook? Twitter? Instagram? Pinterest? Yes, all of those and more, and the authors of Navigating Indieworld will tell you how to go about all that and give you some accurate ideas of what it’s going to cost you too. Navigating Indieworld is a gem of a guide for beginner authors. It’s not very long but it’s chock-a-block with very useful information. Add it to your bucket list now!

Reviewed By Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite

Writing a children’s book is a lot more difficult than one would think. There are many different kinds of children’s books, from board books, picture books, early chapter books to Middle Grade novels. The writing is just one part of the equation. Should the author decide to self-publish, as many authors are doing these days, then there is also the need to acquire illustrations, book covers, editors, book reviewers, and, of course, deal with the greatest task of all, marketing. With all these things to consider, and much more, one needs a guide to lead them along, to avoid the usual pitfalls and to make the path to writing success a little less cumbersome. After all, the writing, publishing and marketing of a children’s book is a whole new challenge, quite different from that of an adult book.

Yvonne Jones, a published children’s author herself and one who expounds the merits of self-publishing, has produced a very helpful guide, How To Self-Publish a Children’s Book: Everything You Need To Know To Write, Illustrate, Publish, And Market Your Paperback And Ebook. She writes from personal experience and she has put together a very usable and useful tool to help new and established children’s authors be successful in their writing career. Each chapter is well laid out with useful templates and instructions and a good summary at the end of Do’s and Don’ts. After leading the reader through a steady, logical process, she includes a chapter with tips from other established children’s authors and a lengthy list of helpful resources. This guide is full of words of encouragement and good, sound advice.