Reviewed By Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite

There’s a well-repeated phrase, “You can’t judge a book by its cover.” While in many ways that saying is true, it can also be said that you can’t choose a book without its cover and, more significantly, its title. When have you ever been attracted to a cover-less, title-less book? What usually draws you first to pick up a book, to see if it’s something you want to read? The title, of course, and the author. If he/she is well known, it may attract more attention from potential readers. So, you’ve finished writing your book, and you are stumped as to what title to use. You may or may not have some ideas, but you want to make sure your ideas suit. Or, perhaps there’s a better option to consider. Did you know that some great books were once duds because their titles were ineffective? Once the titles were changed, these books soared in ratings. So, what can you do to find that perfect title the first time? Where can you turn for potential title ideas?

Scott Lorenz’s Book Title Generator: A Proven System in Naming Your Book is an excellent guide to help you find that perfect title, the one that will pull in more potential readers. Quite simply put, as the author says in his introduction: “Your book needs to stand out from the competition.” And, he has the means to show you how. As the author continues to point out, your book is all about discoverability. What does that mean? Well, if no one knows it’s there on the market, no one’s going to pick it up to read it. And that’s where this book comes in handy to help you choose the right title to increase your book’s discoverability. It boils down to keywords: effective choices and mastering the emotional words that attract. Book Title Generator is well organized with key examples from a wide range of authors and a thorough process to make sure all your books are well titled. A great resource for every author.

Reviewed By Liz Konkel for Readers' Favorite

Story Power: Secrets to Creating, Crafting, and Telling Memorable Stories by Kate Farrell is an ideal resource to help craft your own story. This how-to guide delves into the art of storytelling and encourages others to share their individual stories. The art of telling stories is highlighted to show the importance of how we as humans relate to stories. This book is for anyone in need of telling a good story, whether for your business presentation, communication, sharing, or writing. This book shares various advice, techniques, and exercises that will help inspire, teach, and guide. This will guide you towards discovering your authentic style of storytelling, thanks to the wisdom and advice shared by twenty writers. Woven throughout are examples and prompts along with tips for telling your story, creating your personal branding story. Also included are organizers, seven steps to storytelling, and personal stories.

Kate Farrell creates a female-driving resource to guide women to find their own stories. The resource stems from the desire humans have to tell their personal stories and comes from the idea that our narratives have therapeutic potential. While serving as a writing guide, it also acts as a reminder to be true to ourselves and honest about where we've been and what we have done in our lives. This unique resource is from the perspective that believes in the power of telling our true stories (significantly seen in the #MeToo movement) and delves into the meaningful connections that humans make. Telling unforgettable stories will feel easy after reading the advice various contributors give in this book. Each contributor shares their secrets for how they tell memorable tales. Stories define us, and Story Power embodies the power storytelling has to help everyone discover themselves and better the ways they communicate with others. Story Power is a well-organized book with chapters broken down into popular themes, storytelling delivery, and the rich heritage of folklore. Farrell has organized the book via tools to help navigate the resource with creating, crafting, telling, and exercises. This resource encourages the importance of developing your style and how to tailor your content and structure to fit your delivery and style.

The seven steps to storytelling provide comfort in how you tell your own story by allowing you to feel confident in it. The advice includes tips such as using the idea of a journey to create the narrative arc, exercises such as character benchmarks, exercises for family folklore, encouragement to write even for those that don't believe they can, and understanding legacies that are negative and positive. Discover how to tell your story in Story Power, which acts as a guide for finding your voice as a storyteller through the advice, prompts, and tips shared by incredible contributors.

Reviewed By Tammy Ruggles for Readers' Favorite

Self-Publish & Succeed: The No Boring Books Way to Writing a Non-Fiction Book that Sells by Julie Broad is the perfect cheerleader and guide to start or finish the book that is crucial to you, your brand, or career. This compact, succinct book brims with information on how to self-publish your non-fiction book. Whether it's a how-to or your brand's life story, Broad's inside information will give you the tools and boost you need to succeed. Some of the topics covered are overcoming procrastination, how to avoid writing a boring book, how to find a good editor, a one-page secret that could turn your book around and generate a mountain of leads and sales, speed writing, how and where to market, how to change lives with your book, write for the reader and not yourself, and lots more. This author gives you the keys to unlocking your potential, your future, and your business; making sure that your non-fiction book is, above all, fun.

Broad has crafted a book that needs to be in front of anyone who's even thought about writing a non-fiction book. Some writers have a natural talent for it, and some need a book to boost their business or career, but all writers need the information contained in Broad's book. Even experienced writers can use a refresher course, some new ideas, or some motivation. A book can open new revenue streams for you, and reach different audiences or customers. The author puts forth her No Boring Books approach to publishing, and it's information you can refer to again and again. I love Broad's motto that non-fiction books don't have to be boring. The best ones never are. Non-fiction can be just as moving, thoughtful, and inspiring as a fiction novel. I also like the way the author gets into the nuts-and-bolts of writing non-fiction, the publication process, which changes with the times, and you the reader or potential writer can change right along with it. Also interesting are the real-life success stories she profiles. Broad also shows you what not to do, which is just as important. Read Julie Broad's Self-Publish & Succeed from cover to cover, and you will hit the ground running with your non-fiction book.

Reviewed By Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite

“Nothing attracts a crowd like a crowd.” The same can be said about reviews; not just book reviews, but any kind of review. Reviews are the means of converting customers into buyers. And the more reviews you have, the more likely Amazon will boost its ratings of your book and send more buyer traffic your way. Even bad reviews are good reviews. Why? Well, think of it. Would you trust a product, book, or anything else for that matter, that only received raving 5-star reviews? Remember: “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” So, how does an author get more reviews on Amazon? Well, first of all, the author must be aware of Amazon’s community guidelines. Avoid the idea of review swapping, as this has gone awry over the past few years with people taking advantage of the potential it offered, often leaving poor, useless reviews, like, “This is a good book.”

Dale L. Roberts’ guidebook, Amazon Reviews for Books: How to Get Book Reviews on Amazon, has a lot of useful insight into book reviewing on Amazon business. Award-winning and a self-published author, Dale knows how important reviews can be for the success of one’s books. His book leads the reader through the process, beginning with a good introduction to the importance of reviews. He also presents the Amazon guidelines and policies which are important to know when actively seeking reviews. He also presents some options for seeking reviews and what to look for in a potential online book reviewer. The book is clearly laid out and an excellent resource for all authors, new and established.

Reviewed By Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite

“Writing for me is my spirituality. It’s how I deal with my problems and face the world.” I can certainly relate to that sentiment. It’s the writing that drives me forward each day. But there are hurdles along the way: procrastination and the so-called menace of writer’s block. These hurdles can be overcome, however, and all of us who aspire to be great and prolific writers can do just that. Imagine writing a novel every few weeks, or even every few days. Sounds a bit overwhelming? Well, it doesn’t have to be. And writing fast doesn’t have to affect the quality of your work.

Intrigued? I certainly was when I picked up M.L. Ronn’s book, Be a Writing Machine: Write Faster Smarter, Beat Writer’s Block, and Be Prolific. Packed with all kinds of interesting anecdotes from the author’s personal experience, and a well-planned, well-plotted (no pun intended) outline on how to become what he describes as a ‘writing machine.’ Part autobiographical, part reflections on lessons learned, this is not only a useful guide to enhance one’s writing prospects, but it’s also an interesting read. As well as the author’s anecdotes, there are quite a few interesting quotes from other writers. Each chapter is detailed and full of useful tips and profound and enduring advice. The chapters conclude with concise summaries. As well as covering such topics as creativity, problem-solving, productivity, writing skills, and an entire section on writing fiction, there is a very useful section on marketing and promotion, something every writer is forced to contend with. Overall, this book is both interesting and informative.

Reviewed By Erin Nicole Cochran for Readers' Favorite

My Publishing Imprint by David Wogahn breaks down into digestible pieces the process that an author takes when creating a self-publishing book imprint and the pros and cons of investing in ISBNs. Wogahn’s voice comes across in such a way that it feels as if he not only has his finger on the pulse of the business that goes into publishing and writing, but his whole hand is firmly wrapped around the beating heart of the writing world itself. On page 9, his inspirational style comes through with: “You are no different than any other small business seeking a future of self-determination.” David Wogahn cuts through the fat and gives you the prime pieces that you’re searching for and delivers it in a way that is easily understood. In My Publishing Imprint, he also includes specific people and the way that they have evolved in their own book imprint endeavors, which is helpful when you are learning all that you can about creating a book imprint and the business behind it.

David Wogahn’s My Publishing Imprint: How to Create a Self-Publishing Book Imprint & ISBN Essentials brings together so much valuable information into a compact book. Over the years I have found that fewer paged books will more often than not give you all the information you need, while on the other hand, a two-hundred-page book can leave you feeling as if you wasted hours of your life on reading fluff, but no substance. This book has substance on every page that you turn. It’s filled with links to resources, guidelines, do’s, and don’ts. If you are looking for something that will stimulate your mind for days and weeks after reading, Wogahn’s My Publishing Imprint is the book you want to read.

Reviewed By Lois J Wickstrom for Readers' Favorite

The Big Book of Small Presses & Independent Publishers, subtitled Small presses, book contests, university presses, and independent publishers for “unagented” authors by Marylee MacDonald, is a valuable tool for authors who have been ignored by the big presses and agents who sell to them. This book lists over 300 small and independent presses that read manuscripts from unagented authors. Sometimes these presses require a query letter before deciding if they want to see your manuscript. Sometimes they want you to enter a contest. Sometimes, their staff is open all year to look at their specific types of manuscripts.

The Big Book of Small Presses & Independent Publishers has all the instructions and appropriate websites for accessing each of the presses they list. Marylee has sold both fiction and non-fiction books. Here she has compiled a wide selection of presses, so that other authors may do the same. Since this is an ebook, it is easy to search for all the presses that might be of interest. I did a search for “graphic novels” and found two presses that publish books similar to what I’ve been writing, and one press that specifically does not want what I’m writing. This is all useful information. The press information not only lists the types of manuscripts each press seeks, but it also tells you which types they are looking for right now. So, if they sometimes print middle-grade novels, but don’t want them right now, you can save yourself the trouble of contacting them. Also, some presses have word length requirements. If your story is too long or too short, again you can save yourself the trouble. All of this information has two goals: to help authors find the right press for their books and help publishers avoid spending time looking at books that aren’t right for them. Marylee MacDonald has done a service to the publishing industry.

Reviewed By Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite

From Page to Stage: Inspiration, Tools, and Public Speaking Tips for Writers by Betsy Graziani Fasbinder is a useful guide for writers who are comfortable putting their thoughts on paper but lack the courage when it comes to public speaking. The author gives writers the confidence to enhance their speaking skills along with their writing skills and thus reach out to a wider audience. Most of the time authors and aspiring authors sabotage their book's success due to lack of speaking skills or fear of connecting to the public through an interview or a talk show. Public speaking, like writing, is a skill and while it comes naturally to some, others might not be as proficient in it. The book gives tools, techniques, and strategies to develop skills for speaking with confidence.

The book gives a lot of insights on how to hone one's speaking skills on a public platform. The author handles the subject extensively and expansively, making it easy for readers to comprehend and use her tips and suggestions to further enhance their speaking skills in an enjoyable and comfortable way. Betsy Graziani Fasbinder makes the entire process interactive and less daunting for those who have a mental block when it comes to public speaking. The writing style is simple and neat and the author's fluidity when it comes to expressing her thoughts on the topic is honest and straightforward. That is what makes the book engaging and interesting. All authors and aspiring authors who want to hone their public speaking skills should own a copy of this book because it contains a lot of very useful information.

Reviewed By Scott Cahan for Readers' Favorite

The Next Best Seller by Tim Riordan is a roadmap to success for authors with a focus on the best ways to market their books. Tim is very open and honest about his own writing and marketing strategies, sharing what has worked for him and the many lessons that he’s learned along the way. The book covers all of the major categories of marketing including creating a market strategy, using social media, developing an email list, book launches, and maintaining book sales indefinitely. It’s filled with easy to understand explanations of how each kind of marketing works, along with step by step instructions that are very practical and easy to follow.

I am an author whose biggest struggle as a writer is the marketing of my books. I can attest that in The Next Best Seller, Tim Riordan hits the nail right on the head as far as addressing the real issues that make marketing a book so difficult. I found the information that he lays out throughout the book to be well organized and relevant to today’s marketplace. Established authors, as well as first-time authors, can each draw plenty of great information from this book. For the beginner, it’s perfect because Tim Riordan has given them a plan for success that is so clear and easy to follow that even newbie authors will be able to follow along and launch their book-writing career correctly. Authors who’ve been in the business for a while will also find many tips to help them break bad marketing habits and start new ones that have been proven successful by the experts. I found this book to be a wealth of good information. Authors would be wise to use it as a compass to get them off the road of marketing frustration and onto the road of marketing success.

Reviewed By Astrid Iustulin for Readers' Favorite

Authors are proud of themselves when they finish writing their books. They feel a sense of accomplishment because they have achieved something great. However, when it comes to self-publishing and marketing their precious work, not all of them are up to the task. They do not seem to realize that self-publishing is a delicate matter that requires accuracy and, first and foremost, professionalism. If you are an author who wants to take self-publishing to the next level, How to Self-Publish and Market a Book is the book for you. Author Hank Quense shares guidelines and information that will help you understand what is involved.

How to Self-Publish and Market a Book is a detailed and practical volume. Hank Quense has already published several books and is undoubtedly an expert. He gives smart tips to aspiring authors and explains what steps to take for an effective strategy. I like Quense’s realistic approach and his attention to aspects that writers often overlook. One of the most interesting recommendations is that authors should schedule the launch of their book at least six months in advance to promote it effectively. Moreover, the advice about a professional cover and editing will help authors avoid some of the most common mistakes. Quense also warns about scammers and adds links to reliable websites and resources. Many authors, especially those who are struggling with their first publication, will find all these suggestions useful. After reading How to Self-Publish and Market a Book, they will have clearer ideas on how to proceed.