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.

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 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 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 Rosie Malezer for Readers' Favorite

Book Blueprint: How Any Entrepreneur Can Write an Awesome Book is an instructional literary guide written by Jacqui Pretty. With so many independent authors self-publishing their work today, many believe that they are putting out a good product but are, in fact, making many mistakes which lead to low interest and poor sales. Jacqui Pretty’s guideline to creating a successful book is one which will get the author thinking hard about the story line’s premise, attention to detail, as well as how best to write and re-write until perceived perfection is the outcome. Planning the structure of any story is essential, rather than just typing it all out, auto-searching for typing errors and sending it off to a publisher. If you wish to go from simply being a name on a cover to a sought-out, respected, well-known name on a quality manuscript, Book Blueprint will gently guide you in the right direction. Whilst anybody can write a book, it takes a lot of planning, skill and focus to create a successful book, with effortless sales and minimal canvassing.

Having written a number of books, I was specifically interested in this title as there are so many self-described book advisers who will try to make money from anybody interested in writing a book. I was pleasantly surprised to find that Jacqui Pretty’s instructional guide was well researched and expertly delivered, without giving assurances to the reader that their book will most definitely do well. Instead of telling the reader what they should be writing, Book Blueprint: How Any Entrepreneur Can Write an Awesome Book takes you through the proper thought processes in creating a book which will sell. Having a fancy cover and blurb might entice a reader to glance at your book in a store or online, but it will be the first couple of chapters which decide the book’s fate, whether it be hit or miss. Key notations have been made throughout the guide, showing that any statistics or quotes have not simply been invented, but researched before publication. I found myself in agreement with most, if not all, of what Jacqui Pretty has to offer the novice author who wishes to be noticed in literary circles, and recommend this book to all budding authors who have a story to tell, regardless of their desired genre.

Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite

Writing a book is one great undertaking. But when it’s done and ready to produce in book form, is the writer’s job really done? How many publishers should a writer approach before giving up? Or should the writer ever give up? Well, there is another alternative. In today’s quagmire of book publishing options, writers don’t have to restrict their options to the big name traditional publishing houses. In fact, the very idea of self-publishing, which may terrify many writers, has a lot of positive aspects, not the least of which is maintaining complete control over the book from start to finish, from writing and editing, to printing, marketing and distributing. It’s not easy, but it can be done with a little bit of help from a veteran author, as well as a blue-collar tax attorney and business professional, Mike Kowis, Esq. and his latest book, 14 Steps to Self-Publishing a Book.

The author, having already successfully self-published his own book, Engaging College Students: A Fun and Edgy Guide for Professors, has first-hand experience, which he shares in an orderly and well presented, easy-to-follow manner. He begins with the very basic necessity of finishing the book, editing it and preparing it for publication. He moves through some obvious and some not-so-obvious steps necessary to produce and market the book, with useful tips and links to other publications and websites to further assist the self-published author, including, most importantly, the basic one of registering copyright and obtaining ISBN numbers. All very important information and all very succinctly presented. A very useful guide. And, as the author points out in his conclusion, it’s not really so difficult to self-publish because, “If I [meaning the author] can do it, anyone can.”

Reviewed by Alyssa Elmore for Readers' Favorite

Do you have a burning desire to write? Are you ready to take the leap and sit down to pen your first novel? But how do you get started? Write!: Find The Truth In Your Fiction by Gerald DiPego is a fiction writer's guide that starts the reader on a writing journey. Beginning with the bare basics, brainstorming, this book helps the reader learn the mechanics of writing by using extensive examples of well-known novelists, along with some of his better-known works. Touching on different subjects such as Character Development, Dialogue, Plotting, and Outlining, this book can be considered a great alternative to a beginner's creative writing course. The book is written in a conversational style that invites the reader's inner writer to come out and play. Complete with sections on screenwriting and editing, this book has many creative writing gems worth exploring. Are you ready to write?

Write!: Find Your Truth In Fiction by Gerald DiPego is a beginning writer's handbook. The author is a well-known novelist, playwright, and screenwriter, who has won several awards and worked with top talents such as John Travolta, Anthony Hopkins, Juliette Binoche, Kevin Costner, Jennifer Lopez, and many others. Although I expected more from such a celebrated author, I feel that this book is perfect for the aspiring writer just breaking into the field as it covers the basics of fiction writing. I would recommend this book for those that are new to writing fiction and are ready to make their writing dreams come true.

Reviewed by Carla Trueheart for Readers' Favorite

In a short amount of space, Writing Memoir: The Practical Guide to Writing and Publishing the Story of Your Life educates the aspiring memoir writer on every aspect of book construction, including pitches, themes, writing techniques and publishing. Author Jerry Payne does not sugarcoat the facts of book publishing, but holds the reader’s hand as they start with a concept for a memoir and develop a manuscript. Included in the book are reasons why people might write a memoir, advice on how to stick to the facts of a story while honoring private names and places, writing tips, examples of story structures, and how to outline. There are invaluable examples of other memoirs, as well as what to do when you are finished writing. Writers, experienced and new, should find something helpful in this book.

Reading Writing Memoir: The Practical Guide to Writing and Publishing the Story of Your Life happened to coincide with a class I’m taking on memoir writing and nonfiction. I have to say that this book is more straightforward and entertaining than my class textbook, and I indeed learned more through Jerry Payne’s examples and advice. Some of the highlights would include the perfect start to finish the structure of the book, the advice to connect with a reader and make the memoir less about you, and the editing and publishing advice toward the end of the book. Many books of this genre do not offer that kind of help for the reader. All in all, this book was a delight to read, extremely informative, and will no doubt help me with my own writing endeavors. I recommend it to anyone looking to start a memoir for any reason, whether as a family keepsake or to sell to the public.

Reviewed by Carla Trueheart for Readers' Favorite

This is one of the best books on writing that I have had the pleasure to read. The Writer’s Process: Getting Your Brain in Gear is filled with writing tips and how to avoid some of the traps writers fall into, mainly social media, productivity issues, and the dreaded writer’s block. Author Anne H. Janzer explains many techniques that help writers, including the Pomodoro Technique, how to focus using the muse and the scribe, ways to get into the flow of writing without being self-critical, and how to find inspiration when stuck on a writing project. The book even includes recommendations for writing apps to help productivity, as well as some troubleshooting ideas for finding time for writing and dealing with writer’s block. There are research plans and steps for the nonfiction writer and, while the book focuses on nonfiction, there are helpful tips for the fiction writer as well.

It is very rare to come across a nonfiction book that grabs the reader and holds their attention as well as this one does. Throughout the book, I was engaged in the instructions and the writing and found myself immersed in The Writer’s Process as though it were a work of fiction. There were so many highlights, including the baking bread metaphor, the instructions on outlining and blueprinting, the seven step writing process, the many ways to avoid the temptations of social media and the internet, and the advice to let a piece of writing sit before jumping back in for edits or revisions. Author Anne H. Janzer is a superb writer who knows her craft and has done a fine job of educating others. I will take away a list of writing tips after reading this book, and I will certainly become a more productive writer. I recommend this book to all writers in all genres. There is something here for everyone!

Reviewed by Ray Simmons for Readers' Favorite

I read a lot of self-help books and when I do, I want them to inform me, give me specific, practical, and above all useful information in a particular area. It helps, of course, if the book is organized and well written. My Guide: How to Write a Novel by Rebecca Richmond and Claire Pickering gets five stars. It meets all the criteria for becoming a great self-help classic. It is thorough, comprehensive, and very well written. I have read several books about writing, in particular writing a novel, and many of them were informative about particular areas of the process, but this book covers everything and it covers it all well. I was pleasantly surprised and very impressed. Most of all, I was inspired to dust off my own unfinished manuscript and go to work again.

My Guide: How to Write a Novel has eleven chapters. There are three hundred and four pages when you include the bibliography and index. Rebecca Richmond and Clare Pickering are thorough and professional as they lay out a road map for the aspiring writer and deserve all the success and acclaim that should follow a job well done. My Guide: How to Write a Novel is not dry reading of information. There are many interesting facts about the history of writing and inspirational tidbits about famous authors. But the meat is there, too. All aspects from getting started to actual publication are covered in My Guide: How to Write a Novel. I give it five stars.