The Book Publishers Toolkit: 10 Practical Pointers for Independent and Self Publishers Vol. 1 by IBPA Contributors
| The Book Publishers Toolkit: 10 Practical Pointers for Independent and Self Publishers Vol. 1 by IBPA Contributors | |
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| Category: Reference | |
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Reviewer: Sue Magee
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| Summary: Ten useful articles for the small or self publisher. It's more relevant in the USA but is still thought-provoking and useful. | |
| Buy? Maybe | Borrow? Yes |
| Pages: 52 | Date: November 2012 |
| Publisher: Independent Book Publishers Association | |
| ISBN: 9781938646003 | |
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Ten articles originally published in the Independent Book Publishers Association magazine have been gathered together to provide useful advice to the small independent publisher or anyone looking to self-publish. The authors of the articles - Kate Bandos, Kimberley Edwards, Joel Friedlander, Steve Gillen, Abigail Goben, Tanya Hall, Brian Jud, Stacey Miller, Kathleen Welton, and David Wogahn are all acknowledged experts in their own fields and whilst much of it is more relevant in the USA it's all thought-provoking and worth consideration. Each piece is short, snappy and to the point and reading the entire book took me less than an hour.
The articles have been arranged alphabetically by author, which does mean that aspiring publishers are off searching for awards before they've had the manuscript proofread. Awards are useful though - although you do have to take into account the cost of the seals for the book cover. Awards mentioned are American but the principle is a good one wherever you're based. There's valuable advice about using Twitter other than just to push your book at anyone you think might help you. Here at Bookbag we're regularly on the receiving end of such posts and I often wonder if authors realise just how infuriating it can be.
There's advice from a lawyer about acquiring the right rights - an area often overlooked by authors whose main aim is to get into print, at any cost. My favourite piece was by librarian Abigail Cohen, whom you might describe as a professional buyer of books. She points up some of my pet hates - books described as just like [say] Dan Brown or cover art which puts you off the book before you even open it. And anyone thinking of publishing an ebook should read David Wogahn - it is not just a case of uploading your manuscript.
It's a worthwhile, easy read. Something will be relevant whichever stage you're at and given that this is only volume one it should build into a useful library of advice.
For some specifics on the mechanics of publishing an ebook we can recommend How to Publish your own eBook by Nik Rawlinson, but if you really want to know about the publishing industry, have a look at Merchants of Culture: The Publishing Business in the Twenty-First Century by John B Thompson.
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You can read more book reviews or buy The Book Publishers Toolkit: 10 Practical Pointers for Independent and Self Publishers Vol. 1 by IBPA Contributors at Amazon.co.uk Amazon currently charges £2.99 for standard delivery for orders under £20, over which delivery is free.
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