Book Reviews Sell Books

Every author wants glowing book reviews with quotable sentences to use as testimonials. A good review makes readers flock to the bookstore to buy the book.

But how do authors get their books reviewed? While the process is not difficult, the book review industry is changing. Today’s authors must designate a portion of their marketing budget for book reviews, and they must know how to use those book reviews to sell books.

Why Are Book Reviews Important?

More than 200,000 books are published each year. Less than 2% of those books sell more than 500 copies. We’ve all heard the saying, “So many books. So little time.” People don’t want to waste time or money reading books they won’t enjoy, so they rely on book reviews to help them make buying decisions. Your book will stand out if it receives positive reviews from reliable reviewers.

Where Do I Get a Book Review?

There are five top book reviewers: Publishers Weekly, Kirkus, Library Journal, Midwest Book Review, and The New York Times; however, if you’re self-published, it is unlikely your book will be reviewed by any of them. Reviews from local newspapers and magazines will only help you sell books locally. Furthermore, print publications are phasing out book reviews. So where can an author still get a good book review? The Internet.

Online book reviews are becoming standard, and your book’s review will reach a wider audience on the Internet. Online reviews level the playing field for self-published authors. Today, people are less inclined to read paper magazines and newspapers. They go online for information. Reviews posted at Amazon and other online sites are more accessible than print reviews. Reader Views and RebeccasReads are examples of reliable online book reviewers of both traditional and self-published books.

Free vs. Paid Reviews

Authors generally expect free book reviews; that was standard in the twentieth century—advertisements paid for the book reviews in print media. Today, however, authors must cover the cost of book reviews. A book reviewer may spend hours reading a book and writing a review, and he deserves compensation for his work. Consequently, authors must budget for the cost of book reviews. Authors are recommended to budget for mailing out a minimum of twenty books for review.

How Do Paid Book Reviews Work?

Paid reviews have multiple advantages. Most publications that offer free reviews do not guarantee a book review because of the volume of books submitted. Only by paying for a review can one be guaranteed. Reputable book reviewers will provide a review within a specific timeline—two weeks is standard. They will also provide a review tear-sheet for your use, and give you permission to quote the review, provided you credit them. Many reviewers will also post your review online at such places as their own website, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Ezine Articles, Goodreads and Authors Den.

Several online book reviewers, such as Reader Views, will give you the option of a free or paid book review. Reader Views will review the book for free provided one of their reviewers is interested in it. If no one opts to review it after three months, the book is returned without a review. If authors do not want to wait three months for a review, an express review can be purchased to guarantee a review within two weeks.

Several book reviewers, including Reader Views, also offer various publicity packages ranging from a single book review, to written and podcast radio interviews, virtual book tours, and book videos. Such packages allow authors the opportunity to get book reviews and publicity within their budget.

Just because you pay for a book review does not mean a good review is guaranteed. It is better to receive an honest review than one that gives false praise. The reviewer’s reputation is at stake here; readers will not appreciate being misled to waste their time and money on a book that does not meet their expectations.

How Do I Use a Book Review to Sell Books?

Before you do anything with your book review, make sure you know what permissions the reviewer has given you for using the review. Are you allowed to use it in whole or only a certain percentage? Can you reprint it or quote from it?

Once you know your rights, some suggestions for using the review to help sell books are:

• 
  
  
  

  Post it to Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Ezine Articles, Authors Den, Goodreads, Myspace etc. if the reviewer has not already done so.

  
  






• 
  
  
  

  Quote from the review on your book cover and the inside end papers. (If your book is already printed, use the review when you run a second printing).

  
  






• 
  
  
  

  Include the review in your press kit to gain more media attention.

  
  






• 
  
  
  

  Post and distribute the review at your book signings.

  
  






• 
  
  
  

  Post the review on your website.

  
  






• 
  
  
  

  Send copies of the review in your email newsletters.

  
  

Final Comments

More information about book reviews will be covered in future articles. But for now, here are a couple closing points:

1. 
   
   
   

   Be professional. Send the reviewer a thank you note. Whether you receive a positive or negative review, the reviewer has done you a favor. The reviewer’s comments will help you improve your next book or the next edition of your book. Even a negative review can be used to build a positive relationship with a reviewer, who will appreciate your professionalism. The book world is a small place and you do not want word to spread that you are difficult. Seek to build long-term relationships with book reviewers, and through them, with your reading audience.

   
   






2. 
   
   
   

   Be prepared for the book review to increase your book sales! A good review is worthless if you do not have copies of books to sell. Be prepared to fulfill your book orders so your customers are satisfied. After all, you want your book to be a bestseller!

   
   

About the Author:

Tyler R. Tichelaar, Ph.D. is the Associate Editor at Reader Views, he has interviewed over 130 authors, written more than 50 book reviews, and edited and evaluated manuscripts for publication. Reader Views is one of the most respected and fastest growing online author publicity services today. For more information visit www.readerviews.com.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/article-marketing-articles/book-reviews-sell-books-445267.html

Author: Reader Views

Book Report Writing – a Step by Step Guide!

Book report writing is not an easy task. You have to give your full concentration and time in order to get some good piece of work. You have to do a lot of reading and usually reading a book, that you already have read, is not an exciting thing at all. Here is a complete step by step guide in writing your book report with ease.

Introductory Paragraph

The first sentence should state for which instructor and class the book-report is being written.

The second sentence should state the title of the book and the author's name.

The third sentence should tell how many pages the book has and the name of the publisher.

The fourth sentence can state basic bibliographic information about the book. Bibliographic information means not only the author and title but also what company published the book, what year it was published in and any other relevant information such as the edition and if the book has been translated, simplified or abridged.

The next sentence should state the reason(s) you decided to read this book. Why did you choose this particular book for writing a book report? Typical reasons might be:

• You like the author.








• You like this type of book (i.e. mystery, western, adventure or romance, etc.).








• Someone recommended the book to you.








• It was on a required reading list.








• You liked the cover.

These reasons do not have to be complex. Most people choose the books they read because they like the author or somebody recommended it to them. If you chose the book because you like the author, then state why you like that author.

An optional sentence can be used if the cover (back cover) of the book gives you any additional information then adds a sentence with that information.

• Was the book a best seller?








• Are there X million copies in print?








• Did it win any major awards?

· Main Character(s) Paragraph

The first sentence of this paragraph should state who the main character or characters of the book are, and why they are important. Refer to this person or these persons as the Main Character or Main Characters.

You will need at least a complex sentence for this, and probably more than one sentence.

· Other Characters Paragraph
You should compose at least one sentence for each of the other prominent or important characters in the book. State the name of each of the other important characters, and the key role that each one plays in the book

Most books have five or six prominent characters besides the main character, so simply listing each one and stating their role in the book will give you a good sized paragraph.

· Plot Summary Paragraph

This is perhaps the hardest paragraph to write in book report writing five sentences or so. If you have to write a bit more don't worry. Here are the main points to cover:

• State the type of book (Mystery, Western, etc.).






• What place or country was the book set in?






• What time period was the book set in? (19th century, the present, ancient Rome, the 23rd century).






• Other physical locations which are important, like: ships, airplanes, houses, or buildings.






• Other notable attributes of the book. (Was it violent, scary, fast paced, etc.).






• What is the main character trying to do?






• What is the outcome of the book?






• etc.

Make sure you cover all of the major parts of the plot. You might have to go back through the book, chapter by chapter, and make a few notes.

· Personal Impressions and Conclusion Paragraph

Simply talk about what you liked or did not like when you write a book report. Use this paragraph as your conclusion. It should summarize your overall impressions of the book and bring the report to a close.

• Start with a sentence that states that you are now writing a conclusion. (For example: "My final thoughts on 'A Fine Balance' are that it is a fascinating book but I am not entirely sure if I completely understood the thematic message of the book."






• Restate your reasons why you liked and/or disliked the book using different words.






• Write two sentences that talk about the books good points and weak points.






• Write a sentence or two about what you learned from the book.






• Close with a sentence that states whether you would recommend the book to others.

Don't be afraid to give your own honest impressions of the book. After all, if you've read the book thoroughly, you are entitled to your own interpretation of it.

Typically, your book report should not exceed two double-spaced pages, and it should be somewhere between 600 and 800 words in length.

About the Author:

Jenny Stewart is a PhD in Human Relation. She is an educational consultant and utilizing her skills in helping the students to accomplish there education successfully . She is changing the student’s difficulties in book report into ease since many years by helping them with her skills and knowledge to get there projects done efficiently.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/self-publishing-articles/book-report-writing-a-step-by-step-guide-518372.html

Author: Jenny Stewart

The Ultimate Publishing Guide – How to Publish Your Book Without Breaking a Sweat

Most writers claim that 'writing' is the painless part of being a writer- the real challenge begins when you attempt to publish your masterpiece. The book industry can be a really hard one to crack, especially if you're a newbie. No need to panic though - if you're reading this, all your publishing problems are nearly over!

This guide explores; Publishing thorough an Agency, Mainstream Publication, Self Publishing, Local Publishing Companies and eBook Publication. It furthers to explore life after your book has been published. So whether your interests lie in large international exposure for you book, or self publishing, simply read on for a detailed tour of the publishing industry.

Option 1) Publishing through an Agency

The Process

The first step to saving time whilst publishing is making sure that you avoid writing something that will never be read! My advice to anyone who aspires to publish something is to find a literary agent . This is a great time saver as, when you have an agent, you will never again waste time writing something that may be defined as 'unmarketable'. To further explain - the literary network is very closely knit i.e. in order to have your book published; you would need to go through specific channels. A strict system has been designed to maintain a sense of order in the realm of literature.

Now, an agent can help you weave your way through the system - especially if you are a first timer. An agent is an individual who is able to help you through much of the information filtering process. A recommendation from an agent almost guarantees that your manuscript will be read by a publishing house. Essentially, the role of an agent is to read and approve your manuscript or any ideas that you may have i.e. queries and proposals.

The agent will then decide whether your venture could be successful. If so, the agent will further to draw up a contract with you. Contracts of this nature usually express the agent's promise to use his/her best efforts to get your manuscript into a publishing house - the exchange is usually about 15% of the entire deal. Your new agent will then work extremely hard to sell your idea.

Agent Hunting

There are usually 2 types of agents - those who work with fiction and those who work with non-fiction. The easiest way to find your match is by paging through a publishing guide/directory, which lists the functions of a variety of agents in great detail i.e. 'Guide to Literary Agents'. It is important to take note of any previous books that have been published by the agent/s that you are interested in - usually an agent will take interest in a particular theme, and stick to working with ideas along its lines.

Contacting an Agent

Once you have compiled a list of potential agents, feel free to start contacting them. The best way to do this is via a query letter. In essence, a query letter a short introduction of yourself and your idea - it should feed the agent enough information to arouse interest, but not too much to bore him/her. This is a suggested letter structure:

• The Teaser
  
  
  
  Your introduction is usually the aspect of the letter sells you - so make it an attention grabber. Ideally, you would want to describe the compelling fit between the person that you are and your idea for a book.
  
  
  
  


• Develop Your Idea
  
  
  
  Use your next few sentences to explore your idea, explaining what it is that you want to write about. Feel free to add in a snip-bit of your writing that best exemplifies your idea.
  
  
  
  


• Self Description
  
  
  
  Your third paragraph should be based on you. Try to reiterate the connection between you as a person and your idea. You should also feel free to show-off your academic or intellectual achievements.
  
  
  
  


• Wrapping Up
  
  
  
  Be sure to personalize your concluding sentence- making the agent feel unique and valuable to you in your selection process. Conclude by sharing your contact details and preferred method of communication.
  
  
  
  

Remember, this letter is merely an 'appetizer' so keep it short and simple.

Proposal Preparation

After sending your initial query letter to an agent, he/she would normally follow up by requesting a proposal. Essentially, your proposal is a document that accurately outlines an idea for a book. Here's idea of what your proposal should contain:

• The Overview
  
  
  
  The first 2 pages of your proposal should contain a broad summary of the book. Non-fiction: Explain your intentions in terms of contents and topics. Fiction: Provide a general outline of your plot.
  
  
  
  


• Target Market
  
  
  
  Your next 3 pages should contain a description of your prospective target market. You should define this in terms of; age, socio-economic, and educational characteristics of you potential audience.
  
  
  
  


• Market Threat and Competition
  
  
  
  This section allows you to define what type of threats your book may face in terms of competitors and other books that cover a similar topic. Be careful to do all your homework here, because this section is really important to an agent as it dictates your books marketability.
  
  
  
  


• Authorship
  
  
  
  Use this section to write up a brief description about yourself and your co-authors, if any. Take this opportunity to brag as much as possible, as this section will help your agent convince a publishing house to pay you for your idea.
  
  
  
  


• Summary of Chapters
  
  
  
  This should be the largest part of your proposal - it contains an outline of what you intend to cover in each chapter of your book. Non-fiction: Provide a minimum amount of information i.e. outlines. Fiction: Provide definite samples of your writing.
  
  
  
  


• Delivery
  
  
  
  This section is relatively small - it simply contains the number of words you think your finished book will contain and the approximate time you will take to write it.
  
  
  
  

Contracts

Happy Day! So your proposal finally earns you a thumbs up...now what? It's time to get into some paper work. The best part about this section is that you are not bearing the work load anymore. Your new agent will now send you a contract. These contracts are usually short documents that you can probably work though on your own, so no need for an attorney.

You just need be careful about two things - firstly, that your agent is not looking to exclusively represent you for over 12 months, and secondly that you are not going to billed for the cost of office overhead if your book does not do well on the market.

Once the contract has been signed, your agent will send you a copy of your original proposal with a few editorial suggestions. As soon as you finalize your proposal's contents, your agent will start pitching your idea to the 'big boys' i.e. publishing companies. Once you get the go-ahead as well as the funding, feel free to start writing...Microsoft Word will be your new home!

Option 2) Mainstream Publication

The Process

This option is slightly similar to the first; however the two do have a few minor differences. The primary difference is that the 'middle man' or agent is no longer involved i.e. the first step that you need to take in the field of mainstream publication, is directly locating a publisher. Once again, you can feel free to look through a publishing directory or make use of a search engine. This way, you can choose a publisher, that best suits you. As soon as you have made contact with a publishing house and managed to spark a bit of interest, you might be requested to 'pitch' your book to the company in person.

The Pitch & Self Marketing

Now if consider yourself to be a great public speaker, this could be your moment to shine - if not, just remember that you will only be speaking to a few suits! The pitch is almost a verbal explanation of everything you would express in a proposal - if you happen to be unfamiliar with the guidelines for a proposal, simply follow the outline mentioned in option 1.

If you choose to publish via mainstream publication, it is important to note that you must be able to market yourself. Even if you do get lucky and a publishing house chooses to publish your book, you will still have to do a major part of the marketing - keep that in mind when it comes to your budget as it will help to have some additional money to use for publicity.

Risks/Benefits

The obvious benefit of publishing via a mainstream company is the possible exposure that you and your book could attain. On a large scale, the scope of various mainstream publication houses extends from local to international. The greatest risk involved in using this method of publication, is the risk of rejection. You may even be rejected before publication as well as after. It is not often that a well-known publishing company would risk a dollar on an unknown author - so prepare yourself for possible rejection after your pitch. Even if your book does get accepted for publication, rejection is still a factor in terms of your book's marketability and it is highly unlikely that your publisher will pick up the bill should your book not be successful.

Option 3) Self Publishing - (POD) Print/Publish on Demand

The Process

This option refers to printing a book at the time of purchase. It is an innovative method of publishing books that saves money, time and supplies. The printing industry is ecstatic about this method of publication as it means that books no longer need to be warehoused until purchased.

This method of publication allows you to handle the design work of your book or opt for a service/package that offers cover design, formatting and editing. Various companies offer these services. These companies will assist you in the areas that you may need help - from the time that your book has been ordered to the delivery. The POD will actually help you list your book on Barnes and Noble, Amazon.com and other major bookstores by hooking you up with an ISBN. Here's how the process works:

• Submit the final draft of your book to a company that offers POD. Make sure your draft is formatted in the way that you want it to look in its final publication.
  
  
  
  
  
  


• You will be requested to wait until your file has been added to the data system of that company.
  
  
  
  
  
  


• The printing company receives an order for your book according to its ISBN.
  
  
  
  
  
  


• An operator at the printing company accesses your file in their system. Ensuring all editing and formatting is correct; the book is released to the printer and binder system. Your book is printed in less than 5 minutes.
  
  
  
  
  
  


• Your book is then packaged and addressed to the customer. It is then sent directly to the customer. This entire process takes approximately 10 working days - thus your book can hit the market as soon as possible.
  
  
  
  
  
  

Budget

While this type of publishing has become increasingly popular in the industry, it is important to note that it requires you fork out a bit of your own money - each book will cost you approximately $5.

Risks/Benefits

This option has various benefits. Firstly, most of the companies involved will accept any type of work, no matter who you are - so rejection is not something that you will have to worry about. Secondly, if you are involved with the design and formatting personally, your book automatically will gain a unique edge. Finally, the POD handles distribution and order fulfilment. This means that when you book has been ordered; the POD will print a copy of your book, ship it and pay you a royalty of approximately 30% of the purchase price - leaving you with less grey hair! With regards to the risks involved, it is important to note that the owner of the ISBN also owns the book's copyright, so be careful with that and make sure that you purchase your book's ISBN under your name, not the vanity publisher.

Option 4) Local Publishing Companies

The Process

Local commercial printing companies use the same technology as PODs. Feel free to browse through a publishing directory or just your local directory for a list of companies that offer publishing services. Your next step is to contact the publishing house that you have chosen.

Budget

While prices may vary, expect to pay 3 cents per black and white page i.e. a 200-page book could cost you approximately $6.50.

Print Style Options

Your first choice in terms of printing style is between color printing and black & white printing. This will dictate the cost that you will need to budget for. Most companies offer digital printing, so you can choose the amount of copies that you want printed at the time of publication. In terms of cover design, you are only limited by your own creativity - once again you are free to take charge of your own design. Binding on the other hand, will be handled by the company and is included in the original price per page.

Risks/Benefits

When you publish through a local company, you must take note that the printer will print precisely what you send - this is without any revision or editing. It is crucial that your book is proofread before submission. Also with this option, you will still have to promote your book, fill and ship all orders.

Option 5) eBook Publication

What is an eBook?

An eBook is an electronic copy of your book that may be purchased, downloaded and read immediately online. It can serve a variety of purposes i.e. advertising, the gathering of potential customer's information and the generation of interest. Not only does this option provide the media for a sample publication of you incomplete book, but it also allows for full publication of your book once it is complete - thus you can sell the electronic version of your book, as if it were a hard copy.

The Process

This option may be deemed the most convenient and economical way to publish a book. Here is a basic outline of the process:

• The Final Draft
  
  
  
  To prepare you book for eBook publication, you have to format it exactly the way that you want your readers to see it. This will be easy if you are using a word processor such as Microsoft Word.
  
  
  
  


• The Format
  
  
  
  Unless you know exactly what you want in terms of formatting, I suggest that you stick to a standardised type of book formatting - the outline of a manuscript format is included later on in this article.
  
  
  
  


• Proofreading
  
  
  
  Sorry to say, editing will be your worst nightmare - just when you think that it's over, go back and proofread again and again. Also try and get others to read your final draft too. Don't skimp on the quality of your writing simply because you are publishing electronically.
  
  
  
  


• Copyrighting
  
  
  
  Copyrighting your book is your next move. Don't stress out too much about the ISBN, as you are actually the publisher now, so you will be in charge of the distribution and price setting.
  
  
  
  


• Designing the Cover
  
  
  
  If you happen to have an arty side, this is your chance to bring it out! Feel free to extend your creativity but remember to keep your design, appropriate with regards to your book's contents. You can also make use of external services should you need help i.e. graphic designers do freelance their services for this type of thing.
  
  
  
  


• Publication
  
  
  
  Now it really gets interesting...There are various programs available that generate self-executable eBooks. It is however important to note that most people are cautious when it comes to downloading new programs. I therefore recommend that you publish your eBook in plain old .pdf format. Adobe Acrobat Reader is a well established brand which is both safe and also free for anyone to download. Visit Adobe Online and register for their online PDF Creator to publish an ebook or feel free to do a Google search for a few more eBook publishing programs.
  
  
  
  


• Your Account
  
  
  
  Set up a business account with an ecommerce site like PayPal. You will then have to add your book's ISBN to your 'product list'. PayPal will then generate an html code that you can copy and paste where ever you would like to promote your eBook. You will in turn be notified via email, when someone purchases your book. Your last move is to reply to that email by attaching the .pdf of your book and sending the mail directly to your customer...and voila! Your first eBook is sold.
  
  
  
  

Risks/Benefits

There are various benefits related to this new wave of publication. Firstly, it requires you to spend little to no money out of your own pocket. Thus, there is very little financial risk involved. Secondly, your book can be published from the comfort of your own home...a few clicks here and there is all that it takes. Finally, from a marketing perspective, an eBook opens up various avenues for advertising - it allows you to add links within your book, directing the reader anywhere that you would like i.e. this gives you a chance to expand your business network. Once again, you must remember that you are in charge of your book's marketing.

Irrespective of the method of publication that you choose, you will need to master manuscript writing...Here's a handy guide on how to correctly format your manuscript.

Try to make use of this type of formatting prior to submitting it to an agent or publisher. At first glance you may think that these standards may not be aesthetically pleasing, but don't stress, your publisher should send your original manuscript to a 'formatter' that standardizes the format during publication.

Basic Formatting Rules

• Use 1 inch margins around all your text - repeat this on each page.
  
  
  
  
  
  


• Double spacing should be used throughout your manuscript. This type of spacing enhances your manuscripts readability and makes it easier to edit.
  
  
  
  
  
  


• If you want to italicize something, don't do it now. Only highlight this before the final version is published - anything that you want in italics should be underlined in your manuscript.
  
  
  
  
  
  


• All numbers should be spelt out i.e. type out four instead of 4.
  
  
  
  
  
  


• Most symbols should also be spelt out i.e. don't use the '%' sign, instead type out 'percent'.
  
  
  
  
  
  

Life After Publication

Even though your book is now on its way to mass production, you need not let your relaxation period be short lived - don't become overridden with anxiety about publicity, marketing and even worse, sales!

For a stress free way to boost sales and keep abreast of your new book's performance you should consider subscribing to a promotions and sales tracking company.

With modern publishing methods, like self-publishing and eBook publication in mind, it is easy to understand why sales tracking has become a common pastime for most writers. Because most publishing options force you to take charge of your book's marketing, it may be a good idea for you to make use of an online service to help you track the sales of your book and handle do a bit of book promotion on your behalf.

Taking this into consideration, let's take look at the sales ranking and promotions company, RankTracer. This company will do some online promotion and track your book at the same time - giving you on-the-hour sales rank information, graphs, reports and actual sales estimates.

With an external company tracking your sales and offering you a bit of extra help with book promotion, you are left with more time on your hands to use as you please - feel free to explore book-signings, tours, public talks and even blog about your new book!

So now you know! I trust that you found my walk through the publishing industry informative. Hopefully it has answered a few of your publishing queries and has helped you find the perfect publishing fit for you. Good luck and happy publishing!

About the Author:

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/publishing-articles/the-ultimate-publishing-guide-how-to-publish-your-book-without-breaking-a-sweat-538737.html

Author: Elodie

Promotion 101: Why Authors Shouldn’t Do Book Signings

Book signings seem to be obsolete these days. The good thing about this is an author shouldn’t really care. While book signings are slipping from existence, there are more creative options coming out for authors to promote each year. Many of them have brought in more books sales than a signing ever will for today’s author. Whether you decide to embark on a book tour or have a signing, is your decision. I would like to point out, however why you shouldn’t be disappointed if book signings do not bring you the success you seek. They usually don’t and this is normal. Book signings can be very disappointing. I’ve outlined reasons why you shouldn’t do book signings, instead of reasons why you should. I will also mention options afterwards that are not only better sales-wise but a lot more fun.

1. Book Signings Are Short-lived Sales







Book signings take a lot of effort to set up. Even if you do sell at a signing, which is highly unlikely these days, these sales are short-lived and most times forgotten. The most an author sells at a bookstore book signing is less than ten books. Some sell less than five. They say it’s important for an author to build a relationship with the people in the stores. Why? Not only do the workers care less about an author these days, unless you made a big impact, they won’t remember you from another author who signed at the store. If you do make an impact you’ll be invited back. I’ve been invited back to stores many of times. But the myth that authors build relationships with the stores by doing signings is completely false. There is such a turn over with staff at bookstores that building a relationship is not even possible. Either way you’re not there to make friends. You’re there to sell books and often this does not happen.



2. No Guarantee That Your Book Will Stay in That Location







Some authors think that just because they do a signing that it means that specific store’s location will keep their books on hand. This is not true. There have been many instances where an author had a successful signing, even signed out only to have that store not to order more copies of their books. Do not believe that your book will stay in a location just because you did a signing. This is not a guarantee.



3. Big Book Stores Do Absolutely Nothing To Market A Signing







So you’re all excited about your signing huh? You’ve made all the arrangements and your publisher has set it up for you. You’re expecting a huge turnout. You’ve promoted through your local radio station or newspaper. You even had a big contest on your web site, showcasing the event. You get to the store Saturday at 2pm to find that no one is there. Well, except the workers. What’s going on? You wonder. This is the big let down. Bookstores do not promote signings anymore. They put your signing in one dinky store newsletter, make one little sorry sign that you could have done yourself and that’s it. You find once again that you’ve done all the legwork only to be disappointed.




The truth is that a signing takes the participation of a bookstore to promote it. If they don’t it not only shows their lack of appreciation for you as an author, but also it shows they simply do not care. The truth is that big chains have grown rather cold-hearted in terms of welcoming an author for a signing. Some locations help the author more than others but as a hold, big bookstores no longer go to the trouble of making authors feel welcome like the old days. The alternative option is signing at independent bookstores. Independent bookstores usually throw out the red carpet when an author’s doing a signing. They appreciate you bringing readers to the store and in return you appreciate them for allowing you to sign. If you intend on doing book signings at stores you should focus on the smaller stores that at least show you they appreciate your presence.



4. Most Times Not Worth The Time And Effort

Due to the lack of participation with the stores or lack of publicity of your publisher, you’ll often be disappointed with a bookstore signing. An author can only do so much. You cannot force people to show up and buy your books no matter what you do. It's nothing more humiliating than being at a signing only to have people pass you up and treat you as if your book is less important than the ones on the shelves. Yet, it happens. Authors do not have to put up with this treatment simply to sell books. Those days are over.

A new day has come and now, authors hold all the cards. We have control of how we want to promote our books and where we want to sell them. Now that I’ve outlined why bookstore signings may not be worth it, below I’ve suggested some options and alternatives you may want to consider.

Festivals:

If you insist on doing book signings, skip stores altogether. If you want to sell books and have fun, try festivals. There are tons of festivals in almost every big city geared towards authors meeting the public and selling books. Festivals are so much more rewarding that even if you only sell a few books, you won’t care because you’ll walk away with so much more. You’ll get a chance to meet readers, other authors, other literary professionals, and media that attends bringing you publicity. This adds to more exposure.

Group Signings:

You can both get with some author pals and host your own group signings or participate in group signings at your local bookstore. Many stores hold group signings once a month and local authors are encouraged to participate. Group signings bring more readers to the event as well as give you the chance to meet other authors. Bookstores promote group signings more effectively than an individual author’s event. You also won’t walk away in shame if you don’t sell books. You may not sell at group signings but you’ll end up with more exposure and friends in the industry.

Book Club Signings:

Contact a local book club and see if they are interested in letting you do a signing at one of their upcoming meetings. Make your book attractive for them to pick as a featured book then let them know that you’d be more than willing to do a signing at their meeting. Book Club signings can be very fun because they also turn into discussions and this ends up being a learning experience for the author as well as the club.

Sign At Places of Your Choice:

You can also pick a fun place of your choice to hold a signing. This could be in the park, at a club, festival or in an arena where some big event is being held. This will attract people to you as they attend the other event. The difference between this and a book signing is that you order your books from your publisher then you sell them at the event and keep the profits. Be creative. You can even hold a signing at a baby shower, birthday party or family gathering. You’re sure to sell tons of books. Not only are you completely in control but you’ll feel more comfortable signing in a place of your choice. These are also the most fun. Remember to advertise your event. Put an ad in your local paper and promote online to people in your area. The possibilities are endless.

Last but not least, the biggest option would be:

Virtual Book Tours

It’s been speculated that VBTs sell more books than a regular book tour ever could. You reach more of an audience because you’re doing everything online. Some authors set up their own VBTs but if you’re not familiar with the concept and want to skip the hard work, then hire a company to work with you. They’ll do all the legwork and all you have to do is show up on blogs and sites. You’ll do interviews, pod casts, guest blogs and more. It’s all up to you. VBTs allow authors to promote from the comfort of their own home and at their most convenient time. Think of having a book tour in your robe and slippers. Sounds good to me. Also, you’ll gain more traffic to your web site, sell more books and meet more fans during a VBT than you ever could offline. The best thing is that your tour remains visible forever. Your appearance stays on the sites as long as they stay online so your tour is archived and will be visited by web site’s visitors time and time again. This of course means long-term exposure and sales.

We’ve all had bad experiences with book signings. If you’re like me then you’re completely turned off by them. I don’t plan on doing anymore in-store signings but luckily there are so many options available. Book promotion is easier these days than ever. Authors should take full advantage and only then will they receive the ample rewards that come along with that.

Remember to think out of the box. It takes creativity to promote effectively and to enjoy it.

About the Author:

Stacy-Deanne is a best selling author and novelist. She's been in the writing industry for twelve years. She is a novelist with Simon and Schuster. Stacy was featured in 2006's "Literary Divas: The Top 100+ Most Admired African-American Women in Writing". She was born, raised and resides in Houston, Texas. You can visit her sites to learn more about her and her books.



http://www.stacy-deanne.net

http://www.myspace.com/stacydeanne

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/marketing-tips-articles/promotion-101-why-authors-shouldnt-do-book-signings-553557.html

Author: Stacy-Deanne

Book Swapping and Exchange Sites : the Pros and Cons

The idea of exchanging your old used books for new ones you haven’t read is an idea which is gaining momentum across the internet. Used book swapping sites now boast hundreds of thousands of registered members and millions of used books ready for to be exchanged with other book lovers.

So what is the appeal? Why should you join an online book exchange web site when there are so many other ways of acquiring books? Well, here are some arguments for and against joining.

The Advantages Of Online Book Swapping Sites

Why should you join a book trading site?

Well, for a start, if you are someone who regularly buys books, it is more than likely going to save you a lot of money. Book swapping sites are free to join, and for the price of postage and one used book from your collection, you can get new books to read. Effectively, this means you can pick up a new book for under $2 – this includes hardback books, cookbooks and textbooks too. That offers the possibility of making big savings when compared to any other way of buying books.

Secondly, you can give yourself a pat on the back for recycling books and saving the environment in the process. Swapping rather than buying books means less trees are felled to produce reading material. Again, this can only be a good thing so far as environmental issues are concerned.

Thirdly, it’s a great way to declutter your book shelves and help out someone else at the same time by giving them a book they are looking for.

Book trading sites are also a great place to find out of print and hard to find books. These can often be expensive to find otherwise, and you can waste a lot of time looking for them. At book swapping sites, you simply add the books you want to a wish list and when it comes in to the site, you are sent an email alert saying its there. Much easier.

One more thing – the selection is huge. Sure, you can go hit all the used book stores in town and you might find what you are looking for but probably not. A used book club on the other hand has millions of books in their system. One swap site claims to have over 2.5 million books and that’s just on one site.

The Disadvantages Of Online Book Exchange Sites

Firstly, why not just use a library? Then the books are free right? Personally, I look at libraries as something aside from all other forms of acquiring new reading material because you do not get to own the book. You get a specified period in which to read the book, in many cases will get fined for returning it late if you’ve not done with it, and have a limited selection to choose from. Libraries are great, but they’re not ideal.

Used books are not for everyone. If you like your books shiny and new regardless of the price, then an online book swapping club is not for you. Most swap sites have rules about the quality of book allowed to be offered up for exchange but they are predominantly used books.

New books make money for the publisher and the author, used books do not. Whilst its easy to argue they have already factored in trading on the used book market into the price of a new book, the fact remains, buying or swapping used books costs them money and may affect new authors in particular.

The Verdict?

Either way, online book swapping sites are becoming increasingly popular, with millions of books waiting to be traded with swappers all over the world. Whether a book swapping club is right for you is a matter of personal choice, but either way, it is something to consider the next time you look at that shelf full of books you'll never read again or choke on the price of a new hardback.

About the Author:

Mark Falco is an avid reader and is always on the look out for ways to save money on his literary addiction.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/literature--articles/book-swapping-and-exchange-sites-the-pros-and-cons-639190.html

Author: Mark Falco

CSS - The Missing Manual - Book Review

I just finished reading "CSS; The Missing Manual" by David McFarland. As a new web developer just starting out I have read dozens of books on HTML and CSS and this book was one of the most informative books that I have read to date.

The book is written in a how to manual style and takes you step by step into to style sheet creation process using CSS. What I like most about the book is how simple and easy the author wrote about this very complex topic. The book is very complete and covers every aspect of CSS, from text format, to layout, and even covered print media. I also like the format where the author would introduce a new concept and discuss it and then have tutorials right after to help you fully understand the idea. I also found the use of images and diagrams very helpful and I think I would have been lost without them.

The one criticism that I have is that I think there could have been even more tutorial. I think more opportunities to practice and apply what is being learned would have made this book the best in the category. I would also suggest tying this in with a website tutorial where you can apply what you are learning directly on the Web.

In closing, I think this was a great book with a lot of useful information. I would definitely recommend it to any beginner who is looking for a starting manual on CSS.

Dan Keller runs a popular CSS Forum" and blogs about CSS in his personal blog Tycoon Blogger Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dan_Keller

By Dan Keller

Clear Blogging - Book Review

I just finished reading "Clear Blogging: How people blogging are changing the world and how you can join them" by Bob Walsh. As an owner of several highly successful blogs, I always like to read what other are saying about blogging and the future. After reading this book, I must say that I was a bit disappointed. The book has some bright spots, but overall it is average in a very crowded space.

The book covers all the basic of blogging, from getting started, hot to become successful and then he dives into the future of blogging. A couple of things that I did enjoy about the book were that is well written and fun to read. The author has a great conversational writing style that flows very nicely. My problem is that the content could have been stronger. My favorite part of the book was the Interview portion where he has a question and answer session with some of the biggest names in the blogging arena. I am surprised that I wasn't asked to participate. I also enjoyed the author's commentary, although at times I disagreed with some of it.

My major criticism of the book was that it was way too long and could have been cut in half. There is a lot of filler and too many screen shots that do not add much to the book.

In closing, I am neutral on this book. It was well written and there is some good information but in my opinion there are better books to purchase on this topic.

Dan Keller is the owner of the popular Free Blog Directory site and also runs a site that focuses on Blog Reviews Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dan_Keller

By Dan Keller

Dead and Gone - Sookie Stackhouse, Book 9 - By Charlaine Harris Book Review

Dead and Gone by New York Times best-selling author Charlain Harris is the 9th book in the Southern Vampire Mysteries series. The previous eight books revolve around Sookie Stackhouse's life as a barmaid in a fictional town in Louisiana, while living a secret life as a telepath.

All of the eight books were told in first-person by Sookie Stackhouse herself, and has been adapted to an HBO series, True Blood, with Anna Paquin portraying Sookie Stackhouse.

The ninth book, Dead and Gone is going to be released early this May, but the first chapter is already posted on Charlaine Harris' website as a teaser for the fans. A lot of people have been waiting on the edge of their seats as early as December of last year for the release of the book, and the sales are expected to sweep the record of sales of the sales of the eight previous books combined.

The first chapter of Dead and Gone is about Sookie Stackhouse still, with hints about other special characters appearing in the book like werewolves, vampires, and the villains in the story the Fellowship of the Sun. Somehow, Sookie Stackhouse always finds herself stuck in the middle of events, but eventually be the one to entangle everything.

I just hope that Dead and Gone will feature a different twist in the plot, so that readers will not be bored with the same structure, and be excited with Sookie's character again.

For more information about the upcoming book Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris, just follow the link.

Buddy Glass is a photography enthusiast and a freelance writer. He writes full time for http://www.peacockingwear.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Buddy_Glass

By Buddy Glass

Beyond Dancing - Book Review

I had an interview with Anita Bloom Ornoff who is the author of the book, BEYOND DANCING. While this may not seem like a big deal there are several things that you might want to consider. Anita is 85 years old and she wrote her book a year ago. Anita is also a paraplegic, paralyzed from the waist down. She was the first woman to get a drivers license by using only her hands and she was the first handicapped female to enter and receive her degree from NYU.

Anita lost the use of her lower limbs at the start of World War II. She enrolled in the WAAC which later became the WAC. A cut on her finger got infected and malpractice ended up with an infection requiring that her spinal chord be severed. She has had three husbands and four marriages and two children. You will have to read her book to figure the math
Keep in mind that this is a female who became handicapped long before the American Disabilities Act. Her struggle was constant and up hill. She had to fight the VA for benefits and she had to fight a society that was not yet ready to accord all equal access to the benefits and rights that most of us take for granted. When asked about how things were for the handicapped now, as compared to after World War II, Anita said that by comparison, today is like heaven.

This brings to mind the issue of whether or not we can control our lives and partake of happiness, regardless of circumstances. Many are brought up in situations that seem insurmountable. But the fact that there are those who rise above those situations should be proof that we each have more control over our happiness than we are led to believe. Anita said that above all; do not let others keep you down. Do not let people say that what you desire is not possible. Do not accept the norm since the norm and conventional wisdom is often wrong.

Despite all of the forces that seemed to be arrayed against her, Anita Bloom Ornoff refused to accept a "no can do" attitude. She fought for what she desired and has led a happy and joyful life. History is replete with those who, against all apparent odds, rose above the "trials and tribulations" of life and created a reality that was of their own liking, and not that dictated by others. Books like the recently released, "The Secret" say that with the power of the mind, all things are possible. Anita is an example of an everyday person who brings that refrain into perspective and reality. Perhaps there should be a little less whining in our society and perhaps we should listen to those, like Anita, who have paved the way in proving that what we think is what we create.

The novel is published by Bartleby Press, ISBN 091015550X, 311 pages, hardcover.

Mr. Harris was born in Massachusetts. He attended The American University in Washington, D.C. and received his degree in Political Science. His graduate work was done at the University of Northern Colorado and Howard University. He spent several years working for local and regional and state government agencies. He worked on a White House Task Force and served as Rural Policy Coordinator at the FRCouncil of New England

Mr. Harris is co-author of the novel WAKING GOD and is a nationally syndicated / featured writer for The American Chronicle. His second novel, A MAINE CHRISTMAS CAROL was released by Cambridge Books, his third book, JESUS TAUGHT IT, TOO: THE EARLY ROOTS OF THE LAW OF ATTRACTION (Avatar Publication). He is author of the book, RAPING LOUISIANA: A DIARY OF DECEIT and his two most recent self-growth titles, the "MESSAGES" series were just released by Avatar. See his book titles at http://dickens111.tripod.com/theliteraryworksofphilipharris

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Philip_Harris

By Philip Harris

Book Review For "Sex With Kings"

Herman takes her readers on a delightful romp through history and gives us a taste of what its like to have sex with kings. Masterfully written and easy to read, history comes alive in ways the reader doesn't expect.

Herman takes a look at some of history's most famous kings: France's Charles VII, Francois I, Henri II, Louis XIV and Louis XV. She also gives us a peek into English kings as well, including Edward III, Henry VIII, Charles II, and even Prince Charles.

Sex with kings was an art and no one was more skilled than the royal mistresses. Herman points out that the kings usually gave their hearts to their mistresses - their wives were very rarely treated with the same affection. Louis XIV fell in love with his last mistress, Madame de Maintenon while she was serving as a governess to the children he had with his second mistress, Madame de Montespan. While he did have affection for his wife, it wasn't the grand passion he reserved for his mistresses.

There was a lot to consider if one was going to have sex with a king. The first consideration was the fine art of giving him pleasure. The mistress had to appeal to his sensual side. Very rarely were their wives chosen for their sensuality. Henri II of France clearly preferred Diane de Poitiers over his wife, Catherine de Medici. After nine years of marriage, Henri had yet to have a child by his wife because he spent so much time with Diane. An agreement was worked out were Diane would work Henri up and then she'd send him to Catherine to finish the job.

Mistresses had appearances to keep. Generally, they didn't scold or throw fits. They were always in a good mood - even if they weren't. They never frowned. They had to enjoy the king's hobbies, even if they didn't. After all, the benefits outweighed the discomfort.

Mistresses were usually paid well. The king provided everything she needed or wanted - and he usually took care of the bastard children. Herman points out the children the king usually had with his mistresses were healthy and thrived. The children with his wife were usually sicker. This was due to the fact the royal bloodlines were intermingled. Marie-Theresa, Louis XIV's wife, was a sickly woman and short in stature due to her family's in-breeding. Out of their six sons, only one grew to adulthood, and he resembled his mother in her dull, unattractive looks.

Mistresses were provided with jewels, apartments, real estate, and titles. Most of them knew better than to engage in political intrigue with the king, but some tried. Diane de Poitiers almost ran the government for Henri II, but his grandson, Louis XIV, didn't care for his mistresses to be active in his political life.

The book ends with Herman taking a look at modern day mistresses, Wallis Simpson and Camilla Parker-Bowles. While times change, the allure of having a mistress does not.

Herman's writing is brisk and sharp. Her anecdotes about the various kings throughout history are interesting. The book includes several color portraits of various royal mistresses and a reader's guide to help sate the reader who demands more. "Sex with Kings," is a book that is hard to put down.

"Sex with Kings"
Written by: Eleanor Herman
Harper Collins Publishers
ISBN: 978-0-06-058544-0
$13.95
5 Stars

StephB is an author who can be found at http://sgcardin.tripod.com

In her spare time she likes to read many books and a variety of different genres. StephB is an author at http://www.Writing.Com/ which is a site for Creative Writing

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steph_Burkhart

By Steph Burkhart

What is the Used Car Blue Book Value of My Car?

The Kelly Blue Book is one of the oldest companies around for determining the value of your used vehicle. Unfortunately, with the ever-changing market today the used car blue book value that you are getting may not be accurate.

The Kelly Blue Book determines the value of a vehicle by:

• Current market conditions and seasonality.
• Analyzing collected data from auction houses around the country.
• Make, model and year of the vehicle.
• Mileage, condition of the used vehicle and other options are also considered in determining the value.

The used car blue book value is only a guideline and a good place to begin when trying to determine the value of a vehicle.

What The Books Don't Tell You.

Supply and demand is a major factor in determining values. If an area has an abundance of Jeep Liberty's, then the price will decrease on these vehicles. The books don't take this into account.

The real value of your vehicle is determined by what someone will pay for your vehicle today. With the high demand of used cars these days, prices can vary from day to day. None of the books will reflect this change.

The used car Blue Book value, and other books, generally gives you above average, average and below average values of your vehicle. Unfortunately, your opinion and the Dealers opinion may be totally different on how they see the value of your vehicle.

Today it takes the keen eye of an experienced appraiser, who is familiar with the market conditions to determine the real value of your vehicle. I have never seen a book do this.

Why do the Kelly Blue Book, Edmond's and the N.A.D.A. book tell you your vehicle is worth more than what it is?

A couple of reasons for this are:

These websites make their money from selling advertisements.

A higher price means more visitors - more income!

None of these sites are in the market of buying used vehicles and they will never write you a check for what they say the value of your car is worth.

Use the Internet and these resources as a place to begin in determining the value of your vehicle. Don't get fooled into believing they are absolute values for your trade. They are only a guideline.

For more information on how to get the best car buying experience today, by saving time and money. I would like to invite you to visit us at: http://www.showmecoolcars.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Reitz

By Mike Reitz

How to Get a Book Published in No Time

There are an ample number of authors trying to learn how to get a book published. They must have been tired of book agents and publishers. They might have tried printing it themselves but given up all hope because the costs are enormous. If you are one of them then do lose hope yet. You can now learn how to get a book published and use the same method to publish all your works. Surprised? Don't be! You can publish the book yourself and not spend all that money and time. Yes, if a publisher gets interested it is certainly good. But the key is to get it published yourself first and then focus on marketing it or getting it viewed by a publisher.

But how do you get your book published if you do not have any publisher or printer working with you? Well, it is a lot more work but the end results are definitely worth it. You certainly would have to do the proof reading and editing yourself or get it done by someone else. You also would have to sit and type out your pages and put them together in a printable form. But if you could do all that then there is a great way to make it into a book that you can easily stock in the bookstore or send to a publisher. It does not cost a whole lot to do that too.

First of all you convert the manuscript into a book. You have to make it into a full fledged book that looks just like the one bought from the store. This is easy to do and you can gather more information on bookmaking techniques at the link below. The next step is getting an ISBN number. This can be achieved by going to Bowker.com and choosing the link that says "am self publishing or thinking of self publishing". You can buy the ISBN numbers online. Now your book ready and also has an ISBN number. An ISBN number gets your book into the database of books that is accessed by booksellers. If your title is persuasive or perceived as sell-able then they will stock it. Libraries also do the same. Marketing the book becomes simple once you have an ISBN. Websites like Amazon.com will also list you book if you have this. You can think of creative ways to generate a demand for your book. If you would like to start making books you can get more information at the link below.

Now if you were shown a step by step method on how to get a book published without spending a lot of money or knocking a lot of publisher's doors, wouldn't that be a blessing?

As a writer I have had to publish numerous works of mine and did not have the patience to wait for a publisher nor wanted to spend a lot of money upfront. That's when I stumbled on an unique method to get my work published my self.
You can now learn the same bookmaking techniques used and get your book published faster and easier than traditional methods at http://www.squidoo.com/howtogetabookpublishedtoday

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alan_L

By Alan L

New Year's Resolution - Join a Book Club

If you are looking for a great way to kick off the New Year, consider joining a book club. For a wide variety of reasons, a book club may be the best thing you can do for yourself this holiday season.

First, book clubs offer the opportunity to read. Reading is a great way to expand one's mind and experience new things. There are countless books available to read and so you can be sure there is a book out there that will pique your interest.

Second, book clubs allow you to find a topic or genre that interests you. Reading does not have to be a chore. Find an area you like and get involved in a book club that feeds and develops that interest. You can be sure the club will add to your reading experience. The topics to choose from are numerous. If you like popular reading, try a best sellers reading club. If you are looking to grow spiritually, join a club that reads religious books. If you have children and want them to get excited about reading, sign them up for a books for kids club.

Another great benefit of book clubs is that they encourage community. Not only do you read great books and learn new ideas, but you read great books and discover new ideas with a group of people who value many of the same things as you. Moreover, by discussing the things you read with others, you will help others grow, and will surely grow as a result of the contributions of others.

If you love books, but reading is not your strength or preference, don't get discouraged. There are many other alternatives to traditional reading that still allow you to participate in the literary world. All book clubs encourage being open-minded so it only makes sense that there be alternatives to the typical reading style. Book clubs are often formed by individuals looking to enjoy books in a different way. For example, there are groups that form an MP3 audio book club because they want to experience books by listening rather than reading. They still benefit from the contents, but get to absorb it in a new way.

Finally, book clubs do much of the work for you and gather information in one place so you can find the club that works best for you without spending all day searching on the internet. They can sort your options by topic, author, or any other categorical breakdown you might prefer. In any case, the important thing to remember is that a holiday is right around the corner. Don't wait too long to decide which club to join! Consider what interests you, and then get busy meeting all your new book club friends. Happy Reading!

Inessa Haggag is a staff writer at http://www.allbookclubs.com She is also an expert consultant about used books, autographed books, religious books, best sellers, and books for kids

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Inessa_Haggag

By Inessa Haggag

Publishing Your Book Without Dealing With a Publishing Company

Publishing your book is the biggest challenge an author faces. You have worked so hard and so long on your manuscript, you just want the process to be over. But there are many roadblocks ahead if you plan to pursue a contract with a traditional publisher. Some only want to work with established authors, and others receive so many manuscript submissions that yours is often tossed aside without ever being read. This is an uncomfortable truth that authors have to come to terms with.

Before you start thinking that all hope is lost and that publishing your book will be impossible -- there is an alternative approach that I'd like to share with you. It's called eBook publishing. That's where you take your manuscript and compile it into an electronic book. You then market your newly created eBook directly to the people who would have otherwise been buying your traditionally published book.

You're probably thinking that eBook authors get no respect and that there is absolutely no money to be made doing business this way. While it might be true that eBook authors often work in obscurity, the money that can be earned as an author/publisher is staggering. How do I know this? Because I've been working as an eBook publisher for a few years now -- and I'm FAR from being broke and penniless. In fact, I've enjoyed some of the highest paying years of my entire working life as an eBook publisher. My point is this. Submit your manuscript to traditional publishers, but also explore the option of publishing your own book electronically.

For more FREE information about how to make money on the Internet with your own home based eBook publishing venture, visit the eBook Secrets website by clicking on this link You'll discover a fantastic resource that I've put together for you that will help you launch and grow a profitable home based eBook business WITHOUT having to spend a lot of money on startup expenses. You can literally get started today. So go ahead and visit my eBook Secrets website today Yours For eBook Profits, Ethan Evans Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ethan_Evans

By Ethan Evans

Book Review - Twilight - Twilight Saga Book 1

Twilight is a vampire/romance novel written by author Stephenie Meyer.

Twilight series consists of Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, Breaking Dawn and yet unfinished Midnight Sun.

I read in the news about this series after 'Breaking Dawn' was released and was a worldwide bestseller. It was a long wait in the public library and after I saw the trailer of Twilight which is releasing on 21'st November 2008; I said to myself "I have to read this book before the movie releases".

The books pivotal point is the excellent chemistry between it's the lead characters - Edward Cullen and Isabella (Bella) Swan. The author exposes Edwards's anger, anguish, love through his eyes and his body language which is so compelling you can't help but fall in love with the character or just falling in love all over again.

The story begins with Bella moving to Forks, a small town in the state of Washington, USA which receives the highest amount of rainfall and hardly any sunshine. Here she meets Edward Cullen who is a veggie vampire (does not drink human blood). Edward tries to keep away from Bella as she is his ultimate desire, the best heroin a drug addict can get. He can smell her blood and her body as the fragrance of lavender. As much as Edward tries to keep away, Bella is drawn more and more towards her in spite of his warnings that he is the bad guy and dangerous to her. She learns that he is from a vampire family but still her love for Edward is so empowering that she is not afraid of him at all.

Edward is deeply in love with Bella, but he has to restrain himself from attacking her. He has to fight constantly with himself. It's the ultimate sacrifice of a predator falling in love with his prey. He has to have an extremely strong will power and furthermore protect Bella from his clan of vampires who still hunt humans.

The love between them is so strong that each one wants to protect the other. By the end of the book Bella states her wish to become a vampire herself to be with Edward to which she is vehemently refused. I am waiting to dig my teeth into the next part (New Moon) to read what challenges this couple faces next.

http://chanakyaspeaks.com/category/book-review/ Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chanakya_Garg

By Chanakya Garg

Book Collection Software - How to Start to Use It

If you're an avid reader of books, chances are high that you have bookshelves and bookshelves of titles. And because you're always looking for the next great book, you might head to your local bookstore on a weekly basis, only to come home with more books than you can read. After a while, you might begin to forget just what books you have, which books you've loaned to others, etc. With book collection software, you don't have to worry about re-buying a book or about losing a book that you love. Here's what book collection software can do for you.

Computers have made our lives easier. Not only can we shop online, but we can also begin to organize our lives online. With calendars and spreadsheets, we can begin to organize our time, so why not organize our bookshelves as well? Though you might think organizing your books is just about straightening the rows, with book collection software, you can organize your titles in an effort to figure out what you have and what you might need to add to your collection.

Book collection software works like this: it creates a database for you to begin to store your book titles. By simply taking your books off the shelf for a moment, you can begin to find out what you have. This software will access the details of each book from online sources, allowing you to easily have all the information you need about each book you own. Since you might forget the authors or the characters in the book, you might need this information if you need to find certain books for certain activities in your life.

If you want to share the books you're reading with your friends and family, book collection software is a great idea. You can easily insert your books into the program and then make a list which can be printed or posted online in just minutes. This will help your friends and family see what books you like as well as what you might want to future holidays. And if your friends have the book collection software too, you can share ideas and suggestions for the next bookstore shopping trip.

You can also keep track of who you might have loaned a book to, allowing you to keep track of your own personal lending library. This way, when you're stuck looking for a certain book, you won't head out to the store just to buy it again. When a friend or family member has borrowed a book, all you need to do is to make a note in the software database. This is especially helpful when you have friends around the globe who like to exchange the latest hot novel.

With book collection software, you are able to keep track of even the largest book collection. It easily organizes the information you need about each book on your bookshelf and can help you share your love of reading with the rest of the world too.

Max Smirnov, Book Collection Software Author

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Maxim_Smirnov

By Maxim Smirnov

How to Use a Book to Build Your Mailing List

One of the easiest, quickest and most effective ways to build your Mailing List is by using the promotional strategies of book reviews. On the internet there are a number of places you can visit for the sole purpose of selecting books that you can promote to your mailing list. One of these places is Clickbank.

Firstly you need to join yourself as an affiliate member of Clickbank. This automatically entitles you to a % commission for each book that you successfully promote, culminating in a sale.

By conducting book reviews you are providing a valuable service to your mailing list because it will save them copious amounts of time searching for information on subjects that are relevant to their business.

When you visit places such as Clickbank, Amazon and Ebay you are usually able to review the first chapter of a book as well as the Chapter Outline giving you complete information in which you can then conduct a review for your Mailing List.

The secret to success in using your Mailing List in this way is to give your readers information that is complete, but not so complete that it hasn't left them wondering what else is contained within the pages of that book which would be useful to them. You do this by writing in such a way that you create teasers, which means you leave your reader wanting more.

Once the reader opts in to collect a copy of the book, by clicking on the link you have provided within your email, it is your affiliate link that will be associated with their purchase thus increasing your income and at the same time building your list.

Another way you can build your list is by creating a very simple website of your own whereby you advertise the product you want to promote with provision for your browsers to opt-in, leaving their details prior to collecting their book. They will then be taken to a thank you page where they will be asked to confirm their details before they can collect their book. Once they have done that a link is provided and availability of their product is instantaneous.

These two simple strategies are both effective and honest ways to assist your readers in a valuable manner whilst you continue to build a lucrative business with an ever increasing list of people you can market to time and again.

At the same time you will be continuing to build a relationship with those that are subscribed to your list. Your credibility as someone who is reliable in providing accurate information as well as quality products will also increase over time and in turn, as time progresses your readers will come to trust you implicitly making it more likely that they will continue to purchase based upon your recommendations.

Janet Beckers is the host and founder of Wonderful Web Women
An award winning on-line community recognized for generous and honest marketing advice for women on the internet
To learn from the most successful women on the internet through live webinars, masterminds and forums absolutely free, visit http://www.WonderfulWebWomen.com and join today

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Janet_Beckers

By Janet Beckers

Creating Your First E-Book Without Typing a Single Word

Not long ago, I was introduced to a piece of software that translates your spoken words into text that you see on the computer screen. You might wonder why this is useful. Well, if you're someone who is interested in creating eBooks faster than ever before, then this is software that I highly recommend you consider purchasing. There are a lot of different vendors that provide this type of software, so you'll want to go to Google.com or your favorite search engine and perform a search using the term voice recognition software.

So let's get into specifics. According to what I've read, the average person cannot type more than 30 to 40 words per minute. By comparison, the average person can speak at around 150 to 200 words per minute. Just stop and think about that for a moment. What if you could literally speak in your normal voice, and have those words translated into typed words. Imagine how much time and effort that would save.

Here's a tip. Don't just sit down and start speaking. You should spend some time developing an outline of the topics you want to cover in the eBook. That's important so that everything has some structure. Also, don't worry about stray typos. The software isn't perfect, and you might notice that it misunderstands a few words here and there. Just keep talking. Get it all out there. Then, you can go back and review everything and make any necessary edits that will either clear things up or remove any typos. That's how you can create an eBook without typing a single word.

For more FREE information about how to make money on the Internet with your own home based eBook publishing venture, visit the eBook Secrets website by clicking on this link

You'll discover a fantastic resource that I've put together for you that will help you launch and grow a profitable home based eBook business WITHOUT having to spend a lot of money on startup expenses. You can literally get started today. So go ahead and visit my eBook Secrets website today

Yours For eBook Profits,
Ethan Evans

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ethan_Evans

By Ethan Evans

Book Review - US Citizens Wake Up & Be Afraid

Ben McGowan is an angry man, and his book, U.S. Citizens Wake Up & Be Afraid, delivers that message with sledge hammer-like efficiency starting with the second paragraph of the introduction which states: "I am The Guy Next Door, just one of the silent majority that has sat back too long and allowed our current and past leaders in Washington to lead our nation down a road of disgrace." He goes on to define these leaders as puppet-on-a-string politicians under control of the Democratic and Republican parties, as well as various sects within each party. That's just for starters. "My goal," he says, "is to awaken U.S. citizens to the poor performance of our misguided leaders, who are both elected and appointed to the top positions in the U.S. government."

When it comes to blame for the current state of affairs in our society, McGowan plays no favorites, particularly within the federal government. In an analytical fashion, he analyzes the performance of the Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches, describing how they function, who the main players are, and the mistakes they have made due to mismanagement, greed, or in many cases, heavy handed applications of enlightened self interest. As a retired military officer and Vietnam War veteran, I was particularly interested in his analysis of the Defense Department and the performance of Secretaries of Defense McNamara and Rumsfeld during their respective tenures; and I have to admit I found little to disagree with in his analysis. I should mention that I had forgotten what Ho Chi Minh said about war with the U.S. namely: "It would be like a clash between a tiger and an elephant in open battle. The elephant would crush the tiger. Yet if the tiger every once in a while crept out of the jungle to tear chunks out of the elephant's hide, the elephant would slowly bleed to death." That's pretty much the way it was as I remember it.

U.S. Citizens Wake Up & Be Afraid is not likely to be a topic of discussion among prominent think tanks in Washington anytime soon. McGowan himself admits he has no credentials in the political science arena, his writing is sometimes rambling , always emotional, and definitely in need of proof reading. But does all that matter if his message gets through? I think not. In my mind, McGowan writes like a man who has an urgent message to deliver, with no time for niceties. Think Paul Revere with a word processor instead of a horse. And for what it is worth, I ended up agreeing with most everything he said.

I finished U.S. Citizens Wake Up & Be Afraid on the Fourth of July, a time for reflection for all patriotic Americans. When I read the last page I felt like rushing to the window and, like the character in the movie "Network", shouting, "I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this anymore." Unfortunately, I was in Europe at the time and this act of patriotic defiance would have gained me nothing but a ride to the local police station for disturbing the peace.

U.S. Citizens Wake Up & Be Afraid represents the First Amendment at its finest, written by a man who sincerely loves his country and is trying his best to sound an alarm. I recommend you read the book and see if it makes you mad as hell!

Ron Standerfer is a freelance writer and photographer who is a frequent contributor to Ezine Articles as well as numerous other online news sites. His latest novel, The Eagle's Last Flight chronicles the life of an Air Force fighter pilot during the Cold War and Vietnam years. Details of his book can be found at http://www.theeagleslastflight.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ronald_Standerfer

By Ronald Standerfer

Book Library Software

When you walk into a library, you can see just how easy it is to find the things you're looking for. All you need to do is to go over to a computer terminal, type in your query and then find the number or the author's name by which to search. But your bookshelf at home probably isn't that accessible. However, if you want to make your bookshelf more user friendly, you will want to look into book library software as a way to be your own personal librarian.

With book library software, you can do a number of things. To start off, you will simply install the software onto your computer and begin to input your books. This will be the lengthiest part of the process, with the time depending on the number of books you need to enter. Once you have entered in your books, you will see that a great deal of data is entered in the spreadsheet as well. You will see that the plot summary is there, reviews, and even book cover illustrations are visible. This system works much like the digital mp3s you might download from sites, and this system is just as user friendly.

Once you have your books assembled on the 'shelf,' you can then arrange your books in any way you see fit. This will help you to easily sort the books you already own into categories which make sense to you. Some people like to sort by authors, while others like to sort by genres or by series names. What's even more helpful about book library software is that you can change the way you arrange your books as many times as you like. This way, you will be able to personalize your personal library as often as you like, depending on your mood and on your needs at the time.

Many book library software programs will also allow you to create easy to access lists for the books you own. This way, you can share your books with others, without having to ship them to them or to try to remember what you have on hand. This will help especially if you are thinking about selling off any books as a used bookseller. Or you can simply have an extra copy of your book list as a spreadsheet document that can be saved on your computer.

You might also want to create a box of text in your book library software spreadsheet that will allow you to keep track of who might have borrowed a book from you, as many people who love books know others who love books too. This way, your book collection is always organized and within your grasp, even if one book is with a friend  at least you know where it is.

With book library software, you don't have to have shelves of books you don't remember, you can keep track of what you own and what you still want to purchase in the future.

Max Smirnov, book library program author Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Maxim_Smirnov

By Maxim Smirnov

Distracted at Work? Meet Maggie Jackson's Book on Attention and the Workplace

Today we discuss some of the brain implications of "always on" workplaces and lifestyles via a fascinating interview with Maggie Jackson, an award-winning author and journalist. Her latest book, Distracted: The Erosion of Attention and the Coming Dark Age, describes the implications of our busy work and life environments and offers important reflections to help us thrive.

Question - New York Times columnist David Brooks said last year that we live in a Cognitive Age, and encouraged readers to be aware of this change and try and adapt to the new reality. Can you explain the cognitive demands of today's workplaces that weren't there 30-40 years ago?

Answer - Our workplaces have changed enormously in recent decades, and it's easy to point to the Blackberry or the laptop as the sources of our culture of speed and overload and distraction. But it's important to note first that our 24/7, fragmented work culture has deeper roots. With the first high-tech inventions, such as the cinema, phonograph, telegraph, rail, and car, came radical changes in human experience of time and space. Distance was shattered - long before email and red-eye flights. Telegraph operators - not online daters - experienced the first virtual love affairs, as evidenced by the 1890s novel Wired Love.

Today, the cognitive and physical demands on workers are steep. Consider 24/7 living. At great cost to our health, we operate in a sleepless, hurried world, ignoring cues of sun and season, the Industrial Age inventions of the weekend and vacation, and the rhythms of biology. We try to break the fetters of time - and live like perpetual motion machines. That's one reason why we feel overloaded and stressed - conditions that are corrosive to problem-solving and clear thinking.

At the same time, our technologies allow us access to millions of information bites - producing an abundance of data that is both wondrous and dangerous. Unless we have the will, discipline and frameworks for turning this information into wisdom, we remain stuck on the surface of the "knowledge economy." Today, half of college students can't judge the objectivity of a website, and just 30 percent of college graduates can read a document as simple as a food label proficiently. A third of workers say they are often so busy and interrupted that they don't have time to reflect on the work they do. I worry that we are creating new forms of ignorance, based not on a lack of information but on a lack of will or ability to wrest knowledge from the oceans of information surrounding us. Google isn't making us stupid. And yet, are we using Google wisely?

Finally, we have developed a highly fragmented workstyle. Taylor was an efficiency guru who taught workers to chop up tasks so that each part of a project could be made to go faster. His theories have influenced the world as much as those of Marx or Freud. Today, the average office worker switches tasks every three minutes all day long, and nearly half of such interruptions - both external and internal - are self-imposed.

In this new world, we can revel in our ability to move freely across the globe, connect with millions of others instantly and tap newfound sources of potential knowledge. Yet too often, our new ways of working undermine our powers of attention. Our split-focus, frenetic, diffused lives undermine our powers of attention, leaving us detached, unfocused and scattered.

Q - What may the role of spending hours per day in front of a TV?

A - Today, we are exposed to far more than television everyday. YouTube, movies, animated billboards, devices, envelop us by choice and by default in streams of visual and aural distractions, information and ads. The average American child is exposed to nearly six hours of non-print media a day. So determining the specific impact of just one type of media is difficult in this new mediated world. Still, it's certain that this environment shapes us, and molds our incredibly plastic brains, in ways we can only begin to fathom. According to work by Daniel Anderson at the University of Massachusetts/Amherst, toddlers exposed to "background television" are more likely to show attention deficiencies. They play more briefly with toys, show less focus with their play, and interact less with parents.

As humans, we are born interrupt-driven. In order to survive, we need to focus on new stimuli in our environment and stay vigilant to changes around us. This is why we are prey to and delighted by quick-moving, enticing, complex media - at home and at work. In the office especially, if we're constantly reacting to the new, new thing, we wind up doing nothing more than putting out fires and keeping our email inbox empty. We are less inclined to wrestle with the bigger, messy, problems of the day. Today, we must place ourselves back in the driver's seat of our attention. We need to take charge of our environment and our attentional skills, and recapture time for reflection, deep problem-solving and creativity. As one top executive once told me, "thinking can't be done in sound bites."

Q - It seems to be that a problem is our culture's over-idealization of "always on" and "road warrior" habits, which distract from the importance of executive functions such as paying attention to one's environment, setting up goals and plans, executing on them, measuring results, and internalizing learning. How can companies better equip their employees for future success? Can you offer some examples of companies who have positive cultures that encourage and reward employees fully put their frontal lobes into good use?

A - As I mentioned above, we are working and living in ways that undermine our ability to strategize, focus, reflect, innovate. Skimming, multitasking and speed all have a place in 21st-century life. But we can't let go of deeper skills of focus and thinking and relating, or we'll create a society of misunderstanding and shallow thinking.

To create workplaces that foster strategic thinking, deep social connection and innovation, we need to take three steps:

First, question the values that venerate McThinking and undermine attention. Recently, my morning paper carried a front-page story about efforts "in an age of impatience" to create a quick-boot computer. "It's ridiculous to ask people to wait a couple of minutes to start up their computer," explained one tech executive. The first hand up in the classroom, the hyper business-man or 'woman who can't sit still, much less listen - these are icons of success in American society. Still, many of us are beginning to question our adoration of instant gratification and hyper-mobility.

Second, we need to set the stage for focus individually and collectively by rewriting our climate of distraction and inattention. To help, some companies and business leaders are experimenting with "white space" - the creation of physical spaces or times on the calendar for uninterrupted, unwired thinking and connection. Executives are scheduling "quiet time" in their calendars to recapture space for reflection. One architect's design for a major new government laboratory specifically creates spaces for focus, as well as collaboration. IBM's global practice of "ThinkFridays" began three years ago when software engineers decided to limit email, conference calls and meetings one day a week in order to focus on their creative, patent work. Now, different teams and departments interpret "ThinkFridays" in varied ways. This pioneering initiative is fluid, flexible and workable - more so than the rigid, top-down policies that ban email one day a week.

Finally, if there's just one action we can take to spark a "renaissance of attention," it should be to give the gift of our attention to others. Parents and leaders, in particular, need to role model attention. As contemplative scholar Alan Wallace says, "When we give another person our attention, we don't get it back. We're giving our attention to what seems worthy of our life from moment to moment. Attention, the cultivation of attention, is absolutely core."

Q - Neuroscientist Torkel Klinkgerg recently told our readers that "modern life itself may help make us more cognitively able. And emerging tools may enhance our abilities and better prepare us for the demands of the Information Age." What are the opportunities and the risks you see ahead of us?

A - We now have easy access to reams of data, ever-expanding social networks, and limitless experiences across the planet and in the new frontier of cyberspace. The potential for learning, connection, fulfillment is great. But at the moment, we are not realizing this potential. And yet I am optimistic. In this time of flux, uncertainty, mistrust and collapse, we may nevertheless be shaken enough to reconsider our taken-for-granted ways of thinking and being. We may be ready to effect change. The task before us - to spark a renaissance of attention - is monumental, and yet it's as crucial as greening the planet or rebuilding our financial system.

Copyright (c) 2009 SharpBrains

Alvaro Fernandez is the CEO and Co-Founder of SharpBrains.com, which offers resources such as free brain teasers and information on brain fitness gym programs. SharpBrains has been recognized by Scientific American Mind, Newsweek, The New York Times, and more. Alvaro holds MA in Education and MBA from Stanford University, and teaches The Science of Brain Health at UC-Berkeley Lifelong Learning Institute

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alvaro_Fernandez

By Alvaro Fernandez