Publishing 101

Learn the basics of the publishing industry

From 70 of the most successful mystery writers in the business, an invaluable guide to crafting mysteries—from character development and plot to procedurals and thrillers—“this is a writing guide that readers and writers will turn to again and again” (Booklist, starred review). Mystery Writers of America (MWA) is known for providing unparalleled resources on the craft, art, and business of storytelling, helping writers of all levels improve their skills for nearly a century. Now, this handbook helps authors navigate the ever-shifting publishing landscape—from pacing, plotting, the business side of publishing, to the current demand for diversity and inclusivity across all genres, and more. Featuring essays by a new generation of bestselling experts on various elements of the craft and shorter pieces of crowd-sourced wisdom from the MWA membership as a whole, the topics covered can be categorized as follows: —Before Writing (rules; genres; setting; character; research; etc.) —While Writing (outlining; the plot; dialogue; mood; etc.) —After Writing (agents; editors; self-pub; etc.) —Other than Novels (short stories; true crime; etc.) —Other Considerations (diverse characters; legal questions; criticism) Also included is a collection of essays from MWA published authors—including Jeffery Deaver, Tess Gerritsen, and Charlaine Harris—selected by bestselling authors Lee Child and Laurie King and arranged thematically answering, “What piece of writing advice do you wish you’d had at the beginning of your career?” “Everything you wanted to know about how to plan, draft, write, revise, publish, and market a mystery” (Kirkus Reviews), this inclusive manual provides practical, current, easily digestible advice for new and established authors alike.

Nothing rivals the sense of accomplishment that comes from getting your first book published. It is thrilling and exciting to see your name in print. As a first-time author, you are eager to share your work and voice with the world, but you may be wondering just how to break into this challenging and ever-changing industry. The Complete Guide to Getting Your First Book Successfully Published is here to help make your dream a reality. This helpful book details the types of publishing you may choose, including traditional, subsidy, vanity, print-on-demand (POD), and self-publishing. You will learn about the tried-and-true basics of book publishing as well as about innovative additions to the industry, such as e-readers like Amazon s Kindle and Apple s iPad. You will learn everything from copyrighting and cataloging to book printing and binding. This book will also show you the different tax write-offs available for authors. You will be taught how to write a killer query letter and a perfect book proposal to increase your chances of having your book considered by traditional publishers. You will also discover what to look for in a literary agent and how to read the fine print on publishing contracts. This book discusses how to create, develop, and maintain a strong relationship with your editor, which is an integral part of getting your publishing success. Recognize how to find the right freelance editor to objectively edit your book without compromising your tone. And learn about the types of editing you may need and how much to charge an editor for those services. Once the editing is complete, you re ready for the design process. But don t worry this book will guide you through it. Learn how to create a cover and interior design that will grab your readers attention and complement your book s theme and tone. Reader familiarity is the biggest factor in sales, with 60 percent of readers saying their decision to purchase a book hinges on already being fans of the author. Thus, it s important to establish yourself as a likable and talented author. Although you may be tight on your promotion budget, this book arms you with dozens of low-cost tactics to get your book and your name in the limelight, increase your following, and maximize your sales. You will learn about book tours and signings, sending out press releases, preparing for news interviews, getting your Web site high in search engines, and tapping into social media networks like Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter. You will also learn how to market your book on Amazon, the key player in book sales, in order to get your book maximum exposure. Take advantage of the expert advice we ve gathered from all types of publishers and authors to give you a real-life glimpse into today s publishing industry. An extensive resources section of this book includes places to find literary agents and POD companies as well as a sample query letter, a book proposal, and a press release. You ll also benefit from referring to a sample blog post and a fact-based article to craft your perfect marketing campaign from these examples. With The Complete Guide to Getting Your First Book Successfully Published in your hand, you re sure to hit the ground running to becoming an established, respected author in the publishing industry.

Based on practical advice from Mark Shaw, the author of fifteen published books, Book Report is the only reference on book publishing alternatives writers will ever need. Readers will learn: How To Decide if Your Book Concept has Publishing Potential, How to Create Unique Storytelling Ideas, How To Improve Writing Skills, Why It Is Important to Market the Book Proposal and Query Letter Not The Book, How to Create Exciting Book Proposals and Query Letters, How To Find the Right Literary Agent or Publisher, and Why it is Important to Avoid Subsidy Publishers.

Adam Hawthorne is fine. Yeah, his mother left, his older sister went with her, and his dad would rather read Nicholas Sparks novels than talk to him. And yeah, he spends his nights watching self-curated porn video playlists. But Adam is fine. When a family friend discovers Adam’s porn addiction, he’s forced to join an addiction support group: the self-proclaimed Knights of Vice. He goes because he has to, but the honesty of the Knights starts to slip past his defenses. Combine that with his sister’s out-of-the-blue return and the attention of a girl he meets in an AA meeting, and all the work Adam has put into being fine begins to unravel. Now Adam has to face the causes and effects of his addiction, before he loses his new friends, his prodigal sister, and his almost semi-sort-of girlfriend.

The revised edition of this clear and concise course provides readers with a basic understanding of music publishing set forth in a completely non-intimidating fashion.

“One of the most anticipated YA debuts of 2018, Brightly Burning is a gothic, romantic mystery with hints of Jane Eyre, Marissa Meyer, and Kiera Cass.” —Entertainment Weekly “Brightly Burning delivers a brooding gothic mystery and a swoony romance, all set in space. Donne’s atmospheric, twisty update of a cherished classic will keep you up late into the night!” —Elly Blake, NYT bestselling author of the Frostblood Saga Stella Ainsley leaves poverty behind when she quits her engineering job aboard the Stalwart to become a governess on a private ship. On the Rochester, there’s no water ration, more books than one person could devour in a lifetime, and an AI who seems more friend than robot. But no one warned Stella that the ship seems to be haunted, nor that it may be involved in a conspiracy that could topple the entire interstellar fleet. Surrounded by mysteries, Stella finds her equal in the brooding but kind nineteen-year-old Captain Hugo. When several attempts on his life spark more questions than answers, and the beautiful Bianca Ingram appears at Hugo’s request, his unpredictable behavior causes Stella’s suspicions to mount. Without knowing who to trust, Stella must decide whether to follow her head or her heart. Alexa Donne’s lush and enthralling reimagining of the classic Jane Eyre, set among the stars, will seduce and beguile you.

Finalist for the Scotiabank Giller Prize A National Post Best Book of the Year A tender but lively debut novel about a man, a woman, and their Chevrolet dealer. Agathe and R jean Lapointe are about to celebrate their twentieth wedding anniversary when R jean's beloved Chevy Silverado is found abandoned at the side of the road--with no trace of R jean. Agathe handles her grief by fondling the shirts in the Big and Tall department at Hickey's Family Apparel and carrying on a relationship with a cigarette survey. As her hope dwindles, Agathe falls in with her spirited coworker, Debbie, who teaches Agathe about rock and roll, and with Martin Bureau, the one man who might know the truth about R jean's fate. Set against the landscape of rural Acadia, I Am a Truck is a funny and moving tale about the possibilities and impossibilities of love and loyalty. 2017 Scotiabank Giller Prize Jury Citation: French or English, stick or twist, Chevy or Ford? Michelle Winters has written an original, off-beat novel that explores the gaps between what people are and what they want to be. For a short book I am a Truck is bursting with huge appetites, for love and le rock-and-roll and cheese, for male friendship and takeout tea with the bag left in. Within the novel's distinctive Acadian setting French and English co-exist like old friends - comfortable, supple to each other's whims and rhythms, sometimes bickering but always contributing to this fine, very funny, fully-achieved novel about connection and misunderstanding. And trucks. "The wonder-packed drama of I Am a Truck plays itself out in the impossible intersection of a Coen brothers movie, a James M. Cain novel and a Looney Tunes feature. Michelle Winters has created a fresh novel overflowing with mystery, emotional complexity and a new and welcome breed of goofy charm." - Stuart Ross, author of Snowball, Dragonfly, Jew