The Importance of Independent Bookstores
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July 23, 2019

When thinking about your local bookstore, what comes to mind? Is it a familiar friendly face greeting you as you walk in? Is it a sense of comfort and calm? There is a simple magic to independent bookstores, and they’re a refuge for many in the neighborhoods they serve, playing an important role in benefitting the community. Local independent bookstores are vital pillars in the… [Read More]

Advice for Authors
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October 23, 2018

Whether you are an aspiring author or on your sixth or seventh book, professional development comes with the territory. The business of being an author can be overwhelming for many people who don’t have the background. How can you best prepare for today’s marketplace? I’ve worked with writers on their craft for decades and these are the secrets to the success of their writing and… [Read More]

Do you need an agent and, if so, how do you know which one is right for you?
by,
September 17, 2013

So you think you need an agent? Most agents do not represent poetry, short stories, non-fiction or material suitable for academic or small presses. If you have written a novel or a memoir, you might consider finding a literary representative. The best reference guide is Chuck Sambuchino’s Guide to Literary Agents published annually by Writer’s Digest Books and the 2014 issue has just been released. Before you… [Read More]

Hurdles for authors of children’s books.
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July 17, 2012

Children’s books are treated differently than other kinds in the business of publishing. The market is highly segmented with rigid requirements about reading level and age appropriateness. The number of words and pages are rigidly defined within each sector of children’s books. Having more than one book up your sleeve is important since serial books are more desirable than a single title.  Marketing features matter… [Read More]

2012 Children’s Writer’s & Illustrator’s Market: Your Ticket to the Secrets of Kidlit
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March 31, 2012

The best reference you can buy on the subject of publishing children’s books is the Writer’s Digest publication, 2012 Children’s Writer’s & Illustrator’s Market, edited by Chuck Sambuchino. For the best publishing tips, the first 175 pages are a gold mine. In the 2012 edition of CWIM (the acronym used for this desk reference for the past 20 years), Sambuchino added lots of new  instructional… [Read More]

So if I have to blog, where do I start?
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February 12, 2011

Authors are expected to have their own blogs today. Not just after the book comes out, but before. Publishers look at the visitor statistics to your blog as the potential market for your book. So before you send in that brilliant book proposal, build a platform for your publication. If you have never done any blogging before, the place to start is with reading and… [Read More]

2011 Guide to Literary Agents
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February 2, 2011

The 2oth anniversity edition of this Writer’s Digest Book seems a bit leaner than in previous years; despite new articles, hundreds of listings for writers’ conferences, and fresh material on this rapidly changing business. Nearly a third of the book is dedicated to how-to and background information for authors on finding the right agent for your work. The second third of the reference guide offers 550… [Read More]