K.M. Daughters is the award winning writing team of sisters, Pat Casiello and Kathie Clare. Their pen name is dedicated to the memory of their parents: Kay and Mickey Lynch. “The Daughters” are wives, mothers, and grandmothers. Kathie lives in northern New Jersey and Pat lives in the Chicago suburbs. K.M. Daughters writes Romantic Suspense for The Wild Rose Press, Inspirational Romance for White Rose Publishing and released a Contemporary Romance in E-Book format only for Sapphire Blue Publishing. “Love Heals…”

Our parents’ names might sound familiar to you. That’s because we made a promise to each other to name characters in each of our books after our mom and dad – whether they just have cameos or they get to have some fun as secondary characters. This way they live on in our pages as well as our hearts.

The courage it takes to shoulder loss with grace and hope is at the heart of our stories. The central theme of our books is love heals.

The Sullivan Boys Series

Capturing Karma by K. M. Daughters

Book 3 Of The Sullivan Boy Series

Veterinarian Matty Connors’ visions lead her to homicide detective Brian Sullivan once again despite her resolve to remain anonymous the past four years. Her official work with the police in California resulted in the brutal murder of her fiancé, and since, a recurrent nightmare she barely survives. Brian, the reputed ladies man of the Sullivan family, has yet to give his heart to a woman until Matty lays claim to it. His black-and-white approach to solving crimes doesn’t jibe with Matty’s spooky pronouncements or her reputation for alleged infallibility. A wild goose chase searching for a murder weapon casts doubt on Matty’s “truths” and threatens their smoldering romance. Is Brian her nightmare slayer and ultimate truth? When the puzzle pieces fall in place for Brian, will it be too late to save Matty?

Book Details:

Paperback: 198 Pages

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press (December 9, 2009)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1601547218

ISBN-13: 978-1601547217

Print Price $10.99

Wild Rose Purchase Link

http://tinyurl.com/ykfmuxx

http://www.thewildrosepress.com/k-m-daughters-team-m-417.html?zenid=a87846cc334c240173bccb42b68e33e6

Amazon Purchase Link

http://www.amazon.com/Capturing-Karma-K-M-Daughters/dp/1601547218/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1261261764&sr=1-6

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Other Book Titles In The Sullivan Boys Series:

Against Doctor’s Orders – Book One

Beyond The Code Of Conduct – Book Two

Coming Soon: All’s Fair In Love And Law – Book Four

Other Book Titles:

Jewel Of The Adriatic – Book One In Adriatic Series

Rose Of The Adriatic – Book Two In The Adriatic Series

Past, Present & Forever – A Stand Alone Romance

************************************************************************

Visit The K. M. Daughters Website

http://www.kmdaughters.com

K. M. Daughters Email

kmdaughters@kmdaughters.com

K. M. Daughters Author’s Webpage On Books In Sync

http://www.booksinsync.com/authordirectory/daughterskm.html

Submitted By Books In Sync

http://www.booksinsync.com

Submission Date: April 2010

“My first foray into writing was in college in the school newspaper when I had a grudge about the disgusting food quality.  The article was pretty funny but scathing so they wouldn’t let me sign it.

My next work was an article in the American Art Review in May 1978, about Martha Walter, an American impressionist artist, whose estate we represented.

In 1981 I authored, “Collecting & Care of Fine Art” published by Crown in New York. It revealed the truths about the art market and separated them from the hype which was so widespread. It was a factual expose for which I received significant flack from many colleagues, but someone had to tell the truth and protect the collectors.

My latest book, “Bader Field” has just been released by Nightengale Press. It is a heart tugging memoir about my father, Samuel David, the legendary art dealer whose life was taken way too early, and how my brother and I had to step into the front lines of the third generation family business to live out his dream, all the while trying to survive emotionally after the devastating loss of our brother only eight years earlier.  The book is a journey of love, forgiveness and acceptance which begins at Bader Field (in Atlantic City), the oldest airfield in the country, the last place I saw my father.

It is my hope that “Bader Field” will help those who have had less than ideal fathers growing up to break the chain of negative influence and become much better fathers themselves when it is their turn to assume the role.

An even greater aspiration for me is that this book reach deep into the mind of anyone who is contemplating taking their life and show them that they are not alone, that there is always another answer, another way, no matter what.  Those so desperate need to know that they don’t just destroy themselves, but everyone around them as well; their family, friends and acquaintances. I pray that my perilous journey through those darkest days will bring light and hope to anyone on that final path, and draw them back.

Birth Place: Philadelphia, PA USA

Accomplishments: Reader Views Award 2008/2009 for ‘Bader Field’”

*************************

The Larger Reason For Writing “Bader Field”:

“Bader Field” my latest book was a seedling back in the middle 1960′s, although I had no idea of its inception yet. Life in our family had been idyllic until we suffered an unspeakable family tragedy which changed all of our lives forever in one vile gesture.

It was only decades later that I was focused enough to put “Bader Field together, although randomly at first as it started mainly as homage to my father so my children would know the greatness of the man who had passed away far too soon.

As the story unfolded, it expanded dramatically and encompassed a far broader perspective to include the horrific loss of my brother.  The darkest days of my life needed to be revealed and relived in order to accurately show our family dynamic and how we survived.

It became my hope that the story would give hope, light and love to anyone at that edge of desperation and bring them back from the brink of extinction to the many avenues of help that are available and to show those pained souls that such a final act doesn’t just take their life, but in large measure, those of their loved ones, friends and acquaintances as well.

So my dream was to turn an era of horror into a positive by paying it forward with the aim of saving lives, as many as possible.  And for that reason alone, this is a book that must be read and read widely for it crosses all borders and is blind to indifference and bias.

*************************

The Far Reaching Effects Of This Book:

“Bader Field” my latest book has been causing an emotional reaction across all lines.  Those who have read it all have the same “Wow” response.  Stunned, brought to tears and given a glimpse into a whole new realm to which they are drawn inexplicably as the pages turn.

Episodes of art dealing, flying twin engined airplanes and a family’s survival are a consistent theme throughout the story. The David family comes to life from the first page and grows more familiar as their depiction is vividly animated. You will know them quite well, as if in life you had and they will tug at your heart with compassion, love and warmth with a sense of realism you will actually feel.

Family members, friend and strangers alike have been riveted to “Bader Field.” Once started they cannot put it down, except to clear their heads and take a break from it’s overwhelming strength and hypnotic pull.   “I can see the movie” the refrains echo.  “I feel like I knew your family,” they acknowledge.  “How did you do it?” they puzzle and shake their heads.

Yes, a dream has been born with the release of this book and its path will soar.  “Bader Field” is one of those phenomena that will take on a life of its own like the kite caught in an updraft pulling skyward with no visible limitation.  Once launched, there was no turning back and I am so proud that the world is now able to read it and covet the story within its embrace.

*************************

Featuring: Bader Field by Carl David

Carl David is the third generation of a four-generation family art business in Philadelphia which was founded by his Grandfather, David, David, circa 1910. The business was later expanded by Samuel David, his son, to incorporate paintings, watercolors and sculptures of both European and American origin. Many exhibitions were mounted over the years, including a major assemblage of Baroque paintings accompanied by a concert by the Philadelphia Baroque Quartet. Samuel David was a force with which to be reckoned in and out of the art world. His legacy lives on long after his untimely passing.

His son, Carl David is the author of Collecting & Care of Fine Art published by Crown in 1981. At a time when art was being wantonly touted as an investment vehicle, Carl felt the obligation to inform the public of how and why the art market really works, divulging facts and dispelling myths of illusory nature.  Collectors, both seasoned and novice were thrilled to get a realistic appraisal of the art markets. His earlier article about Martha Walter, an American Impressionist painter (1875-1976), was published in the American Art Review in May 1978 and dramatically expanded the awareness of the well credentialed artist and her work, which Samuel David discovered and promoted in the late 1960′s.

Mr. David’s latest book, Bader Field, embodies the emotional story of a son’s loving relationship with his father—the legendary art dealer whose life is suddenly taken by a massive coronary at the young age of fifty-eight years. His death plunges the twenty-four-year-old man onto the front lines of the family art business, which he had entered a mere three years prior. Battling with his own grief while trying to help his adoring but fragile mother survive, David forges forward with all of the elemental tools his father imparted to him. His journey proves a difficult one, not having yet recovered from the horrific loss of his brother who was found dead on the fourth floor of the Rittenhouse Square townhouse, which was home to the prestigious David David Gallery. His self-imposed obligation was to successfully take the family art business to the next generation and to give his own children, years later, every bit of love, kindness, and wisdom bestowed upon him by the unique man whom they will never know other than the mark he left on everyone who knew him. Bader Field adds significant insight into the mysterious workings and dealings of the art world. David speaks from experience of having been immersed in it all of his life and having lived it from the inside out. There will be a tremendous crossover interest in this book as it combines the elements of an American family, its goodness and its tragedy interfaced with the multifaceted aspects of the mysterious art business and flying small airplanes. Bader Field in Atlantic City was the oldest airfield in the country. With little sophistication, its two asphalt runways juggled single and twin engine aircraft exuding a character and charm that created memories to last a lifetime. That is where this saga begins and where it ends as life comes full circle.

Book Details:

Paperback: 260 Pages

Publisher: Nightengale Press (November 1, 2008)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1933449667

ISBN-13: 978-1933449661

Genre: Biographies/Memoirs

Print Price: $15.95

Purchase Link:

http://www.amazon.com/Bader-Field-Carl-David/dp/1933449667/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1267830388&sr=1-1

Author’s Website:

http://www.carledavid.com

Author’s Email:

carledavid@gmail.com

Author’s Books In Sync Web Pages:

http://www.booksinsync.com/authordirectory/davidcarl.html

Submitted by Books In Sync

Author/Book Promotions

Website: http://www.booksinsync.com

Submission Date: March 7, 2010

Beyond Genesis: The Untold Story of Man’s Origins by Allen Epling

With all the public fascination lately with ´Bible Codes´, the author has uncovered ´hidden´ messages in the book of genesis that could not have been understood until the present age of understanding. With a refreshingly new interpretation, based on present day knowledge, Allen Epling presents new evidence that the events in Genesis are real and that there is a genetic link to the patriarchs of the Old Testament.

Beyond Genesis offers an alternative explanation for the origin of man that is unique and different from either side in the familiar Creationism versus Evolution debate. The author believes the truth revealed in this book was not meant to be understood completely until the present age of information and reason. He reveals new insights which uncover a storyline in Genesis that has previously gone unnoticed. He offers timely new explanations for all the “myths” of Genesis. All hypotheses are based on sound, recent science and the field of genetics, and are supported through references to the original sources. The central theme of the entire book is that the book of Genesis is accurate historically, and that modern man is a product of BOTH the evolutionary processes, AND a unique, separate line of man, the one referred to in Genesis. The book also reveals the ultimate “plan” for man and that it is not finished.

Beyond Genesis Book Review:

In Beyond Genesis, author Allen Epling attempts to solve the decade’s long debate between science and religion, Creationism versus Evolution. Epling proposes that the book of Genesis is historically accurate. The problems lie in the interpretation and translation of ancient text originally written in Hebrew. Epling goes on to suggest that if interpreted correctly, the Book of Genesis would fit with what is considered true in scientific data.

Epling draws on his considerable formal education and life long study and research of religion, history, and the work of earlier religious scholars to explain the mysteries of Genesis. He explains how the first two chapters of the book of Genesis describe two different creation events: the first around 12 billion years ago when God creates Heaven and Earth in a burst of light known as the “Big Bang,” with man-like creatures (Neanderthals, etc.) beginning nearly 2 million years ago.

The second Creation Event took place around 6 thousand years ago when God created the Garden of Eden, Adam and domesticated animals. Epling uses new discoveries in genetics and science as evidence to back his hypothesis that both scientific theory and religious belief about creation are correct.

Is Allen Epling’s interpretation of Genesis the true version? As of now, we have no way of knowing for certain. His theories are as believable as anything presented by academia, science, or religion. I urge you to pick up a copy of this compelling argument, to keep an open mind, and to make your own decision.

I highly recommend Beyond Genesis to anyone open to alternative religious theories and to those who have allowed science to cloud their faith.

Reviewed by WR Potter for Reader’s Choice Reviews.

http://www.booksinsync.com/authorspecialtyservices/readerschoicereviews.html

Details:

ISBN13: 978-1-4257-0414-8 (Trade Paperback)

ISBN: 1-4257-0414-X (Trade Paperback)

ISBN13: 978-1-4257-0415-5 (Hardback)

ISBN: 1-4257-0415-8 (Hardback)

Pages: 110

Subject: HISTORY / Ancient / General

Subject: HISTORY / Civilization

Subject: RELIGION / Antiquities & Archaeology

Subject: RELIGION / History

Author’s Website Purchase Link

http://www.beyondgenesis.com

Revised edition

Paperback only: $14.95

Xlibris Purchase Link

http://www2.xlibris.com/bookstore/bookdisplay.asp?bookid=32435

Trade Paperback:  $17.84

Hardback:  $27.89

Availability

Paperback prices reflect 15% discount off retail

Hardback prices reflect 10% discount off retail

Allen Epling’s Website

http://www.beyondgenesis.com

http://www2.xlibris.com/bookstore/bookdisplay.asp?bookid=32435

http://www.christianpost.com/blogs/

Allen Epling’s Email

a_epling@yahoo.com

Please Visit Allen Epling’s Author’s Webpage On Book In Sync

http://www.booksinsync.com/authordirectory/eplingallen.html

Submitted by Books In Sync

http://www.booksinsync.com

Submission Date: April 2010

Dawn Huffaker lives in the mountains of the southwestern corner of New Mexico. She is the eldest daughter of two educators.

At the age of eight months, Dawn became mysteriously ill and never learned to walk. She has had to learn to deal with her world from a wheelchair. With the help of her family, she is leading a productive life.

In junior high, Dawn discovered her passion for poetry. Some very special teachers took the time to show her the beauty of words. From that point on, she wrote poetry for family and friends, and published works in the school newspapers.

In college, she received her bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, and minors in English and Biology. Dawn went on to found a local computer store. The store operated for seventeen years. Then, she spent two months in the hospital dealing with a health concern, and had to close her business.

When Dawn returned home, she spent several months recuperating. During this time, she began exploring the idea of publishing her first book of poetry, and selecting her very best poems to put in volume one. That was how Flights of Fancy came to be.

Currently, Dawn has published her second book Flower Escapes which is a collaboration with Michele Duncan, an amazing floral photographer. This book is available through Amazon.

***********************

Featuring: Flights of Fancy: Volume 1 (SE) by Dawn Huffaker

Welcome aboard!

This is the maiden flight for Flights ofFancy. It is the first volume of my poetry, and encompasses aselection of poems written over the past twenty-five years.My home is in the mountains of southwestern New Mexico.The pines and junipers are my neighbors. Mountainstouch the sky outside my window. The inspiration for many ofthese poems come from here.Inside these pages, are many kinds of flights. Each is designedto showcase an aspect of life. From the joy of life, tothe beauty of nature, to the sadness of loss, it is recorded here.By sharing these, may you see that life is very awe-inspiring.Each moment is so precious. Time passes too fastwhen one is distracted.

Enjoy!

**************************

Editorial Reviews

Flights of Fancy is a collection of poetry by the very talented Dawn Huffaker. The name of this volume was derived from the series of `flights’, or chapters, each of which was inspired by a variety of forms of nature. The author portrays the gamut of emotions, from joy to sadness, beauty to observations of both humans and nature. The majority of her poetry was inspired by the scenic views of southwestern New Mexico so abundant outside the windows of her home.

Flights of Fancy represents poems which were written over a period of 25 years in the author’s life. Topics range from the various phases of her life to three of her greatest loves – God, rodeo, and computers. Using several different poetic schemes, Ms. Huffaker has created a collection which is always inspirational, deft at portraying particular images, and evocative of higher emotions.

The best pieces in this book, in my opinion, are those about nature. As those of us who love New Mexico know, the state presents a unique majesty of natural beauty and the evidence of God’s skillful touch in designing magnificent glory. The author is quite skillful in describing this splendor just right:

“soft purple glow/whispers across the sky/as the sun yawns/and exits the day;

soft pink glow/nudges the stars/from the dance floor/and sends them off to bed.”

I love these lines and their personification of celestial bodies.

Reading the poetic lines in Flights of Fancy makes me wish I were in New Mexico once again and able to view it through the author’s eyes; as she writes:

“I live on the shoulder/of a sleeping giant/his nightshirt is made/ of the junipers/and pines.”

Flights of Fancy is a truly touching and beautiful work sure to provide inspiration to anyone who reads it.

4/09 Reviewed by Candace Morehouse, author of Golden Enchantment –Reading New Mexico – 4/09 Candace Morehouse –This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Book Details:

Publisher: lulu.com (October 15, 2009)

ISBN-10: 0557089190

ISBN-13: 978-0557089192

Language: English

Paperback: 100 Pages

Genre: Poetry

Price: $12.96

Amazon Purchase Link

http://www.amazon.com/Flights-Fancy-SE-Dawn-Huffaker/dp/0557089190/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1281479556&sr=8-1

LuLu Purchase Link

http://stores.lulu.com/duncanhuffaker

**************************

Dawn Huffaker Other Poetry Book  And Calendar Covers

**************************

Dawn Huffaker Joined Books In Sync In August 2010

Please Visit Dawn Huffaker Author’s Page At Books In Sync

http://www.booksinsync.com/dawnhuffaker.html

Dawn Huffaker’s Website

http://www.dawnhuffaker.com

Dawn Huffaker’s Blogs

http://dawnhuffaker.wordpress.com/

http://www.godlovedme.com

Dawn Huffaker’s Email

questions@dawnhuffaker.com

Submitted by Books In Sync

Author/Book Promotions

http://www.booksinsync.com

Submission Date: August 2010

Tip #1 The first task to self-publishing is actually making a book out of your manuscript.

Here are just some of the decisions that go into transforming a manuscript into a book:

Cover design

Internal artwork and layout

Font, for example, Times New Roman or Arial

Type of binding, for example, spiral, ring, stitched, perfect, etc.

Hardcover or softcover

Book size (standard book size is 5.5″ by 8.5″)

Type of paper book is printed on

Color or black and white

Number of pages. It is generally easier for consumers to justify a book purchase if the book is over 100 pages.

While your printer can help you with a majority of these decisions by offering suggestions and examples it is helpful to go to a printer with a good idea of exactly how you want your book to look. Visit bookstores and find books that you want to model.

Tip #2 Understand the difference between publishers and printers.

POD Publishers

Unlike POD printers, POD publishers may take care of the extra costs of designing a book cover, editing your book, and obtaining an ISBN number. They can be a good option if you need less than 50 books because the price is generally lower than what you would pay for a POD printer. However, make sure that you read your contract carefully and that you fully investigate the POD publisher that you are considering. Some publishers require exclusive rights to your book.

POD Printers

POD printers are just that, printers. They do not invest in your product. They simply manufacture it. The cost can be a bit expensive and generally ranges from $5 to $10 per book, depending on your book’s specifics. POD printers can be a good and cost effective option if your book is nearing the end of its life yet you still have the occasional order trickling in. This way you can order one book at a time and it eliminates the possible expense of having to keep an inventory on hand. The print quality is usually good. Again, as with any company, read your contract carefully and make sure to investigate the company.

Digital Printers PQN, Print Quality Needed

This is a good option for the author that needs fewer than 2500 copies. It is cost effective, the print quality is good, and it normally takes less than two weeks to print.

Offset Printers.

When you need more than 2500 books, your best choice is offset printing. The cost will equate to about $1.25 per book for about 3000 books. However, the more books that you print, the less expensive your cost will be.

Tip #3 Don’t forget about distribution

The next thing that you will need to handle as a self-publisher is the task of distribution. It may actually be to your benefit to hire a distributor; however, most distributors take 65% of the profit. A distributor’s main purpose is to “sell” your book to bookstores and specialty stores.

Distributors also are able to sell your book to larger chain stores like Borders and Barnes and Noble. This can be to your benefit because it means that your exposure is much larger than sticking with smaller booksellers and specialty stores.

Tip #4 How are your customers going to order and pay for their books? Order

Decide how you are going to take orders by phone, fax, email, webstore, snail mail, or all of the above. Do you accept credit cards? How will you ship? How will you take returns, if at all? Mail order purchasing is an easy and efficient process once you have established a routine. However, shipping individual books can be expensive. Will you charge for shipping? Where will you store the books?

Tip #5 What are you going to call your publishing company?

The first thing that you will need to do, once your book is written, is to start your own publishing company. To accomplish this you will first need to decide on a name for your company. Experts recommend against placing your name in the title of the company because it makes you look like a beginner. Additionally, do you really want your name listed as both the author and the publisher?

Tip #6 How much are you going to charge? Pricing Your Book

Before you begin promotion, determine how much to charge for your book. The general rule of thumb is to charge 8 times what it cost you to produce it. Therefore, if it cost you $5 to produce the book, you’ll charge $40. However, you want to consider your market and how much they’ll be willing to pay for your book. It could be more or less than $40.

Tip #7 ISBN numbers. An ISBN number is not a requirement to sell a book yourself but it will make it easier to record your book with booksellers and it is a formal registration process that signifies that you are in fact a publisher. In short, it makes you look more professional. Additionally, most booksellers like Amazon, require an ISBN number.

Visit the ISBN website, www.isbn.org

Fill out the application. It costs $29.95 for 10 ISBNs and I have been told that it takes quite a long time to process, so have patience.

Tip #8 Library of Congress Number. This is a number that is assigned by the Library of Congress to a book. It can also be referred to as the Preassigned Control Number or PCN. Numbers are only assigned to books that will be added to the library. You can apply for a number by visiting www.copyright.gov.

Complete the application and then file for a number

Tip #9 Copyright Registration. The first step in registering your book is to print a copyright notice on your copyright page, usually the back of your title page. Your second step is to publish your book. Last, you will want to visit www.copyright.gov/forms/

Tip #10. Promotion tips. There are thousands of ways you can promote your book. Tackle them one or two at a time. If you jump in and try 10 different promotion methods/tools, things will get messy and you won’t be able to devote your full attention to each promotion method. Focus on one or two at a time.

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How To Make A 6 Figure Income Writing & Publishing Your Own BookGo To: Write A Book

This short article will not try to explain every aspect of book publishing in detail, but it will brush on a few of the important topics. I have a few other book projects in the making that will detail the book self-publishing process; however, in the mean time, this should give you a good basis of understanding.

— The Idea —

The most difficult part of creating your manuscript is deciding on the topic. We all have ideas. It’s part of our being. Ideas pop in and out of our heads all day long; however, we usually dismiss many of them as useless or too simple to be of use. You would be surprised at how many people want “simple” and easy-to-understand information! Readers want books that teach, inform, and entertain.

When you sit down and really think about all you’ve learned throughout your life, you’ll be amazed at how much you really know! Your life experiences alone could fill a library! Even if you feel that you don’t have any knowledge that would be of interest to anyone, you can start small. Research a market that interests you, find your competition, learn all that you can about a specific subject, and then write about it. Your ideas are important, as your knowledge and point-of-view are unique and of interest to others.

— Planning the Product —

I always suggest keeping your book concise and informative. This provides a small footprint, yet it also allows your readers to purchase your book at a reasonable price. Keep it around 100 pages, which, once in book format, equals about 50, two-sided pages.

The core content of the manuscript consists of a title page, copyright, table of contents, figure and table references, acknowledgements, forwards, content, appendices, index, and back page. This list is the basic minimum requirements to support the information necessary to present your book and its content. Of course, you can add other items such as a glossary and a preface, but such inclusions are at your discretion.

It is best to produce your book in the standard 5.5″ by 8.5″ format in both print and PDF. I always suggest PDF to my publishing clients because it is one of the few cross-platform (i.e., Mac, PC, PDA, and UNIX-based machines) document distribution products available today and it is the most popular.

— The Manuscript —

Once you’ve focused on an idea, you’ll have to create an outline or table of contents to define the content. The best way I’ve found to do this is to break the idea down into blocks of contiguous information — similar to assembling a pyramid. Step through your idea and ensure that you are building from, for example, the most general information to the most specific information. Check the outline several times, and have a friend review it, to ensure that gaps are filled in appropriately.

You can actually over-rewrite your work to the point of frustration and burn-out. Ensure that you’ve planned and researched appropriately to provide a solid foundation. In this way you can develop a first draft and then perform substantive and grammar edits. Then, perform a technical edit and a second draft. Once the second draft is complete, move into a final copy edit then, once you produce galleys or a sample version of the finished book, perform a proof read. Don’t rework any of the core steps of document development, but ensure that each step is completed with quality in mind. This ensures a solid product in a short amount of time. If you would like to update or add to the information in your first release, provide a follow-up revision.

— ISBN and Copyright —

Once you’ve started your manuscript, order your group of ISBNs. You can sign up for your ISBNs at http://www.isbn.org for about $240 for 10 ISBNs. However, additional fees can be imposed based on express orders. This is why I say, order the ISBNs while you’re writing the manuscript so that you can afford to wait the 10 days for standard, free, delivery.

You will have to convert your ISBN numbers to EAN barcodes to apply to the back page of your book. The barcode must consist of the ISBN you assigned to the book as well as the coded pricing of the book. You can have a vendor generate the barcodes for between $3 (http://www.toupin.com/serv_writing.asp) and $20 per barcode or you can download and use the Barcode Maker (http://hem.passagen.se/sams/barcode.htm) to generate your own barcodes. For the price, it will pay for itself in just a few ISBNs for your books.

Once you have assigned one of your ISBNs to a book, you can register it in Books In Print (http://www.booksinprint.com/bip/). This is how booksellers are able to access your information and sell your book through their outlets. Additionally, you’ll want to register your manuscript-in-progress with the Library of Congress Cataloguing in Publication (http://cip.loc.gov/cip/ecipp14.html). This registers your book for access by libraries and government archives. You will be e-mailed the “CIP data” to be printed on the copyright page following the heading “Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data”.

To protect your work and ideas, copyrighting your book is a simple and inexpensive process. There are actually several different methods of protecting your work including government and commercial organizations. The primary sites are the government copyright office (http://www.copyright.gov/forms/) and WriteSafe (http://www.writesafe.com/).

— Production —

There are many different ways to produce your books; however, costs range from a $1,000 initial setup plus the purchase of a few hundred copies down to no setup fees and pay-as-you-go. The final choice is yours, but my direction involved a local printing company and a pay-as-you-go scheme. With this approach, reduced initial costs are reflected back to the readers and your profit potential is seen immediately.

Three places that I’ve experimented with to print some of my books include Kinko’s (http://www.kinkos.com/), InstantPublisher (http://instantpublisher.com/pricing.htm), and Mimeo (http://www.mimeo.com/). Of course, use these for starters to experiment with your books. Eventually, you’ll find the right bindery for your needs. You can locate many publishers via Google.com or AllTheWeb.com using keywords such as “online printing”, “book printing”, and “print on demand”, but once you get some experience behind you, the choice will be much easier.

— Marketing and Distribution —

Once you assign and register your ISBN for your manuscript, it becomes available to the multitude of book stores around the globe including Amazon, Borders, Barnes&Noble, and various other major book sellers. Now that you have your book out there, the trick is to have people purchase the book and have book stores stock copies on their shelves.

To have the book stores purchase in quantity, you’ll have to devise a solid marketing plan to their acquisitions personnel. In many cases, book stores will simply sell your book to their customers as it is requested, but if you can get them to buy in bulk, that’s greater exposure and sales for you!

You can also license out the content to various professional speakers. Speakers are always looking for ways to provide quality information specific to their presentations. They might use your content in a handout, or perhaps for sale in the back of the room. Locate those speakers that fit within your audience and contact them. Find out their needs for their next presentation and work out a deal for them to resell your books. I’ve had many speakers use my articles in their presentations and the exposure and feedback has been overwhelming.

Of course, you should always locate affiliates to help sell your books. One way is to offer them a percentage of the gross sales or sell them copies of the books at a discount. Either way, you will have “agents” out pushing your books for you to make money for them, as well as for you.

Always provide a web site that boasts the benefits of your book. Use a book cover maker to create a book image on the web site. One quality book cover creator is called CoverFactory (http://www.ans2000.com/a2k_coverfactory.php) and provides numerous capabilities to generate professional looking covers for books, software, and services.

Free content is an important way to bring people to your site and let people know about your book. You can provide rewritten excerpts from your book as articles and submit them to various article announcement lists, press release sites, zines, and directories. I’ve been able to locate and associate with over 1,000 sites and lists that accept and publish my articles. This provides outstanding coverage for my sites, services, and products.

— Sales and Returns —

Since you are the publisher, you now have to determine how to handles sales. It’s important to define how you will handle direct sales and shipping, bulk sales, and affiliates. You want to ensure that your sales go smoothly as well as provide enough of a margin so that everyone profits.

When collecting funds, it’s important to accept credit cards through one of the popular merchant vendors. To minimize expenses and provide a common and secure payment mechanism, I use StormPay (http://www.stormpay.com) and PayPal (http://www.paypal.com). Since people have their likes and dislikes of online payment vendors, using both allows many different types of users to submit payments. Of course, you must always determine how to handle returns as part of a quality customer service program.

— What’s next? —

Obviously, the information provided here is merely an overview of the entire process. However, I am working on a book that provides all of the details of producing your own book under your own imprint. Publishing provides excellent return monetarily as well as through enhanced self-esteem. There is quite a feeling that comes with getting your message out there and having people return positive feedback. Perhaps, once you self-publish a few of your own titles, you can work on publishing other authors and open a full-fledged publishing house. In this day, such a venture is not unheard of!

There are two basic types of book clubs: commitment book clubs and continuity book clubs.

Commitment book clubs feature attractive introductory offers containing several books for a symbolic price (for example 6 books for 99¢ or 4 books for 1$ each) in exchange for a commitment to buy a few more books at the regular club price within a certain timeframe; usually this means 2-4 books within a year or two. The club price incorporates a considerable discount, which can be anywhere from 30-80%, in some cases even more.

Commitment book clubs send their members a printed catalog every 3-4 weeks, along with a card which includes the title of the Featured Selection — a book chosen by the club’s editors as a must-read of the moment. Members are not bound to buy the Selection though; they can opt for a different book (or several books) instead, or decline the offer altogether, either by sending the card back or responding on the club’s official web site.

Once the obligation is fulfilled, the membership can be canceled at any time. Typical representatives of commitment book clubs are Doubleday Book Club, The Literary Guild, Book-of-the-Month Club etc.

Continuity book clubs are subscription based operations in which members receive a pre-selected book or several books each month — usually from a specific genre or a part of a series — until the membership expires or is canceled. To prospective members a certain number of free books are often offered at the beginning to sweeten the deal or entice them to join.

Typical representatives of continuity book clubs are Harlequin (romance), Highlights (children’s and educational) and Scholastic (children’s and educational).

In choosing a suitable book club you should heed your preferences. Being a member of a commitment book club is, to an extent, like shopping at an online retailer. The selection is similar: you can choose from a wide range of latest bestsellers from all genres and among all the popular authors such as John Grisham, Nora Roberts, Danielle Steel, Stephen King etc. You do receive recommended reads on a regular basis, but can decline them and make your own choices. Compared to online retailers, there is an annoyance of dealing with monthly selections, but in return you save more money.

Continuity book clubs don’t let you choose books yourself; instead, you will be shipped a themed book or several books each month, in tune with the specific club’s offering. For example, if you’re into romance books you can opt to receive romantic suspense books, historical romances, medical romances etc. These types of clubs work best for avid readers who enjoy books from a particular genre, and for people who lack the time or desire to shop for new titles on a regular basis. The shipments will often be composed of books that are not available elsewhere, so exclusivity is also part of the appeal.

Often, prospective book club members regard introductory offers such as 6 books for 99¢ with a suspicious eye; they just seem too good to be true. To an extent, they are: when shipping and handling costs are added, the deal loses some of its splendor. Nevertheless, getting five or six or seven hardcover bestsellers for $3 or $4 apiece is still a bargain that even the largest online book retailers can’t come close to matching, so the question poses itself: how can book clubs afford to do it?

Several reasons. First, book clubs market the goods directly to you, the customer; by avoiding the middle man they are able to save a considerable amount. Furthermore, they cut their own deals with publishers, in order to pay smaller royalties etc. Finally, book clubs often print their own editions at at their own facilities, which lowers the production costs further.

These book club editions are identical to regular editions in terms of content and artwork: same words, same covers. However, they can be altered in size or printed on less expensive paper to achieve additional savings. They may also have a “book club edition” mark on the inside flap. Such editions are generally considered to have a lower resale value. If this represents a concern for you, note that all book clubs offer some sort of guarantee on their products and services. Continuity book clubs will usually send you a couple of free books to evaluate and decide whether or not you want to continue the relationship. Commitment book clubs will ship you the entire introductory offer (up to 8 books, which you can opt to pay for later) and give you 20 days to decide whether you want to keep them. In other words, you are not required to spend a single cent before you have a chance to check the merchandise and make sure it’s up to your standards.

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:

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.

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!

It is your dream to have your book in every bookstore in the country, perhaps even in several countries. But wait, have you planned beyond bookstore sales? Many authors are unaware that there are many markets for books beyond the bookstores. The bookstores may be your first market, but there are many other “hidden” markets, and here are some key book marketing tips to help you tap into those markets.

Let’s begin with the job of writing the book. When you put “pen to paper”, it is important that you focus on one audience but write for many markets. Let’s begin by identifying why you are writing a book. Some people merely want to be a published author, giving them claim to a copyright and their name on a book. That is satisfaction enough. They don’t care about the financial return or the development of writing or publishing as a career. Other people just want to write a family history and sell it to their extended family. Some people are interested only in selling to the attendees of their seminars. Many others, however, want to sell thousands of books in as many markets as possible. Decide at the beginning of the writing process why you are writing so that you can determine whether or not you are creating a business venture.

Once you have established your reason for writing, move on to what you are writing about. Don’t try to be all things to all people or the encyclopedic source of all information on a subject. Choose an area of a subject with which you are very familiar and develop your topic well so that you don’t overwhelm or bore your readers. For instance, if you are writing a cookbook, don’t try to be The Joy of Cooking – that’s already been done. Instead, write about a category of recipes, such as heritage recipes, or recipes of a region or culture, or recipes from famous restaurants, etc. Your goal is to make your book different, and better, than other cookbooks.

Having now decided on the why and the what, focus on the who, meaning who will buy your book. You believe that many people will be interested in your book, but let’s define “many”. Do you mean all of the people in your interest group, your church or your workplace, or do you mean everyone? A word of caution, though – there is NO book that is for everyone. Sure, everyone may need your book but not everyone will want it. If your book is a healthy lifestyle cookbook, everyone might need it, but only people who actually want to be healthy will buy it. Do some research on who those people are and where they are likely to actually buy your book. Understand their demographics: age group, income level, shopping habits, activities, etc. Now write for them. What information are your target readers looking for? Is their a gap in the information about a subject that is very familiar to you or in which you have the credentials to fill the gap? Make sure that your book solves a problem or problems for the reader, or make sure that your book will increase the well being of the reader. Avoid falling into the trap of writing to make yourself feel better – you are not the one who will buy your book. Or if you are, you are the only buyer that you will have!

The why, what and who now being defined, you can turn your attention to the where you can sell your book. Because there are many markets for books, decide early in the writing process just what those markets are and write to sell your book in those markets.

It is likely that the first market that will come to mind is traditional book stores, and of course they can be a vital part of your sales. Do your research in getting to know your competition on the book store shelves, i.e., look at the other books that have been written in your genre. What writing style is most appealing to a wide audience? Is there a gap in the information provided in the other books? Are there problems that have not been addressed? Find the needs and fill them. When you are satisfied with the information that you are providing, think about what will attract the book store buyers. They will want to know about your planned publicity campaign. If you want people to buy your book in book stores, you are responsible for letting people know that your book is available, thereby driving buyers to the stores.

Besides book stores, books are purchased in the nontraditional book market by display retailers, book clubs, catalogs, gift retailers, volume buyers (think Costco and Price Club), corporations, foundations and foreign markets. These markets are considered “hidden” because they exist outside the usual bookstore market, yet they account for many millions of dollars each year in book sales. In fact, we sell thousands of books to buyers like these every year (for more about our Book Marketing tips and secrets click here: Book Marketing Tips). These markets, however, do not buy any and every book. They are looking for books that appeal to their customers.

For instance, if you are writing a book about spiritual experiences, think about which of those markets will likely buy your book. Will you approach book clubs? If yes, which book clubs – those that specialize in spiritual books only, or those that market to the general public? Will you approach the gift market or catalogs? Each market evaluates its purchases for its own clientele. Book clubs that target the religious book reader have a greater interest in spiritual books than do general interest book clubs. Volume buyers, catalogs and gift buyers (unless they target a religious market), display retailers and corporations will very seldom buy a spiritual book. Foreign markets, however, are often very interested.

Even if your book is written for the general book trade, you can still think of corporations that might be able to use your book as a promotional item. Make a list of corporations that could be interested in your book and make sure that your writing supports their products or philosophy, and that what you are writing about will solve some problems for the corporate clients. For instance, one cookbook was targeted at busy people who want to follow a healthy lifestyle. It became a bestseller very quickly in the traditional book trade, but sales exploded when it was sold to pharmaceutical companies who used the book as support information for clients who needed to achieve a healthy weight. The book also sold successfully in foreign markets, to catalogs, as fund raisers and to shopping malls as a customer reward.

The point is: you need to know how to slant your writing for your markets. You can sometimes get around the road blocks by giving your book the look and feel of a gift book rather than one that is a “serious read”. Don’t give your book the look and feel of a thesis. Many volume buyers are looking for broad interest books that people buy on impulse as gifts. This approach to writing increases your market tremendously, so if you want to appeal to a very large audience, approach your subject from a much “lighter” angle.

However, if you are a professional speaker who knows that you have a very good chance of selling your book to your seminar attendees, and perhaps to the corporations who hire you, writing for a very broad market is not necessary. You are not even trying to sell to the impulse buyer. Your buyer is already looking for a source of expertise such as yours.

If you are planning to sell your book primarily from a website to a specific type of buyer, someone who is searching the internet for answers to a concern or problem, you can be as specific as you like. The general public, again in this instance, is not your market – you already have enough buyers to make you very successful.

So, before you begin the writing process, make an outline of your book. Then, look at your list of potential buyers. Have you filled their needs? If not, can you add information or chapters to your book that will increase the likelihood of sales to those buyers? If you want to sell thousands of books, think about the end user of your book and write for them, not for yourself. That is the ultimate book marketing tip. See you on the bestseller list!

© Copyright 2004 Ink Tree Ltd.

Self-publishing is the hottest trend in books, as it provides creative thinkers turned authors with a fast and easy way to get their work on the market. With the added option of “print on demand”, and desktop publishing and design software, the initial cost to get your book out can be very minimal.

Self-publishing is also the most profitable since you get to keep all the profits for yourself. IF you are committed to the work it is going to take to sell your books that is.

One of the most difficult challenges a self-published author faces is getting their book into the hands of people that will appreciate it enough to pay their hard earned money. I recall reading an article on the self-publishing industry that reported the average number of self-published books sold per author is about 100 copies!

With that horrifying number in mind, you need to roll up your sleeves and prepare to launch a focused marketing and promotion program that will have you doing at least 3 things per day every day for the next 6 months to promote your book. Remember, no one can dream your dream but you, and ultimately, you are the only one responsible for the success or failure of your book.

Start by arming yourself with as much knowledge on the subject as possible. Check out these books and websites on marketing and promoting for self-published authors:

THE SELF-PUBLISHING MANUAL by Dan Poynter is I think hands down, the best promotional book and guide to successful self-publishing for a first time author. It is easy to read and understand, and organized in a fashion that make it a valuable reference as you go through the writing and publishing process.

GUERILLA MARKETING FOR WRITERS by Jay Conrad Levinson is another easy to follow guide with more than 100 ideas for marketing and promoting your book. There are like a zillion Guerilla Marketing books covering a wide range of markets.

THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SELF-PUBLISHING by Tom & Marilyn Ross guides authors through the entire self-publishing process from writing the first word to wildly creative ways to market the finished product.

1001 WAYS TO MARKET YOUR BOOK by John Kremer is top notch. John Kremer is a legend in the book marketing field. But there are SO many ideas presented this 3″ thick book that I found it to be somewhat overwhelming. His websites are much easier to go through for people that are A.D.D. like me!

Leveraging the power and global reach of the Internet is the next step you must take.

Every author needs a web page. Do you have one set up for your book or books yet? This site will serve as the foundation of your marketing campaign and is a step you cannot afford to skip. Your website will be used as a vehicle to promote both yourself and your work 24 hours per day. It will also display or link to book reviews, to provide the media and press with an avenue for contacting you for interviews, and will of course help you sell your product.

Your website does not have to be fancy and expensive. As a matter of fact, it is better if it’s rather non-dynamic. You want the key focus to be on your book and YOU, not your fancy FLASH intro.

After that, you need to get your book reviewed. There are mainstream book reviewers, and there are many niche market reviewers as well. Check out John Kremer’s list of newspaper reviewers at BookMarket.Com.

Authors of Black books have many options available.

When seeking reviews, be prepared to send out a copy of your book along with a headshot photograph, author contact information, and information on where your book can be purchased. This is when you would mention your wonderful new website! Here is a list of Black book reviewers and sites:

QBR The Black Book Review

QBR is a reliable source for what is current in Black books. QBR also produces the Harlem Book Fair, the largest African American book Fair nationally, held annually in New York City.

Felicia Pride’s Black Books Blog – More Than Words

Felicia reviews and blogs about Black books on AOL’s Black Voices channel.

African American Literature Book Club (AALBC)

The largest site on the web focusing on Black books.

The RawSistaz

This group of ladies provides casual reviews of a wide variety of books, all written by African American authors.

Let’s Talk Honestly with George Cook

George provides free interviews with Black authors which are posted as pod casts each week on this popular website.

The Black Issues Book Review

This the only nationally distributed magazine devoted exclusively to covering the latest news and reviews on black books.

Now you have a published book and a couple of great reviews. It’s time to contact Black bookstores in your area. Go visit them with your book in hand, introduce yourself, and ask if they will either carry your book or allow you to have a book signing in their store.

Book retailers usually receive a rather large discount from the cover price (as much as 60%). Since each independent retailer has its own sales agreement and terms, all I can tell you is to be sure to read each carefully.

Make sure the terms regarding book returns, payment dates, and merchandise delivery are spelled out clearly and to your satisfaction before signing on the dotted line.

Writing, researching and editing your book is certainly a lot of hard work, but that is just the beginning. All that work pales in comparison to the long hours and the effort you must put into getting your name out there and your book noticed every single day until you reach your sales and financial goals.

I cannot describe with words the deep sense of satisfaction one gets when you open up a package from your publisher and find the first copy of a real book that has your name on it. And selling thousands of those books is certain validation that what you have to say has value and is important to others.

Get busy making it happen!