Customer Reviews

Authors Access: 30 Success Secrets for Authors and Publishers

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Throw out all your books on writing, editing, publishing and marketing. Authors Access - 30 Success Secrets for Authors and Publishers not only offers sage advice on these areas important to authors, but each of the 30 articles is a workshop in itself.

Case in point: Publisher Joan R. Neubauer illustrates, in a most entertaining way, how Goldilocks and the Three Bears contain all the elements of story. Nothing further is needed about this aspect of fiction writing.

Much of the material was culled and edited from radio shows on Authors Access, [...] and at the end of each article are the author's bio, date aired, podcast URL, and author's website.

The book has nine chapters and the first three (the writing section) are heavily skewed toward fiction - novels, children's books, mysteries, romance and gay/lesbian. I would have liked an equal amount devoted to non-fiction, perhaps how-to, travel and health writing.

Marketing is marketing, however, whatever you write. The chapters on promotion include tips on using MySpace to promote your book, making the most of technology, and everything you've ever wanted to know about Amazon.

Between the stellar credentials of the book's editors and contributors and their informative articles, you will find yourself returning to its pages again and again as you proceed in your writing career.

Francine Silverman

Irene Watson, Tyler R. Tichelaar, and Victor R.V. Volkman colaborate in editing "Author's Access." Industry leaders contribute articles in their area of expertise in articles ranging from: Composition and writing, to editing, and marketing.

Other techiques used in gathering and reporting the information include: interviews, reports, and information gleaned from podcasts. An excellent selection of books are included as a bibliograph with a balance of titles and experts in the various areas covered in the narrative. The comprehensive index adds to the on-going referece value of the book.

I consider "Author's Access" an important addtion to my personal library.

This title interested me because it is put out by authors who are demonstrably successful in book promotion. Times are changing fast but nowhere faster than in publishing, and information that was good just a few years ago is not necessarily relevant today. "Authors Access" strikes a good balance between up-to-the-moment information and venerable, time-tested advice.

I have a quibble with the title of the book, "Author's Access ~ 30 Success Secrets for Authors and Publishers" because there is much more advice here than that! The content addresses different aspects of book writing and promotion, and happily for the overwhelmed it does not try to cover every subject but instead offers a selection of high points.

The first sections of "Author's Access" cover information about actually writing and editing, which are interesting overviews, but the book comes into its own when it shifts gears to the daunting project of actually marketing the book itself.

The chapters "Building Buzz with Book Reviews," "Marketing Your Work" and "Making the Most of Technology" all hit the nail of HOW to go about promoting your book right NOW, which all authors must do however they were published. The savviness of the advice is demonstrated in the way the book is structured itself, providing current, practical advice from a variety of sources and through different methods of presentation. Future editions can easily be updated and added, giving an example of flexible adaptation to the tools available today.

Detailing the tasks and opportunities needed in our publishing environment today would be like the proverbial task of nailing jello to the wall, and to the credit of the book's authors it makes no attempt to do so. Instead the book presents a snapshot of critical and intriguing advice to give a guide through the confusing project of book promotion.

This book will give the promoter instant ideas and motivation, along with some deeper insight into important areas for any author. It is not a thick, exhaustive tome about all the moving parts, but a lamppost in the fog--and it is all the more useful for that.

Authors Access: 30 Success Secrets for Authors and Publishers
BY: Irene Watson, Tyler R. Tichelaar & Victor R. Volkman
PUBLISHED BY: Modern History Press
PUBLISHED IN: 2009
ISBN: 978-1-932690-98-9
Pages: 220
Reviewed by Billy Burgess

Authors Access: 30 Success Secrets for Authors and Publishers is a wonderful handbook for any writer. It is a compilation of podcasts from the internet radio show called Authors Access.

The authors share great tips about the craft and myths of writing. You learn about writing about romance, mystery and other genres. Being a writer myself, I found the book interesting. I enjoyed the chapters on children's books and the article "Exploring Ghostwriting, co-Authoring, and Collaborating" by Ami Hendrickson. This is the first time I have read anything on ghostwriting. It was a joy to read.

There is a lot of information on promoting your book by the use of the internet. In "Book Marketing on MySpace," you learn how to set up a successful myspace profile, and learn how an author can use it to promote their work effectively.

Every author needs to know how to use Amazon.com to sale their books. In "Amazon Adventures: Staring Down Earth's Largest Bookstore," you learn how to use advantage and associate programs.

There are four wonderful articles about book reviews and how to use them to your advantage. My favorite was, "Negative Book Reviews: How to Avoid Them, and How to Use Them to Your Advantage."

One of the downfalls of the book is that it concentrates too much on self-publishing. I would've liked to have read more article on traditional publishing in magazines and big publishing houses. Overall I found Authors Access to be a great reference tool that every author should have on their desk.

Authors Access: 30 Success Secrets for Authors and Publishers features a cover photo of the planet earth. Per editor Victor R, Volkman, the image was selected because the book imparts a "world of information." I agree; it does.

Authors Access is a writer how-to book so jam-packed with info that you have to read it in small increments. Basically, the text is a compilation of podcasts from Authors Access, the internet radio show of the same name, which broadcasts live every Thursday on Internet Voices Radio.

I've read my fair share of similar books. By that, I mean books populated by the thoughts and wisdom of those who have found success in publishing. Authors Access confidently stands among them, thanks to its timely and targeted info. But its little something extra is the inclusion of links to the corresponding podcasts. ''It's an effective double whammy. Readers can absorb the podcast, getting a real feel for the author's experiences. They can then whip out a highlighter and tuck into the chapter. And as the author website links also are included, readers have yet a third avenue for obtaining additional information.

The nine chapters of Authors Access run the gamut from editing tips to building buzz with book reviewers. Each chapter includes at least two articles per the chosen topic. So in the "Genre" chapter, for example, readers find tips on writing romances, crime novels, even regional fiction. In the "Craft of Writing" chapter, they're reminded to use the Rule of Three (Thank you very much, Goldilocks!), while cautioned to trim the padding and to always show, not tell. They also learn that writer's block is due to one simple factor: fear of surrender. I know I'll personally be musing on that nugget for a while!

And then there's the delightful "Children's Books" chapter. Here the manuscript directives are to 1) kill off any pesky parents, 2) add frequent cliffhangers, and 3) hand the draft over to children reviewers before even daring to dangle the manuscript before a publisher. That's great advice. I wonder if more authors would quickly secure contracts if they did so -- instead of relying on the praise of their friends and mothers?

As I had familiarity with much of the above content, I spent most of my time dwelling on the chapters titled "Marketing Your Work" and "Making the Most of Technology." One article in particular, "Promoting Your Book with Social Media and Web 2.0," was especially helpful. Because it's becoming crystal clear to me that writers must quickly get up to speed on both if they want to market their books effectively.

So, where is my review copy now? In my office. Sharing space on the bookshelf I've labeled my "Smart Writer Resources." That about sums up the value I give to Authors Access.

I have read many, many books on how to write. I have attended many writer's classes. But of all books I have read, of all classes I've attended your book so far is the best I've read. It's concise, it's to the point. It is everything I ever wanted in a book about how to write books. And all of this in just one chapter.

Length:: 3:04 Mins

Here's a brief introduction into the content that this book provides and why you might be interested having it on hand for your everyday writing needs.

Authors Access does indeed provide successful tips for authors and publishers. This one of a kind guide exposes authors and publishers to methods of true success. By using Authors Access you will gain an understanding of the writing world and know how to navigate your way to success.
As a new author myself I found this book of great value. I learned so many new and effective ways to expand my own success. If you are delving into the world of writing add Authors Access to your must have list!