Customer Reviews

The First-Book Market: Where and How to Publish Your First Book and Make It a Success

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

First Book Market gives me key information on where and how I can get my book published. It includes, among other things, deadlines, addresses, hints, guidance, and awards. Creating a first book takes time. First Book Market frees me to put my energy into my book. With First Book Market, I don't have to reinvent the wheel. Jason Shinder has pulled together hundreds of otherwise disparate sources offering generous tips from those who have gone before us. It's like applying to college; without a guide to help, we face a daunting task. This book makes the daunting fun.

The only information for where to publish your first book is on 31 pages out of 308, but the information is only the very basic, IE: publishers' addresses and phone numbers. The rest is for writing contests and stories on writers who have won writing contests. I would suggest going elsewhere to find the type of information that this book implies it has. The phrase, "Don't judge a book by its cover," certainly applies to this one.

I bought this book on-line because its title promised an information-packed guide for aspiring writers. What a terrible disappointment and waste of money. There are no procedural guidelines about submitting manuscripts and approaching publishers. Rather, this book is just a collection of random, almost irrelevant musings (considering the title's promise of a fact-filled, how-to type manual) and a listing of essay contests.

I like the title. I think all three editors did a good job. I'm not trying to get a book published, but I found this book fascinating because it explores the mysteries of the sometimes zen-, othertimes shark-like world of publishing. After reading this book, I'm left feeling that these writers either need the enormity of clammy perserverance or quicksilver luck. You can't just have talent as a writer -- you need publishing talent, too!

If you're impatient and anxious to get your book published, don't buy this one. If you don't like Writer's Market, or other such books, this one will annoy you. First-Book Market is for serious writers who are willing to do some work. I, for one, especially like the section where several authors tell stories about what it took to get their books published -- check it out. That said, it's a good read, and it'll give you a leg up if you want a climb. While you're at it, read my book!

If you read this book you will get a fast fun course in publishing. Teaches you the ins and outs and is a lot of fun.

Rick Frishman. Pres Planned TV Arts and co author of GUERRILLA MARKETING FOR WRITERS