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Get Published Today!: An Insider's Guide to Publishing Success

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Penny C Sansevieri has to be the best friend of all nascent authors. She has shared her knowledge of the publishing arena with several books before this one, but this book GET PUBLISHED TODAY is an even more complete and user friendly book than all of her previous versions. Try as you may there will be no elements of publishing left unaddressed after reading this very visually satisfying as well as comprehensive book. Sansevieri's writing style is supportive, no nonsense practical, and filled with tidbits of unexpected tips for the reader that it instantly becomes the Bible on Publishing.

The book is divided into three portions: 'Let's Get Published' in which she surveys the business of publishing from self-publishing to the New York Publishing Houses and everything in between - the ins and outs of obtaining copyright, trademark, patents, the importance of editing (something all writers think they can handle with SpellCheck (wrong!), traditional versus print on demand/eBooks/the publisher hunt, and branding (a concept few have even hear of much less addressed; 'Getting Ready' in which she guides us through making goals and meeting them, market analysis, marketing plan, celebrity endorsements, the marketing timeline, etc; and 'To Market', the last portion in which she discusses the aspects of getting book reviews, attending book events, stepping into the media (both social and publication types) and methods to promote your book so that you actually make a living form your dream occupation!

AS her own promotional material states, 'Get Published Today! explores the entire publishing industry and shows you the shortcuts and insider tips you need to successfully publish your book. We'll Teach You: How New York publishing really works!, How to get published in ninety days ... or less!, How to jump on the eBook bandwagon!, Hundreds of publishing and marketing resources!, Here's What's Inside: A step-by-step guide to getting published, packed with strategies, tips, and the secrets you need to know!, How to sell your book in the foreign market and make great money!' That is the way Penny C. Sansevieri talks and thinks and honestly works with the reader. It is difficult to 'review' this book without raving, but for those of us who write (and we are becoming legion!) this book is the definitive resource. Highly Recommended! Grady Harp, November 11

Penny Sansevieri of Author Marketing Experts has written a primer for authors to be able to traverse the new world of Print on Demand books. It is well organized with an easy to follow format that lays out the process from beginning to end. She includes all the information on 10 of the major publishers with detailed facts on each. Although the financial information is time sensitive the over all information will stand up to the test of time. She covers topics from taxes to laws to marketing strategies. Get Published Today is an invaluable resource to any author who is considering going this route to publishing a book. Sansevieri is well versed in the field and is able to share her knowledge in a reader friendly format. Her liberal use of lists, bulleted and numbered ones of all types, .It would have been a more uniformed look if one style was used through out the book but it is a way of carrying the reader through the maze of information.

The one section that did not ring true was the chapter entitled "Getting Book Reviews." In it she suggests that authors write 'mock reviews' to send to reviewers. Supposedly reviewers will use those instead of reading the book and forming their own opinions. Though she may be able to quote instances where this worked it should not work for reputable reviewers and will not result in an honest review. Authors should welcome constructive critiques of their work, not just canned praise. She also states most reviewers do not even like the shiny folders of information that often accompany books for review. That is ironic since her latest book came unsolicited with a bright red folder of papers. This time she is right, it is not necessary.

The "POD Success Stories" included often show that POD is a modern development in the harsh world of publishing that should not be over looked as a viable option for authors. Ms Sansevieri has provided a guidebook to make the informed choice and the steps to make it a successful one.

In the first book to really cover the online publishers, Penny Sansevieri has done us all a favor. She does list and compare online publishing purveyors such as Xlibris, iuniverse, Trafford,Authorhouse, Infinity and so on. She gives their prices and various packages and explains the difference between them and the old-time subsidy presses. But one caveat: she refers to books published by subsidy online publishers such as Xlibris and iuniverse as self-published books. As a self-published author who slogged through typesetters, printers and distributors and sold over 110,00 copies of a regional guidebook I hate to see that designation subverted by the subsidized press. However she does show how just anybody can now easily get a book printed. Getting it sold is another matter.

Where the book shines is in its marketing information. Not only does Penny give some really good tips but she also names names and give telephone numbers: the names of talk show and radio contacts and their phone numbers, that is. The woman has plenty of bright, bold ideas and they are quite different from the sort of "insider" publicist information you find in traditional marketing books. She seems to be the postcard queen and has used postcards to target markets quite effectively. Her advice on book signings, radio shows, and how to create a buzz on the Internet is useful to any author, whether published online or not. One other thing I like about Ms. Sansevieri: she keeps her prices reasonable. In a world where publishing gurus sell ten dollars worth of advice for $99.00, it's refreshing to find some really sensible suggestions for frugal publicity at a relatively good price.

Penny Sansevieri, media relations and book marketing expert, has Done IT Again!

In this plain English, handy how-to, she reveals the ins, outs, plusses and minuses with the POD process.

Penny even rates a bunch of POD Publishers and compares them.

This guide is like getting a college education in your own home. While the cost of this book is relatively low, you'll reap in value the equivalent of a college degree.

And you could save thousands of dollars in the POD publishing process.

Step up your publishing efforts and success with this great guide.

Eric Gelb

Copywriter, Book Marketing Expert, and Editor

www.PublishingGold.com

As the Wikipedia article on bungee jumping puts it, "As with any sport, injuries can still occur (see below), and there have been fatalities." That's what self-publishing is like right now, but face it, we're pioneers. I did it, and was half-way through the process (book POD'd and some marketing done) when I read this book. It is an absolutely encyclopedic guide to the process of bungee jumping right now (oops, self-publishing) exhaustively supported by real-world experience and amazing documentation. I can guarantee that you will at least find a fact or two that could save your life and I bet more. Even if you've already done some of it, you'll feel better seeing what you've done right and you'll pay attention better when it comes to the sections on what you haven't done. [ASIN:1604945591 Get Published Today! An Insider's Guide to Publishing Success] is completely worth it.

Highly recommended! Extremely well written and presented in a comprehensive easy-to-find answers format. I wish it had been available when I was writing and publishing my first book, as it would have saved me sooo much time, aggravation and money! I recently implemented many of the creative marketing tips, so it is valuable for any stage of your book project. I am honored that Penny included my self-publishing saga to help her readers: Passion, Purpose and Persistence Override Inexperience!, pages 95-98.

-Jacqueline Marcell, Author `Elder Rage', Host `Coping with Caregiving' Radio Show, International Speaker on Eldercare and Alzheimer's

Elder Rage, or Take My Father... Please!: How to Survive Caring for Aging Parents

Marketing Guru Shares Publishing Secrets

Many of my consulting clients first come to me because they've self-published or used a partner publisher and run into some serious mistakes (and misunderstandings) along the way. When Dan Poynter endorsed the second edition of my Frugal Book Promoter he noted that "The most expensive parts of book promotion are the mistakes." That's true of publishing a book, too.

In Get Published Today, Penny C. Sansevieri has written a definitive book on self-publishing. One glance at the Contents (a reliable resource for being reasonably sure a book will give us the information we need), tells us this book will do the job for any author who has chosen the self-publishing route because they don't want to bide their time during the long and emotionally strenuous agent/traditional publishing route. Or they know that self-publishing is the best way to make more money for their particular title.

Sansevieri covers the basics in the first section, "Let's Get Published." In fact she even covers the different publishing models that will help a writer make the best choice. She doesn't neglect the publishing process, discussions of where you can get help, and what you're likely to need help with.

The third section works at convincing authors that marketing is indeed part of publishing--an essential part. Thank heaven for that! After the thorough job she does of helping a writer bring their book to market, what would be the point of letting it languish!

I am a big proponent of learning by reading. Any author considering the self-publishing route should have a go at this book. The information in it will stand them in good stead no matter what publishing decisions they finally make. The more any writer knows about the publishing world, the less chance there is of having unrealistic expectations, the less chance of making those expensive mistakes.

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Reviewed by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, award-winning author of the multi award-winning series of How oDoIt Frugally series of books, one series for for writers and one for retailers.

If today's publishing industry were an exotic new country, this book would be a guide, compass and GPS system all rolled into one.

For too long, the publishing industry has been a mysterious, clubby, closed business.

Authors have had to struggle with a number of unanswered questions. Questions like,

"What makes a best-seller?", "What is a Co-op?" or "What are Reserves against returns?"

In her book, `Get Published Today', Penny Sansevieri answers such questions and more. The sub-title `An insider's guide to publishing success' actually offers a good clue as to how useful and powerful this book is for every author. Penny shares plenty of real-life stories about the publishing business. And she is generous about sharing all her knowledge including the insider secrets.

The book starts out with an overview of the publishing business and provides some interesting facts. For example, did you know that the average book sells 500 copies, that there are 1,500 new books being published every day and that over 40% of books are sold outside of bookstores?

In a subsequent chapter, Penny picks apart the traditional publishing business. She points out several chinks in the armoury of the "New York Publishers." This section will be particularly valuable to indie authors in helping them evaluate what markets to target.

Penny then discusses the various methods of self- publishing and points out the subtle differences between various terms being used in the industry. She gives tips on how to choose the right publisher and avoid the nightmare that many authors have faced in the past by choosing greedy, unethical publishers. The sub-section, "Check Your Contract Carefully", will arm authors with the information and knowledge they need to negotiate publishing contracts in a fair manner. There are also valuable guidelines on how to setup your own publishing company.

The book also does a good job of describing the digital book publishing business. It provides links to resources that should help a would-be author shave hours of research time. Penny also stresses the importance of good editing and suggests that this is the one place that authors should pay for and get professional help since editing can make the difference between a great book and a missed opportunity.

The book then moves on to one of the most important topics and that is the subject of book promotion, marketing, publicity and branding. She gives you templates and frameworks to define your book marketing goals, your book's USP and evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of your book.

The section that helps you define your target market is another gem that can help authors in their quest for book marketing success. Penny asks questions to help you profile your reader better. Some of the questions she asks are:

- How old is my reader?

- How educated is my reader?

- What makes my reader happy?

- Is my reader married, single or divorced?

- What does my reader do in his or her spare time?

The section on competition analysis is also insightful. As most of us know, even though we try hard to be different and stand out from the crowd, competition is inevitable. This section gives a framework to track your competing titles.

The section on naming your book is particularly interesting. Did you know that the original proposed title for `Gone with the Wind' was `Tomorrow is Another Day'? Or that bookstore databases typically only store the first 30 characters of a book title. So if you have a name that's longer than 30 characters, it gets cut off?

The book even provides a marketing schedule and tells you what you need to do while the book is being printed and four months, three months and one month prior to publication date. It also teaches you how to create and grow your author platform including providing tips on blogging, tweeting and online networking.

The sections on getting book reviews are also particularly useful. A list of book reviewers on the web and tips on how to pitch to them is provided. There are templates to help you craft the perfect book review pitch.

Conclusion:

There are plenty of books out there that cater to the burgeoning indie author audience. But few can compare with this book with regard to breadth and comprehensiveness of covering the various issues that an author needs to address. Get this book today. It will save you hours of time and give you a confidence that is the result of knowing what you are doing.

As a first time author considering self-publishing, I wandered through books, conferences, websites, newsletters and tele-seminars trying to figure out the publsihing industry. I had established a fairly good vocabulary, but had no real information from an insider who had no vested interest in my decision. I had heard Penny Sansevieri speak at the 21st Century Book Marketing Conference in San Diego and signed up for her newsletter. Overtime I gained real respect for the infomation she shared and eventually bought her book Get Published Today. The information is delivered in a concise and easy to read style, in a language a first time author can understand. There are lots of step by step guides, lists, bullit points and success stories.

Before reading this book,I was confused by the different types of publishng; POD, Vanity Publishers, and Self Publishing, and so many different POD publishing models. I feared making the wrong decision. This book coverd all my questions as a first time author: copyright and ISBN numbers; the different POD publishing model; editing; marketing and a ton of suggested resources.

This book is a must read for every first time author wondering about the publsihing and marketing process. This book is a fast read, bursting with information. Get Reading It Today!

Penny definitely did her homework on this book. She does a thorough job covering every conceivable method of getting published, while giving the reader all the data on each company (good as well as not so good). I think it's a great book for a newbie to peruse and a good starting point. With all the Internet crapola floating around, it's nice to find some definitive answers to all the questions that a new author needs. Thanks, Penny.

by: Dodie Cross, Author of A Broad Abroad in Thailand.

www.dodiecross.com