43 of 49 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Absolutely the BEST book on the subject., November 1, 2004
Having just had the best book of my career--The Joy of Digital Photography--published and wanting it to do well, I spent a lot of time researching the subject of book promotion. The way I feel, any book that offers even a single useful tip is probably worth the cover price and if that is true, then Deval's book is worth a fortune: it is literally dripping with interesting and practical information. The 30 or so pages on "Resources" (which cover great web sites for finding newspapers, radio stations, book fairs, etc.) will save you dozens of hours of often frustrating online or library research.
Jacqueline Deval's description of the in-house promotion process is invaluable--you simply won't find a better description anywhere (and incidentally, I don't know the author and never heard of her before buying this book). Almost every detail of what she describes is something I've encountered with the in-house promotion for my latest book. In fact, it's a bit unsettling just how accurate her descriptions are.
One of the things I like best about this book, in fact, is that it is written to promote books that are being published through normal mainstream publishers. Many promotion books are written for self publishers--and those publisher/authors will certainly find this book more than useful--but there are fewer books written for traditionally published books. This book takes you inside the promotion departments of the biggest publishers and there is not a single page that is not overflowing with great information.
The chapters on "Internet Marketing" (she should probably change the name to "Online Marketing" which sounds more modern) and how to "Set up Your Own Publicity" are terrific.
Listen, publishers will promise you the world when it comes to book promotion and they will deliver what they can--but you cannot sit back and wait for your book to hit the bestsellers list: you must work the promotion game for yourself. And the more you know about which promises they are able to keep and which ones are going to fall through the cracks, the better off you are. This book is the best education you'll get (other than going through the process itself!).
Let me put it this way: if you are having a book published,currently writing a book or self-publishing a book, spending $15.95 on Deval's book will save you hundreds and hundreds of hours of work and no doubt help you make thousands of additional book sales.
The one thing I wish she had included more of are actual anecdotal examples--good case histories. She includes a few, but I would like to see more--many more.
My new book is The Joy of Digital Photography (Lark Books) and it's a wonderful and fun book on taking digital photos--but if no one knows about it, they won't buy it. Promotion is what it is all about. Market, market, market.
And incidentally, no matter who your publisher is, begin asking questions about promotion before you sign a contract and get as much as you can in writing. This is YOUR book and YOUR life and YOU have a right and an obligation to ask these questions.
Jeff Wignall, author, The Joy of Digital Photography.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Comprehensive while NOT Exhaustive, November 26, 2003
Originally reviewed on May 29, 2003
I put off starting Jaqueline Deval's "Publicize Your Book" as long as I could, and much to my surprise, this is the first instructional/How-to book I have read cover to cover.
The style is straightforward and easy to read. Not too long and not too short, with just the right amount of asides for me to understand the details and apply them to my genre. I am a first time author of a gift book, and found Deval's guide covered book publicity as well as the parts of publishing relevant to publicity. Just what I needed.
After many months of trying to understand both the industry in general and my publisher in particular, I wish this book came out a year ago.
Michael Duranko, Bootism: a shoe religion
www.bootism.com
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
This author knows her stuff, January 24, 2005
This is a great resource for any writer. The author obviously has a good deal of experience in the topic of book publicity and demystifies "publisher's speak" in regards to midlist and new writers. The information will help authors understand the publishing process and how to work well with publicists, editors, and marketing people.
The entire book underscores the realization that today authors need to be in charge of their own destiny. Even if an author is signed with a large publishing firm, he or she still needs to be active in marketing their book. And this includes preparing a marketing plan from even before the book is published.
While much of this information was geared toward writers published with a traditional publishing house, as I self-published writer I also found valuable information that I can incorporate into my own marketing plan. The author addresses the proper way to approach print markets, radio, and television (even giving realistic info on approaching that holy grail called THE OPRAH WINFRY SHOW). This book provides valuable websites, contact ideas, as well as templates for press releases and pitch letters.
From the author of The Difference Now, A New Dish, and At the Coffee Shop.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
