23 posts tagged “books”

One of the biggest dreams many authors and writers have is to see their book on a library shelf. Getting your published book(s) into libraries, including public, municipal, state, university, research, and private libraries can seem like a challenge. How do you accomplish your goals and reach your dreams of selling your books to libraries? Although there is no guarantee that a library or librarian will buy your book, there are several general rules and guidelines one can follow in maximizing their chances.

Target Your Local and Regional Libraries

Most local and regional libraries actively seek books that are written by local authors and/or published locally. They are often especially interested in those books written about or that take place in the library’s city, region, or state. As a library books are often selected based on whether the content is written for the general reader or for the specialist or practitioner. Public libraries focus on books written for the general reader, while university and research libraries focus more on specialist or practitioner books.

Make Sure Your Book Has All The Necessary Features

Most libraries only accept books that have been commercially published. Some indications of commercial publication are a sturdy binding, preferably with the title on the spine; a title page clearly stating (on either the front or the back) the author, title, publisher and date of publication; an International Standard Business Number (ISBN) listed somewhere on the book or the jacket; and a price listed on either the book or the jacket.

Because books in most libraries get heavy and sometimes careless use from the public, librarians often look for ones which are sturdily bound, preferably sewn or glued. Spiral and comb bindings do not stand up well in libraries. Likewise, books with pages designed to be filled in by the reader, or torn out, do not fit in a library setting. Books that include objects such as toys, or crafts kits are also not appropriate.

Read more tips on marketing and selling your books to libraries here.

The Persian Gulf, also known as the Arabian Gulf, is an area of the globe that has a fascinating history, one that is not only culturally intertwined with the environment, but that is also physically tied to it. Unlike many other parts of the world where the resources are abundant, allowing the culture to develop in a manner free of environmental constraints, in the Persian Gulf the cultures that have developed have been directly shaped by the region’s environment. This environmental influence on the cultures and peoples of the Persian Gulf is perhaps reflected in no better way then through the traditional architecture of the region. In a stunningly comprehensive and photographically rich book, Professor Ronald Hawker has brought this long and complex intertwining of culture and environment to light.

Traditional Architecture Of Arabian Gulf: Building a Desert Tides chronicles the florescence of architecture in the Persian Gulf after the expulsion of the Portuguese in the early 1600s. Documenting the building and crafts of this era, Ronald Hawker expertly analyzes the change in Persian Gulf architecture within a larger framework of political, economic, and social information. Relying on primary sources from the period, including well over 100 photographs, this book provides an intelligent and accessible study of this region.

The Persian Gulf, in the Southwest Asian region, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula. Historically and commonly known as the Persian Gulf, this body of water is sometimes referred to as the Arabian Gulf by certain Arab countries or simply The Gulf, although neither of the latter two terms are commonly used in the U.S. Ronald Hawker uses the term Arabian Gulf throughout this book, but as he explains, it is not for political reasons but sentimental ones. “Many people refer to the region as the Persian Gulf, but my first introduction to it was through Dubai in the United Arab Emirates on the eastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula. For me, the Gulf, khaleej in either Arabic or Farsi, will always be the Arabian Gulf” (p. xix).

Read more about traditional Persian Gulf architecture and culture here.

James Cox takes the title of his book from Sherman Alexie, for whom "white noise," the static that remains on a television after broadcasting ends, represents "the oppressive noise of white mass-produced cultures, the loud demand to conform to the invader's cultural belief system or be destroyed" (p. 11). Cox takes "white noise" to signify a broad history of colonial domination and erasure, which Alexie and the other novelists he considers write to resist. The introduction to Cox's book, "A Cup of Water," states his purpose to demonstrate how Euro-western and Euro-American literary and popular narratives, which almost always "culminate in the absence of Indians" (p. 13), support ongoing colonial dominance and produce real-world consequences for living Indians; and to explore the strategies used by some contemporary Native fiction writers to intervene in these colonial narratives of conquest, to render them powerless and suggest that "conquest, as imagined by non-Native authors, did not take place" (p. 18). Cox argues that his study "implements Osage scholar Robert Warrior's proposal ... that, in any scholarship on work by Native authors, the 'critical interpretation of those writings can proceed primarily from Indian sources,'" (p. 4); thus he intends to avoid "academic colonialism" by privileging the voices of Native writers in his own interpretations (pp. 4-5). If reality is constructed by stories, and if, as Greg Sarris observes, "In oral discourse ... no one party has access to the whole of the exchange.... [O]ne party's story is no more the whole story than a cup of water is the river" (quoted, p. 16), Cox wishes his own "cup of water" to resist the narrative flow that justifies domination and to "nourish" new plots for Native people (pp. 16-17).

Read more about Muting White Noise: Native American and European Novel Traditions here.

Today I have the honor of hosting Tony Napoli, as he tours with his new book My Father, My Don: A Son's Journey From Organized Crime to Sobriety. Tony's story is amazing, and I encourage everyone to take a moment and read how Tony overcame his life in organized crime and alcoholism.

Back of the Book Blurb

Moving back and forth in time from the 1800s to the present day, My Father, My Don: A Son's Journey From Organized Crime to Sobriety.tells the saga of the Napoli Family and takes its reader on a true-life journey, detailing one family's involvement in American organized crime. As told through the eyes of Anthony "Tony Nap" Napoli, the book follows the story of his father, James "Jimmy Nap" Napoli, who grew up in New York at the turn of the century and who ascended through the ranks of the Mafia to become one of the most powerful and respected mob bosses of all time. Jimmy Nap's career took him from street-level crime to an assassination attempt on Elliot Ness; from a relationship with Cuban strongman Fulgencio Batista to becoming a Mob Kingpin who ruled over the largest gambling empire in America for almost 40 years. Jimmy Nap's sphere of influence extended to many businesses and industries, including professional boxing, casinos, and entertainment.

Read more about Crime Mafia Author Tony Napoli and his new book here.

Salman Rushdie is often best known for his novel The Satanic Verses: A Novel.What many don’t know, however, is that he does magical realism in a way that is often not encountered in today’s fiction. The Enchantress of Florence: A Novelis at once a tale of Renaissance Italy, India, and most of the seas in between. It is a story of travelers, magical princesses, and the richness of desire and love. Deeply philosophical and profoundly lonely, The Enchantress of Florence: A Novelis bound to be one of Rushdie’s most popular novels.

Akbar the Great, whose realm stretches from Kabul to Bengal, is as mad and melancholy as Hamlet; despite his many wives, he lusts after a queen he dreamed up ''in the way that lonely children dream up imaginary friends.'' Then a Florentine magic man calling himself Niccolò Vespucci arrives in Akbar's court with a yarn about a common relative: a sorceress descended from Genghis Khan, a good witch at the center of a great fable. Qara Koz, a beautiful mysterious princess who bridges both Asian and European worlds with her powers of enchantment and sorcery becomes war booty.

Read more about Salman Rushdie's book The Enchantress of Florence here.

Becoming a successful independent author or writer requires a lot of work: not only do you have to write, which is hard enough, but you also have to get your work published. There are many ways to see your writing in print, all of which are important if you want to be a successful indie writer. In this article I’m focusing on getting published by a book publishing company. For tips and resources on getting published in other formats, you can check out the main Independent Authors and Book Marketing Page here.

Getting your manuscript or book published by a book publishing house is not as hard as some make it out to be. Beyond having a solid idea and well written manuscript, there are nine general rules that you need to follow for success.

#1: Know Your Competition and Explain How Your Book or Proposal Are Better

Competition exists for pretty much any idea and every book ever written or published. It is critical, therefore, that you as an author or writer understand how and where your book fits into the market. Even if you are writing fiction or a narrowly targeted biography - it’s unlikely that there is not some other title that the potential reader may be comparing to yours. On the other hand if your book truly has no competition, is this perhaps a sign that there is no market? Likewise, you can’t just argue that your book is for everyone and ignore the competition. That is just not the case.

The key is to know your competition and explain to the editor or agent how your book or idea is unique, better, and worth taking on. Furthermore, your knowledge of the competition and the place that your book fits within it can be successfully used to market and promote it once it is published. Having competition doesn’t mean you don’t write your book (in many ways it may be an incentive to write a book), it just means you need to be aware of where your book fits in.

Read the other rules to follow when submitting your book or manuscript to an agent or editor here.

I’m a reader and proud of it. I’d rather read a great new book then watch some rehash of a sitcom from last year on the TV. I’ve always been this way, ever since I was little and first learned to read it has been one of my favorite pastimes. Growing up I’d spend my summers out in the yard reading books. Later, as I went through high school I began to tackle all of the “greats.” One entire year I spent reading only Russian authors: Tolstoy, Dostoyevsky, Stendhal, etc. Another time I was really into authors from Latin America, and read through all of Borges, Marquez, Cortazar, and Allende. Now I’m much more eclectic, reading books for a variety of reasons. All through my reading life (literally thousands of books), I’ve never kept real close track of what I read, when, and what I thought about the book in the moment. Sure, I can think back and reflect on whether I liked a book or not, but those personal intimate moments I had while actually reading the book are lost to the dustbin of my memory.

That is why I am so excited about two new books (really more like reading journals) by Rachelle Knight. Read, Remember, Recommend; A Reading Journal for Book Loversis just that, a handy reading journal that not only works for recording your memories, but also helps you find that next great book. Sure, I’ve tried some of the online reading sites such as Shelfari, LibraryThing, and GoodReads. But those don’t come with you when you are looking for a new book in your local bookstore. Likewise, you can’t access them, log on, and surf to some book you saw the other day during a conversation with friends. Enter Read, Remember, Recommend; A Reading Journal for Book Loversand Read, Remember, Recommend: A Reading List Journal for Teens

Read more about this essential resource for all book readers here.

I’m a big fan of children’s books, especially those that are well illustrated. I’ve reviewed a couple of others (The Little Man in the Map and On the High Seas), but I’m always on the hunt for new ones. Sure, the classics like Dr. Seuss and Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day are always good ones, but what do you do when you’ve read those a thousand times? One that recently came to my attention (thanks Cathleen) was You Think It's Easy Being the Tooth Fairy?

I thumbed through it and thought it had a good theme. It’s about the Tooth Fairy and her rules for leaving your teeth under your pillow at night. Flying on her ingenious flying machine, the Tooth Fairy dodges dogs and cats to make it to your pillow at night. Guided by her Tooth-o-Finder, the Tooth Fairy knows where all the teeth are that need collecting – and she knows just how to get them.

All over America, kids are losing their teeth. And who is there to gather them up, leaving coins in their places? The tooth fairy, of course! A self-described “action kind of gal” with plenty of attitude, she reveals her secrets at last! Learn about her amazing Tooth-o-Finder. Marvel at her ingenious flying machine. Watch her in action, dodging dogs and cats and gerbils. The tooth fairy’s nights are long and hard. But she’s up for it. She never misses a tooth. How does she do it? For the first time ever, she reveals everything!

Read more about You Think Its Easy Being the Tooth Fairy here.

Today the internet is a central part of many people’s lives, and the number of people who access and utilize the World Wide Web for information and entertainment grows every day. In turn, the internet has also become a central part of every advertising or marketing agenda, and this is even truer for successful independent writers, authors, and book marketers. Why? Simply put, with diminishing margins in the publishing industry and with the shift of information flow moving from print to digital media, the internet has not only become the future of writing and publishing, it has also become a key marketing resource and advertising avenue.

To capitalize on the potential of the internet you have to be on it, and the best way to have a presence on the World Wide Web is through your own blog or website. Whether you try and make money via these sites to recoup some costs is not the point of this article. Rather, the need to have a blog or website is to showcase your writing and to promote your book(s) to the millions of potential readers on the internet. If you don’t have a blog or website, or you don’t know how to get one, I suggest you do some more reading. Assuming you do have a blog or website, the next step is to get readers. Unlike traditional forms of media, the internet is an active medium where the writer or author has to do some of their own marketing and promotion. Building links to your blog or website is an essential part of this, and doing so successfully requires following a few simple guidelines.

Read about the Techniques for Link Building to Promote Your Books here.

Interview with Nan Hawthorne - Author of An Involuntary King: A Tale of Anglo Saxon England

NGB: Welcome to the site.

I’m really excited about having you with us today. Let’s get rolling: Your book An Involuntary King: A Tale of Anglo Saxon Englandjust came out. How long were you in the process of writing and crafting it?

Nan: I suppose that depends on how far back you want to go. The novel, in its final form, took me about two and a half years with numerous interruptions, from writing the original episodes for the collaborative writing group Ghostletters (www.ghostletters.net) to forming the episodes into a novel to editing and editing and editing!

This is not my first book, but it is my first novel, and I have to say the experience of composition of fiction was a revelation for me. In a nutshell, the characters in the book wrote the book. I found myself setting up a situation and then just watching what they did. Now I understand what the authors who say they "channel" books mean. I think the fact that I know these people, my characters, so well made this happen.

Why I know them so well and what I meant by how far you want to go back is that the characters are from a series of stories a friend and I wrote when we were both teenagers in the 1960s. The king, queen, minstrels and the mercenary lord were as much my friends as anyone from my school or neighborhood. I wrote and thought about them daily. Thankfully the intervening decades of adulthood and experience have helped me develop them into complete persons. You could realistically say this novel took 35 years to put together.

Read more about Nan Hawthorne and her new book An Involuntary King here.