What Every Author Should Know: No Matter Where You Publish

by Deb Vanasse

With dramatic changes in publishing, it’s a wild and exciting time to be an author. But how do authors, both new and experienced, choose what’s best for their books, and how can they best promote them? While there’s lots of advice out there, much is unsound and untested, especially when it comes to making a reasoned decision on how and where to publish. Enter Deb Vanasse, a successful author who pulls no punches in this practical guide to book production, promotion, and living the writer’s life, no matter how you publish. Author of fifteen books with six different presses, Vanasse sorts through the noise to help authors reach an informed understanding of how best to publish and—of equal importance—how to make sure their books get noticed. In this comprehensive handbook, readers will learn how to map out a publishing strategy in either traditional or self-publishing, or a hybrid of both. They’ll discover proven techniques for promoting their work, and they’ll learn to navigate life as a writer, managing the frustrations and celebrating the joys. Whether you pursue traditional publishing, publish on your own, or craft a hybrid approach, What Every Author Should Know offers solid, practical help for writers who care about their books. “An excellent resource for writers who are serious about their work. I wish I had read it before I ventured into the publishing world. It might have saved me a lot of grief.” Stephanie Cole, author of Compass North “As a writer who is trying to weigh the pros and cons between traditional and self-publishing, I learned SO much practical, experienced-based information.” Twylla Alexander

206 pages, Paperback

First published December 19, 2014

About the author

Deb Vanasse is the award-winning author of 18 books of fiction and nonfiction, with a special interest in history, historical fiction, and nature. Her newest book is Roar of the Sea. She grew up in the Midwest, attended college in Northern Minnesota, and earned a Masters in the Humanities from California State/Dominguez Hills. After 36 years in Alaska, she now lives on Oregon’s north coast, enjoying beach walks with her boxer dog.

Reviews

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was sent a copy of this book to review by the author.
I thought at first the book wasn't going to be of much interest to me: I'd worked my way through the process of publishing three e-books this last year and was already familiar with many of the ins and outs of the process. And while I intend to produce print copies of my books in due course, the big focus in the first half of the book on print publishing wasn’t quite what I felt I needed to know so much about.
Digital publishing is by no means neglected, and in spite of my experience with e-book publishing, I have to admit I still gained a good deal out of this section.
The second section, in which Vanasse discusses promoting your work, before and after publication, was the one that appealed to me most, mainly because it’s the area I’m currently dealing with. I highlighted a good number of passages in this section and there were probably many more I could have made note of. Vanasse never stints on helpful information; you don’t feel as though she’s rushing you through some one-day course. Virtually every base you could think of is covered, and covered with a down-to-earth approach, and with humour. Vanasse has been through every publishing route possible, it seems, and is able to share her experiences and failures.
She never pretends that publishing is easy, or that you'll make a fortune overnight (with millions of new books being published each year, it's unlikely) or that you’ll be able to give up your day job. Neither does she downplay the excitement of writing, revising, editing, bringing a book to its finally stages, and finally being published. It’s an excitement that endures even if the crowds don't immediately come demanding your book.

[Jeff Wetherington · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first “How to” book for authors and those who want to be that I’ve read (and I’ve read a lot of them) that covers ALL of the bases involved in writing and publishing your book, from the nuts and bolts to the mindset of an author.

First, Ms. Vanasse offers her years of experience as both a writer and publisher to inquisitive writers and authors by exploring the three ways an author can be published; traditional, independent and a hybrid of each. Each step in each way is laid out with both the pros and cons of each path enumerated so that an author or aspiring author can make an informed decision.

In the second section promotion and marketing are discussed and while most writers want to concentrate on the creative side of the work, example after example is shown to make the point that the business side must be addressed as well, especially if you’re an unknown author that wants to have your book purchased and talked about. Everything from promotion by traditional publishers (less and less of that these days for new writers) to self-promotion in all its various incarnations (E-Newsletters, Social Media, Crowdfunding, etc.) are all presented for consideration. Not every way will work for everyone, but some ways will work for everyone.

The book finishes up with a section on mistakes authors can avoid and a final discussion of how to live the life of a writer or author. Humility and flexibility are two of the best ways to live that life.

This is a book I will be referring back to again and again and I highly recommend it to anyone who has an interest in publishing their own book.

Full disclosure: I was provided a copy of this ebook for review. The review is mine and is not influenced in any way by the provider.

[T. Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very useful and well-written book for authors, published or unpublished. It presumes your book is already the best it can be, so don't expect any hand-holding or coaching on how to write. If you have a book ready to go, this is a great guide, whether you intend to self-publish, get published by a traditional publisher, or become a "hybrid author" (someone who sells rights to some editions and retains others). It has an excellent section on book promotion and an inspiring section on living the writers' life. Considering how much information it holds, it is a relatively quick read because Vanasse knows how to make her subject interesting.

[Janice Todd · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read "What Every Author Should Know" in one of it's final drafts. Deb writes with experience. Her books have been published traditionally with a publisher, as ebooks and hybrids. She's 'been there, done that,' letting her write with authority and humor. The appendix has samples of a query letter, lists of steps to be sure to deal with, things to watch for and goes over the pros and cons of the different routes to getting your book published. If you write and want to be published this is definitely a book to have on your shelves. Great Job Deb.

[Lynn Lovegreen]

Very useful book on the business of writing! Her companion book is Write Your Best Book, and gets more into the writing process and revising.