Complete Guide to Self Publishing: Everything You Need to Know to Write, Publish, Promote, and Sell Your Own Book (Self-Publishing 4th Edition)

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Summary: Fabulous!
Review: This book is a must-read for any writer considering the self-publishing process. Exactly as the title reads, Tom and Marilyn Ross provide a complete guide on the self publishing process that takes the writer from A to Z, and everything in between. This book is arranged in an easy-to-read-and-reference form, yet is packed with practical advice, tips, contacts, resources, samples, etc, the list goes on! The Complete Guide to Self-Publishing provides everything a writer needs to know to publish, promote and sell a book. Recommended supplemental purchase: a highlighter! Enjoy!

Rating:
Summary: An excellent resource
Review: This book is well organized and complete. It has more information that Poynter's self publishing manual- and sometimes it's easier to understand. I highly recommend it for those entering the publishing business.

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Summary: Some useful info. and a lot of fluff...
Review: Tom & Marilyn Ross are experts at promoting themselves, and it shows throughout their book. They take every opportunity to hawk other books published under their label, and their consulting services, etc. There is some useful information in this book, but you have to wade through a lot of silliness to find it. Here's a ridiculous tip from the Ross's: "While at the airport, request that an announcement be made for [your name], author of [your book title], call..." I'm sure that's how Tom Clancy got started <sarcasm>.

This book is primarily targeted to writers of non-fiction. Logical, since non-fiction fares much better in self-publishing endeavors. About their biggest advice for novelists is to read Lawrence Block's "Writing the Novel." Along with such brilliant insights as "Good description elevates a book from the pack." Duh.

The authors are also nauseating in their praise of Amazon, no wonder Amazon gave them a favorable review. A friend of mine self-recorded (i.e. "self-published") a CD and listed it on Amazon. It was a good, professional product, but she found Amazon's service to be almost non-existent.

Dan Poynter's book on self-publishing might be a better buy. The truth is, POD technology is changing this field so quickly, it's hard for anyone to stay up to date. If you must read the Ross's book, get it from your local library. Save your money for a writing class, or perhaps a marketing class at your local SBA office or community college.

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Summary: The Only Reference Book You'll Need
Review: Tom and Marilyn Ross quote: "Sometimes I understand everything, then I gain consciousness." This pretty much sums up what I felt as I read through their latest book "The Complete Guide to Self-Publishing." This 4th edition not only points out all the things I don't know, but also fine tunes the things I do know about self-publishing.Packed full of up-to-date info, I found myself overwhelmed with knowledge. But like with all good reference books, I know that I don't need to remember everything, but just know where to look for the answer. They have included a comprehensive and easy-to-use index for those of us who suffer from info overload.This is a must read, must own book for anyone who is involved in self-publishing, from the beginner to the expert.

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Summary: The Most Practical and Comprehensive
Review: Writing a book involves a massive time commitment, and since, as a first-time author, you will almost definitely have to self-publish, you want the best guide out there that will take you through the dizzying maze of items that must be attended to with the least amount of time necessary to understand what has to be done and make the best decisions for your project. This book is THE guide for this purpose. Covers all bases and provides practical how-to guidance on all items. This book gives you the confidence you need to do-it-yourself rather than go the POD route. JUMP START YOUR BOOK SALES is also an excellent companion for selling your book after you figure out with the Complete Guide To Self-Publishing how to get your book completed and printed, etc. in a quality manner worthy of your mighty efforts as an author.