The author's toolkit ─ A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing and Publishing Your Book

All writers yearn for success and recognition. And now we are entering a golden era in which self-publishers are in the driver’s seat. InThe Author’s Toolkit, aspiring authors, students, and even established writers will find the resources they need to achieve their goals and avoid common writer pitfalls. Updated and expanded to cover the changes in copyright fees and registration, the newest developments in electronic publishing, the growth of ebooks and print on demand, and tips for using social media for promotion and community, this detailed guide offers advice on every step of the writing and publishing process. Readers will learn how to:

‧Develop and research fiction and nonfiction ideas
‧Find a “hook” to attract reader interest
‧Organize a plot and delineate characters
‧Format for print and ebook readers
‧Find an agent
‧Understand literary contracts
‧Market and promote a finished book
‧Obtain backing such as crowdfunding

Written in an informative and easy-to-understand style, this guide is a treasure chest of resources and tools for writers seeking professional advice.

Mary Embree is an author, literary consultant, editor, public speaker, and writers’ workshop leader. She is the founder of the Small Publishers, Artists, and Writers Network (SPAWN) and the California Literary Arts Society (CLAS), which produced the annual Ventura Book Festival. She has worked with hundreds of authors, and is the author ofStarting Your Career as a Freelance Editor (Allworth Press, March 2012) andAbused, Confused & Misused Words (Skyhorse Publishing, January 2013). She lives in Port Hueneme, California.