Another Review at MyShelf.Com

Top Self Publishing Firms
How Writers Get Published, Sell More Books, and Rise to the Top

by Stacie Vander Pol



      Stacie Vander Pol’s new book Top Self Publishing Firms isn't fancy or overly long. It's just straight talk, one author to another, and something any author considering self-publishing should have on her bookshelf.

It, of course, does what it promises. It lists top publishers for authors to consider. But it does lots more than that. It talks about possibilities and expectations. The latter tend to get lots of authors into trouble, no matter how they publish, so I was glad to see it right up front in Chapter 1. It also gives a writer considering the self-publishing route confidence, by listing many books that have been successfully self-published, both fiction and nonfiction. Writers will note that the fiction list is much shorter. That's because self-publishing is better suited to nonfiction than fiction. Nonfiction is also more easily promoted, though fiction writers can certainly find a myriad of ways to promote, contrary to what they’re often told.

My favorite chapter is the one Vander Pol includes on Publishing Packages. By its inclusion, she makes it very clear that authors will need to make arrangements to promote and process their books. In addition, the packages offered by some publishers (and lack of any kind of promotion help from others) can be confusing for writers. This book clarifies the issue and also makes it clear that writers will need to do their homework. Self-publishing is not as easy as it sometimes first appears.

Near and dear to my heart, too, is her chapter on Promotion. I couldn’t recommend a book on publishing that didn't include this topic for the very meaning of the word "publishing" includes promotion. No book sells without it. No matter who the author. Or who the publisher.

Vander Pol is indeed a self-publisher. She used CreateSpace.com to publish this book. It's nice to know it was written by someone who has been through the paces.

The Book

Stacie Vander Pol
September 4, 2008
Paperback
9781440407543 /1440407541
Writing
More at Amazon.com
Excerpt
NOTE:

The Reviewer

Carolyn Howard-Johnson
Reviewed 2008
NOTE: Reviewer Carolyn Howard-Johnson is the award-winning author of This is the Place, Harkening: A Collection of Stories Remembered, and a chapbook of poetry titled Tracings, winner of the Military Writers Society of America's Award of Excellence and named Top Ten Best Reads by the Compulsive Reader. She is also the author of the HowToDoItFrugally Series of books including The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success and The Frugal Book Promoter: How to Do What Your Publisher Won't, the 2004 winner of USA Book News' Best Professional Book of the Year and Irwin awards.
© 2008 MyShelf.com