This is one of the few romance novels that totaly haunts me. I have to say that I have Devon's guts. Yup. The guy is a major pain in ..., always accusing the heroine of plotting against him and the other pirates that have kidnapped her (well duh!) etc. Which of course leaves the story open for those who posess trully wonderful personalitites! Like Cat and Raven!! Yay.

Both of them are ready to risk their lives just to save her from disaster, both try to keep her safe, and both remain constantly on her side! *Grins*. Cat has a very sad history which you will discover when you read the book, Raven is a teen pirate who has a crush on Merry (I won't say more), and morgan is completely twisted, devious, calous, and the perfect mysterious (yet evil) pirate.

I have reread this book time and again, finally noticing that the book improves greatly when you skip over the Devon and Merry scenes and focus on just Merry, Cat and Raven. (Morgan is the most momorable evil character that I have ever read about. He's evil, and yet he's not. One minute you're hating his guts, and the second you realize he did something noble.

I will end with just saying that Cat has got to get a story about him, he just has to! He's got the most unique personality.

I won't tell you what to do, but I promise that if you choose to read this book, you will enjoy it. :)

Happy Reading!

This book is wonderful. It is not your standard formula romance book; it is multlayered and very well written. It is a book I reread at least once a year and every time is better. Devon and Merry are wonderful characters but the "supporting cast" are fascinating as well. The story is strong and interesting and makes you want to read it again and again. I wish Sharon and Tom would write a sequel to the book letting fascinated readers know what happened to Cat, Raven and Morgan! If one enjoys historical romance, it doesn't come better than this. I would give it 10 stars if I could!

I FIRST READ "THE WINDFLOWER" WHEN I WAS IN THE 9TH GRADE IN HIGH
SCHOOL. MY OLDER SISTER BOUGHT IT AND LOANED IT TO ME. UNFORTUNATELY, I HAD TO RETURN IT. FOR YEARS I LOOKED FOR IT AS
AN ADULT. FINALLY, I FOUND IT. THE WINDFLOWER IS A GREAT BOOK FOR
ANYONE THAT LOVES ROMANCE BOOKS TO READ, BUT FOR ME IT HAD A MORE
CERTAIN APPEAL TO IT. THE INTENSE SEXUAL ATMOSPHERE BETWEEN DEVON
AND MERRY WAS WONDERFUL AND I COULD NEVER DECIDE IF I WANTED HER
TO END UP WITH DEVON OR CAT. I THINK THAT A SEQUEL SHOULD BE
WRITTEN TO IT, TO LET US KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO CAT, MORGAN, ETC..
IN SOME WAYS, MERRY WAS LIKE A "CINDERALLA" TYPE THAT KNEW NOTHING ON HER WAY TO ENGLAND, BUT ONCE SHE GOT THERE SHE WON
EVERYONE'S HEARTS. SHE EVEN MANAGED TO CAPTURE DEVON'S HEART, WHO
WAS A LIFE LONG BACHELOR AND LEADING A DOUBLE LIFE. IT'S A VERY
INTERESTING BOOK IN THAT YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE RICH AND FAMOUS
LEAD DOUBLE LIFES, SOMETIMES DANGEROUS LIFES. I LOVE THIS BOOK.
IT'S ALWAYS BEEN MY FAVORITE AND ALWAYS WILL BE. I HAVEN'T READ
ANOTHER BOOK THAT HAS SO CAPTURED MY HEART AS THIS ONE HAS. WHEN
YOU READ THIS BOOK YOU FEEL LIKE YOUR THERE, LIKE YOUR MERRY.

The main goal of this book is that it encourages the software developers and their management to think deeply about they way they create the software. Software development is the "research", not the "production", and the stimulus and processes that work well in for example metallurgy will harm software development. The authors show the consequences of borrowing organizational processes from other areas to software. They encourage to focus on the people rather than to process. The software developers aren't "replaceable units", "plastic uniformed people".

Although the textual work of the authors is marvelous, the quality of the printed book (paperback edition) is awful. The paper is thin and translucent, showing the lines from the other pages, the interline spacing is too low, turning a page to a big mess. That was the only reason I've rated the book as four-stars.

The information in this book is very accurate, without pure assertions. The authors always are giving full references if they are providing figures or studies. The authors have a good sense of humor, and it is the great pleasure to read this book. The information is given in the very dense manner: the other authors might have needed ten volumes to express what Tom DeMarco and Timothy Lister has put in this small book.

I strongly recommend this book to any individual involved in software development, as well as "Agile Software Development" by Alistair Cockburn. These books aren't from "ten steps to success" series. They encourage deep, creative approach to the topic.

If you're a software manager, and you haven't read "Peopleware," stop reading this, and go read that instead. It's that's good. If you're a developer or engineer on a team that's not getting anything done, read it. This book is filled with practical advice on teams, team building, and getting work done.

"Peopleware" doesn't go in for theory. It puts into words what any contemplative manager already knows intuitively. The benefit of this book, however, is that it provides concise, powerful evidence to support each of its statements on team building and managing creative people. "Peopleware" covers it all -- why you have high turnover, why you have low productivity, and how to get your team to "jell."

The design of the book is excellent. There are 34 chapters in 226 pages. The cover struck me as funny on such a thin book: "Eight all new chapters." How did they fit all that into such a thin book? Simple: each chapter is very focused and short -- an entire chapter on a concept can be read in a single sitting -- even by the busiest manager. I recommend you read a chapter first thing in the morning, keep the ideas in your mind all day, and then read that chapter again in the evening. It will help you get the most out of what the book has to offer.

Part one focuses on managing people. It describes how development is different from manufacturing, what motivates people, and some of the pitfalls. It also focuses on you, the manager, and your role in the success of your project. Part 2 zeros in on environment. DeMarco and Lister single out environment as one of the biggest sources of problems in development. As such, they devote more time to this than any other subject in the book. It can get a bit repetitive, but the points they make are important, so it is easy to forgive them for focusing on it so much.

Parts 3, 4, and 5 address people, teams, and work methods. These areas may be of the most immediate value to a beleaguered manager, as it is here that they have the most opportunity to make changes, and where they typically have the least training. The authors focus on how to work with individuals, move on to making teams "jell," and finally on how to make work more meaningful and dynamic to reduce turnover, which "Peopleware" labels as "a cancer."

Finally, part 6 is the new stuff added to the second edition. As a result, they are a set of unrelated essays, not integrated with the rest of the text. However, they are quite a bit more timely than the earlier chapters, which sometimes feel a bit dated. It would have been nice to see these chapters more integrated with the rest of the book, but that's a minor quibble. The section on Process Improvement Programs (such as CMM) is very insightful, and will strike a chord with many people who question the value of the implementation of these programs in their organizations.

"Peopleware" is simply the best management book I have read for the front line technical manager in a development organization. It is a complete course from the school of hard knocks on what works and what doesn't in the real world.

I recommend this book to anyone involved in software development, office design, or management of knowledge workers. A very easy read for both techies and non-techies alike. Programmers and engineers will be nodding their heads in agreement. One of the few books that deals with work-space and the impact it has on productivity (statistics are included). It also deals with the management of skills within the software development group, with approaches to handling the varied skills found in the team. Give it to your boss, your CEO, your CIO, and your technical staff.

I would have to say that this is my all-time favourite book! Chaikin takes you through each of the Apollo missions that went around the moon. He has interviewed almost all of the Apollo astronauts, so his story is as close as the real thing as you can get. Also, to add excitement to his book he has included several pages of pictures of the humans on the moon, plus the crews and ships involved in getting them there. Chaikin has also used a map of the moon to show you where each of the lunar missions landed. The text is easy to read and exciting. Compared with James A. Michener's "Space" and Jim Lovell's "Lost Moon", this book is the best

What was it like to be alive during the time of Apollo? Andrew Chaikin's history of America's quest for the moon answers that question better than any single book ever published or any motion picture ever made.

The authenticity of the historical accounts in this book are virtually flawless. Unlike many of the previous authors who have attempted to capture the true image of America's space program, Chaikin really possesses an understanding of the technical, political, and human aspects of the space race.

Prior to Chaikin's book, only John Noble Wilford's "instant" history of Apollo published back in 1969 even approaches such a level of historical accuracy and great writing style. This book provides an indispensible reference resource for any studet of space history

I was 2 years old when Neil Armstrong placed the first boot print on the lunar surface, and after watching Apollo 13, I became curious as to what exactly it was that got us to the moon in the first place. In 6 months time I read "Lost Moon" by Jim Lovell, "Last Man on the Moon" by Gene Cernan, "The Race", "Schirra's Space" and "Deke!".

A Man on The Moon was the last book I read, and I can speak from firsthand experience when I say that if I would have read it up first, I would have had no need to read the others. That is NOT to say that all of the other books are not good, quality reads (with maybe the exception being Schirra's book), because they certainly are, but Andy Chaikin left absolutely nothing to the imagination and almost no stone unturned when he penned this exciting and informative book.

Even though I was just a toddler when our exploration of the lunar surface began, thanks to Andy Chaikin, I don't feel that I missed a single thing.

Simply put, this book is incredible. I am a 16 year old addict, who was last year, the worst player on the school team. I had taken lessons from pros, watched instructional videos, and attended numerous golf camps. At the beginning of the this year's season, I was considering quitting, when I picked up this little treasure. Bob Rotella's book has completely changed my attitude about this wonderful game. It taught me to forget about what other people thought about my game and remember how to have fun. Due to the weather this year, our golf season was only two weeks long. It took me one week to make junior varsity, and I give half of the credit to this book, and half of the credit to me for reading it. By utilizing the mental techniques found in "Golf Is Not A Game Of Perfect," I was smashing my previous scoring records and setting new ones almost every round! I was shooting in the mid-70's (9 holes) last year, and now I consistently score in the low 40's! This fantastic book is the real deal!

Great read! Full of good stories. But... is golf that simple? I would like to believe yes. No mechanical thoughts from a 100 yards in... hard to do, certainly for me! I'm very perfectionistic in my attitude towards golf, this book tells you to focus on the perfect attitude rather than the perfect swing. May be my focus has to change... and I will get better! I played as a pro for a brief period, lack of sponsorship and no significant improvement in my game after turning pro led me to give it up (I still play as an amateur)... though I had dreamed of being a World-beater! The bit on "dream great dreams and achieve great things" might be difficult to swallow - I didn't make it! Other things to come? Who knows. Hopefully Bob is right - I have to be patient and persistent, and discipline myself towards success in another field. Would like to speak to Rotella in person. Though his book does a great job in conveying his message!

The most enjoyable golf you can play is effortless and pressure free. "Doc" Rotella's "Golf Is Not a Game of Perfect" has literally liberated me from myself. I was definitely in my own way, halting my own progress. My swing coach brought me from a 35 handicap to a 16 handicap in two summers. Doc brought me down to a 10 handicap in six weeks, and I am still improving. Two key facets in the book grabbed me. First is, "The best swing thought is no swing thought!" This was riveting and when I finally let go and trust my swing, the ball went longer and straighter. Consistency and lower scores were the result. The second facet dealt with putting. Doc emphasized "When you land the green, hole the put, no matter the distance!" What a confidence and result booster!! My goal was to become a single digit handicapper by the end of summer 2001. I still have three weeks to lose one stroke and achieve my goal. I am convinced it will happen. On June 26th, I had a milestone. After reading Doc's book, I shot my first ever and only sub-par round of 35 for nine holes on a par 36 executive course here in Indianapolis. I had a playing partner and asked him to sign the card. It is now framed and sitting in my office. That was fun. Thanks Doc!! -Gary in Indianapolis.

Whenever I read a book, I generally use highlighter and underliner to mark the sentences and words that convey the true meaning and essence of what the author wants to say. While reading The Tibetan Book of Living And Dying, I had to stop using the highlighter after a few pages only as the most of the words on each page were worthy of being highlighted. Indeed, the author has said so much precious on every page that a reader must read and re-read the book and with every reading she/he gets more and more knowing.The subject of death has been most puzzling and perplexing to humankind since the time immemorial. The Eastern way of looking at the death as only a 'transition' is explained by the author in a profoundly simple manner. The book certainly helps one to understand the true meaning of the phenomena called death. This understanding helps one to reduce the irrational fear of death. From the lives of the great men and women we know that those who 'lived' a life can only meet the 'death' with equnimity. Thus the author has first taught the art of 'living'. It is only through right type of living that we can 'live' the death also.
I suggest that this book be read by all the Buddhist as well as by non buddhists also. Every one who reads it will find something for him/her.
I salute Sogyal Rinpoche for giving us a wonderful gift of THE TIBETAN BOOK OF LIVING AND DYING.

This book should be read by or to everyone at some point in their lives. It not is not just for the buddhist. As His Holiness, the Dalia Lama explains, no matter what religion you practice the goal is the same: happiness. This book can be an inspiration at all times in life. Once you have read it through once, it is organized in such a way, so one can go back and read certain sections to help along the way. Sogyal Rinpoche captures the essence of his purpose of creating the book when he writes: "to learn how to die, is to learn how to live." That simple statement is a social commentary on the development of modern society and the direction it is heading in. The ageing and dying are quickly isolated and doctors are rarely educated in emotional or spiritual care. Sogyal Rinpoche's proposes a new attidute to those who are in a stage that we all will reach at some point. His beautiful writing style and comforting compassion radiates from the pages themselves. I do not associate myself with any one religion, but consider myself a wanderer following my own road in search for answers, for all those who feel the same, this book can illuminate some of the darkness that surrounds us all who have not yet awakened.

This book gives you a spirutal, personal and intimate understanding of death and dying. More than that, it compels you to stop and take a deep and serious look at your own life and your own death. The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying helps to alievate your own fear of dying and helps you take the responsibility to prepare for your death. At the same time, it gently helps you prepare yourself for the death and dying of a loved one. The teachings and personal experiences of Sogyal are simple to understand and intrepret and incorporate into your personal life. I wholeheartedly recommend this book for every introspective person as well as for those facing the death of a loved one.

Our family looked a long time before finding the info that Joseph Jenkins presents in his book. Having moved onto raw land after living in camping trailers and RVs, we had been used to chemical toilets and now faced a situation where we were weekly going to a dump site. I had heard that there were "composting toilets" which were a great alternative, especially for organic farmers, but that they were very expensive. Jenkins' book contributed more to our life than any other resource excluding the Holy Bible. He presents well documented facts for any one who is concerned with bacteria, disease, the environment, recycling and perhaps best of all simplicity and economics. Joes book has helped our family to live a less stressful and more productive life. What he presents can be understood by anyone and will fit the budget of the poorest of us. Joe Jenkins has given us one more tool to help us all return our planet to the beautiful garden it was intended to be.

I like it when a book makes me take a big step back and question my place in the world. The Humanure Handbook uses a daily function (going to the bathroom) as the context for doing just this. Not only does it cast a truth-shedding light on a deeply-entrenched and accepted modern appliance (the flush toilet), exposing it as a wasteful product of western laziness, but it gives the reader all the information needed to easily, affordably, and safely implement a much less wasteful system.

Probably the most important point made in The Humanure Handbook is the fact that we use the word 'waste' far to liberally and in the wrong way. In the phrase 'human waste' the word 'waste' should be a verb rather than a noun, because as a society we are going to tremendous expense to turn a valuable resource (human urine and feces) into something that is so hard to use that it is fit to be described as 'waste' (noun).

Jenkins works hard to challenge and ultimately destroy the reader's irrational fear of feces and to turn that 'fecophobia' into an enlightened respect for the resource that feces can be.

The author cites numerous scientific studies that corraborate his extensive personal experience with composting *everything* that a family household generates. His summary of the scientific literature pertaining to the practise of composting humanure is thorough enough to convince me (a proud skeptic) that anybody could safely compost humanure after a careful reading of this book.

I think the information contained in this book should be common knowledge and these methods used throughout the world. This would be one of the answers to help save our earth's precious drinking water, which we as a race so shamefully waste. The reading is light, informative, "can't put the book down" sort of book, plus hilarious too. If you are into self-sufficiency, back to basics, simplicity, homesteading the environment, and want to do something about water pollution, this has to be on your shelf, it will save you money and pay for it's self over and over.

Few crime prevention experts emphasize intuition. Instead, they talk about staying alert to crime. Sometimes crime prevention experts generate more fear than they alleviate.

Gavin deBecker, on the other hand, makes intuition and freedom from fear the focus of his philosophy. Instead of imagining the bad things that could happen, he says, live without worry of crime.

He also says to stop watching the news. It only generates needless worry and gives one a distorted view of the world. I have been teaching these same concepts for years as a black belt in karate, so it was refreshing to read them from someone else. I avoid newspapers and TV news--it only darkens our view of the world. It only makes crime seem worse. Give up news for two weeks and notice how your outlook improves.

As a teacher of women's self-defense, I've heard many stories of intuition. Some people call it the "back ground music," because it is like the music that plays in a movie before something bad happens.

As deBecker writes, act upon your survival signals (run, search your house in the middle of the night, stay away from an individual, etc.), even if you feel foolish doing so.

Shed the fears in your life, because fear clouds the survival signals. Those who live in fear of crime are already victims.

Some of the book is difficult to read, such as chapters on child abuse. But the book is still worth it. Buy copies for yourself and friends. If you spend time worrying about crime, this book could change your life.

Like many other women, I was raised to be unfailingly polite -- no matter when, where or to who. Gavin De Becker advises another route: It's better to be rude than dead.

One of the main points he hammers home is how often women, afraid of being rude or hurting someone's feelings, allow themselves to get into dangerous situations. I can't count how many times I've done it: The guy at a party who says, "Come over here -- there's a guy who says he knows you." The man who approaches you on the street and says, "Hey, baby, you have a boyfriend?"

De Becker also urges us to listen to our inner voice -- the one that says "something here is wrong." Too often, we tell ourselves, "I'm sure he's a perfectly nice man. There's nothing to worry about."

Also important is the chapter on how potential rapists/murders approach victims. The author explains how an attacker tries to get a victim to feel comfortable with him and thus make herself vulnerable.

Of course, there are also plenty of practical safety tips in here. (For example: Don't accept help from someone who approaches you. If you need it, ask for it: The chances of an attacker singling you out are far greater than vice versa.)

I was stalked for over a year before he attacked and raped me... and i am alive today only by God's grace and because i finally followed my gut feeling. In the back of my mind, i always knew someting was evil about him, but i convinced myself that it was all in my head... This book teaches how to listen to your intuition, and why you should NEVER ignore it. I CAN HONESTLY TELL YOU THAT EVERY WORD OF THIS BOOK IS TRUE. Women often find themselves in "uncomfortable situations," but rarely listen to that little voice that is telling them to get the hell out of there... and when you choose to ignore it, you are putting your life on the line. If you choose not to read this book, just remember this... never ignore or try to rationalize with your intuition- it is usually right. Don't worry about Hurting someones feelings or being rude, if you have a funny feeling about someone, get out of there right away! You have nothing more to lose than your life.

In Michelle Magorian's novel Good Night, Mr. Tom, she brilliantly illustrates the hardships of a young child growing up post World War II after having being abused and abandoned by his mother, the one person who was truly supposed to love him. After being shipped from London to the English countryside to live with Mr. Tom, Willie has to adjust to living in a world he never knew existed. A world in which love, affection and friendships flourish. Magorian uses what she knows to set the plot, being that she was born and raised mostly in England. Her parents met each other during the World War II and perhaps she was reflecting on her own issues because as a child she lived a couple of years in Singapore and Australia. She eventually came back to England when she was 9 years old, but had already been moved around a lot, as did the main character in the book. The New Yorker called Magorian's novel "An engrossing and poignant story, with much sunlight to balance the darkness." Jim Trelease from The Read-Aloud Handbook said it was "powerful." And that, it is.

"Good Night, Mr. Tom",is an excellent historical novel, by Michelle Magorian, set in World War II. This is a wonderful and touching story, about a small boy, named Willie Beech, who is evacuated from London to live in Little Weirwold with a complete stranger, Mr. Thomas Oakley. Tom is an old man, not used to children (he had a baby bay that died, but that was his only child), but he is kind to Willie. Willie is a deprived and abused child, and he is afraid of everything, because he wasn't let outside much in his earlier life. Slowly, Willie starts to think on his own, and he forgets the hate and despair of his past. Tom comes to love Willie like a son. Then a telegram comes, and Willie must return to his abusive mother in London, but weeks pass and Willie doesn't come back, so Mr. Tom goes to London to try to find the boy he has come to love so much. I would recommend this book to anyone young or old wo wants to read an excellent book. I hope all who read this book enjoy it as much as I did.

The book Good Night Mr. Tom by Michelle Magorian, was a book I extremely enjoyed reading. When I first looked at the title, I wasn't too attracted to reading the book but once I caught the basic idea on what it was about on the inside, I was eager to read it. I'm glad I did, because this book is one of the most heartbreaking stories I have read. The story starts out very nicely, introducing the main character, William aka Willie aka Will. Unlike some books, the beginning of the story catches your attention and does throughout the whole book. The sad part is, Will is an evacuee and constantly gets seriously abused by his mother. With no father to help him out and his mother not willing to take him during a war, Will is sent house after house with other children to be accepted somewhere else. Will's mother is a religious type but takes everything to another dangerous and extreme level that hurts herself as well as her son. Will is very lucky and ends up in a small town named Little Weirwold with Thomas Oakley, or whom Will learned to call, Mister Tom. Hardened by the loss of his son and wife, he gradually starts to accept Will and in a way, takes him in as his own son. After making friends, discovering talents, creating memories and going on wild adventures, he slowly regains the childhood that he missed. Learning that his before life was not suppose to be, Will is reluctant to return to his mother because she is "sick." The rest of the story is something you need to find out yourself. Even I cannot express the joy and sorrows with reading this heart touching story. Only the readers can feel this by encountering it for themselves. The reason this book received the rating it did is because it was so nicely put together, it makes the reader see the innocence of Will when it's such a heart break just to see him learning new things that are common to us. Michelle Magorian also brought out the infinite patience and love of Mister Tom. This made the story even more special because of the hero role he plays to Will. Another reason is because she makes the conclusion and ending worthwhile the read. It was as if the only reason I was reading the book was to get to the end. The final important reason was because the whole book was exciting. I cannot remember one moment in the book where I wanted to stop. The experiences little William became a part of me and I wanted to encourage this character as he went struggling through his rough life. Overall, this book was very satisfying. I hope to read more books like this in the future... a true heartache. (Very special book)

"The Complete Guide to Self Publishing" is by no doubt valuable source of information to any self-publisher. It embraces the whole area of modern self-publishing: the today's publishing scene, start-up considerations to get you off on the right foot, creating a quality product that attracts buyers, PR issues, selling books the usual and unusual ways, nontraditional venues for generating more sales.

The book gives example of properly-fillied copyright registration, ISBN application, and other essential forms, gives the self-publishing "project plan", gives the list of most valuable organizations and information sources for self-publishers in the U.S.A. and Canada. It also lists selected book manufacturers, marketing contacts and other helpful information, including structured bibliography/recommended reading and glossary and definitions of widespread publishing acronyms.

When I first filled my copyright registration form, I made lot of mistakes, and the processing of this form has been delayed half a year due to these errors. I could have avoided this if I've followed the precepts given in this book.

The only thing that the 4th edition of this book misses is a reference to Internet-based discussion lists, which is also a valuable resource for self-publishers.

Please note that the book is big. Nevertheless, the price is surprisingly low, comparing to other self-publishing manuals. I would however recommend "How To Start And Run A Small Book Publishing Company: A Small Business Guide To Self-Publishing And Independent Publishing by" Peter I. Hupalo prior to reading "The Complete Guide to Self Publishing".

The Complete Guide to Self Publishing by Tom & Marilyn Ross has forever changed my view of traditional publishing. This book is practical and thorough. The authors are well versed in the area of writing, publishing, promoting and selling your own book. The Guide touches on everything from electronic publication, print-on-demand, subsidy and traditional publication. It also provides extensive and helpful hints on launching a nationwide marketing plan to draw more readers to your book. Tom & Marilyn teach the aspiring author how to constructively promote him or herself into the stratosphere by presenting local bookstore strategies that could propel good product into the national spotlight. The Guide even encourages the author to search for editorial review possibilities, understanding that book reviews are often regarded as the most persuasive book-buying influence. The Complete Guide to Self Publishing is a must have for those who are serious about controlling their own destiny and writing career. It clearly states that self-publication is hard work but the rewards are exhilarating. The title speaks for itself!! It is absolutely COMPLETE. Every author and writer should own this book. Kudos!!

I bought and read the Ross' 3rd edition of "The Complete Guide to Self-Publishing" and I found it a most valuable resource in my own writing/publishing efforts. I am STILL utilizing it as a reference and a guide as I continue now past the publishing stage of my first book (White Man in a Black Man's World: Learning to be Black While Wearing White Skin, also on Amazon.com) and into the promotional stage to expand its distribution and exposure, as well as for planning my next book! I cannot imagine how they could have improved it to form a 4th edition (perhaps update the resource pages), but I cannot recommend it enough to anybody associated with writing/publishing industry--whether an aspiring or experienced author, publicist, or even a bookstore manager! The insights, tips, details, examples, and resources will be priceless to you in whatever your endeavor!

I love this book! It's chock-full of practical, do-it-now ideas that can help authors and publishers activate book sales. As a soon-to-be published author, this book comes at just the right time to guide me through the sales and marketing process of book publishing. I'm excited to start implementing the Ross' wealth of suggestions right away! I'm sure I'll return to this guide again and again in the months ahead and highly recommend it to other new and established authors - as well as publishers.

You CAN make money publishing and this great book
provides hundreds of practical tips you can implement to make it
happen. Writers, self publishers and small presses as well as
those who create their publicity can all benefit by
reading this book.

Here are the steps to publishing success:

1) Buy this book and other reference books from
experienced, successful authors and publicists who have
started by self publishing themselves. Tom and Marilyn
Ross, Dan Poynter, John Kremer and M.J.Rose
all started by self publishing and they have
helped hundreds of other authors do the same.
The money you spend on their books will be well worth it.
If you need more inspiration, read the
publishing success stories on John Kremer's website.

2) Study, study, study and then adapt their experiences and tips
to the specifics of your subject and your book.

3) Create a quality product.

4) Use the suggestions in these books to create your own
dynamic marketing plan. Continue to market even if days,
weeks or months pass without a book sale.

5) Don't give up. It takes time to let readers know about
your product, especially if you need to market on a shoestring.

6) Join publishing organizations, such as SPAN, SPAWN
and Publisher's Marketing Association. There are other
people out there who are on the road to publishing success.
Benefit from their experience.

7) No one said it was easy, but all success takes persistence
and commitment.

Anyone who would rather write than promote needs this book because it teaches you how to write publicity and promotion points into your book, starting with the book idea. Every page is stuffed with information---no "fillers". And how did they manage to make me feel enthusiastic about this chore? Jumpstart Your Book Sales alerts you to pitfalls other books don't mention(example: obtain the copyright to your book's advertising). The Websites, Wisdom and Whimsey section at the end of each chapter offers research clicks to super sites related to that chapter. The phone number for Cecil is here, plus phone numbers I have not seen in other books. Besides print promotion and publicity, they cover radio, television, and book tours (I want the online autographing party). I could write pages of praise about this book's 25 chapters, but wouldn't you rather be increasing your book's sales potential by actually using Jump Start Your Book Sales? Write the publicity and promotion points into your book! Yea!