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This is a monthly e-mail update for subscribers only, sent from
U-Publish.com, the web site named for the revolutionary guide
to new methods for publishing and promoting books by Dan Poynter
and Danny O. Snow. Get the paperback, now available to order
from all major bookstores & online booksellers. Or order direct
at http://www.u-publish.com/order.htm ... with free shipping.
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Dear Subscriber,
This issue focuses on web tools that can help you write, publish
and promote books more effectively. We hope you find them use-
ful. If you know of others, please feel free to recommend them
for future issues. Simply e-mail newsdesk@u-publish.com with
your suggestions.
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*** Free PBS "Tele-Courses" for Writers
See http://www.pbs.org/pbsyou/schedules/telecourse.html for a
listing of outstanding classes on public television, including
several of interest to writers.
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*** Book in the News?
Google now offers a great new tool: news alerts, when your book
is mentioned in any of the 4,500 news outlets they catalog.
Follow the link below and complete the form; Goggle will notify
you by e-mail when news appears:
http://www.google.com/newsalerts
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*** Where is your book listed?
There are several web sites that list retail outlets where
readers can obtain your book(s). Here are a few:
http://www.AAABookSearch.com
http://www.addall.com
http://www.fetchbook.info
http://www.mysimon.com
http://www.pricefarmer.com
TIP: search by ISBN for more accurate results. You may be
surprised to see how many outlets offer your book to the
public. For example, follow the link below for our outlets:
http://www.u-publish.com/order.htm
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*** Find Agents, Publishers & More
Find more than 2,000 literary agents, editors and publishers in
the US, UK and Canada, with web sites, addresses & e-mails, all
in one convenient location:
http://everyonewhosanyone.com
FREE, link courtesy of Jim Barnes, www.independentpublisher.com
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Please feel free to forward copies of this bulletin to your
fellow authors and publishers. This is a free service that is
available to anyone in the book world upon request. We don't
endorse specific products or services, and we do not accept
advertising. You may subscribe or un-subscribe at any time.
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*** Schreiber Prize Deadline 12/1
Writers of comedic essays, articles, short stories, poetry,
and other forms are invited to submit. Works up to 750 words
in length should be typed, double-spaced, accompanied by a money
order or check for $5 to cover administrative costs, payable to
"The Mona Schreiber Prize." No limit to entries but each must
pay a separate fee. Put contact information on the first page.
No SASEs, please. Include e-mail address for notification of
winners. All entries must be postmarked by December 1 for a
December 24 announcement of three winners: 1st: $500. 2nd: $250.
3rd: $100. Web site: www.brashcyber.com
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*** POD Books in Stores???
*** Expanded from September Report
Rumors are circulating that major bookstores may now be stocking
"Print-on-Demand" books. Possibly true ... but don't jump to
conclusions prematurely.
Note our bias: "U-Publish.com" is a POD trade paperback from
Unlimited Publishing: http://www.unlimitedpublishing.com
POD books must compete with traditional books in the marketplace.
Editorial, design and printing quality must ALL be competitive,
regardless of printing method. See guidelines from Barnes &
Noble, as covered here in the December 2002 issue:
http://www.u-publish.com/dec2002.htm
Books that contain frequent errors in spelling or grammar, and
those with amateurish designs (often books with layouts created
using "one-size-fits-all" templates or those "typeset" with
word processors like Word or WordPerfect rather than real type-
setting tools like Quark or PageMaker) are at a disadvantage,
and rightly so.
Important: for books that meet the quality standards of major
bookstores, TERMS are important too. For example, few POD
publishers accept returns from retailers... but bookstores
rarely stock books on a non-returnable basis.
Items above are just a few of the factors that stores consider
in deciding to stock a book, whether it is printed with POD,
PQN or traditional methods. POD books CAN achieve professional
standards, but you must be commited to quality in many areas in
addition to printing, if you are serious about getting attention
in the big league book trade.
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Quotable Quotation:
"I don't see why -- in time, of course, in time -- he mightn't
even become a branch manager."
-- One of T. S. Eliot's superiors at Lloyd's Bank, quotation
courtesy of Florrie Kichler, Patria Press
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Please feel free to forward copies of this bulletin to your
fellow authors and publishers. This is a free service that is
available to anyone in the book world upon request. We don't
endorse specific products or services, and we do not accept
advertising. You may subscribe or un-subscribe at any time.
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address book. We apologize for any inconvenience, and appreciate
your help. Please tell others! For more info, see:
http://www.u-publish.com/e-mail.htm
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Inside tip from Poynter & Snow:
ALWAYS READ THE FINE PRINT!
Here's ours:
This is a free e-mail bulletin from U-Publish.com, the web site
named for the book by Dan Poynter and Danny O. Snow.
Bulletins are sent by subscription only. You may subscribe or
unsubscribe at any time. Simply contact us by e-mail at:
newsdesk@u-publish.com
We do not endorse specific products or services, and we do not
accept advertising. We will not sell your name, address or
other personal information to others for any reason at any time.
Our goal is to serve as advocates for the self-publisher or
independent publisher, large or small. We welcome your
participation, feedback, criticism, and suggestions. We learn
from our readers, and value your input.
Please visit http://www.u-publish.com at least once each month,
for periodic updates of interest to writers and publishers.
Please feel free to forward copies of this message to fellow
writers and publishers. This is a free service, available to
to anyone in the book world upon request.
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above will help you reach more people by e-mail, with fewer
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