The Writing/Publishing Shelf

Once Upon a Tome: The Misadventures of a Rare Bookseller
Oliver Darkshire
W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
www.wwnorton.com
9781324092070, $27.95, HC, 256pp

https://www.amazon.com/Once-Upon-Misadventures-Rare-Bookseller/dp/132409207=
6

Synopsis: Some years ago, Oliver Darkshire stepped into the hushed interior=
of Henry Sotheran Ltd (est. 1761) to apply for a job. Allured by the smell=
of old books and the temptation of a management approved afternoon nap, Da= rkshire was soon unteetering stacks of first editions and placating the sto= re's resident ghost (the late Mr. Sotheran, hit by a tram).

A novice in this ancient, potentially haunted establishment, Darkshire desc= ribes Sotheran's brushes with history (Dickens, the Titanic), its joyous di= sorganization, and the unspoken rules of its gleefully old-fashioned staff,=
whose mere glance may cause the computer to burst into flames. As Darkshir=
e gains confidence and experience, he shares trivia about ancient editions = and explores the strange space that books occupy in our lives -- where old = books often have strong sentimental value, but rarely a commercial one.

By turns unhinged and earnest, "Once Upon a Tome: The Misadventures of a Ra=
re Bookseller" is the colorful story of life in one of the world's oldest b= ookshops and a love letter to the benign, unruly, fascinating, and frustrat= ing world of antiquarian bookselling, where to be uncommon or strange is th=
e best possible compliment.

Critique: Simply stated, "Once Upon a Tome: The Misadventures of a Rare Boo= kseller" is a fun and memorable read from first page to last. Written with = insight, humor, and authenticity, "Once Upon a Tome" is a 'must read' selec= tion for all dedicated bibliophiles and anyone else who has ever spent time=
browsing through an old bookstore not really knowing what they want but ce= rtain to recognize it when the see it. Certain to be a treasured addition t=
o personal, professional, community, and academic library Biography/Memoir = collections, it should be noted for readers with an interest in Booksellers=
and Bookselling -- along with the wonderfully arcane world of antiquarian = bookstores, that "Once Upon a Tome" is also available in a digital book for= mat (Kindle, $9.66).

Editorial Note: Oliver Darkshire (@DeathByBadger) is an antiquarian booksel= ler at Henry Sotheran Ltd, and the voice of @Sotherans twitter account. He = lives in Manchester, England, with his husband and his neglectfully curated=
collection of books. There is an informative online essay by Oliver Darksh= nire of considerable interest to booksellers, writers, and bibliophiles at = https://www.bookpage.com/behind-the-book/oliver-darkshire-essay

How to Create Crowdfunding Success for Authors and Writers
Dr. Judith Briles
Mile High Press
http://www.milehighpress.com
9781885331922, $20.00, PB, 114pp

https://www.amazon.com/Create-Crowdfunding-Success-Authors-Writers/dp/18853= 31924

Synopsis: "How to Create Crowdfunding Success for Authors and Writers" by D=
r. Judith Briles is the ideal 'how-to' manual for aspiring self published a= uthors who need money for design and printing; money for marketing; money t=
o develop a website; even money for a PR campaign.

The principle promise of Dr. Briles is that if your financial resources are=
low, there are ways to increase it. You want the odds to be on your side. = You want to be in the 35 percent minority that succeeds if you are an autho=
r or authortobe. Not the 65 percent that don't.

It's the power of OPM (Other People's Money!).

"How to Create Crowdfunding Success for Authors and Writers" shows how to:

Create rewards that your donors want.

Identify timelines: pre, during and post a crowdfunding campaign.

Determine which crowdfunding sites are best for authors and writers.

Pinpoint the essentials that every successful crowdfunding campaign has.

Get hot tips for creating momentum and the final push.

Structure a social media checklist that's ideal for your project.

Here is the perfect step-by-step instructional guide on the subject of how =
to set budgets and limit costs.

Does crowdfunding work for financing authors and writers? Yes it is. Can yo=
u as an author or writer succeed at it? Absolutely -- Start with a careful = reading of "How to Create Crowdfunding Success for Authors and Writers"

Critique: It costs money to turn a manuscript into a book. It costs money t=
o persuasively bring a book to the attention of its intended readership. Ov=
er the years, Dr. Judith Briles has earned her nickname of 'The Book Shephe= rd' and is one of the most respected and knowledgeable book marketing and p= romotion experts in the publishing industry today. Simply stated, anyone an=
d everyone that aspires to becoming a successfully self-published author ne= eds to give a careful 'note-taking' read of "How to Create Crowdfunding Suc= cess for Authors and Writers". While especially and unreservedly recommende=
d for personal, professional, community, college, and university library Wr= iting/Publishing instructional reference collections, it should be noted th=
at "How to Create Crowdfunding Success for Authors and Writers" is also ava= ilable in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.67).

Editorial Note: Dr. Judith Briles (http://www.milehighpress.com) is the aut= hor of 43 books and known as The Book Shepherd, working with authors global=
ly to create and publish books in all subject categories and genres. (https= ://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judith_Briles) A number of her titles have been pr= eviously reviewed and archived by the Midwest Book Review at www.midwestboo= kreview.com

EDITOR'S NOTE:

The Midwest Book Review is an organization of volunteers committed to promo= ting literacy, library usage, and small press publishing. We accept no fund=
s from authors or publishers. Full permission is given to post any of these=
reviews on thematically appropriate websites, newsgroups, listserves, inte= rnet discussion groups, organizational newsletters, or to interested indivi= duals. Please give the Midwest Book Review a credit line when doing so.

The Midwest Book Review publishes the monthly book review magazines "Califo= rnia Bookwatch", "Internet Bookwatch", "Children's Bookwatch", "MBR Bookwat= ch", "Reviewer's Bookwatch", and "Small Press Bookwatch". All are available=
for free on the Midwest Book Review website at www (dot) midwestbookreview=
(dot) com

Anyone wanting to submit books for review consideration can send them to:

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129

To submit reviews of any fiction or non-fiction books, email them to Frugal= muse (at) aol (dot) com (Be sure to include the book title, author, publish= er, publisher address, publisher website/phone number, 13-digit ISBN number=
, and list price).

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review

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