The Writing/Publishing Shelf

The Art of Libromancy
Josh Cook
Biblioasis
www.biblioasis.com
9781771965415, $18.95, PB, 240pp

https://www.amazon.com/Art-Libromancy-Selling-Reading-Twenty-first/dp/17719= 6541X

Synopsis: With Amazon's growing power in both book selling and publishing, = considering where and how we get our books is more important now than ever =
- especially to authors, publishers, and dedicated bibliophiles.

The simple act of putting a book in a reader's hands (what booksellers call=
hand-selling) becomes a catalyst for an exploration of the moral, financia=
l, and political pressures all independent bookstores face.

From the relationship between bookselling and white supremacy, to censorshi=
p and the spread of misinformation, to the consolidation of the publishing = industry, with the publication of "The Art of Libromancy: On Selling Books = and Reading Books in the Twenty-first Century" veteran bookseller and write=
r Josh Cook turns a generous yet critical eye to an industry at the heart o=
f American culture, sharing tips and techniques for becoming a better reade=
r and, of course, recommending great books along the way.

Critique: Exceptionally well written, deftly organized, and impressively pr= esented, "The Art of Libromancy: On Selling Books and Reading Books in the = Twenty-first Century" is as informed and informative, as it is inherently f= ascinating commentary on the independent bookstore owner/seller in a publis= hing industry increasingly dominated by the big book bookstore chains and t=
he internet based booksellers like Amazon and Barnes & Noble).

In the author's words: "If books are important to you because you're a read=
er or a writer, then how books are sold should be important to you as well.=
If it matters to you that your vegetables are organic, your clothes made w= ithout child labor, your beer brewed without a culture of misogyny, then it=
should matter how books are made and sold to you."

While also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99), "The Art of = Libromancy: On Selling Books and Reading Books in the Twenty-first Century"=
is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, com= munity, college, and university library Writing/Publishing collections and = supplemental Contemporary Media Studies curriculum studies lists.

Editorial Note: Josh Cook (https://www.portersquarebooks.com/josh-cook) is =
a bookseller and co-owner at Porter Square Books in Cambridge, Massachusett=
s, where he has worked since 2004. He is also author of the critically accl= aimed postmodern detective novel An Exaggerated Murder and his fiction, cri= ticism, and poetry have appeared in numerous leading literary publications.

The Author's Walk
Judith Briles
Mile High Press
http://www.milehighpress.com
9781885331007, $20.00, PB, 130pp

https://www.amazon.com/Authors-Walk-Finding-Publishing-Success/dp/188533100=
2

Synopsis: With the publication of "The Author's Walk: Finding and Using You=
r Voice to Create Publishing Success" author and book marketing expert Dr. = Judith Briles offers beginning and established writers with a roadmap to wr= iting that next book. Comprised from cover to cover with sage, practical, D=
IY advice, this small by enormously informative volume is invaluable for an=
y writer wanting to become a published author.

As as experienced and successfully published author, Judith would advise th=
at if you are contemplating or already engaged in writing your first book, = then give a careful reading to what she has to say in "The Author's Walk: F= inding and Using Your Voice to Create Publishing Success" -- and don't hesi= tate to take notes and turn to it again and again for both instruction and = inspiration.

Critique: Of special note are the illustrative personal anecdotes, useful i= nsights and practical advice comprising "The Author's Walk: Finding and Usi=
ng Your Voice to Create Publishing Success". This is essential reading for = all aspiring authors about finding their own personal style and workable ap= proach to getting profitably published -- while taking sefl care of your me= ntal, emotional, and creative well-being. Simply stated, "The Author's Walk=
: Finding and Using Your Voice to Create Publishing Success", while also av= ailable in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.99) is a significant, essentia=
l, and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, communi= ty, college, and university library Writing/Publishing collections and pers= onal reading lists.

Editorial Note: Dr. Judith Briles is (also known as throughout the publishi=
ng industry as The Book Shepherd) is the author of 43 books including The A= uthor's Walk, How to Avoid Book Publishing Blunders, her memoir When God Sa=
ys NO, and historical fiction, The Secret Journey. You can subscribe to her=
informative Tuesday and Saturday blogs on her website: https://thebookshep= herd.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

--- MBSE BBS v1.0.8.4 (Linux-x86_64)
* Origin: ---:- FTN<->UseNet Gate -:--- (3:633/280.2@fidonet)