W. Terry Whalin's "Publishing Myths" Essential for Publishing Newbies

I rarely run reviews of books in this column. It is often in conflict with my book How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically. It would be impossible for me to choose books to review from all the queries I after authors read how important review are--and it somehow feels unfair to my readers. It seems however that I would be remiss not to let my readers know about this book--especially the newbies.

10 Publishing Myths

Subtitle: Insights Every author Needs to Succeed

By W. Terry Whalin

Foreword by Jerry B. Jenkins, The New York Times Bestselling Author

Morgan James Publishing 2020

ISBN: 9781642794526

Genre: Nonfiction: Authors/Publishing

Contact Reviewer: hojoreviews@aol.com

Contact Author:  http://terry@morganjamespublishing.com

A Read-First Introduction Every Author Needs

A Slim Book for Newbies Who Don’t Want to Get Snared by
Publishing Scams

Reviewed by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, multi award-winning poet and novelist
and author of the HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers

Disclaimer: I met the author Terry W. Whalin when we were both presenters at a writers’ conference--probably a decade ago—and I received a review copy of this book from the publisher at no charge. Such disclaimers may discourage a reader from taking my review at face value, but the truth of is I have known Whalin’s work—both his books and his other industry presence--so long that I am in the enviable position of knowing of his expertise and experience—yes, honestly and fairly. 

First, a little story. I have often wished that many of my clients had come to me before they had jumped headlong into publishing.  That is true of many who are self-published and just as many who are traditionally published. The reason, of course, is that a solid book or a solid hour of consultation could have saved them hundreds—and sometimes thousands—of dollars. 

Another story: I use a little list of publishing industry myths as a four-page handout at many of the writers’ conferences I speak at. It is by necessity brief, and I have often wished I could recommend a book on this topic to read before they read my multi award-winning The Frugal Book Promoter (now in its third edition published by Modern History Press) which gives them what they need to act as their own publicist or work more effectively with a publicist assigned them by their publisher. First things, first, after all! And I often thought of writing this book. It is good I didn’t. No one could do this better than Whalin. He indeed has the expertise and the experience (all those authors he has encountered struggling with the fibs and misunderstandings many feel compelled to repeat on the web and elsewhere!).  

A mere 140 pages, this book is The book for an author with dreams of a bestseller dancing in their heads. I often tell my clients (and readers!) that one book on any aspect of publishing is never enough to cover an industry as large and varied of an industry that includes editing, formatting, indexing, cover design, interior book design, marketing and even new writing techniques for every genre an author should tackle. That’s why each of my books in the HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writers includes a suggested reading list in the appendix of each edition. Terry Whalin’s 10 Publishing Myths will be included in that list in the very next editionI publish or the next book I write. That’s a promise. 

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(Carolyn Howard-Johnson is an English and accent reduction tutor, an editor, a multi award-winning writer of fiction, and a marketer of books.  She was also an instructor for UCLA Extension’s renowned Writers’ Program for nearly a decade and holds an instructors’ certificate from that same school. Learn more about her own books and chapbooks of poetry with Amazon’s list of her published books at http://bit.ly/CarolynsAmznProfile .)

MORE ABOUT THE BLOGGER

 Howard-Johnson is the multi award-wining author of fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. She is also a marketing consultant, editor, and author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writers including the multi award-winning The Frugal Book Promoter (http://bit.ly/FrugalBookPromoIII), now offered by Modern History Press in its third edition.

Carolyn's latest is in the #HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writers is How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically. Learn more on her Amazon profile page (http://bit.ly/CarolynsAmznProfile). Great Little Last Minute Editing Tips for Writers (http://bit.ly/Last-MinuteEditing) is one of her booklets--perfect for inexpensive gift giving--and, another booklet, The Great First Impression Book Proposal (http://bit.ly/BookProposalsII) helps writers who want to be traditionally published. The Frugal Editor (http://bit.ly/FrugalEditor), now in its second edition, is the winningest book in the series. Carolyn also has three frugal books for retailers including one she encourages authors to read because it will help them convince retailers to host their workshops, presentations, and signings. It is A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In-Store Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrifty Events and Sales Techniques (http://bit.ly/RetailersGuide). In addition to this blog, Carolyn helps writers extend the exposure of their favorite reviews at TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com. She also blogs at all things editing--grammar, formatting and more--at The Frugal, Smart, and Tuned-In Editor (http://TheFrugalEditor.blogspot.com)