Think Like a Publisher: 33 Essential Tips to Write, Promote, & Sell Your Book

by Randy Davila

Straight Talk From A Publisher!

In Think Like a Publisher: 33 Essential Tips to Write, Promote, and Sell Your Book, Randy Davila, President of Hampton Roads Publishing & Hierophant Publishing, explains the nuances of the publishing industry in plain English, and gives authors all the tools necessary to be successful in today's rapidly changing publishing world.

Broken down into three easy to follow categories of Editorial, Marketing, and Business specific tips, Think Like a Publisher offers invaluable insight into how publishers think about manuscripts, marketing, and their partnership with the author. You will also learn:

*What publishers (and readers!) look for in a manuscript
*The most common new author writing mistakes--and how to avoid them
*The makings of a great book title and cover
*The pros and cons of self-publishing vs. traditional publishing
*How to build your author platform and gain a following
*The ins and outs of the business side of publishing--contracts, royalties, agents, and more!

For any writer who has felt intimidated by the prospect of bringing a book into the world, Th!nk Like a Publisher offers a one-stop guide to understanding the publishing industry and what it takes to make your book a success!

Genres: Writing

160 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2013

About the author

Randy Davila is the President of Hierophant Publishing and former president of Hampton Roads Publishing Company.

Between the two publishing houses, he has overseen the publication of books by authors such as don Miguel Ruiz jr., Eckhart Tolle, Byron Katie, Neale Donald Walsch, Richard Bach, Jack Canfield, and many more. Randy regularly teaches author workshops at venues around the country. For his current lecture schedule, please visit www.insighteventsusa.com

Randy graduated with distinction from the Classics, Philosophy, and Religion department at the University of Mary Washington in Virginia, where he co-founded and wrote for the award-winning publication The Free Press. His spiritual short stories have received the Place of Peace award. He lives in Boerne, Texas, with his wife Rachel, daughters Mia and Charlie, and their dog Teddy.

Reviews

[Rosa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do you wonder what a publisher will advise you as a first-time writer if you have the opportunity? That’s what this book is all about.

Randy Davila, is the president of Hierophant Publishing and Hampton Roads Publishing Company, and he will give you “33 essential tips to write, promote and sell your book” based upon his experience with his novel, his author workshops, and the publication of books by well-known authors as Miguel Ruiz Jr., Eckhart Tolle, Richard Bach and Jack Canfield.


I have read numerous writers’ posts about these topics, and I still found valuable information in this book. In fact, it includes advice for fiction and nonfiction stories as well as traditional publishing or self-publishing.

I recommend this book to first-time writers, and if you consider giving writing a try so not to have unrealistic beliefs and expectations of the publishing industry and your career as a writer.

A final word from Randy Davila to you, “if you implement all the tips in this book, develop a solid Author Business Model, and you feel your manuscript falls under the categories that we publish, I might just have a home for you and your books.”

[Jacob Nordby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll never forget the potent cocktail of confusion, hope and anxiety I experienced as a newbie writer seeking to get published. Like most who take that journey, I asked a lot of people for advice, searched online for answers and bumped my head a lot. I found that most of the professed experts gave conflicting information and made the path to publishing my first book seem like a goose chase at best.

When I read this new book by Randy Davila, my first thought was, "I just wish I had known this five years ago".

Think Like A Publisher will save writers years of frustration. Randy Davila is a rare traditional publishing president because he is willing to pull back the curtain and reveal secrets of the book business.

I learned a lot from this book and will use these tips as I write and publish my next book.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book as a Goodreads give away thinking this book would help me if I decide to try to publish my memoirs of going through breast cancer at the age of 36. Well, this book has opened my eyes as to what it would take to publish and how many steps there are and how many people could be involved in the process. Having worked at a bookstore and having talked to several book reps, I thought I knew "some"of the business. Randy Davila's book is thorough and gives good insights, even though much of it is common sense. This book would be helpful to anyone who is interested in publishing a book whether it be with a publishing house or a self publisher.

[Kristen Hope Mazzola · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book offers wonderful tips to help authors, self publishing or not! Being a first time, indie author, this book really helped drive home certain points that I had not considered, answered questions I was too shy to ask, and affirmed that many of the steps I am taking and choices I have been making setting me up for a good path for self-pubbing! I think this is a great read for any author!

[Caterina Alberti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Think Like a Publisher has a wonderful feeling of encouragement and empowerment alongside all the amazing first hand information that makes publishing for a new writer a whole lot clearer! Randy Davila provides the knowledge that affirms where you are in the process and he makes it easy to focus on the next steps.

[Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was looking for a specific book about publishing, rather than a broad book about building my platform. I was also looking for a book that gave equal weight to fiction and non-fiction. I was also looking for something that gave equal respect to self-publishing as it did to publishing. I also needed something non-meandering and on-point. Bingo. Now building my platform.

[Norma Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Th!nk Like a Publisher: 33 essential tips to write, promote & sell your book is maybe the only book you’ll need to learn what pitfalls to avoid in all those categories. It is written from the heart of someone who has published many best-selling authors such as Jack Canfield, Eckhart Tolle and others in all genres of reading material. Each section of the process is covered thoroughly but succinctly.

President of Hierophant Publishing and Hampton Roads Publishing Company, his book is broken down into three categories of how publishers think and what they are looking for: Editorial (what that person does or won’t do), marketing and business-specific tips for success. Further, he has received the Place of Peace award for his own spiritual short stories.

Randy Davilla gives pros and cons, even, of self-publishing vs more traditional methods of all types of print from technical to fiction. This easy to read and understand work can ease the pain of seeing that first work into print more rapidly—and with less rejection for the budding author—by following his suggestions. Don Miguel Ruiz, author of “The Four Agreements,” says of him, “Randy is a wonderful publisher who truly cares about his authors and the books he helps bring into the world.”

What a concise, invaluable tool for those who feel they have a story to tell.

[Jennifer James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Randy Davila describes this book as a "crash course" in publishing, and I think that's perfect. It's a quick and dirty overview of the publishing world and the steps needed to break in as an author. I think it's good as a starting point, but doesn't offer many specifics on how to go through the detailed process of writing query letters or book proposals, but there are other books for that. There are some great tips in the book, such as starting an online platform right away, and whether or not you need to get an agent. Overall, I think it's a quick and informative read.

[Michelle Connell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was hoping this would give more tips on promoting and selling books, but mostly explained the whole process of getting a book published from finding a publisher or agent, to finding an editor to finding reviews. Would be very useful for someone considering publishing a book or a newer self-published author.

[Eliezer Shore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good, clear practical advice on how to publish a book -- from finding a publisher to self-publishing. Written in short, to-the-point chapters.

[JB · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book thru the good reads giveaway. very informative, insightful and informational for any author from beginner to expert.