July 22, 2009

World's Largest E-BOOK Store to be Opened by Barnes & Noble

Barnes & Noble is challenging Amazon's Kindle.

Barnes & Noble said that it will offer more than 700,000 titles, including more than 500,000 public domain books from Google Inc., and that it expects to be able to offer more than one million titles within a year.

Under the plan, Barnes & Noble also struck a strategic partnership with Plastic Logic, maker of the Plastic Logic eReader device due in early 2010.

Book formats supported by the new Barnes & Noble e-bookstore include those that can be viewed on Apple Inc.'s iPhone and iPod Touch, BlackBerry smartphones and most Windows and Mac computers.

FIND A JOB BY WRITING AND PUBLISHING A BUSINESS BOOK

FIND A JOB BY WRITING AND PUBLISHING A BUSINESS BOOK (New York, NY)—With millions of executives interviewing for fewer openings in a dwindling job pool, the savvier among them are employing a stand-out device to separate them from the crowd: their own (usually ghostwritten) business books.

The fact is that being an author of a business book remains the fastest way for any corporate executive to establish instant expertise and status, according to public relations and marketing experts who recommend hiring a ghostwriter for speed and project management.

“Having your own book looks great on your resume, gives you, the executive, and the job interviewer something to talk about, is better than a business card, and leaves an impression that can’t be beat,” says Susan Bosscawen, a former banking executive and the author of "Blueprint Your Future" (www.blueprintyourfuture.com).

Ms. Bosscawen hired Arbor Books to help publish her book independently. The exciting news is that her book was recently reviewed by “The Miami Herald.”

“A business book that showcases your talent and communicative skills is a huge bonus on a resume,” says Joel Hochman of Arbor Books (www.arborbooks.com) a full-service firm that has helped dozens of business leaders create books. “That distinction can lead to higher-paying positions, speaking engagements and lucrative consultancies.”

According to Larry Leichman of Arbor Books, ghostwriting is an expedient means to getting an executive onto the business stage. It garners publicity, separates the businessperson out from the pack, and gives voice to opinion. The business world is apparently listening—a flood of independently written and produced books have hit the market in recent years.

Particular investment is being made in ghostwriting the content, whereas the publishing and marketing costs have dropped significantly.

“Social media and business networks are exploding, and it seems like almost everyone has a Twitter feed, a Facebook page and a blog,” says Mr. Hochman. “But business pros everywhere seem to agree that when we ghostwrite a business book, the impact is far greater. Your book becomes a showcase because a business ghostwriter—like the ones we have on staff—can turn you into a distinctive personality, a leading expert in your field.”

According to Mr. Hochman, his firm’s clients want a combination of services, including:

* A quality book that runs anywhere from a short, 96-page work to 400 pages and more* Stand-out cover design* Just a few copies to hand out

* Positioning on Amazon and availability in Borders and Barnes & Noble

* An eBook/Kindle version of the book ready for download

* An Audio book—they’re hot on iTunes and other sites* Marketing by people with connections in the industry Arbor Books is a full-service book-packaging firm (www.arborbooks.com).

FIND A JOB BY WRITING AND PUBLISHING A BUSINESS BOOK

(New York, NY)—With millions of executives interviewing for fewer openings in a dwindling job pool, the savvier among them are employing a stand-out device to separate them from the crowd: their own (usually ghostwritten) business books. The fact is that being an author of a business book remains the fastest way for any corporate executive to establish instant expertise and status, according to public relations and marketing experts who recommend hiring a ghostwriter for speed and project management. “Having your own book looks great on your resume, gives you, the executive, and the job interviewer something to talk about, is better than a business card, and leaves an impression that can’t be beat,” says Susan Bosscawen, a former banking executive and the author of "Blueprint Your Future" (http://www.blueprintyourfuture.com/).

Ms. Bosscawen hired Arbor Books to help publish her book independently. The exciting news is that her book was recently reviewed by “The Miami Herald.” “A business book that showcases your talent and communicative skills is a huge bonus on a resume,” says Joel Hochman of Arbor Books (http://www.arborbooks.com/) a full-service firm that has helped dozens of business leaders create books. “That distinction can lead to higher-paying positions, speaking engagements and lucrative consultancies.” According to Larry Leichman of Arbor Books, ghostwriting is an expedient means to getting an executive onto the business stage. It garners publicity, separates the businessperson out from the pack, and gives voice to opinion. The business world is apparently listening—a flood of independently written and produced books have hit the market in recent years. Particular investment is being made in ghostwriting the content, whereas the publishing and marketing costs have dropped significantly. “Social media and business networks are exploding, and it seems like almost everyone has a Twitter feed, a Facebook page and a blog,” says Mr. Hochman. “But business pros everywhere seem to agree that when we ghostwrite a business book, the impact is far greater. Your book becomes a showcase because a business ghostwriter—like the ones we have on staff—can turn you into a distinctive personality, a leading expert in your field.” According to Mr. Hochman, his firm’s clients want a combination of services, including: * A quality book that runs anywhere from a short, 96-page work to 400 pages and more* Stand-out cover design* Just a few copies to hand out* Positioning on Amazon and availability in Borders and Barnes & Noble* An eBook/Kindle version of the book ready for download* An Audio book—they’re hot on iTunes and other sites* Marketing by people with connections in the industry Arbor Books is a full-service book-packaging firm (http://www.arborbooks.com/).

July 14, 2009

July 13, 2009

How to Choose a Ghostwriter

An aspiring author has a lot of choices when it comes to choosing a ghostwriter, be it a firm or a freelancer. Choosing the right ghostwriter doesn’t have to be hard if you follow a few simple rules.

If you’re looking for a ghostwriter, there are several must-ask questions that will steer you away from the fly-by-night freelancers. The process of looking for a writer should be as thorough as looking for a doctor.

Before you sign a contract with someone to write your book, make sure that he or she has proof of the following:

* He or she is NOT a referral agency farming out your work to incompetent writers.
* A relationship with a publishing law firm and insurance company—for your protection.
* Full insurance against PLAGIARISM and defamation lawsuits.
* A guarantee that you own 100 percent of ALL the rights, profits and royalties to your book.
* A listing with Dun & Bradstreet and Literary Market Place.
* Writing supervised by professional, on-staff editors and proofreaders.
* Total confidentiality and nondisclosure—you don't want your ghostwriter claiming ownership after you’ve nailed your book or movie deal.
* Full publishing and promotional services including literary agents, TV, radio and print.
* All the promises in writing—be sure that everything is marked in the contract!

There are a lot of people making a lot of promises to hopeful authors. Good firms will guide you through the entire process of writing your book, from concept to marketing.

How Ghostwriting Works

Ghostwriting is a booming industry used by everyone from large corporations to your favorite celebrity to your neighbor’s grandmother. But few people who are looking for a writer really know how ghostwriting works.

The process usually follows these steps:

1) Initial interviews: the opening phase with the ghostwriter about the book’s concept and audience.

2) Outline creation: a crucial roadmap for the writing of a book and a good protection against veering off from the established plot (in fiction) or content list (nonfiction). It can also prevent lost time if another writer must be brought in to work on the project.

3) Initial writing sample: the writing of the first chapter and a review of the tone, language and style.

4) Writing: the phase in which the bulk of the book will be written based on writer-and-client collaboration through additional interviews.

5) Review: once the manuscript is completed, a final pass by an editor and/or proofreader—similar to a punch list used in construction. At this juncture, the manuscript may also be sent out for peer review.

6) Marketing: the phase where the manuscript is either sent out to agents and publishers and/or self-published. Self-publishing options include traditional printing, POD, eBook (digital download) and audio book. Marketing includes posting on Amazon, Borders and Barnes & Noble; library distribution; and publicity through traditional and online media.

If you’ve contracted with a ghostwriting firm and they don’t do something as basic as an outline, run for the hills. The initial interviews are also critical for the ghostwriter to get a sense of the client and the direction of the project.