Nonfiction Ink

For more details on publishing deals – including agents, editors, publishers, and book descriptions – visit PublishersMarketplace and subscribe to their Deals Report

WABI SABI LOVE: Finding Perfect Love in Imperfect Relationships
Author: Arielle Ford

MILLION DOLLAR COACHING and MILLION BOOKING SPEAKING
Author: Dr. Alan Weiss

MIND OVER MONEY MATTERS: How to Take Control of Your Money Before It Takes Control of You
Author: Valerie Coleman Morris

A BUM DEAL
Authors: Rufus Hannah and Barry Soper

LARCENY IN MY BLOOD: An Ex-Junkie and Ex-Con’s Adventures in the Ivy League
Author Matthew Parker

DON’T FORGET TO SPIT: Lessons from a Newfound Life in the Wine Trade
Author: Marco Pasanella

DANCING IN THE GLORY OF MONSTERS
Author: Jason Stearns

MIND THE GAP
Author: Klaus Issler

WHY CHRISTIANITY IS FAILING US
Author: Diana Butler Bass

SUMATRA WITH THE SEVEN CHURCHES
Author: Sandra Glahn

I HATE MY BODY
Author: Cyndi Lee

THE BUDDHA IN THE CLASSROOM: Lessons to Inspire the Weary Teacher
Author: Donna Quesada

LEAVING MUNDANIA: A Year of Grownup Make-Believe
Author: Lizzie Stark

COOKING WITHOUT BORDERS: Flavors for the New American Kitchen
Author: Anita Lo

APOCALYPSE NEVER: Forging the Path to a Nuclear Weapon-Free World
Author: Tad Daley

THE MCGRAW-HILL 36-HOUR COURSE IN BUSINESS WRITING AND COMMUNICATION: How to Effectively Manage Your Writing, Revised Edition
Author: Kenneth Davis

KILL THE MESSENGER: The Media’s Role in the Fate of the World
Author: Maria Armoudian

THE ONLY WAY OUT IS IN: The Inner Harmony Approach to Recovery From Addiction
Author: Peter Amato

THE ASCENSION OF JERRY: Murder, Mayhem & Ludicrous Redemption in Late-1970s Los Angeles
Author: Chip Jacobs

Acquiring online book reviews can give a boost to sales and expand your brand’s visibility. Here is a list of online nonfiction book review sites to consider. (Be sure to read the reviewer’s submission guidelines. Some sites accept both traditionally published and self-published books.)

5 Minutes For Books

Armchair Reviews

Beyond The Books

Blogcritics

Book Pleasures

Book Review

BookBrowse (narrative nonfiction only)

Bookgasm

Books I Done Read

Caribou’s Mom (memoir and true crime only)

Curled Up With a Good Book

Darryl’s Library

Entrepreneur – Top Shelf Reading Picks (business-related nonfiction only)

Front Street Reviews

Midwest Book Review

My Shelf

New Pages

Novelspot (just starting to review nonfiction)

Ooh Books (limited selection of nonfiction reviews)

Rhapsody in Books (narrative nonfiction)

Self-Publishing Review

The Best Reviews

The Compulsive Reader

The New York Review of Books

Writers Write

YOUR TURN: Do you recommend any additional online nonfiction book review sites (that receive good traffic)?

For more details on publishing deals – including agents, editors, publishers, and book descriptions – visit PublishersMarketplace and subscribe to their Deals Report

LYING IN INTERNATIONAL POLITICS
Author: John Mearsheimer

THIS MORTAL COIL: How the Modern Body Was Born
Author: Fay Bound Alberti

BASKETBALL JUNKIE
Author: Chris Herren with Bill Reynolds

INTELLIGENT LUST: Why Smart Sex is Better Than Great Sex
Author: Stanley Siegel

BRINGING UP OSCAR: The Men and Women Who Conceived Hollywood’s Most Wanted Man
Author: Debra Ann Pawlak

WHAT CHEFS FEED THEIR KIDS: Recipes and Techniques for Cultivating a Love of Good Food
Author: Fanae Aaron

A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FUTURE
Author: Michael J. Fox

BIG LITTLE MAN
Author: Alex Tizon

FROM WAIKIKI TO WALL STREET: How Surfing Transformed the World
Author: Peter Weswick and Peter Neushul

THE 30 DAY GUIDE TO SOCIAL MARKETING
Author: Gail Martin

FIRED UP FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Author: Carol Roth

SAXOPHONE COLOSSUS: A Portrait of Sonny Rollins
Author: John Abbott and Bob Blumenthal

THE 30 MINUTE VEGAN’S TASTE OF EUROPEAN CUISINE
Author: Mark Reinfeld and Jennifer Murray

UNTITLED MICHAEL JACKSON BIOGRAPHY

Author: Richard Siklos

UNTITLED MEREDITH BAXTER MEMOIR

Author:  Meredith Baxter

CLASSIC CHEZ PANISSE: A 40th Anniversary Celebration of Chez Panisse
Author: Alice Waters

ONE NATION UNDER SEX: How the Private Lives of Presidents and First Ladies Shaped America
Author: Larry Flynt and David Eisenbach

A CHILD’S WRITING LIFE
Author: Pam Allyn

PRESENT YOUR WAY TO THE TOP
Author: David Dempsey

PRETTY DOINGS: The Secret, Sinful History of Georgian London
Author: Dan Cruikshank

RX HEART: Facts, Fads and Fictions in the Prevention and Treatment of Heart Disease
Authors: A. Marc Gillinov, M.D. and Steven Nissen, M.D

LATE, LATE AT NIGHT
Author: Rick Springfield

REAL FOOD NOW: Modern Meatless Meals for Eco-Friendly Eating
Author: Ann Gentry

OVERHAUL
Author: Steve Rattner

SUMMIT: Hoover, the Kennedy Brothers, and the Meeting that Unmasked the Mob
Author: Gil Reavill

MONEYWOOD
Author: William Stadiem

THRIVE FOODS
Author: Brenden Brazier

A DOG NAMED SLUGGER

Author: Leigh Brill

TIRED AND WIRED
Author: Marcelle Pick

CHOCOLATE CHOCOLATE
Authors: Frances Park & Ginger Park

THE BUYING BRAIN: Secrets Of Selling To The Subconcious Mind
Author: Dr. A.K. Pradeep

CLOUD COUNTRY REVIVAL: How Wind Energy Is Breathing New Life Into America’s Heartland
Author: Philip Warburg

THE PCOS DIET PLAN: A Natural Approach To Healing Your Health And Hormones
Author: Hillary Wright

LADY REPORTER IN HER CHEVY ‘BLUETTE’: Lorena Hickock’s Journey’s Through America During The Great Depression
Author: Michael Golay

THE LAST DAYS OF THE GREAT AMERICAN SENATE
Author: Ira Shapiro

COMMANDO: The Autobiography of Johnny Ramone
Author: Johnny Ramone

LITERACY FOR LOVE AND WISDOM
Author: Jeffrey Wilhelm & Bruce Novak

BEST OF THE BRITCOMS
Author: Garry Berman

THE HEART OF EUROPE: A History of The Holy Roman Empire
Author: Peter Wilson

THE BERLIN-BAGHDAD EXPRESS
Author: Sean McMeekin

BURIED IN THE SKY
Author: Peter Zuckerman & Amanda Padoan

NOW WRITE! SCREENWRITING: Exercises By Today’s Best Screenwriters, Teachers, And Consultants
Authors: Sherry Ellis & Laurie Lamson

IN COLD PURSUIT: My Hunt For Tim Krajcir, The Notorious Police School Killer
Author: Paul Echols with Christine Byers

HOW WE WENT TO WAR: Roosevelt, His Cabinet, And The Plan For Victory
Author: David Kaiser

IN SEARCH OF CIVILIZATION: Remaking a Tarnished Idea
Author: John Armstrong

THE MAGICAL STRANGER
Author: Stephen Rodrick

THE BACKYARD INVESTOR
Author: Chris Camillo

HANNAH ARENDT AND MARTIN HEIDEGGER
Author: Antonia Grunenberg

THE DEEDS OF MY FATHERS: Generoso Pope, Sr., Power Broker Of New York & Gene Pope, Jr., Publisher Of The National Enquirer
Author: Paul David Pope

JANUARY FIRST: One Child’s Battle with Schizophrenia
Author: Michael Scholfield

THE ORCHID AND THE DANDELION
Author: David Dobbs

VEGANIZE IT!
Author: Jenn Shagrin

ONE GOOD EGG
Author: Suzy Becker

THE LETTERS OF JOHN F. KENNEDY
Author: Martin Sandler

THE THYROID/MIND CONNECTION
Authors: Richard Shames, M.D. and Karilee Shames, R.N.

THE QUANTUM ENIGMA
Authors: Bruce Rosenblum and Fred Kuttner

THE FIVE PERCENT SOLUTION: Resolving Seemingly Impossible Conflicts at Home, at Work, and Beyond
Author: Peter Coleman

BEYOND BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM
Author: Tim Grainey

RANSOM ROAD
Author: Caleb Daniloff

TINDERBOX
Authors: Craig Timberg and Dr. Daniel Halperin

TRUE CRIME: MISSOURI
Author: David Krajicek

LOVE AMERICAN STYLE: Memoirs Of A Marriage Counselor’s Divorce
Author: Sharyn Wolf

MAKE IT FAST, COOK IT SLOW ON A BUDGET
Author: Stephanie O’Dea

UNTITLED R. KELLY MEMOIR
Author: R. Kelly with David Ritz

If you’re considering co-authoring a book, it’s important to be aware of each writer’s strengths and weaknesses, and set guidelines for the process. Here are six tips for a successful collaboration:

1. DEFINE YOUR GOALS & EXPECTATIONS
Both you and your writing partner should have similar expectations and goals for the book. If your purpose is to uncover unfair practices in the mortgage lending industry and you expect to heavily market the book yourself, and your co-author’s goal is to land a six-figure book deal advance, and expects the publisher to handle all the promotional aspects, then the two of you are not on the same page. Agree upon the primary goal for the project, write it down, and post it where you can see it during the writing process to help stay focused and on track.

2. ENSURE YOU ARE COMPATIBLE WITH ONE ANOTHER
It’s important to collaborate with someone with a similar working style and who meshes with your personality. If you’re a very detailed and organized person, you may have difficulty working along side someone who is chaotic and can’t seem to manage details. Consider co-authoring a feature article together before committing to an entire book. If the feature article collaboration is problematic, than co-authoring a manuscript will be a greater challenge.

3. CAPITALIZE ON YOUR STRENGTHS, BE AWARE OF YOUR WEAKNESSES
Each of you will bring particular strengths and weaknesses to the project. One of you may be an exceptional writer and editor, while the other is good at researching and interviewing. Know what each of you is good at and where your weaknesses lie so you can work more efficiently and effectively.

4. DEFINE EACH WRITER’S JOB
Assign and outline what each of you will be responsible for. Perhaps you will divide the writing evenly, with each of you writing specific chapters separately and then editing them together. Or perhaps your co-author will contribute the ideas while you handle writing all the material. It’s important to clearly define the duties prior to beginning the book to avoid any headaches later.

5. SIGN A WRITTEN AGREEMENT
A co-authoring contract is essential. It should outline all the details of the writing project, including the division of labor, deadlines, how expenses will be shared, and how advances and royalties will be split.

6. ESTABLISH A PLAN FOR RESOLVING CONFLICT
Even if you’re collaborating with your best friend or your twin sister, disagreements are bound to occur, which can cause delays in the project or even threaten to derail it entirely. Establish a plan for resolving conflict before beginning the book. Perhaps you will designate a third party to help settle disagreements, or require that each of you create a list of both pros and cons for each issue that arises, or maybe you will agree to simply flip a coin to determine how you will proceed. Whatever your plan for resolving conflict entails, just be sure to create it before a disagreement happens.

YOUR TURN: Have you had a successful writing collaboration, what worked and what was challenging?

Many first-time authors are confused and mislead by the term “self-publishing”. Vanity presses and subsidy publishers market their services as “self-publishing” and mainstream media even refers to these companies as “self-publishers”. But the truth is – if you’re not the publisher (with your own publishing company), than you are NOT a self-publisher – you are an unfortunate victim of a vanity press or subsidy publisher (that has tricked you into believing you’re self-published) and your chances for having a successful book and writing career are greatly diminished.

Become a Real Self-Publisher reveals why you should avoid vanity presses and subsidy publishers and shows you how you can easily become a real self-publisher. The author covers everything from setting up a business, obtaining an ISBN and bar code, and copyright and Library of Congress registration, to cover design, hiring and working with an editor and typesetter, developing a website, and marketing and promoting your book.

YOUR TURN: Have you used this book to guide you on your self-publishing journey?

Does your author expertise revolve around business topics? If so, a feature in Entrepreneur magazine can help expand your platform. Here are three steps to follow to increase your chances of  landing a spot in the magazine:

1. Read several issues of the magazine to understand what type of features and columns are covered. Entrepreneur is available at most newsstands and bookstores or via the magazine’s website. A few of the topics the magazine reports on include:

• In-depth articles examining how a current business issue affects small businesses
• Psychological topics, such as “Are your shortcomings killing your company?”
• How-to articles, such as “How to get your product into Wal-Mart”, “How to bounce back from a business failure”, and “How to stay healthy and fit despite the demands of your business.”
• Money topics, including business financing, financial management, and personal financial issues –  for example “Unusual ways entrepreneurs are financing their businesses.”
• Marketing & Sales topics, such as “Getting your product on a reality TV show.”
• Management and Operations issues, such as “Should your restaurant ban children?”
• Technology issues, such as “Should you send your IT person to hacker bootcamp?”
• Profiles of entrepreneurs focusing specifically on what is innovative about their company.

2. Contact each appropriate editor (listed on the masthead) introducing yourself as an expert and available source, and provide a list of topics you are qualified to speak about, an overview of your credentials, and highlights of your media experience.

3. Ask for permission to add the editor to your notification list for News Releases and be sure to email an informative, newsworthy release each month.

Booklife is an informative guide for creating a successful and balanced writing life. VanderMeer breaks the book into two sections: Public Booklife, covering marketing elements, and the Private Booklife, focusing on the writing process – while emphasizing the importance of creating an authentic balance between the two.

The first section delves into online platforms and media opportunities including blogs, social networking (Twitter, FaceBook), book trailers, reviews, podcasts, and dedicated book / author websites, and provides insights to select the most effective and honest strategy. VanderMeer recommends setting goals and outlines how to create detailed plans. In part two, he discusses writing and revision, how to deal with rejections, and setting work schedules. This well-organized, thoughtful book concludes with more than 100 pages of appendices filled with information from and about agents, booksellers, editors, publicists, and published writers.

YOUR TURN: Have you read Booklife? What are your thoughts and comments about this book and the author’s suggested strategies?

The “mad-dash” to get on Oprah - before the show goes off the air – has begun!  The Oprah Winfrey Show receives more than 1,000 pitches each day, so if your marketing plan includes a segment on the coveted television talk show you will need to have a well-designed strategy and pitch a package with impact.

1. Know the show
Most of the books and topics featured on Oprah cover self-help, health/fitness, and family/relationship issues. Besides watching the show to gain information on format and structure, you can visit the Oprah website, which provides lists of past, current and upcoming shows, to become more informed about how to slant your pitch to make it more attractive to the producers.

2. Have media experience
You will need to have serious media exposure to compete and win a guest spot on Oprah, such as interviews on the main morning shows, a column or feature in a national magazine, and experience speaking to a large audience. Potential guests must also undergo a challenging interview process to ensure they will perform well on the show.

3. Submit an impressive, professional media kit
Your media kit should include your bio (highlighting why you are an expert in your field), book review quotes, your book’s one-sheet, topics you are qualified to speak on, a list of media (television shows, radio broadcasts, print publications), feature article clippings and copies of articles you wrote, photos (a combination of headshots, full body shots, and active shots), and most importantly, a sample reel of your television experience.

4. Pitch the right producers
Pay attention to the credits for each show and note the producers (listed as producers, senior associate producers, or associate producers) that oversee episodes related to your topic and expertise, and pitch them directly. Also pitch the Executive Producer (Ellen Rakieten), the Senior Supervising Producers (Katy Murphy Davis and Dana Newton-Utigard), and the Senior Producer (Lisa Morin.) Send a copy of your book and your media kit to every appropriate producer at:

Harpo Productions
110 North Carpenter
Chicago, IL 60607

YOUR TURN: Do you have an Oprah success story you’d like to share?

Unlike prescriptive / practical nonfiction, which is written from the perspective of the author and addresses readers directly (using “you” and “we”), narrative nonfiction writing requires authors to select a viewpoint that most effectively conveys the story.

Narrative nonfiction employs three main viewpoint (or point of view) perspectives:

1. First-Person Narrative
The first-person perspective injects the author into the story. The writer becomes a character in the story with feelings, thoughts, opinions and biases related to the subject or topic. First-person perspective is used best in memoir and autobiography. Inserting “I” in the narrative of other types of stories can be challenging for the writer and distracting for the reader – critics of John Kraukuer’s books (Into Thin Air, Into The Wild) cite his constant interjection of himself into the stories as annoying and unnecessary. While the use of the first-person narrative in The Men Who Stare At Goats by Jon Ronson, works because the author presents himself in the story as the “everyman” and becomes that character for readers. “As told to the author” books also employ the first-person narrative.

2. Third-Person Objective Narrative
The third-person objective narrative presents a more journalistic, unbiased approach to the material. The story is conveyed through a neutral narrator (using “he”, “she”, “they”), devoid of the characters’ feelings, thoughts, or opinions. Truman Capote uses this technique for In Cold Blood:

“The black Chervrolet was again parked, this time in front of a Catholic hospital on the outskirts of Emporia. While Perry waited in the car, Dick had gone into the hospital to try and buy a pair of black stockings from a nun. This rather unorthodox method of obtaining them had been Perry’s inspiration; nuns, he had argued, were certain to have a supply.”

3. Third-Person Subjective Narrative
The third-person subjective narrative tells the story from the perspective of a narrator (using “he”, “she”, “they”) and presents the feelings, thoughts, opinions, biases and knowledge (time, people, places, and events related to the story) of one (limited perspective) or all characters (omniscient perspective.) Author Anthony Flacco uses this method in The Road Out Of Hell: Sanford Clark and the True Story of the Wineville Murders:

“Thirteen-year-old Sanford Clark felt his stomach lurch when he realized that his mother was really going to send him away. He stared down at the floor and fought to control his breathing while his brain reeled from the news. Everything about it felt wrong. The atmosphere in the room took on a poisonous feel, as if a thin mist of acid had just rolled in through the window. He knew that his mother and uncle were telling him a pack of lies. It was so off-kilter and strange that the moment belonged in a bad dream.”

YOUR TURN: What viewpoint are you employing in your narrative nonfiction book and why?

An invaluable writing guide from acclaimed writing coach and professor, Jill Dearman. This workshop-in-a-book provides practical advice and exercises that will inspire you to write. Presented with humor and abundant energy, Bang The Keys leads the reader through the four steps to achieving results:

Step 1: Begin with the strongest idea.

Step 2: Arrange the work into a concrete shape.

Step 3: Nurture the project with love, so that others can love it, too.

Step 4: Go finish, and then let it go so it may live independently in the world.

An ideal book for both prescriptive and narrative nonfiction writers.