Publishing Matters ~ My Recommendations

One of my friends, Janice, has just finished her book. It's been edited four times. She's had two rewrites and I'm very proud of her patience. Now she's searching for an inspirational publisher.

First things are first. Are agents necessary? Of course not. While they may make your job easier, they take a sizable cut of your money too. If you're not afraid of elbow grease and endless Google search nights, then you can do their job yourself and keep your profits.

In publishing, nothing is quick, fast and in a hurry. It's more like hurry up and wait. In most of the big houses, your manuscript can languish for up to two years before they publish... that's assuming they don't change their minds and simply return your rights. It's happened before. There's rarely any that publish in less than 12 months, but there are a few for those of you who have time sensitive information you need published in less than a year. One of them for adults is Living Waters Publishing Company. If it is children's material, you should try Guardian Angel Publishing or Writer's Exchange. All three of these publishers move faster than most of the others in the business. For those who want a bigger house without an extended wait, try Bethany House. My friend has submitted to Bethany House. Pray for her, please!

Several Issues New Writers Face

I am often approached about reviewing books by new writers. About half of them aren't even worth a read. Many are self-published or subsidy published. Some are actually traditionally published and still not worth reading. About 10% or less of them are good reads.

There are three things I notice in new authors. Usually, the plot is underdeveloped, the writing is choppy, or the theme isn't clearly defined and adhered to. Please be careful of these things. Don't be in a hurry to publish. Rather be thorough in your writing, editing and rewriting. That makes all the difference in the world.

Review ~ "Truth and Intimacy: A Couple's Journal" by Lacresha and Lensey Hayes

During times of recession, you can look for divorce rates to spike. I believe the release of this book was timely because of the information it contains. The Hayes wrote an excellent manual on perfecting marriage.

Clearly, there is not one solution that will work for every marriage and that is the mistake most authors make. However, this book lays out advice in a way that can be adapted to suit each couple individually. Each chapter has stories of real couples and real struggles. They all end with a solution, which will presumably help couples find their own area of struggle and overcome it together.

Truth and Intimacy is a marriage counselor's friend and any married couple's companion. I enjoyed the entirety of the book. If there is one criticism I'd have, it would be the scriptural references which can alienate couples that are not of the Christian faith. Otherwise, this book is an excellent read!