You Can Make It Big Writing Books: A Top Agent Shows How to Develop a Million-Dollar Bestseller
If your goal is a Pulitzer, don't look here. But if your aspirations include wealth, bestsellerdom, and an appearance onOprah®,You Can Make It Big Writing Bookscan help. The majority of the book comprises author and literary agent Jeff Herman's profiles of more than 60 topselling authors. While the profiles quickly begin to sound formulaic--the authors all seem to have been asked the exact same questions--there is a lot to learn from this group of confident, successful self-promoters: mainly that writing may be an art form, but, as says Carmen Renee Berry  (Girlfriends for Life), "publishing is a business." Some of the best--and funniest--tips come from Ralph Roberts  (Walk Like a Giant, Sell Like a Madman). Roberts recommends autographing books at every bookstore you can (it makes it more difficult for the store to return them to the publisher) and giving the pilot a copy of your book every time you fly. "It's awesome," says Roberts, "to hear the pilot announce: 'We have Ralph Roberts, the world's greatest salesperson, on board.'"The final third of the book is devoted to promotional tips from Herman and other specialists. They advise that you write a query letter so good that an agent will feel compelled to call you immediately; make your radio appearances so engrossing that even ice cream in the trunk wouldn't make a listener turn off the car and go inside; and take advantage of America Online's 30-day free trial to promote your book to its members. Of course, divine intervention and that booking onOprah® wouldn't hurt, either.--Jane Steinberg