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Jim Cox Report: May 2018

Dear Publisher Folk, Friends & Family:

One of the sources of reviews for our "Children's Bookwatch" is Story Monsters Ink. And one of the reviews they forwarded to me for inclusion in the May 2018 issues is by Isa Briarwood. It was while fleshing out an 'info block' for her review of "A Drop of Blue: Rifters" that I visited her web site and was blown away by one of her web site sections called "Resources for Indie Writers". Simply stated, it is an invaluable source of resources that should be bookmarked by anyone and everyone seeking to become a successfully published author. Here is a direct link to this incredible internet archive:

https://isabriarwood.com/resources-for-indie-writers/

I borrowed this definition from Wikipedia - Public relations (PR) is the practice of managing the spread of information between an individual or an organization (such as a business, government agency, or a nonprofit organization) and the public.

PR is essential for any author and/or publisher wanting to have a commercial success with what they write or publish. PR is both the art and the science of communication. In the case of books, PR is the author and/or publisher and/or their publicist persuasively explaining to the intended readers and buyers why those readers and buyers should acquire their particular book out of all the other books (and past time distractions) that their book is in competition with.

There are a wealth of 'how to' books on the subject of do-it-yourself PR. One of the best and newest recently came across my desk. I wanted to bring it to your attention and here it is:



The Art & Craft of PR
Sandra Stahl
LID Publishing
www.lidpublishing.com
9780999187104, $14.95, PB, 128pp, www.amazon.com

Synopsis: Sandra Stahl has specialized in marketing communications and PR for 25+ years holding leadership positions on the agency and corporate sides. In addition to co-founding the PR firm, jacobstahl, she is on faculty as an adjunct professor in the Brand & Integrated Communications master's degree program at the City College of New York

In "The Art & Craft of PR: Creating the Mindset and Skills to Succeed in Public Relations Today" she draws upon her years of experience and expertise to present and document the idea that PR as a communications discipline has no boundaries.

Basically, "The Art & Craft of PR" is the PR professional's manual for creating that specific type of mindset and building the necessary skills to meet today's communications challenges, which include mastery of the fundamentals, cultivating unbridled curiosity and creativity, the art of listening, and never losing sight of business objectives.

Critique: Expertly written, deftly organized and presented, "The Art & Craft of PR" is an ideal and thoroughly 'user friendly' instructional manual and guide for creating and implementing effective public relation campaigns and activities. Of special note are the chapters 'Never forget, it's business' and 'What's next for PR?' Enhanced with the inclusion of a four page listing of Resources, a two page Epilogue, nine pages of 'Notes and further reading', "The Art & Craft of PR" is unreservedly recommended for corporate, community, and academic library Business Management collections in general, and Public Relations supplemental studies lists in particular. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Art & Craft of PR" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).



For a roster of internet links specific to resources and providers on the subject of "PR for Books" use a DuckDuckGo or Google search reference, such as this:

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=PR+for+books&t=ffab&ia=web

Now on to a review for another new book with a special relevance and value for authors and/or publishers:



The Writing/Publishing Shelf

Publishing Means Business: Australian Perspectives
Aaron Mannion, Millicent Weber, Katherine Day, editors
Monash University Publishing
c/o International Specialized Book Services
920 Northeast 58th Avenue, Suite 300, Portland, OR 97213
www.isbs.com
9781925523249, $29.95, PB, 224pp, www.amazon.com

The Australian publishing industry has transformed itself from a colonial outpost of British publishing to a central node in a truly global publishing industry. Despite challenges that included reduced government support for home-grown authors and the arts, Australian small presses thrive and the Australian general reading public have access to an unprecedented range of foreign and domestic titles. Social media, big data, print on demand, subscription, and new compensation models are subtly reshaping an industry that now also relies on more freelance labor than ever before. "Publishing Means Business: Australian Perspectives" examines the current state of this exciting and unpredictable industry, while also asking questions about the broader role of publishing within our culture. Collaboratively compiled and co-edited by the team of Aaron Mannion, Millicent Weber, Katherine Day, "Publishing Means Business: Australian Perspectives" is comprised of nine erudite, insightful, informative, thoughtful and thought-provoking articles, making it unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and academic library Publishing, Media Studies, Journalism collections and supplemental studies reading lists.



Finally -- Here is "The Midwest Book Review Postage Stamp Hall Of Fame & Appreciation" roster of well-wishers and supporters. These are the generous folk who decided to say 'thank you' and 'support the cause' that is the Midwest Book Review by donating postage stamps this past month:

Michael A. Stram
Sally P. McHenry
Jerry Labriola -- "Discovery"
Dan Gilvezan -- "Dead Money"
Roger E. Carrier -- "Ghosts in the Flesh"
Henry Hoffman -- "On A Midnight Clear"
James T. Gallant -- "Whatever Happened to Ohio"
Robert A. Grand -- Cosmic Editions, LLC
Beverly Newton -- International Jewelry Publications
Heliotrope Books
Quantum Group Investments, LLC
Sherry Finzer -- RS Promotions US
Ellie Godwin -- Concierge Marketing
Barbara C. Wall -- The Barrett Company
Mimi Schroeder -- Max Communications
Elizabeth Waldman Frazier -- Waldmania!

In lieu of (or in addition to!) postage stamp donations, we also accept PayPal gifts of support to our postage stamp fund for what we try to accomplish in behalf of the small press community. Simply log onto your PayPal account and direct your kindness (in any amount and at your discretion) to the Midwest Book Review at:

SupportMBR [at] aol.com

(The @ is replaced by "[at]" in the above email address, in an attempt to avoid email-harvesting spambots.)

If you have postage stamps to donate, or if you have a book you'd like considered for review, then send those postage stamps (always appreciated, never required), or a published copy of that book (no galleys, uncorrected proofs, or Advance Reading Copies), accompanied by a cover letter and some form of publicity release to my attention at the address below.

All of the previous issues of the "Jim Cox Report" are archived on the Midwest Book Review website at www.midwestbookreview.com/bookbiz/jimcox.htm. If you'd like to receive the "Jim Cox Report" directly (and for free), just send me an email asking to be signed up for it.

So until next time -- goodbye, good luck, and good reading!

Jim Cox
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive, Oregon, WI, 53575
http://www.midwestbookreview.com


James A. Cox
Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129
phone: 1-608-835-7937
e-mail: mbr@execpc.com
e-mail: mwbookrevw@aol.com
http://www.midwestbookreview.com


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