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Jim Cox Report: September 2007

Dear Publisher Folk, Friends & Family:

I just got my Medicare card in the mail. So I guess it's official now. I've attained senior citizen status. Fortunately I've got the perfect job to keep me feeling young in mind -- if not in body. I get to preside over the staff and volunteers that comprise the Midwest Book Review. As great a bunch of literary folk as ever there was. Plus, I get to read and comment upon my pick of what is published every day, of ever week, of every month, of every year -- for as long as my eyes hold up. And even then, there are always those audiobooks to fall back on when my eyes get tired.

This time around I thought I'd comment a bit on what reviews are, what purposes they serve, and their distinctions/differences:

We were all introduced to book reviewing when we were in grade school. The teacher's didn't call them book reviews. They called them 'Book Reports' and we all had to do them. For most of us it was an onerous chore. A true drudgery. Mostly because for the past several decades of American public education the process of transforming young minds into literate ones has become increasingly handicapped by a variety of societal trends that include fragmenting families, absentee parents, popular entertainment distractions (especially television and video games), literacy education curriculum fads, increasing class sizes, underfunded school systems, and a growing peer group cultural devaluation of intellectual proficiency among children -- especially those of high school age.

I came from exactly that kind of familial, community, and societal background as a child. But a funny thing happened to me on my way to adulthood. I found refuge in books and sanctuary in libraries. I was a willing and gifted reader of the written word. Enchanted by stories, informed by textbooks, enamored by words, and intrigued by ideas.

I also graduated highschool with a D- average. Got into Brigham Young University on academic probation thanks to my stepfather, eventually graduating with a GPA of 3.8 and became a vocational rehabilitation counselor. Then about a decade later I got my master's degree from the University of Wisconsin, took a few postgraduate courses in things like Hebrew and Semitic Studies. From the time I could read at about age 5, to my present ripe old medicare age of 65, I never stopped reading books for pleasure, for information, for work, and to simply pass the time while waiting it out in the offices of doctors, dentists, and grant administrators.

I'm also rather opinionated about what I read (and what I hear -- but that's another story). In 1976, and for the first time since my school days, I got the chance to express those opinions in the form of book reviews. As a fledgling book reviewer, then as a novice book review editor passing judgement on the reviews of others, I discovered that there were basically two different categories of reviews based upon their intended audiences.

1. The Technical Book Review:

This is a succinct review that basically provides a capsule summary of a book's plot if fiction, of its contents if non-fiction. The audience for technical reviews are librarians and booksellers. They usually include some kind of recommendation that is often expressed with some form of rating system like 1-4, or stars, or thumbs up/down, etc. They are valued because of the time constraints librarians and booksellers must operate under.

2. The Literary Book Review:

This is an extended review that not only provides a summary of the book, but also includes an analysis of such literary qualities as character development, plotting, originality, and other qualities associated with the experience of good stories well written and articulately express. With respect to non-fiction, it includes comment on how well organized and presented the information is, how soundly the premises are documented, how 'user friendly' the text is, etc. The rating system is usually in the form of a detailed commentary of recommendation or condemnation. The audience for literary book reviews is the general reading public and/or the academic community, basically anyone who is not operating under time constraints to evaluate whether or not they should read or acquire the book.

Our current roster of 81 reviewers runs the gamut from those that turn out Technical Reviews (Harriet Klausner is a master at this format) to extended Literary Reviews (William Harwood is a consummate expert in this format). It is no accident that Harriet is the Midwest Book Review's most prolific reviewer, or that William writes the longest reviews of the books he surveys each month.

Both the Technical Review and the Literary Review have their strategic uses within the publishing industry and are vital elements of publisher marketing campaigns.

When anyone inquires about submitting reviews to the Midwest Book Review they automatically receive a copy of our "Reviewer Guidelines". This is what they look like:

REVIEWER GUIDELINES:

Thank you for your inquiry. All of our reviewers are volunteers who retain all rights to their reviews. Reviews are submitted by email (just type it, or "copy & paste" it, into the body of an email message. Hard cover printouts are mailed to the reviewers for their records. Reviewers submitting one review in a given month are clustered together in the column "Reviewer's Choice". Reviewers submitting two or more reviews in a given month are provided their own bylined column (e.g. "Klausner's Bookshelf", "Cindy's Bookshelf", "Taylor's Bookshelf", etc.)

The following should be a part of every review submitted:

Title
Author
Publisher
Publisher Address
Publisher Phone Number (especially an 800 or 888 if they have one)
Publisher Website Address (if they have one)
ISBN
Price
Page Count

Your Name
Reviewer

Here are some guidelines that may be of help in creating an engaging review:

1. Why did you select this particular book for review? Perhaps it relates to your work, hobby, avocation, a particular area of interest, your expertise, or just for fun.

2. How well does the author write, use language, illustrate his/her points, develops characters, clarity of instruction, aptness of examples? Use brief quotations from the book itself to illustrate your observations, opinions, and comments. When doing poetry reviews include a poem, with cookbooks include a recipe.

3. Who is the book intended for? Scholarly reference, non-specialist general reader, devotees of the genre, wide ranging readership, specialized audience, age range, economic or political orientation, etc.

4. Does the book succeed in what the author is trying to accomplish? Entertain, instruct, persuade, inform, train, teach, alarm, etc. Are there suggestions you'd offer the author for his/her next time around in print?

5. What is the author's background or credentials? What other titles does the author have?

6. Are their related or relevant titles that a reader might be interested in?

7. Type your reviews in single spaced paragraphs with double spacing between the paragraphs. The review can be a few paragraphs or a few pages -- take as much space as you feel is necessary to say whatever you want to say.

8. Above all else, have a good time putting your thoughts and opinions down. The best reviews are those that you yourself would like to listen to while driving along in your car or chatting with friends over lunch. If a book is badly written or not worth while -- don't bother with it. Select another one that you think deserves the publicity that your review as showcased by the Midwest Book Review would afford it.

James A. Cox
Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
http://www.midwestbookreview.com

Now let's see if you can now categorize the following reviews as to whether they are Technical or Literate:

The Writing/Publishing Shelf

Every Nonprofit's Guide to Publishing
Cheryl Woodard & Lucia Hwang
Nolo Press
950 Parker, Berkeley, CA 94710
1413396586, $29.99 www.nolo.com

EVERY NONPROFIT'S GUIDE TO PUBLISHING: CREATING NEWSLETTERS, MAGAZINES & WEBSITES PEOPLE WILL READ appears in its first edition to offer nonprofits – and any library who would cater to them – an excellent reference to the most visible communication device of any nonprofit group. These publications can be used to raise money, attract new members, and promote causes; but before a nonprofit creates one, read EVERY NONPROFIT'S GUIDE TO PUBLISHING – it covers both pitfalls and best practices, including creating a budget, producing consistently high-quality content, and designing the publication for both print and website.

Quill Driver Books
1254 Commerce Avenue, Sanger, CA 93657
www.quilldriverbooks.com

Sue Fagalde Lick's FREELANCING FOR NEWSPAPERS: WRITING FOR AN OVERLOOKED MARKET (1884956688, $14.95) is a winner: it shows how to locate newspapers which use freelancers (as opposed to many who only use staff), how to pitch an editor for a story idea, how to interview and gain assignments, and more. Students of media studies and journalism will find it the perfect starting point for breaking into a notoriously difficult industry. Gene Perrett's THE NEW COMEDY WRITING STEP BY STEP (1884956661, $14.95) has been revised and expanded and includes inspiration and real-world experiences from the comedy profession. From a wealth of comedy-writing exercises to reinforce efforts to keeping a comedy notebook and getting ready to write, beginners new to the field have many tips on how to get started. Both are top picks for any collection strong in writer's guides; especially introductory studies.

Faint Praise
Gail Pool
University of Missouri Press
2910 LeMone Boulevard, Columbia, MO 65201
9780826217288, $19.95 www.umsystem.edu/upress 1-800-828-1894

Informed and informative, "Faint Praise: The Plight Of Book Reviewing In America" by Gail Pool (a freelance journalist, reviewer, and review editor based in Cambridge, Massachusetts) is an impressively insightful, deftly written, accessibly articulate, expertly knowledgeable, and decidedly analytical survey of the multifaceted and complex world of book reviewing today. Getting a book reviewed can result in prestige for authors and their publishers, improved sales, and a raised public awareness of a particular title struggling for attention against thousands of competing books. They can also bury worthy and literate titles in a sea of inane and flawed books that are published by the tens of thousands every month. "Faint Press" provides a descriptive and comprehensive introduction to the institution of book reviewing, including such issues as why bad reviewing happens despite good intentions, why so many intelligent bibliophiles, knowledgeable readers, and gifted authors can fail at the art, craft, science, and business of writing book reviews. "Faint Praise" takes the reader behind the scenes and shows how books are chosen for review, the context in which book reviewing takes place, including a book review culture that is shows little interest in literature, a surprising antipathy toward criticism, and a vulnerability to the 'seduction of praise'. It's a sad fact of contemporary publishing that reviews so often degenerate into unmerited hype. Very highly recommended for both academic and community library Literary Studies collections, "Faint Praise" should be considered mandatory reading for anyone aspiring to become a book reviewer, and is especially valuable reading for authors, publishers, academicians, and the general reading public.

Breathe Life Into Your Life Story
Dawn and Morris Thurston
Signature Books
564 West 400 North, Salt Lake City, Utah 84116
9781560850946, $22.95 www.signaturebooks.com

Writing teacher Dawn Thurston and award-winning ancestral biographer Morris Thurston present Breathe Life Into Your Life Story: How to Write a Story People Will Want to Read, a no-nonsense guide to crafting an engaging autobiography. memoir or personal history. Chapters cover how to write at the gut level and reveal one's feelings, what to do and not do when writing about specific places, connecting the events of one's life to history, using suspense and conflict to draw the reader further in, and much more. A wealth of "learn-by-doing" exercises round out this excellent self-improvement guide highly recommended for would-be biographers, and also packed with valuable tips, trips and techniques for aspiring writers of fields.

How To Publish Your Children's Book
Liza N. Burby
Square One Publishers
115 Herricks Road, Garden City Park, NY 11040
0757600363, $17.95 www.squareonepublishers.com 1-877-900-2665

Books for children preschool through young adult has always been a substantial part of the publishing industry. It is also one a volatile and competitive market that can be confusing and difficult for the novice author and inexperienced publisher. "How To Publish Your Children's Book" by award-winning author and former children's book editor Liza N. Burby is a comprehensive and thoroughly 'user friendly' instruction guide that will prove an invaluable reference for anyone aspiring to publish (or be published) and market a book for children regardless of its genre or the intended age category of its targeted readership. "How To Publish Your Children's Book" covers such diverse but essential issues as creating effective submission packages, how authors can identify the best publisher for their particular title, learn to avoid common problems encountered in publishing, understand and benefit from publishing contracts, accessing and utilizing publisher resources, the growing phenomena of electronic publishing such as eBooks, maximizing results while minimizing time, cost and effort, and so much more. Enhanced with the addition of a glossary, a resource list, and an index, "How To Publish Your Children's Book" is essential reading for anyone contemplating publishing a children's book whether it is through an established press, and independent publisher, or as a self-published project.

The Glimmer Train
Susan Burmeister-Brown & Linda B. Swanson-Davies, editors
Writer's Digest Press
c/o F&W Publications, Inc.
700 East State Street, Iola, WI 54990
9781582974477, $19.99 www.fwpublications.com 1-800-726-9966

Adroitly co-edited by Susan Burmeister-Brown and Linda B. Swanson-Davies, "The Glimmer Train: Guide To Writing Fiction - Inspiration And Discipline" is a compact, 444-page compendium of contributions by professional authors and writers on the subject of their personal and philosophical approaches to writing for a living. The second volume of the acclaimed 'Glimmer Train Guide to Writing Fiction' series from Writer's Digest Press, "Inspiration And Discipline" focuses upon the more private aspects of a writer's life including family, friends, the incorporation of autobiographical material into their literary work, the responsibilities associated with writing professionally, the artistic nature of a writer's vocation, and so much more. From dealing with writer's block, to writing as therapy, to how reading shapes writing,, "Inspiration And Discipline" is engaging and informative, as it is thoughtful and thought-provoking. Anyone aspiring to write professionally should take the time to read (and re-read) "The Glimmer Train: Guide To Writing Fiction - Inspiration And Discipline".

Line By Line
Claire Kehrwald Cook
Houghton Mifflin Company
215 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10003
0395393914, $12.00 www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com 1-800-225-3362

Based upon the Modern Language Association guidelines, Claire Kehrwarld Cooks' instructive 'how to' manual for aspiring authors, "Line By Line: How To Edit Your Own Writing" completely demystifies the process of self-editing, a vital aspect of honing, polishing, and otherwise preparing a manuscript for publication. All the relevant issues are addressed including basic grammar; pruning unnecessary words and phrases; balancing related sentence elements; making subjects and verbs agree; using pronouns accurately; the correct usage of punctuation marks; and avoiding the 'questionable usage' of words and phrases. A welcome and core addition to personal and professional writing reference collections, "Line By Line" is especially recommended reading for aspiring writers, published professionals, business managers and government officials needing to communicate with clarity, advertising and public relations professionals, scholars and students, as well as technical and science writers.

The Heart And Craft Of Lifestory Writing
Sharon M. Lippincott
Lighthouse Point Press
100 First Avenue, Suite 525, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
9780979299803, $16.95 www.lighthousepointpress.com

"The Heart And Craft Of Lifestory Writing: How To Transform Memories Into Meaningful Stories" by Sharon M. Lippincott is an expertly written, 'reader friendly', specialized instruction guide that is especially recommended reading for anyone aspiring to write their memoirs and autobiographies. It is also an excellent 'how to' reference for authors who are writing biographies based upon the reminiscences and anecdotal stories of their subjects and others such as family members, friends and associates. All the proper writing tools are covered, as well as such vitally important issues as clearly identifying the overall purpose of the life-story, a personal plan of action adapted to the writer's workstyle preference and personality, stimulating the recall of memories, editing, and preparing the final manuscript for publication. A superbly written, organized, and presented instructional manual, "The Heart And Craft Of Lifestory Writing" especially commended to the attention of anyone who would like to record their own life story for the benefit of their posterity, as well as the general reading public.

Cite It Right
Tom Fox, et al.
SourceAid
1284 'A' Main Street, Osterville, MA 02655
Independent Publishers Group (distributor)
814 North Franklin Street, Chicago, IL 60610
www.ipgbook.com 1-800-888-4741
9780977195701, $26.99 www.sourceaid.com

Now in an expanded and updated third edition, "Cite It Right: The SourceAid Guide To Citation, Research, And Avoiding Plagiarism" is the team effort of research experts Tom Fox, Julia Mary Johnson, and Sara Jane Keller. The publisher, SourceAid LLC is a provider of citation management software and reference materials. "Cite It Right" provides practical advice and clear explanations of every stage in the research process; current citation guidelines of the four major writing styles (Modern Language Association, American Psychological Association, Chicago Manual of Style, and Council of Science Editors); citation formats (including citing from online sources); and cogent information about plagiarism and recent news stories highlighting the disastrous consequences of improper citation and outright plagiarism. An in-depth and thoroughly 'user friendly' citation guide for writing, researching, and citing sources involving all manner of disciplines, "Cite It Right" is informed, informative, and an absolutely essential addition to an author or publisher reference collection for any kind of material from simple articles and essays, to journal pieces and published books.

The New Writer's Handbook 2007
Philip Martin
Scarletta Press
10 South Fifth Street, Suite 1105, Minneapolis, MN 55402
9780976520160, $16.95 www.scarlettapress.com 1-877-687-2324

Expertly compiled and deftly edited by Philip Marin, "The New Writer's Handbook 2007: A Practical Anthology Of Best Advice For Your Craft & Career" is a compendium of sixty practical, insightful, informed and informative articles that aspiring writers of fiction and novice authors of nonfiction will find to be invaluable as they approach the craft and business of being professional authors. The contributors are experienced, successful, and range from award winners, to writing instructors, to working journalists, to editors, to literary bloggers, to best-selling authors. A critically important and strongly recommended addition to personal, professional, academic, and community library Writing/Publishing reference collections, "The New Writer's Handbook 2007" covers general writing techniques and marketing tips, as well as specific book project pitching tips and models for writing career success.

Book Marketing De-Mystified
Bruce Batchelor
Agio Publishing House
151 Howe Street, Victoria, BC, Canada, V8V 4K5
9781897435007, $14.95 www.agiopublishing.com

It often comes as a shock when newly published authors discover that they must bear most of the burden of marketing their books to the general reading public -- even if they are fortunate enough to be published by one of the major New York publishing firms like Random House, Simon & Schuster or Penguin-Putnam. For self-published authors that marketing responsibility is completely theirs. Most authors are aware of the many 'how to' books that are available to them for the purpose of helping them master the craft of writing, There are also instruction books on turning raw manuscripts into finished books. What is not so obvious is that there are a number of excellent instructional guides for authors on how to market their books after they have been published. One of the best of these marketing manuals is "Book Marketing De-Mystified" by Bruce Batchelor, the man who founded Trafford (Canadian based and one of the larger POD companies servicing North America) and is widely acknowledged as the creator of the print-on-demand (POD) publishing process that has shattered the book publishing monopoly of the traditional publishing firms by allowing anyone to easily become their own publisher. This 167-page compendium of practical advice offers an especially 'user friendly' introduction to the art and science of book marketing because of its conversational style, it comprehensive coverage of book marketing issues, and Bruce Batchelor's unique perspective. It should be noted that the Midwest Book Review is positively cited (page 120) as a resource for authors and independent publishers. "Book Marketing De-Mystified" is especially useful in terms of its discussion of where to sell books, price/value setting, personal sales, paid advertising, sales promotions, publicity and public relations. Simply stated, every author and every small press publisher needs to have a competent marketing plan -- and Bruce Batchelor's "Book Marketing De-Mystified" specifically and effectively addresses that need.

Writing For Life
John D. Bessler
Bottlecap Books
514 North Third Street, Suite 105, Minneapolis, MN 55401
9780979271809, $24.95 www.bottlecapbooks.com

In "Writing For Life: The Craft Of Writing for Everyday Living", two-time Minnesota Book Award finalist John D. Bessler succinctly demystifies the writing process by breaking down and illustrating each step of the process from pre-writing preparation to final publication. "Writing For Life" is a thoroughly 'user friendly' instruction guide covering all of the tools and expertise needed to improve anyone's writing skills and abilities. Informed and informative, "Writing For Life" is also engaging and even inspiring. With extensive notes and a helpful bibliography, "Writing For Life" is skillfully written, comprehensive, practical, and especially recommended for anyone who has an aversion to writing, as well as those seeking to improve the quality of their own written work.

Red Hot Internet Publicity
Penny C. Sansevieri
Morgan James Publishing
1225 Franklin Avenue, Suite 325, Garden City, NY 1693
Author Marketing Experts (publicity)
PO Box 421156, San Diego, CA 92142
9781600370939, $18.95 www.morganjamespublishing.com 1-800-485-4943

Author, publicist, and publishing workshop instructor Penny C. Sansevieri is a book marketing specialist who draws upon her more than fifteen years of experience and expertise as a freelance publicist and marketing expert to write "Red Hot Internet Publicity: An Insider's Guide To Marketing Your Book On The Internet". Simply stated, this is the perfect introduction and resource guide for authors who find themselves having to shoulder the burden of publicizing, promoting, and marketing their book. Penny specifically focuses on the use of the internet as a multifaceted book marketing tool. She clearly lays out what needs to be done to develop a website that attracts visitors and then shows how to translate those visits into sales. Because authors are usually working under significant financial constraints, the emphasis is on those internet promotion techniques that are free for the asking. For example, Penny shows just how to develop and conduct an internet 'book tour' from the comfort of your own home. "Red Hot Internet Publicity" offers numerous and practical tips and techniques for networking effectively on the internet, including how to acquire print media as a part of your internet book marketing campaign. Aspiring authors and small press publishers will also learn how to expand their professional platforms to sell more books, while creating marketing campaigns that are long term and bottom-line productive. Of special note is the section devoted to blogging as a marketing tool, the phenomena of podcasting, the role of email newsletters, ebooks, and Amazon.com. "Red Hot Internet Publicity" is especially valuable for those new to book marketing for its bibliography, its lists of website resources, and what Penny has to say about publishing trends. While no self-published author or small press publisher should fail to give a careful reading of "Red Hot Internet Publicity", this outstanding and thoroughly 'user friend' internet book marketing reference is also an ideal and highly recommended instruction manual for aspiring freelance publicists entering the competitive and specialized field of marketing books.

Every Nonprofit's Guide To Publishing
Cheryl Woodard & Lucia Hwang
Nolo Press
950 Parker Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
9781413306583, $29.99 www.nolo.com 1-800-955-4775

A critically important aspect of every successful nonprofit organization or association is their newsletter, magazine, and/or website. Cheryl Woodard is a publishing business consultant and co-founder of 'PC Magazine', 'PC World', and 'MacWorld'. Lucia Hwang is an award-winning investigative reporter who, since 2004, has worked as the editor for the magazine of a nonprofit association. In "Every Nonprofit's Guide To Publishing: Creating Newsletters, Magazines & Websites People Will Read" these two professional and experienced women have collaborated to create a thoroughly 'user friendly' instruction manual for non-specialist general readers have find themselves with the responsibility of using their nonprofit organization or association's publication in print or online to raise money, attract and retain members, and increase awareness for their cause with respect to the general public, as well as targeted groups with the populace. Offering a wealth of practical, applicable, step-by-step ideas, suggestions, techniques, and processes, "Every Nonprofit's Guide To Publishing" (which includes an accompanying CD-Rom) covers crafting a mission statement and goals for the publication or website, establishing and adhering to a sound budget, consistently producing high-quality content, designing and printing the publication, creating a compelling website, as well as developing marketing and advertising strategies to support the publication or website. Simply stated, every local, state, regional, national, or international nonprofit organization, regardless of its cause, concerns, or focus, should have a copy of Cheryl Woodard and Lucia Hwang's "Every Nonprofit's Guide To Publishing" on their reference shelf. Also very highly recommended is Cheryl Woodard's earlier title from Nolo Press, "Starting & Running A Successful Newsletter Or Magazine".

Now for some Q&A from the Midwest Book Review email box:

In a message dated 7/12/2007 2:26:19 A.M. Central Daylight Time, admin@ariapublishers.com writes:

Dear Mr. Cox,

I am so sorry to bother you again, but I have another question. As you know, PMA maintains a staffed exhibit at the Frankfurt Book Fair and a number of upcoming regional book shows. We are thinking we would like to have our new title, The Identity Factor, represented at these fairs and shows (the PMA fee seems very reasonable). In your view, would this be a wise move and money well spent? The fairs coincide with the release of our book (October 1), and thanks to your counsel, we are hoping to get a no-returns policy with IPG (should we get accepted into their Trade Distribution Program) - hopefully to encourage bookstore buyers to order wisely (does that actually ever occur???). I would appreciate any guidance or thoughts you may have. Thank you yet again!

Very best,

Derek Cooper

Dear Derek:

If it fits within your budget for marketing and promotion I think it would be useful for your book to be a part of the PMA exhibit and other regional book shows. Sometimes the benefit of being in these shows isn't so much direct sales to bookstore chains of your own edition, but secondary sales of the publishing rights such as, for example, foreign language editions to publishers in other countries.

One word of caution -- you should try to be present along with your book at these international book fairs. The PMA staff are usually handling a couple of hundred titles and so are not likely to give yours any special attention -- let alone negotiate foreign rights deals in your behalf.

Jim Cox
Midwest Book Review

In a message dated 7/20/2007 11:52:07 A.M. Central Daylight Time, lumenbooks@earthlink.net writes:

Thank you for letting me know, Mr. Cox. I will ship out Paul's book today. "Genetic Architectures 2" has not yet arrived from the warehouse. Will you please send me information on advertising rates as well as a back issue? Thanks.

Ronald Christ
Lumen Books

Dear Ronald:

Thank you for your inquiry, but we do not accept advertising from authors or publishers in order to avoid any conflict of interest issues. All of our book review services are free of charge for that same reason. All the back issues for our publications are archived on the Midwest Book Review website at http://www.midwestbookreview.com

Jim Cox
Midwest Book Review

In a message dated 7/20/2007 3:25:47 P.M. Central Daylight Time, BettyBarshaHedenberg@ca.rr.com writes:

Dear Jim Cox:

Thanks so much for your response. Will it ever get reviewed or is it too late? Since it did apparently make a favorable initial impression, it would be so nice for it to receive at least a few words in your publication.

Thank you for any re-consideration you might give the book.

Betty Barsha Hedenberg
(not the author, just editor/publisher)

Dear Betty:

The publisher is never merely a "just" but an indispensable necessity for not only the author but also for the general reading public who, except for the publisher, would never have access to an author's work.

Unfortunately this particular book's time has come and gone with respect to eligibility for a review assignment with us. However there is perhaps one remaining service I can render you.

Go to the Midwest Book Review website at http://www.midwestbookreview.com and click on 'Other Reviewers'. This is a roster of freelance book reviewers, book review publications, book review websites, etc.

They have all been vetted and are legitimate. A few are 'Pay for Play' but most are not. Some are specialized, others are general in nature. Go down the roster and when you see one that looks promising, click on it and you'll be zapped to their website. Read through their website and you'll be able to determine whether or not they would be a good fit for your particular book.

I hope this will prove a useful resource in your continuing efforts to secure reviews for your book.

Jim Cox
Midwest Book Review

I'm now going to conclude this issue of the "Jim Cox Report" with "The Midwest Book Review Postage Stamp Hall Of Fame & Appreciation" roster of well-wishers and supporters. These wonderful folk decided to say thank you and 'support the cause' that is the Midwest Book Review by donating postage stamps this past month:

Sam Moffie -- "Swap"
Ben Z. Rose -- "John Stark: Maverick General"
May Sinclair -- "Infamous Eve: A History"
Penny Sanseveri -- "Red Hot Internet Publicity"
Casey Stangl -- "Off The Dial"
Taylor Lockwood -- "Chasing the Rain"
Connie Fairbanks -- "Scratch That: Seasonal Menus and Perfect Pairings"
Bill Thurwanger -- "Ripples On The Water...Starting Over Once Again!"
Mark Borowski -- "Big Slick Daddy: Poker Strategies for Parenting Success"
MasterBuy AudioBooks
Lighthouse Trails Publishing
doris Helge -- Shimoda Publishing
Elaine Pease -- PeasePod Books, LLC
Anne Petty -- Kitsun Books
Jeff Holzapfel -- Eldorado Ink
James R. Olson -- Books By Olson
Deana Riddle -- Community Press
Marc C. Crump -- Round Top Publications
Jim Michael Hansen -- Dark Sky Publishing
Julia Wagner -- Harvest Shadows Publications
Howard Bandy -- Blue Owl Press
Melissa Kaufman -- Avar Press
Gladys Cross -- AE-TU Publishing
Rose Marie Kinder -- Cave Hollow Press
Mike Mihalik -- October Mist Publishers
Christine Davis -- Lighthearted Press
Allan Maki -- Windland Press
Julie Murkette -- Satya House Publications
Martyn Beeny -- South Dakota State Historical Society Press
Elizabeth Waldman Frazier -- Waldmania
Robert Ross -- Roberta Ross Public Relations

And then there was Steven C. Levi ("Telling It All") of Blue Crab Publishing up in Anchorage, Alaska. Steven not only donated an impressive amount of postage, but sent me some smoked salmon from Alaska. Fortunately it was in response to a review of his book that I'd already written and published so I was able to devour it in good conscience!

If you have postage to donate, or if you have a book you'd like considered for review, then send those stamps (always appreciated, never required), or a published copy of that book (no galleys or uncorrected proofs), 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. If you'd like to receive the "Jim Cox Report" directly (and for free), just send me an email asking to be signed up.

So until next time!

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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