May 2023 MBR The Writing/Publishing Shelf

The Writing/Publishing Shelf

Once Upon a Tome: The Misadventures of a Rare Bookseller
Oliver Darkshire
W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
www.wwnorton.com
9781324092070, $27.95, HC, 256pp

https://www.amazon.com/Once-Upon-Misadventures-Rare-Bookseller/dp/1324092076

Synopsis: Some years ago, Oliver Darkshire stepped into the hushed interior of Henry Sotheran Ltd (est. 1761) to apply for a job. Allured by the smell of old books and the temptation of a management approved afternoon nap, Darkshire was soon unteetering stacks of first editions and placating the store's resident ghost (the late Mr. Sotheran, hit by a tram).

A novice in this ancient, potentially haunted establishment, Darkshire describes Sotheran's brushes with history (Dickens, the Titanic), its joyous disorganization, and the unspoken rules of its gleefully old-fashioned staff, whose mere glance may cause the computer to burst into flames. As Darkshire gains confidence and experience, he shares trivia about ancient editions and explores the strange space that books occupy in our lives -- where old books often have strong sentimental value, but rarely a commercial one.

By turns unhinged and earnest, "Once Upon a Tome: The Misadventures of a Rare Bookseller" is the colorful story of life in one of the world's oldest bookshops and a love letter to the benign, unruly, fascinating, and frustrating world of antiquarian bookselling, where to be uncommon or strange is the best possible compliment.

Critique: Simply stated, "Once Upon a Tome: The Misadventures of a Rare Bookseller" is a fun and memorable read from first page to last. Written with insight, humor, and authenticity, "Once Upon a Tome" is a 'must read' selection for all dedicated bibliophiles and anyone else who has ever spent time browsing through an old bookstore not really knowing what they want but certain to recognize it when the see it. Certain to be a treasured addition to personal, professional, community, and academic library Biography/Memoir collections, it should be noted for readers with an interest in Booksellers and Bookselling -- along with the wonderfully arcane world of antiquarian bookstores, that "Once Upon a Tome" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.66).

Editorial Note: Oliver Darkshire (@DeathByBadger) is an antiquarian bookseller at Henry Sotheran Ltd, and the voice of @Sotherans twitter account. He lives in Manchester, England, with his husband and his neglectfully curated collection of books. There is an informative online essay by Oliver Darkshnire of considerable interest to booksellers, writers, and bibliophiles at https://www.bookpage.com/behind-the-book/oliver-darkshire-essay

How to Create Crowdfunding Success for Authors and Writers
Dr. Judith Briles
Mile High Press
http://www.milehighpress.com
9781885331922, $20.00, PB, 114pp

https://www.amazon.com/Create-Crowdfunding-Success-Authors-Writers/dp/1885331924

Synopsis: "How to Create Crowdfunding Success for Authors and Writers" by Dr. Judith Briles is the ideal 'how-to' manual for aspiring self published authors who need money for design and printing; money for marketing; money to develop a website; even money for a PR campaign.

The principle promise of Dr. Briles is that if your financial resources are low, there are ways to increase it. You want the odds to be on your side. You want to be in the 35 percent minority that succeeds if you are an author or authortobe. Not the 65 percent that don't.

It's the power of OPM (Other People's Money!).

"How to Create Crowdfunding Success for Authors and Writers" shows how to:

Create rewards that your donors want.

Identify timelines: pre, during and post a crowdfunding campaign.

Determine which crowdfunding sites are best for authors and writers.

Pinpoint the essentials that every successful crowdfunding campaign has.

Get hot tips for creating momentum and the final push.

Structure a social media checklist that's ideal for your project.

Here is the perfect step-by-step instructional guide on the subject of how to set budgets and limit costs.

Does crowdfunding work for financing authors and writers? Yes it is. Can you as an author or writer succeed at it? Absolutely -- Start with a careful reading of "How to Create Crowdfunding Success for Authors and Writers"

Critique: It costs money to turn a manuscript into a book. It costs money to persuasively bring a book to the attention of its intended readership. Over the years, Dr. Judith Briles has earned her nickname of 'The Book Shepherd' and is one of the most respected and knowledgeable book marketing and promotion experts in the publishing industry today. Simply stated, anyone and everyone that aspires to becoming a successfully self-published author needs to give a careful 'note-taking' read of "How to Create Crowdfunding Success for Authors and Writers". While especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, college, and university library Writing/Publishing instructional reference collections, it should be noted that "How to Create Crowdfunding Success for Authors and Writers" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.67).

Editorial Note: Dr. Judith Briles (http://www.milehighpress.com) is the author of 43 books and known as The Book Shepherd, working with authors globally to create and publish books in all subject categories and genres. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judith_Briles) A number of her titles have been previously reviewed and archived by the Midwest Book Review at www.midwestbookreview.com

EDITOR'S NOTE:

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The Midwest Book Review publishes the monthly book review magazines "California Bookwatch", "Internet Bookwatch", "Children's Bookwatch", "MBR Bookwatch", "Reviewer's Bookwatch", and "Small Press Bookwatch". All are available for free on the Midwest Book Review website at www (dot) midwestbookreview (dot) com

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James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
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Oregon, WI 53575-1129

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James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review