Ayoh - Shop now
Buy used:
$17.61
FREE delivery June 5 - 11. Details
Or fastest delivery June 2 - 5. Details
Used: Very Good | Details
Sold by ThriftBooks-Phoenix
Condition: Used: Very Good
Comment: May have limited writing in cover pages. Pages are unmarked. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less
Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.
In stock
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Patricia L. Fry
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book Perfect Paperback – October 13, 2007

by Patricia L. Fry (Author)
4.1 out of 5 stars 14 ratings
This is a straightforward, informative book for hopeful and struggling authors who are still confused about the process of publishing. Whether you write fiction, nonfiction, children's books, poetry or memoirs, this book is for you. You'll learn your way around the publishing industry, how to locate and approach publishers and agents, how to write a book proposal, the process of self-publishing, the necessity and art of developing a platform, how to target your audience, how to build promotion into your novel, how to develop a marketing plan and much more.
Read more
Previous slide of product details
  1. Print length
    366 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Matilija Press
  4. Publication date
    October 13, 2007
  5. Dimensions
    5.75 x 1 x 8.75 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0977357627
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0977357628
Next slide of product details
The%20Amazon%20Book%20Review
The Amazon Book Review
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Patricia Fry is a full-time writer, editorial consultant, speaker, workshop leader and the author of 27 books. She began her freelance writing career in 1973. She is also the president of SPAWN (Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network).

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Matilija Press
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 13, 2007
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ 2nd
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 366 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0977357627
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0977357628
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.01 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.75 x 1 x 8.75 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 out of 5 stars 14 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Patricia L. Fry

Patricia L. Fry

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Patricia Fry began writing articles for magazines in 1973 and that's how she earned her living for decades. Her first book was accepted by a New York publisher in 1978. Every five years, or so, she'd evaluate the potential for her writing business and make adjustments accordingly. In 1983, she established a publishing company (Matilija Press) and began producing her own books. By the late 1990s, she was teaching publishing workshops. She wrote her first of many books for authors in 2000 and she also became a speaker at writers' conferences in many cities throughout the US. Around the same time, she hung out her shingle and started working with other authors on their book projects.

Nearly forty years after she began writing for publication, with forty nonfiction books to her credit and after working with many dozens of clients on their fiction and nonfiction books, she felt she was at a crossroads. Patricia reminisces about that period in her life. "All my friends were retiring. I wondered if I should, too. But how does one retire from something they love? Writing is not just a job, it's my passion."

The year was 2012. Patricia knew it was time for another career shift and she asked herself, "What writing dreams have not been fulfilled?" The answer came in one word: FICTION. That year, she gave herself a birthday gift--the time and space to write a novel.

She says, "The idea came rather quickly. And within a relatively short time, I was the author of a published novel, "Catnapped", the first in the Klepto Cat Mystery series." Every two or three months since, Patricia has produced a new book in the series. While you're urged to read these books in order, many readers agree that each book can be read as a standalone. As of July of 2021 there are 52 Klepto Cat Mysteries.

"I write these cozy mysteries with love and hope that you enjoy my stories." (Patricia Fry)

The Klepto Cat Mysteries

The Klepto Cat Mysteries are light, fun cozy mysteries full of adventure, intrigue, and a little romance. They feature Rags, an ordinary cat who just can't keep his paws off other people's things. Often, the treasures he finds are clues in a mystery. Follow Rags's fascinating life path from when he and Savannah were single and he roamed the neighborhood stealing everything from toys belonging to large dogs to jewelry and bathing suits.

Rags and Savannah don't stay single long. After meeting Michael, a handsome veterinarian, Savannah settles down, but the cat doesn't change his thieving ways. Even though his kleptomaniac habit is annoying and embarrassing to his family, he has earned the respect of the local sheriff's department and he was even asked to star in a documentary.

The Calico Cat Mysteries

In 2020 Patricia adopted an orphaned kitten--a calico named Olivia. She is such a quirky, fun and creative cat that she decided to give Olivia a cameo appearance in one of the Klepto Cat Mysteries (Book 51, Calico Calamities). She was such a hit, and she has attracted so many fans who adore the photos Patricia shares of Olivia on Facebook (PatriciaFry.165, KleptoCatMysteries, and CalicoCatMysteries) that she decided to give Olivia a series of her own. As of July of 2021, there are two delightful and suspense-filled books in the Calico Cat Mystery series. "Oh! Olivia," and "Where's Olivia?" are both vailable in print and Kindle at Amazon.com and at the Calico Cat Website.

Learn more here:

https://KleptoCatMysteries.com

https://CalicoCatMysteries.com

Visit my daily blog:

http://www.matilijapress.com/catscapades

OI

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
14 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers
Write a customer review

Top reviews from the United States

  • Charles Jacobs
    5.0 out of 5 stars Compassionate & Understanding Guidance for Novice Writers
    Reviewed in the United States on September 4, 2008
    Verified Purchase
    Patricia Fry is a person I consider one of the great teachers and contributors to the field of writing. Aside from the more than 200 articles she has published and the 25 or so books she has successfully written, Pat has encouraged hundreds of young would-be authors as they struggled to make their way in this very challenging field.

    Symbolic of her care is her founding and continuing stewardship of SPAWN, the organization that encourages and informs artists and writers.

    Fry's knowledge of self-publishing comes from the establishment of her own publishing company Matilija Press. She has served as an author as well as a publisher, and know both arenas exceedingly well.

    This book takes a very pragmatic approach to craft and to business, both essentials in the self-publishing process. Fry casts aside the mystique and glamour of our field, and guides her readers to evaluate carefully the potential of their projects before embarking on them.

    When I read her book, I felt as though Pat was advising me like a caring Mom. I well remember what it meant to me when she e-mailed me to tell me how much she liked "The Writer Within You," and then followed that up with a wonderful review in the SPAWN newsletter. Read her book, and you will see why Patricia Fry is a much-respected and beloved icon in the writing/publishing industry.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Amazon_Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars One of the Best Self-Publishing Books on the Market!
    Reviewed in the United States on June 20, 2009
    This book is one of the best books out there for authors who are looking to self-publish. No sugar coating, no pandering-- all the fluff has been removed. The material is updated and fresh, and the examples are useful and up-to-date. Most authors need a reality check. Guess what-- not everyone is in love with your book! YOU are in love with your book. Fry helps you learn how to create a piece of work that is both marketable, profitable, and useful. The author gives real-life examples for authors; she doesn't mince words. If you want to learn how to write a book that will sell, then you should buy this book. Fry is a master of local and regional promotion, and she goes over what works and what doesn't. Here are some things that could have improved this book:

    1. The cover is not attractive. I know this is a minor gripe considering the quality of the material inside, but Fry really should snazzy the cover up a bit. It would help sales and it is something that is very important to those of us who want to self-publish.

    2. Like some of the other reviewers, I also believe that Fry could go into POD and digital self-publishing a little more.

    3. Fry is a master of face-to-face promotion. Not very many writers have the emotional stamina and marketing savvy to do this. More information on how to promote locally and in book fairs and other events would be helpful. This is where Fry really shines.

    Despite the smaller issues, this is still a MUST HAVE for anyone wants to publish and promote their books! A side note-- this book has ZERO negative reviews online, which is an amazing feat on Amazon, the land of picky buyers. The only one star review is from Patricia Fry herself, posting information about the book (such as the ISBN, etc). She is so honest-- it tells you something about Fry and her ability to really help others.
    Helpful
     Report
  • M. Krause
    1.0 out of 5 stars I wish I could get my money back for this book!
    Reviewed in the United States on August 24, 2009
    In the first few pages of this book, Fry keeps repeating things like "I'm a famous rich author, but please be aware that MOST people will NEVER make it in the writing business." I put her book down and never picked it up again. I wish I could get my money back for it. I am an author and was looking for some marketing ideas for my book and I don't need to hear discouraging words like that. And the bragging! Get over yourself, Fry! You're not as great as you think you are.
    Helpful
     Report
  • booksforabuck
    4.0 out of 5 stars Valuable resource--especially for those considering self-publication
    Reviewed in the United States on July 15, 2006
    Sitting down and writing is exactly the wrong way to start your book project. According to Patricia L. Fry, the author is far better off starting with a book proposal. The book proposal serves as a roadmap to writing the book and a marketing tool. Equally importantly, Fry points out, the proposal can be an invaluable tool in creating focus for a book. Rather than vaguely hope that a book will reach "everyone," Fry reminds the author that a minority of Americans are readers at all, and that most of the readers specialize. Authors are far better off identifying target markets (e.g., 12-13 year-old girls rather than children), and also knowing how large those markets might be.

    Fry's book proposal is the first step in a two-step offering. The second is a marketing plan. Fry dismisses the comfortable idea that the publisher will do the work of marketing, arguing that most books will be sold by the author. Therefore, it's essential for both author and publisher that the author have a marketing plan for ensuring that those sales take place. Fry gives specific examples of things to avoid in the marketing plan (e.g., vague promises to hold conferences, book tours, etc.) and suggestions on how to be more specific.

    In the second third of the book, Fry turns to advice on writing and publication. With her own background in selfpublication, Fry provides plenty of information on the nuts and bolts of creating a publishing company, soliciting printer services, purchasing ISBN blocks, and pricing the final product. Nonfiction writers, in particular, are likely to find her suggestions helpful as she discusses ways of stepping outside of the bookstore to find additional venues for the self-published book.

    In the final third of the book, Fry turns to promotion. As she correctly points out, many authors are introverts by nature. Unfortunately, writing a good book is only the first (although worthwhile) step toward success. Without effective promotion, books will languish unsold in the author's spare bedroom or in the warehouse of the publisher.

    I found Fry's discussion of the book proposal and marketing plan to be invaluable. Although most of Fry's examples come from the non-fiction world of her own background, the basic concepts and requirements of a good proposal are identical in fiction. Similarly, every publishing company, including even the largest, would welcome a focused, specific, and achievable marketing plan as described by Fry. The publicity sections also provided plenty of useful information, but were a bit more general (and thus less helpful to the writer) than were the sections on the proposal and marketing plan.

    Any writer who's contemplating self-publishing for a nonfiction book would do well to get their hands on a copy of Patricia L. Fry's THE RIGHT WAY TO WRITE, PUBLISH AND SELL YOUR BOOK. Even readers who intend to go with traditional, royalty-paying publishers will find plenty of value in Fry's guide.
    4 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report