David Sterry Libri

Now updated for 2015! The best, most comprehensive guide for writers is now revised and updated, with new sections on ebooks, self-publishing, crowd-funding through Kickstarter, blogging, increasing visibility via online marketing, micropublishing, the power of social media and author websites, and more—making The Essential Guide to Getting Your Book Published more vital than ever for anyone who wants to mine that great idea and turn it into a successfully published book. Written by experts with twenty-five books between them as well as many years’ experience as a literary agent (Eckstut) and a book doctor (Sterry), this nuts-and-bolts guide demystifies every step of the publishing process: how to come up with a blockbuster title, create a selling proposal, find the right agent, understand a book contract, and develop marketing and publicity savvy. Includes interviews with hundreds of publishing insiders and authors, including Seth Godin, Neil Gaiman, Amy Bloom, Margaret Atwood, Leonard Lopate, plus agents, editors, and booksellers; sidebars featuring real-life publishing success stories; sample proposals, query letters, and an entirely updated resources and publishers directory.

The narrative unfolds along Hollywood Boulevard, where the vibrant chaos of tourists, aspiring starlets, and eclectic characters creates a surreal atmosphere. The author, a naïve young man from 1970s suburbia, embarks on a journey that leads him into the shadowy world of servicing lonely women in Hollywood. This tale, rich with inventiveness and honesty, explores the precarious balance between innocence and temptation. The protagonist, known as Chicken—a term for a young male prostitute—navigates a year filled with danger and allure, reflecting on his troubled upbringing in a dysfunctional family. As he encounters a cast of Felliniesque figures amidst the backdrop of post-sixties sexual liberation, the story oscillates between his youthful experiences and the darker realities of his new life. Ultimately, his decision to step back from this tumultuous profession leaves a lasting impression on both him and the readers, capturing the complexities of desire and the impact of choices made in the pursuit of acceptance and identity.