The Awful Truth about Publishing: Why They Always Reject Your Manuscript-- And What You Can Do about It

Extremely informative. Publishing in 1986, the numbers need updating (wish the author would consider a reprint!), but the truths still stand firm. If you keep getting rejections from publishers, this author (a literary agent and book packager, who also co-authored WHAT THEY DON'T TEACH YOU AT HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL) pinpoints an approach by telling you how publishers think, then turning the tables and telling the reader how he has to "package" his product (manuscript) in order to sell it to them.

John Boswell has done a great service to all authors with his rare and perceptive overview of the publishing industry. As a professional book editor, I find that most authors -- even experienced ones -- are amazingly ignorant of the industry in which they work. This book will help any book author understand how to work with editors and publishers and how to succeed in the business.