Rare Book Monthly

Articles - March - 2018 Issue

Would You Like to Be a Published Author? It's Easier Than You Think

Sell a book on Amazon, appear on CNN? It could be you!

Sell a book on Amazon, appear on CNN? It could be you!

Is it not the dream of readers and everyone else connected to books to someday be an author yourself? Well, the other day, the opportunity came to me in an email, tucked away in my spam folder. A firm called Book Writing told me they believe in my ideas and are ready to help me turn them into reality. Indeed, they explained, "It was this very thought that got things going for popular figures like Thomas Edison, Mark Twain, Stephen King, Bill Gates and J. K. Rowling." Who would not want to write like Twain, or be as rich as Bill Gates? As anyone reading this article can tell, I am no writer, but soon I can be the next King or Rowling. Maybe.

 

Here is what they offer – ghostwriters. "As told to," except they don't even add their name. They do the work, you get the credit. Maybe this is how King and Rowling do it? I guess we'll never know for sure. They say they have a "statured client list."

 

If you have some sort of a draft, they will use that, but it isn't necessary. Ideas are sufficient. Just tell them your ideas and they will turn them into a book, in your name. You get to keep all the profits yourself. That is one heck of a deal. After all, Rowling is said to be worth almost a billion dollars, but how much more could it have been if she didn't have to share so much of it with her publisher?

 

The nice thing is you don't need to have any knowledge or skills about book writing or publishing whatsoever. They will do it all. They provide, "All-in-one packages; from drafting, writing, and formatting to proof-reading and publishing along with our cover designing services."

 

What type of writers do they have? Every kind. They will write memoirs, autobiographies, fiction, nonfiction, and business books. There are further breakdowns within categories. For example, when it comes to fiction, they will write novels, novellas, screenplays, short stories, novelettes, plays, fictions, even poetry. Tell them you like springtime and flowers and chirping birds and in no time you will be a poet. What genres can their multi-talented writers produce? Here they are: drama, mythology, mystery, fantasy, romance, horror, science fiction, tragedy, thriller, comedy, humor, satire, and tragicomedy. They can handle structure, plot, story line, themes, character development, tone, language, style, dialogues, transitions, and climax.

 

Among all the positives, here is the one that sold me: "Our writers our [sic] Literature majors and we assure you not many know Marlow, Shakespeare and Sophocles that well. Whether its Greek Tragedy or Roman Comedy, they write plays that absolutely rivet the audience to their chairs." I certainly don't want to sound elitist like Shakespeare, with all his fancy language. Give me a writer of the people, someone who doesn't know the difference between "are" and "our." And don't forget, they also provide skilled proofreaders.

Rare Book Monthly

  • Doyle
    The Collection of Mary Tyler Moore
    June 4, 2025
    DOYLE: Peter Max, Portrait of Mary Tyler Moore (Versions 1,2, 5, 6), 2001. Estimate $10,000-15,000
    DOYLE: The iconic screen-used wall-mounted "M" from The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Estimate $5,000-8,000
    DOYLE: The Mary Tyler Moore Show by Al Hirschfeld. Estimate $4,000-6,000
    Doyle
    The Collection of Mary Tyler Moore
    June 4, 2025
    DOYLE: Annie Leibovitz presents Mary Tyler Moore and Dick Van Dyke for Vanity Fair. Estimate $4,000-6,000
    DOYLE: Al Hirschfeld presents Mary Tyler Moore and Dick Van Dyke in the CBS Wednesday Night Lineup. Estimate $4,000-6,000
    DOYLE: Richard McKenzie, Portrait of Mary Tyler Moore. Estimate $1,000-2,000
    Doyle
    The Collection of Mary Tyler Moore
    June 4, 2025
    DOYLE: Three Original Bill Hargate Costume Designs for The Mary Tyler Moore Hour. Estimate $600-800
    DOYLE: The famous Bonnie and Clyde "Wanted" broadside. Estimate $500-800
    DOYLE: Ticket to the Final Episode of the Mary Tyler Moore Show Estimate $400-600
  • Sotheby's
    Bibliothèque Jacques Dauchez - Autour de Dubuffet
    5-19 June
    Sotheby’s, June 5-19: Bissière, Roger. Cantique à notre frère soleil de saint François. 1954. 1,000 - 1,500 EUR
    Sotheby’s, June 5-19: Céline, Louis-Ferdinand. La vie & l’œuvre de Philippe Ignace Semmelweis. 1924. Rare édition originale, avec envoi. Joint : La Quinine en thérapeutique, 1925. 4,000 - 6,000 EUR
    Sotheby’s, June 5-19: Céline, Louis-Ferdinand. Mort à crédit. 1936. Édition originale. Bel exemplaire sur Hollande. 2,500 - 3,500 EUR
    Sotheby's
    Bibliothèque Jacques Dauchez - Autour de Dubuffet
    5-19 June
    Sotheby’s, June 5-19: Chillida, Eduardo ─ Emil Cioran. Face aux instants. 1985. Un des 100 exemplaires sur Arches. Eau-forte signée. 600 - 800 EUR
    Sotheby’s, June 5-19: Dubuffet, Jean. Ler dla canpane. L’Art Brut, 1948. Édition originale. 3,000 - 5,000 EUR
    Sotheby’s, June 5-19: Dubuffet, Jean. L'Herne Jean Dubuffet. 1973. Un des 100 exemplaires du tirage de luxe avec une sérigraphie originale en couleurs. 1,000 - 1,500 EUR
  • Gros & Delettrez
    Livres & Manuscrits Arméniens
    Jeudi 12 juin 2025
    Paris, Francis
    Gros & Delettrez, June 12: BIBLE, Venise 1733, reliure arménienne
    Gros & Delettrez, June 12: CHARAKNOTS, manuscrit XVIIe-XVIIIe siècle
    Gros & Delettrez, June 12: CHARAKNOTS, manuscrit daté 1606, reliure arménienne
    Gros & Delettrez, June 12: CHARAKNOTS, manuscrit début XVIIIe siècle, reliure arménienne
    Gros & Delettrez, June 12: CHARAKNOTS, Amsterdam 1664
    Gros & Delettrez, June 12: CHARAKNOTS, Amsterdam 1702, reliure arménienne
    Gros & Delettrez, June 12: DICTIONNAIRE arménien, manuscrit XVIIe-XVIIIe siècle.
    Gros & Delettrez, June 12: EVANGILE, manuscrit 1735-1737, reliure arménienne
    Gros & Delettrez, June 12: LIVRE DE PRIERES, Grégoire de Narek, manuscrit
    Gros & Delettrez, June 12: GEOGRAPHIE, Ghoukas INDJIDJIAN, Venise 1802-1806
    Gros & Delettrez, June 12: MANUSCRIT THEOLOGIQUE, XVIe-XVIIe siècle
    Gros & Delettrez, June 12: MASHTOTS, manuscrit XVIIIe-XIXe siècle, reliure arménienne
    Gros & Delettrez, June 12: LETTRE ENCYCLIQUE, manuscrit XIXe siècle
    Gros & Delettrez, June 12: NOUVEAU TESTAMENT, Amsterdam 1668, reliure arménienne

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