Written by successfully published authors (who also happen to be a New York literary agent and West Coast acquiring editor), the book gives author case studies, inside advice, and even sample proposals, contracts, press releases, co-author agreements and more. This updated third edition features new content on non-fiction successes, hot topics in fiction/non-fiction, how book groups and celebrity-driven clubs help drive sales, the changing world of bookstores and inventory, how world events affect book publishing (book glut), and more! Featuring inspiring stories about real-life author successes (Donna Tartt's 10 years between novels) and publishing miracles (Jennifer Weiner's story), this book gives authors the most complete handbook on the market for getting published today.

Sheree Bykofsky is a New York literary agent who represents some 100 book authors in all areas of adult nonfiction and literary and commercial fiction. Her specialties include popular reference, business, health, psychology, spirituality, self-help, humor, cookbooks, biography, ethnic, women's issues, and much more. She is also the author, co-author, and editor of more than a dozen books, including the best-selling The Complete Idiot's Guide to Publishing Magazine Articles, The New York Public Library Desk Reference, three editions of the regional best-seller The Best Places to Kiss in and Around New York City, The Big Book of Life's Instructions (Harper), Me: Five Years from Now (Hyperion), Popping the Question: Real-Life Stories of Marriage Proposals from the Romantic to the Bizarre (Walker), and The 52 Most Romantic Places in and Around New York City (Adams). Her books have been excerpted, and she has written articles for a variety of magazines and newspapers. Sheree speaks about all areas of publishing at colleges, writers' conferences, and seminars across the country, including the 92nd Street Y in New York City, and she also teaches the publishing overview course at NYU. She has also promoted her books on hundreds of radio shows and many TV shows (including Good Day New York, Eyewitness News, News Four New York, among others). She has a column called "Ask the Agent," and she is a member of both the Association of Authors' Representatives (AAR) and the American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA). Sheree also invites you to visit her web page at www.shereebee.com. Jennifer Basye Sander has been creating successful book products since May 3, 1983, the day she created her first book as a way of escaping a failing career in California politics. Since that time, she has worked in all aspects of the book publishing business, from book retailing to book publicity, and from authoring books herself to acquiring them for a major trade publisher. Formerly senior editor of the Prima division of Random House, Jennifer and her husband, business and personal finance writer Peter Sander, own and operate a book development firm, Big City Books Group. Big City has created more than 40 different titles. Jennifer herself has authored or co-authored more than 30 books in the areas of inspiration, small business, and personal finance. The founder of a wealth-building site for women, www.goalsandjewels.com, Jennifer also includes motivational money messages in her weekly newsletter, "Women's Wealth and Wisdom." To subscribe, visit the goalsandjewels.com website.