For everyone who has ever been told, “You should write a book,” but has no idea how to get started, here is an essential, no-nonsense guide to every step of the writing and publishing process. In The Author’s Toolkit, veteran writer, editor, and book doctor Mary Embree provides readers with an all-inclusive lesson on what it takes to create, develop, and promote both fiction and nonfiction books—from nurturing the seeds of a book idea, to outlining the flow of the book itself, to taking the finished manuscript to possible publishers. She details the fundamentals of the creative process—such as how to delineate characters, organize the plot, find the “hook,” and avoid common writing pitfalls—and provides detailed guidance on such practical business matters as registering copyrights, understanding contracts, seeking literary agents, publishing electronically, creating a professional-looking manuscript, promoting and marketing the finished book, and much more. Aspiring and veteran writers will also discover a wealth of real-world resources, including leads for professional advice, information on writers’ websites and publications, listings of writers’ organizations, and much more. Handy, to-the-point, and organized in a straightforward step-by-step format, The Author’s Toolkit is a resource no author should be without. • Details the entire process of writing a book: from the basic idea to the finished manuscript • Provides a wide range of resources for writers, such as publications, web- sites, writers’ groups, and more • Concise, easy-to-follow, and filled with valuable information for both beginning and veteran writers