
Think Like a Publisher
33 Essential Tips to Write, Promote, and Sell Your Book
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
$0.99/mo for the first 3 months

Buy for $6.95
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Colin Robinson
-
By:
-
Randy Davila
About this listen
The publishing world has changed! An explosion in printed books, eBooks, and self-publishing has contributed to more new titles coming to market than ever before. With so much happening, how does a new author stand out from the crowd, not to mention turn a profit?
In Think Like a Publisher: 33 Essential Tips to Write, Promote, and Sell Your Book, Randy Davila, president of Hampton Roads Publishing & Hierophant Publishing, explains the nuances of the publishing industry in plain English and gives authors all the tools necessary to be successful in today's rapidly changing publishing world.
Broken down into three easy-to-follow categories of editorial-, marketing-, and business-specific tips, Think Like a Publisher offers invaluable insight into how publishers think about manuscripts, marketing, and their partnerships with authors.
You will also learn:
- What publishers (and readers!) look for in a manuscript
- The most common writing mistakes new authors make - and how to avoid them
- The makings of a great book title and cover
- The pros and cons of self-publishing versus traditional publishing
- How to build your author platform and gain a following
- The ins and outs of the business side of publishing: contracts, royalties, agents, and more!
For any writer who has felt intimidated by the prospect of bringing a book into the world, Think Like a Publisher offers a one-stop guide to understanding the publishing industry and what it takes to make your book a success!
©2013 Randy Davila (P)2015 Randy DavilaListeners also enjoyed...
-
Start Writing Your Book Today
- A Step-by-Step Plan to Write Your Nonfiction Book, from First Draft to Finished Manuscript
- By: Morgan Gist MacDonald
- Narrated by: Jodi Stapler
- Length: 2 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When we’re writing a book, we need inspiration, and we need the “how-to” pieces that we were never taught in school. Start Writing Your Book Today provides both. Over the last 10 years as a writing coach, Morgan has developed a blend of mindset and mechanics to help authors through feeling stuck and into power writing through their books. In this book, Morgan shares her methods with you, so that you can step up and become the writer you know you’re meant to be.
-
-
Great (almost perfect) instructional book.
- By Yakov Nayerman on 06-06-17
-
Don Miguel Ruiz's Little Book of Wisdom
- The Essential Teachings
- By: Don Miguel Ruiz Jr.
- Narrated by: Samuel K. Shaw
- Length: 3 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Don Miguel Ruiz is the author of The Four Agreements, The Mastery of Love, and numerous other best-selling books. He is also one of the most influential spiritual teachers on the planet, having touched the lives of millions of people around the globe. No one has been more affected by his teachings than his own son, Don Miguel Ruiz, Jr., who has compiled his father's wisdom into one short but extremely powerful book.
-
-
Excellent pick
- By Tylercraig32 on 06-12-18
-
Shamanic Power Animals
- Embracing the Teachings of Our Non-Human Friends
- By: Don Jose Ruiz
- Narrated by: Andrew Rowe
- Length: 6 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Shamanism teaches us that the intelligence of nature is all around us, waiting for us to reach out with open hearts and listen to its guidance. When we turn our attention to the incredible community of animal life and the teachings they have to share, we open ourselves to a vibrant, interconnected world full of spiritual truths and transformational insights. In Shamanic Power Animals: Embracing the Teachings of Our Non-Human Friends, Toltec shaman Don José Ruiz takes a deep dive into this rich and vital store of animal wisdom.
-
-
Great Read!!
- By Rntogo on 03-18-23
By: Don Jose Ruiz
-
The Steal Like an Artist Audio Trilogy
- How to Be Creative, Show Your Work, and Keep Going
- By: Austin Kleon
- Narrated by: Austin Kleon
- Length: 4 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Read by then author, this is an audio compilation of Steal Like an Artist, Show Your Work and Keep Going, the bestselling and transformative series on how to unlock your creativity, find community and an audience in the digital age, and stay focused, creative and true to yourself—for life. Includes full text from Steal Like an Artist, on the ten things nobody ever told you about being creative; Show Your Work, on how to take that critical next step on a creative journey; and Keep Going, for anyone trying to sustain a productive life.
-
-
A boring non focus ramble
- By Kenneth Noel on 06-07-21
By: Austin Kleon
-
Money Books
- How to Start a Profitable Self-Publishing Business in 21 Weeks
- By: Cashius Lu
- Narrated by: Raven Ashborne
- Length: 4 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The self-publishing industry is at this point a multi-billion-dollar industry–and with that growth comes an overwhelming amount of sales platforms, ghostwriters, and marketing tools to choose from. Thankfully, this book will guide you through the entire process and provide you with everything you need to know so that you are ready to publish in just 21 weeks.
-
-
Informative and useful information
- By J C Smith on 06-27-24
By: Cashius Lu
-
No Self, No Problem
- How Neuropsychology is Catching Up to Buddhism
- By: Chris Niebauer PhD
- Narrated by: Charlie Varon
- Length: 3 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this groundbreaking audiobook, neuropsychology professor Chris Niebauer explains how after decades of research on the brain, Western science may have inadvertently confirmed a fundamental tenet of Buddhism: anatta, or the doctrine of "no self". Niebauer shows how findings in neuropsychology suggest that our sense of self is actually an illusion created by the left side of the brain and that it exists in the same way a mirage in the middle of the desert exists: as a thought rather than a thing.
-
-
Everyone should be reading this!
- By Mary Lou on 01-02-20
-
Start Writing Your Book Today
- A Step-by-Step Plan to Write Your Nonfiction Book, from First Draft to Finished Manuscript
- By: Morgan Gist MacDonald
- Narrated by: Jodi Stapler
- Length: 2 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When we’re writing a book, we need inspiration, and we need the “how-to” pieces that we were never taught in school. Start Writing Your Book Today provides both. Over the last 10 years as a writing coach, Morgan has developed a blend of mindset and mechanics to help authors through feeling stuck and into power writing through their books. In this book, Morgan shares her methods with you, so that you can step up and become the writer you know you’re meant to be.
-
-
Great (almost perfect) instructional book.
- By Yakov Nayerman on 06-06-17
-
Don Miguel Ruiz's Little Book of Wisdom
- The Essential Teachings
- By: Don Miguel Ruiz Jr.
- Narrated by: Samuel K. Shaw
- Length: 3 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Don Miguel Ruiz is the author of The Four Agreements, The Mastery of Love, and numerous other best-selling books. He is also one of the most influential spiritual teachers on the planet, having touched the lives of millions of people around the globe. No one has been more affected by his teachings than his own son, Don Miguel Ruiz, Jr., who has compiled his father's wisdom into one short but extremely powerful book.
-
-
Excellent pick
- By Tylercraig32 on 06-12-18
-
Shamanic Power Animals
- Embracing the Teachings of Our Non-Human Friends
- By: Don Jose Ruiz
- Narrated by: Andrew Rowe
- Length: 6 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Shamanism teaches us that the intelligence of nature is all around us, waiting for us to reach out with open hearts and listen to its guidance. When we turn our attention to the incredible community of animal life and the teachings they have to share, we open ourselves to a vibrant, interconnected world full of spiritual truths and transformational insights. In Shamanic Power Animals: Embracing the Teachings of Our Non-Human Friends, Toltec shaman Don José Ruiz takes a deep dive into this rich and vital store of animal wisdom.
-
-
Great Read!!
- By Rntogo on 03-18-23
By: Don Jose Ruiz
-
The Steal Like an Artist Audio Trilogy
- How to Be Creative, Show Your Work, and Keep Going
- By: Austin Kleon
- Narrated by: Austin Kleon
- Length: 4 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Read by then author, this is an audio compilation of Steal Like an Artist, Show Your Work and Keep Going, the bestselling and transformative series on how to unlock your creativity, find community and an audience in the digital age, and stay focused, creative and true to yourself—for life. Includes full text from Steal Like an Artist, on the ten things nobody ever told you about being creative; Show Your Work, on how to take that critical next step on a creative journey; and Keep Going, for anyone trying to sustain a productive life.
-
-
A boring non focus ramble
- By Kenneth Noel on 06-07-21
By: Austin Kleon
-
Money Books
- How to Start a Profitable Self-Publishing Business in 21 Weeks
- By: Cashius Lu
- Narrated by: Raven Ashborne
- Length: 4 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The self-publishing industry is at this point a multi-billion-dollar industry–and with that growth comes an overwhelming amount of sales platforms, ghostwriters, and marketing tools to choose from. Thankfully, this book will guide you through the entire process and provide you with everything you need to know so that you are ready to publish in just 21 weeks.
-
-
Informative and useful information
- By J C Smith on 06-27-24
By: Cashius Lu
-
No Self, No Problem
- How Neuropsychology is Catching Up to Buddhism
- By: Chris Niebauer PhD
- Narrated by: Charlie Varon
- Length: 3 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this groundbreaking audiobook, neuropsychology professor Chris Niebauer explains how after decades of research on the brain, Western science may have inadvertently confirmed a fundamental tenet of Buddhism: anatta, or the doctrine of "no self". Niebauer shows how findings in neuropsychology suggest that our sense of self is actually an illusion created by the left side of the brain and that it exists in the same way a mirage in the middle of the desert exists: as a thought rather than a thing.
-
-
Everyone should be reading this!
- By Mary Lou on 01-02-20
-
The Wisdom of the Shamans:
- What the Ancient Masters Can Teach Us About Love and Life
- By: Don Jose Ruiz
- Narrated by: Charlie Varon
- Length: 3 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In The Wisdom of the Shamans: What the Ancient Masters Can Teach Us about Love and Life, Toltec shaman and master storyteller Don Jose Ruiz shares some of the most popular stories from his family's oral tradition and offers corresponding lessons that illustrate the larger ideas within each story. According to Ruiz, their teachings are not primitive or reserved for a chosen few initiates but are instead a powerful series of lessons on love and life that are available us all.
-
-
Wooowzers
- By nicole tillman on 07-28-18
By: Don Jose Ruiz
-
The Seven Secrets to Healthy, Happy Relationships
- By: Don Miguel Ruiz Jr., HeatherAsh Amara
- Narrated by: Charlie Varon
- Length: 4 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this one-of-a-kind book, best-selling authors Don Miguel Ruiz, Jr. and HeatherAsh Amara share their seven secrets to healthy, happy relationships: Commitment, Freedom, Awareness, Healing, Joy, Communication, and Release. Understanding and enacting these principles can help you at any stage in your intimate partnering, whether you've been with someone for many years or are currently single and want to prepare for a relationship.
-
-
You can expect to feel Liberation and Self-Emancipation
- By DJNN on 01-29-20
By: Don Miguel Ruiz Jr., and others
-
The Medicine Bag
- Shamanic Rituals & Ceremonies for Personal Transformation
- By: Don Jose Ruiz
- Narrated by: George Kastrinos
- Length: 4 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
One of the main tenets of shamanism is a belief in the power of ceremony to manifest change in the physical world. Virtually all shamanic traditions use a variety of ritual practices as tools for personal transformation, healing, and celebration. Now, in this exciting and practical book, Toltec shaman and New York Times best-selling author don Jose Ruiz introduces and explains a wealth of these shamanic rituals and ceremonies, and provides a detailed and accessible guide to performing them on your own.
-
-
reminder of the power we all have within
- By Maria Chandradatt on 04-22-20
By: Don Jose Ruiz
-
Warrior Goddess Wisdom
- Daily Inspirations for Women
- By: HeatherAsh Amara
- Narrated by: Liz Brand
- Length: 4 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In Warrior Goddess Wisdom, the best-selling author of the Warrior Goddess series builds on the essential teachings of her previous books by offering a carefully selected package of daily inspirations. The encouraging quotes in this book come from a variety of people and religious traditions, and HeatherAsh eloquently explains their deeper meaning and how they apply to women on the warrior goddess path.
By: HeatherAsh Amara
-
The Mastery of Life
- A Toltec Guide to Personal Freedom
- By: Don Miguel Ruiz Jr
- Narrated by: Wayne Farrell
- Length: 5 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Outside of Mexico City lies the ancient pyramid complex of Teotihuacan, which, according to the oral tradition of the Ruiz family, was the spiritual center for the Toltec people. For over 30 years, Toltec master Don Miguel Ruiz Jr. has been traveling to the pyramids of Teotihuacan to teach others about the powerful mysteries that can be found there. Now, for the first time ever, Ruiz reveals the meaning and transformative power of this ancient city to all and explains to listeners how they too can experience this transformation in their own lives.
-
-
Brilliant and inspiring
- By Jonathan on 11-16-21
-
Awakening Astrology
- Five Key Planetary Energies for Personal Transformation
- By: Molly McCord
- Narrated by: Fadra Nally
- Length: 6 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In Awakening Astrology, professional astrologer and intuitive business coach Molly McCord offers a clear, accessible guide for those seeking an introduction to astrology that is simultaneously easy to grasp yet still full of powerful information.
-
-
The best !
- By jenny ketchum on 06-20-23
By: Molly McCord
-
Healing Ancestral Karma
- Free Yourself from Unhealthy Family Patterns
- By: Dr. Steven Farmer
- Narrated by: Craig Beck
- Length: 6 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Has your family gone through the same trials and tribulations generation after generation? Do you feel fated to continue that trend? If so, it's possible you've inherited the karma of your family members. The good news is that you can break the cycle.
-
-
A Wide Variety of Spiritual Ideas
- By Sunshine on 04-11-20
-
Yoga Nidra Made Easy
- Deep Relaxation Practices to Improve Sleep, Relieve Stress and Boost Energy and Creativity
- By: Uma Dinsmore-Tuli, Nirlipta Tuli
- Narrated by: Uma Dinsmore-Tuli, Nirlipta Tuli
- Length: 22 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Discover the energizing and healing benefits of yoga nidra with this empowering beginner's guide. Yoga nidra, or yogic sleep, is a deeply restorative and nourishing practice. With no need for physical movement, it enables you to rediscover a naturally restful and meditative state that frees you from the stress of everyday life. This ancient and sacred form of yoga is accessible and adaptable.
-
-
Easy to learn and great benefits
- By Jes_074 on 10-29-23
By: Uma Dinsmore-Tuli, and others
-
A Little Book on Big Freedom
- Discover the Four Elements of Transformation
- By: HeatherAsh Amara
- Narrated by: Tara Langella
- Length: 3 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Air. Fire. Water. Earth.The four primordial elements not only inform our physical lives, they are potent symbols for aspects of our inner selves. When we learn to harness their power correctly, they can lead us toward radical personal transformation, or what best-selling author HeatherAsh Amara refers to as "big freedom".
-
-
Informative & Nourishing
- By Sil on 02-03-20
By: HeatherAsh Amara
-
The Illumination Process
- A Shamanic Guide to Transforming Toxic Emotions into Wisdom, Power, and Grace
- By: Dr. Alberto Villoldo
- Narrated by: Robert G. Slade
- Length: 8 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Illumination Process guides the listener on a healing journey, forged by the timeless wisdom of indigenous cultures and the latest theories of neurobiology. Through various stages in this journey of initiation, we grow to understand the causes of our suffering and how to free ourselves from the pain and drama of our unhealed emotions. Life itself invites us to be initiated through many means - the possibility of love, the loss of a parent or friend, the birth of a child, or a serious health crisis.
-
-
Gift to have this knowledge!
- By Alli on 12-26-24
-
The Magic Path of Intuition
- By: Florence Shinn
- Narrated by: Kristen Glassman
- Length: 1 hr and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Florence Scovel Shinn was a gifted teacher who shaped the fields of spiritual growth and new age thought. Her practical, straightforward style empowered countless people to trust their inner knowing and overcome their challenges. With an introduction by self-help luminary Louise Hay, who credits Florence as one of her early inspirations, this simple yet poignant book - which contains original, previously unpublished text - can help you positively transform your life. Powerful affirmations will show you how to cultivate your intuition and release any resistance, fear, and doubt.
-
-
Thank God for additional manuscripts
- By Amazon Customer on 05-20-21
By: Florence Shinn
-
The No Self, No Problem Workbook
- Exercises & Practices from Neuropsychology and Buddhism to Help You Lose Your Mind (The No Self Wisdom Series)
- By: Chris Niebauer
- Narrated by: Ken Kamlet
- Length: 5 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In his best-selling book No Self, No Problem: How Neuropsychology Is Catching Up to Buddhism, Professor Chris Niebauer explored the incredible link between Eastern philosophy and recent findings in neuropsychology, which is now confirming a fundamental tenet of Buddhism: anatta, or the doctrine of “no self.”
By: Chris Niebauer
What listeners say about Think Like a Publisher
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Jamie McDaniel
- 12-15-23
Very insightful
I am working on having my two books published and this has helped me immensely. I’m not a studied author but I a have inspired vision coming to life. Thank you for this book.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Yaritza
- 05-15-19
Great book for novel authors
This audiobook has great advice and tips for authors that are new in the world of publishing. Although is also a good tool for experienced authors. It served to review steps and concepts in pushing .
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Carl
- 08-13-17
Clear and focused. Worth it!
As an unpublished writer and looking to publish in the new age spiritual self help genre I found this book invaluable. Thank you.
God bless,
Carl
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- #AskMissPatience
- 09-08-16
Timely
Would you listen to Think Like a Publisher again? Why?
YES. For years I went to meetings and listened to people repeat the same concerns, problems, whining rants, why won't this and why won't that ... all resulting from a slow drain of energy from focusing on the goal. This simple to follow list with calls to action make tackling publishing perspective a lot more compact. Rather than spread out over years of effort. I can revisit a chapter and renew my perspective as I mature in my pursuit of this goal, to publish quality work with industry savvy.
What was one of the most memorable moments of Think Like a Publisher?
Knowing I have years of questions located in one easy to reference space is my biggest aha moment upon reading this the first time. Now, on my second review.
What does Colin Robinson bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
Perspective and experience. With a cherry on top of this is the industry. What are you going to do about your role? This is what I heard loud and clear.
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
I don't recollect what point really toppled me over with WOW. I felt a consistent FOMO (fear of missing out) throughout. Like, where have you been all my life sweetheart sorta connection. I'm SO glad to finally know you. This resonated with me pretty deeply.
Any additional comments?
To give an idea of why I connect with the overall context of this book is to understand how long I'd been wanting this. How long I have been working toward this. In a numerical time, line start from I'm 51. Work back. For four years I'd been attending one meeting a month to understand the basics of Self-Publishing. Understanding that even if I go traditional publishing I will still need to understand and be strategic like a self-published author. So, start from this point was my goal. That way I'd be prepared when I publish at any time anywhere with anyone. Ugh, this was painstaking and eventually showed me that hanging out with a small local group, even though some were doing lots in their niche, wasn't getting me the one and done need. Meaning, now I know this let’s move onto something else I can leverage and learn. Impossible when we are reviewing old materials and answering the same questions to new people. No movement was killing me and I felt stagnant. Prior to that, in 2007, while my son was still at home I discovered How to Become a Famous Writer Before You're Dead, by Ariel Gore. This book helped me recognize being published is possible. With steps to consider how to get there. I tabled moving forward until I could focus on just this while doing research along the way. My current parental focus led me to pause action beyond improving my writing and learning as much as I could. So, when ready to launch I'd be prepared with knowledge. Previous to this, I took a children's book course through the mail when my son was small. After losing a pregnancy I walked away from the progress. It's the only time in my life I haven't met a deadline or finished something. It was a tough time. Go back to college and being told, "You aren't college material" by my English teacher. She was right, but wrong. This really struck a chord with me. I was fairly illiterate, but very much smart enough to be in college. I didn't have the confidence to access my own curiosity to figure out how to change my inability at some skills. I dropped out. Went in the military. And, worked my butt off to improve. Taking a library research and typing course first. Plus, worked really hard on my reading skills. Plus, got a full set of Encyclopedia Britannica. Back when they were full volumes. A full size sent (12 by 14) three volume set dictionary. And, the paper back thesaurus and dictionary. This was my google in paper. Whatever it took to overcome my weakness was gonna happen. I was determined.A few years later the first college I enrolled in told me I didn't need basic English course because I outscored everyone on the entrance exam. And, while still in the military they told me I could CLEP out. Or, test out of English after two years of effort. My point, this book takes the obsessive need for piecemeal research out of my equation. Certainly, there's always more and upcoming trends to know, BUT the overall reference of this guide is one of the best I've found so far. Highly recommend using Think Like a Publisher for a tool at any level of publishing.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Cheri L. Neal
- 12-24-22
Great information!
I really appreciate having such a succinct easy to follow guidebook on how to think like a publisher! It’s taking a lot of the fear out of the next steps for publishing my book.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!