Endorsements From Industry Experts

"Shel is the ultimate frugal marketer. If you don’t want to spend a lot of money marketing your books—but you still want to sell a ton of books—read his book. He provides lots of doable ideas that don’t cost a lot of money but can produce great results."
—John Kremer, editor, Book Marketing Update and author, 1001 Ways to Market Your Books

"A brilliant potpourri of marketing tidbits and little-known tricks of the book publicist’s trade."
—Fern Reiss, author, The Publishing Game series

"Dynamite stuff! I have even more respect for you as a knowledgeable colleague after reading Grassroots Marketing for Authors and Publishers! The ‘Google’ chapter alone is worth the price of the book. And the real-life marketing plans stimulate thinking and present strategies any author or publisher can modify for their own books."
—Marilyn Ross, CEO, SelfPublishingResources.com, book coach, speaker, author The Complete Guide to Self-Publishing/Companion, Jump Start Your Book Sales, etc.

"Plan ahead. Determine the location and size of your market before your write the book and buy this book now—it will show you how—and much more."
—Dan Poynter, The Self-Publishing Manual.

"It's clear that Shel Horowitz not only wants you to be one of the rare successes in a very crowded book marketplace, but that he knows what he's talking about. Practical and frugal suggestions on every page that will get your book noticed—and bought!"
—Rick Frishman, co-author, Guerrilla Marketing for Writers, Author 101, etc., and CEO, Planned Television Arts

"Shel Horowitz is one of the most creative and frugal Publicity Hounds I know. His book is jam-packed with ideas, tips, marketing examples from other successful authors, and even some fun and quirky ideas that will make your books fly off the shelves. The many bulleted ‘to do’ lists will keep you on track and on budget."
—Joan Stewart PublicityHound.com

"Outstanding toolkit! Every author can profit from these practical, low-cost tips and techniques to sell and promote their books!"
—Marisa D’Vari, author of Building Buzz: How to Reach and Impress Your Target Audience and four other books

Reviews

"Shel Horowitz is a generous, highly experienced marketer of books and general items. Known for his focus on ethical marketing, the author has put together an essential reference book for the independent press and self-publishing industry. With over 170,000 new books being published a year, it has become extraordinarily difficult to get seen among the crowd of other books and publishers. Shel’s book gives practical guerrilla marketing ideas and procedures that give the little guy at least a chance of getting seen and bought in the market place.
"He provides strategies and examples of how these strategies can be executed. He covers all the marketing aspects of book selling and explains how and why the industry works as it does. If you are thinking of writing a book; if you have even been fortunate enough to have been accepted by a major publishing house, you will find all the marketing aspects you will be expected to use to maximize book sales. We rated this book a high four hearts."
—Bob Spear, Chief Reviewer, Heartland Reviews

"One of those books that becomes a required purchase for new and not-so-new publishers (alongside Kremer’s 1001 Ways, Poynter’s Self-Publishing Manual, and Reiss’s Publishing Game)."
—Thomas Nixon, SmallPressBlog.com

"Despite similar titles there is almost no duplication between this book and Horowitz's earlier classic, Grassroots Marketing, listed below. This book is tightly focused on marketing for publications... This is a solid presentation from a marketing and publicity pro, with real world samples of marketing materials prepared by the author for clients. Topics such as web site building that are skimped or ignored in other marketing books are covered here...well worth having on your bookshelf.
"Well organized and well written (hey, it's Horowitz)--it could be considered one of the marketing standards."
—John Culleton, editor, The Shortlist of Recommended Books on Publishing, http://www.wexfordpress.com

"The author also spends time explaining how to market books online, and how to use search engine placement and book sites like Amazon.com to full marketing potential. The tangle of search engine placement, AdSense, affiliate programs, book promotion sites, ezines, blogging, and other online applications is overwhelming. However, Horowitz explains it all in a way that will work for the frugal author. He even offers pages of additional resources...Armchair Interviews says: Anyone interested in marketing and doing writing for profit work will enjoy this book."
—Armchair Interviews

"An informed, user friendly, 'how to' book marketing seminar/workshop in a single volume... the ideal reference manual for anyone having to promote a book with little or no available capital for publicity and promotion. Indeed, studying Shel's advice and instructions carefully could well make the difference between commercial success or failure for an author or a publisher."
—Jim Cox, Editor-in-Chief, Midwest Book Review

Full Review from Midwest Book Review:

"Shel Horowitz is an accomplished professional consultant and practitioner in the art and science of small press publishing. Shel draws upon many years of hard won experience and expertise to write and publish "Grassroots Marketing For Authors And Publishers", a 292-page compendium of descriptive commentary, advice, tips, techniques, resources, instructions, and examples of how an author can go about successfully marketing their book in a highly competitive and often volatile marketplace. Shel has included seven different marketing models that authors can draw upon to create inexpensive yet very effective websites as part of their overall book marketing strategy. Also included are two complete, full-length marketing plans that are actually based on two of Shel's author clients. Examples of eight actual press releases and six successful media pitches are provided as templates. Exemplary anecdotal stories drawn from some forty-one authors and publishers, plus about a dozen publishing industry experts, provide aspiring authors with real-life examples of what they can do to promote and marketing their book regardless of genre. Enhanced with a 16-page resource appendix listing dozens of useful books, website, publications, book coaches, organizes, etc., "Grassroots Marketing For Authors And Publishers" can be considered an informed, user friendly, 'how to' book marketing seminar/workshop in a single volume. Of special note are Shel's commentaries on why books (and their authors) fail in bookstores, online marketing, and operating profitably in a market where only about ten percent of self-published and small press titles sell more than 1000 copies. It should be noted that the Midwest Book Review is favorably cited on seven occasions within the pages of "Grassroots Marketing For Authors And Publishers". Nevertheless, there is no conflict of interest when strongly recommending "Grassroots Marketing For Authors And Publishers" to the attention of 'midlist' authors of major publishing houses who find themselves shouldering the burden of promoting and marketing their books, self-published authors who have established their own imprint, authors who utilize the services of Print-On-Demand (POD) companies to turn their manuscripts into finished books, as well as authors whose books are published by small presses and niche publishers. "Grassroots Marketing For Authors And Publishers" is the ideal reference manual for anyone having to promote a book with little or no available capital for publicity and promotion. Indeed, studying Shel's advice and instructions carefully could well make the difference between commercial success or failure for an author or a publisher."

Endorsements From Authors and Publishers

"If you retained the top three consultants in book publishing, and picked their brains at a cost of tens of thousands of dollars, this book is what your notes would look like after a week. I plan to give a copy to all authors, and make reading this book a requirement for any prospective author who submits a proposal to Elite Books in the future."
—Dawson Church, Publisher, Elite Books

"In Grassroots Marketing for Authors and Publishers, Shel Horowitz presents a marvelous array of real-world book marketing strategies based on his decades of professional experience. His insight will help every author and publisher to sell more books. After all, selling more books is what successful marketing is all about, and that's what Shel's book is clearly all about! I was so impressed that I took the unprecedented step of urging Shel to co-publish with us."
—John F. Harnish, Special Projects Director, Infinity Publishing

"Grassroots Marketing for Authors and Publishers--the top is bulging with small yellow post-it notes, and page corners are turned down. What a wealth of material, and so specific! What I like best is that you weave your personal experience among the details."
—Marta Felber, LifeWords Press

"About an hour ago I received in the mail Grassroots Marketing for Authors and Publishers by Shel Horowitz. An hour's skimming some of the chapters has rewarded me many times greater than the cost of the book. Shel speaks of the potential for success in methods I had set out to do but then quit because some of them I failed at. This book shows me why I failed, how I could have done better, and it has encouraged me to get back in the saddle. I highly recommend it."
—Rick Gelinas, www.ophirpublishing.com

"Grassroots Marketing for Authors and Publishers begins with the most important aspect of any marketing--a plan. Outlined in the first chapter are two very good examples of what a comprehensive plan should look like and include, as well as prime book marketing suggestions within the plans themselves. And that's just the beginning. Written in a conversational, make that highly accessible style, this book covers virtually every aspect of marketing, from print media through television and radio to online, and beyond. Shel Horowitz will have you thinking both inside and outside the box. This is THE must-have guide for any author or publisher intent on being successful now and for many years to come."
—Mari Bushman, publisher, Jigsaw Press

"Authors are responsible for marketing their own books, whether they self publish, use a subsidy publisher, or a traditional publisher -- that's simply a fact. I recommend this book for all authors and wannabe authors.
"It concentrates on low and no cost strategies that work, and goes well beyond regurgitating the conventional wisdom. Shel's first book was written in '79, and his extensive first-hand experience with all kinds of publishing is apparent...most of this info is useful regardless of how you package your knowledge: traditional book, ebook, audio product, etc...
"I've been studying books -- how they get written, promoted, sold, AND provide value to their readers for a couple of years -- since before I ever started writing. I've read more than a couple of good books on the subject, and Shel's speaks to me more than any of the others...
"Shel concentrates on practical no and low-cost ideas that have worked for him and others, and provides concrete examples. I wish I had this book before I became an author!...I'm already implementing some of Shel's advice."
—Ted Demopoulos, co-author, Blogging for Business (Click here to read the full review)

"The first and most basic question you should ask yourself begins in Chapter Two: What's Your Publishing Strategy? Shel's "been there done that" with each strategy and presents a straightforward discussion of four publishing options available to writers today. This chapter alone can save you years of confusion, heartache, and disappointment, and most importantly hard earned cash.
"I share my enthusiasm for Shel's book as a result of one my own thousand-dollar mistakes in publishing my own book, "U.N.I.Q.U.E.: Growing the Leader Within."...Had this book been on the market when I began, I may have avoided at least one of my most costly learning experiences.
"The book also provides a clear picture that it's the writer's job to know how to position their book idea in the market place to be able promote and sell it, even before the writing begins...There's no question, "Grassroots Marketing for Authors and Publishers" moves to the top of my personal library of writing and publishing resource gems. Five stars."
—Debra J. Slover, Leader Garden Press (Click here to read the full review at Amazon.com--but come back here to buy the book so you get the included bonuses.)

"Shel: I'm so glad I found out about your Frugal Marketing books! I'm in the process of implementing many of your wonderful suggestions in the marketing, publishing and printing of my nonfiction book, "A Journey Well Taken: Life After Loss." After deciding to work with you, a professional, for my press releases and biography, I am very, very pleased with the way you took my information and so-so press release, rearranged the information and help me create press releases of sparkling interest. Thank you again. Looking forward to working with you in the future."
—Elaine Williams, www.ajourneywelltaken.com

"First on his agenda is the issue of creating a marketable book-so important in today's highly competitive publishing climate. Horowitz includes chapters on how to get the interest of traditional media, speaking to sell and the value of trade shows and book fairs. And he discusses some less common promotional practices-turning your competitors into affiliates or marketing partners, for example and creating a brand.
"He helps the reader understand the bookstore system-finally and he tells your how to get big name blurbs for your book... Whether you are just starting out with a book to promote or you've been in promotion mode for quite a while, let Horowitz's book show you a wider view of the whole marketing situation in an organized, friendly way. And, to my delight, the book has a nice index. Thank you, Shel."
—Patricia Fry is President of SPAWN (Small Publishers, Artists, and Writers Network) and author of The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell your Book (Click here to read the full review)