I came across this article (where escapes me now) so I’m reprinting it here, so I don’t lose it again.

I Have Finished a Book, What is Next?

So, you say you have written a book and it is ready to be published? Your biggest questions are: (1) What do I do next? (2) Where do I go with my manuscript? (3) Who do I contact to get my book reviewed and evaluated for publishing? (4) How will my book get published and by whom? (5) How much is publishing going to cost me? (6) Can I trust everything I read in publishing catalogs or on the Internet? (7) Who will sell my books? (8) Will my books get put into all of the major bookstore chains? And the list goes on and on. Let’s discuss an initial stage of the book publishing process, how to choose the correct method of publishing.

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Welcome to the May Book Groups! This month I am very excited about the following books:

Blood Rites - Jim Butcher

Dracula - Bram Stoker

Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden

Blood Rites is one of my favourite books in the Dresden Files series, Dracula I will be hosting and Memoirs of a Geisha I have had for ages and not read so this is the perfect opportunity for me to do so - can’t wait!

Please join us to read and discuss these books on the Book Addicts Book Group and Forum. More information can be found on the forum.

I have some semblance of organisation in the house.  My ‘craft’ books are in the spare room along with my sewing machine (gathering dust) and all my craft supplies and materials

So at least I have found a home for them all but that’s really as far as it has got so far.

To do:

catalog the books

reorganise the craft supplies - they are all in the same room but that’s as organised as it managed to get so far lol

do a bit of servicing on the sewing machine, make sure it’s all working as it should be and well oiled

find more room as it is way to cluttered!

Its my niece’s birthday very soon so I should really make her something *sigh* but I’m in two minds about it.  First of all, I am finding it very difficult to get motivated, then I have no inspiration as to what to make her, and finally, sometimes I feel that people, some people, not all people, really don’t appreciate something that doesn’t have a very expensive price tag on it

Tips on Collecting Old Books

A good way to learn the art of purchasing “old things with class” is by building a stirring book collection. Rows and rows of “Reader’s Digest Condensed Books” is not my idea of interesting library. Condensed soup and condensed orange juice are fine products. Condensed books, however, should not be stored on your most prominent shelves. Put there instead, writings representative of your interests.

Be it Tarzan or Tolstoy, in addition to being a ready source of reference and quiet pleasure, a handsome library is often a stimulant for absorbing conversation. Most of my old/used book purchases are under $10. Therefore, I don’t make many costly mistakes. I’m also aware that many volumes purchased for a few dollars turn out to have great value.  So, in addition to buying what I like, I look for books with good upside potential. Here’s a few tips for building your library.

* Buy books in good condition. Incomplete, torn, soiled, marked, dog eared books are not sought after, unless they are great rarities. Original dust jackets are a big plus.

* “First editions,” garner the premium prices. This is especially true on later books. Experts identify early book runs by comparing title page dates and other “points” (little details distinguishing a first printing from a later) with criteria identified in various “bibliographies.” When not buying through a trusted book dealer, you can improve your long-shot odds of ferreting out a first edition by inspecting the title page for; “1, First Edition, First Printing, First Impression,” etc., (all of which are no guarantees). Additionally, you can eschew books that are obvious later runs like, “The Complete Works of Edgar Allan Poe,” or a copy of “Gone With the Wind” dated later than 1936.

* Purchase works falling within your favorite book collecting categories, including: first edition, famous author, artist signed or inscribed, early printed books, bibles and other holy books, finely bound books, fine artistic content/illustrator, art, photo and picture books, sporting, spy, science fiction, fantasy, children’s books, nature and natural history, geographic and atlases, scientific, medical, technological, architectural, performing arts, biographies, Americana, cooking, etc..

* Look for books that made a difference. Here’s a few examples including approximate value for 1st editions in good condition. “The Origin of Species,” by Charles Darwin, 1859-$14,000, “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,” by Frank Baum, 1900-$9,000, “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” (2 vols.), by Harriet Beecher Stowe, 1852-$7,500, “A Narrative of the Expedition to Botany Bay,” (the first published account of the settlement of Australia) by Captain Watkin Tench, 1789-$2,700. “Casino Royal,” (Ian Flemming’s first James Bond novel), 1953-$900

* Add to your antique reference library. Look for scholarly, out-of-print, books on specific subjects instead of price guides. Expensive at auctions, etc., such books can be found cheap when they are out of their antique element.

Benjamin Franklin said, “write things worth the reading, or do things worth the writing.”  Keep author and content in mind when you build your library. Young Franklin was so found of books he assumed the trade of printer. In his twilight years, he referred to himself as a Printer first, before inventor, or patriot, or statesman. Quality antique furnishings and accessories are scarce these days. Many of my buying trips would have been dull failures, if not for those piles of old books priced at a buck a piece. You’ll find attic-fresh old books nearly every place you shop. Take advantage of it. Those piles won’t be around forever. They’ll make your antique hunting trips more fruitful and fun.

This was taken from http://www.collectingnetwork.com/guide/antiquebooks.html which is a site about collecting all kinds of things, but has a section on books

Almost everyone owns a book, and many of us may be very proud of how many we have accumulated. But are they collectible? Consider the following criteria:

Generally Not Collectible - The vast majority of books, especially paperbacks, book club editions and mass printings of hardcovers. The latest Stephen King horror novel is, by definition of its popularity, not a collectible. Also (in general!) most encyclopedias, textbooks, dictionaries, popular fiction without dust jackets, Reader’s Digest condensed books, romance, magazines after 1960, “family bibles” and non-illustrated Bibles (after 1790) are not collectable.

Author - Try getting a copy of A Handbook for Booklovers: A Survey of Collectible Authors, Books, and Values

Condition - The lesser the condition, the less collectible and valuable it will be.

Prize Winners - Prize-winning books have been voted as the best books in a given field. This gives them a stamp of quality. The first edition (which came out before the awards were decided) will not have Blah Blah Award Winner on the cover. Well known prizes include: Pulitzer, National Book Award, PEN/Faulkner, Hugo or Nebula (sci-fi) and the Booker Prize (British).

Age - An old book isn’t necessarily valuable. However there are some rough guidelines that indicate when a book might be worth something:

All books printed before 1501
English books printed before 1641
American books printed before 1801
American books (west of the Mississippi) printed before 1850

First Edition - Most books are only ever printed as a first edition, and most of those only have one print run. With books that have muliple editions, the first edition will usually be the most valuable. First editions usually say “First Edition” or “First Printing” on the page after the title page. A second edition will contain different content to the first edition. Different printings of the same edition will usually be exact replicas, except for the print date. Check dates to be sure of a first printing of a first edition.

First Books - These can be obscure tomes that just didn’t sell, yet gained curiousity value when the author’s subsequent books did do well. The combination of a small print run and future fame of the author can make these books especially valuable.

Collections - Single volumes of sets or incomplete sets are not usually worth much.

Limited Editions - Sometimes, a book will have a deliberately small print run, usually less than 1500 copies. They are better than regular editions. They are often signed by the author.

Signed - Of course any book signed by the author is more valuable than one that isn’t. Understand though, that signatures can be forged, and that the signature of a notoriously reclusive writer will be worth more than one who does in-store book-signings every other day. If the book is Inscribed with a hand-written note by the author it becomes more collectable. If the note is addressed to another famous person, it will be extremely collectable.

First Edition?

This is really difficult. Each publisher will have their own codes and ways of indicating a first edition. Be wary of any simple “rules” you may read, for they will just be generalisations that won’t always work. There are 3 ways of finding out:

* Compare the book with those listed online as first editions. Often the dealer’s description will contain a lot of detail.
* Get an appraisal from a dealer
* Consult a book on the topic, such as:

Pocket Guide to the Identification of First Editions (a cheap general guide)

Points of Issue : A Compendium of Points of Issue of Books by 19th-20th Century Authors ( lists specific books)

First Editions : A Guide to Identification (authorative)