Book-Driven Branding Publisher Launched

Former Wall Street Journal columnist, author, ghostwriter, and commentator Foster Winans has launched a publishing house that helps entrepreneurs and businesses leverage their independently-produced books to establish and grow their brands.

Winans, writer of more than 40 books, is Chief Creative Officer of Winans Kuenstler Publishing (http://www.wkpublishing.com/), which has developed an innovative marketing technique called Book-Driven Branding(TM).

Author of the bestselling memoir "Trading Secrets" (St. Martin's Press, 1986), Winans had ghostwritten many books for major publishers in the 1990s but increasingly found that authors with compelling material were being poorly served by the industry. In the past decade he began to transition to independent publishing, adding book design, production, and distribution to his writing and editing services.

"Winans Kuenstler Publishing is the fully-developed, one-decision solution for entrepreneurs and executives who understand the value and credibility authoring a book offers, and see the cost of independent publishing as a high-value, high-return marketing and branding expense," says Foster Winans.

"A book is the marketing collateral no one throws away. It brings prestige to the author, and opens doors to a wide range of opportunities from public speaking to bulk sales to corporations."

One of Winans's recent projects was "Stolen Without a Gun," a memoir by former MCI executive and corporate speaker Walter Pavlo Jr., which was featured in Forbes magazine last November. He also ghosted a memoir for Random House by a retired Chinese diplomat who was an aide to Mao Zedong. "The Man on Mao's Right" will be released this July.

Walt Kuenstler, the new company's CEO and Director of Branding Services, adds to Winans's expertise three decades in advertising, marketing, web development, and branding, ranging from The New York Times to managing the build-out of websites for companies in the pharmaceutical, communications, and financial services industries. He is a branding consultant to one of Wall Street's leading investment executives.

Kuenstler says the new company offers "a full service Book-Driven Branding solution, from concept to custom published brand-building books; related web sites, media campaigns, and other efforts to leverage the power of a book to drive sales, enhance reputations, and build lasting brands."

Achieve Your Dream Of Publishing A Book

One of the most common New Year's resolutions is to write and publish a book. While people are happy to write, many are intimidated by or defeated by minor roadblocks and challenges. “With the advent of Web 2.0 and digital print-on-demand technology,” publishing expert Brent Sampson says, "publishing a book is a snap, especially in comparison to goals like losing weight or getting organized."

Sampson is the best-selling author of "Sell Your Book on Amazon," and the award-winning, "Self-Publishing Simplified." As the president and CEO of Outskirts Press at http://www.outskirtspress.com/, Sampson offers effective tips to get your book published, including:

1. Identify goals. Do you want to make a lot of money or find a lot of readers? Or perhaps your goal is more modest – to have a book to share with family and friends. By identifying your goals, you can increase your chance of choosing the right means to publishing.

2. Identify weaknesses. Publishing a book is different from writing one; it is a business rather than an art. Unless you have the technical and financial know how, you will be better off having a company do it rather than trying to do it yourself.

3. Investigate the publishing options. There are three main roads to publication:

a) Traditional publication – a publishing company accepts your book and purchases the rights to it in exchange for an advance on book royalties.

b) Independent self-publishing – you keep the rights to your book and undergo the task of starting a publishing company to print, distribute, and market it.

c) Turn-key self-publishing with a print-on-demand company – you keep the rights to your book and pay experts to perform the publishing tasks for you.

4. Just do it. Your manuscript will not publish itself, so you must be motivated to reach for your dreams. What are you waiting for?

"Publishing a book doesn't have to be difficult or confusing. Sort your options carefully, weigh the advantages and disadvantages, and then go for it!" says Sampson. His company, Outskirts Press at www.outskirtspress.com, offers full-service, on-demand custom book publishing services to help writers publish and distribute their books worldwide.

Make A Book in Minutes with Do-It-Yourself Book Publishing

Wordclay makes it simple for writers of all experience levels to self-publish (http://www.wordclay.com/bookpublishing.aspx) their books. Authors create a free password-protected online account that lets them control each step of the publishing process, from uploading the manuscript to designing the front cover to selecting the price of the book and their royalty. The book doesn't need to be published in one sitting; the authors' work is saved at every step.

During its highly successful beta period, users started nearly 5,000 book projects with the free publishing (http://www.wordclay.com/FAQ/Default.aspx) tool.

"Wordclay's book knowledge is 'baked in,' which means users don't need to be concerned about the details of publishing, such as calculating spine width and gutter size, and can instead focus on writing a great book and then marketing it," said Dave McCauley, Wordclay president. "Equipped with a computer and Internet connection, Wordclay authors can make a book in mere minutes."

Books created on the Wordclay Web site are printed on-demand, ensuring authors will not have to pay for the cost to print a single copy before it is sold.

Authors' Day in San Diego

The Internet has again ignited the book self-publishing flame for writers who are tired of rejection from traditional publishers, or want more of the royalty pie, or more creative control. But despite recent reports to the contrary, publishing a book—that sells—is not as simple as write, click and voilа. Authors' Day in San Diego on January 25 helps emerging authors recognize and avoid dangers, not only in the new self-publishing era, but in their books.

Some of Southern California's most prolific and knowledgeable authors and publishing industry experts converge for a day of eye-opening seminars. Again, the fourth annual event precedes SDSU's Annual Writers' Conference, both at the DoubleTree Hotel in San Diego/Mission Valley. This year's lineup includes publishing guru, Dan Poynter, public relations expert, Penny Sansevieri, and our luncheon speaker, Elle Newmark, a new author who boldly burst on the scene in December with an innovative, virtual book launch party concept.

Authors' Day, presented by Infinity Publishing based in Pennsylvania, is open to all writers regardless of with whom or how they have published. The all-day event begins with a networking continental breakfast at 8:00 am, lunch at noon, and concludes with an "Ask the Experts" Q&A session followed by door prizes, at 4:45 pm. Deadline for the $80 early-bird registration is January 14; subsequent registration is $100, and $120 at the door. Schedule and registration form are online at www.AuthorsConference.com. Conference contact: Alex Hawley, alex@infinitypublishing.com This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it , or call 610-941-9999.

"In past decades poor printing methods and dubious publishers made paupers of many self-publishing authors, but that was only part of the problem," says John F. Harnish, co-director with Jane M. Martin. "Readers demand quality and many self-published books were simply not good." Anyone can have a book published—sometimes even for "free" on a do-it-yourself website. But every field has its "experts" for good reason—publishing is no different. A good writer may not be artistic enough to create a compelling book cover design or know what makes a fascinating title, which are paramount to attracting readers. Without expert direction, most will fail to sell books beyond family and friends.

Authors' Day experts offer writers serious about selling books the essentials in editing, formatting, distribution, promotion, and creative marketing, and help solve the Internet's intricate mysteries that affect their books. Rounding out the conference are San Diego-based professionals, Bob Goodman owner of Silvercat publishing services firm; Jeniffer Thompson, author and owner of Monkey C Media web and print design company; Paulette Ensign, author and founder of Tips Products International; and LinDee Rochelle, author and owner of Penchant for Penning writing, editing and PR firm.

Website: http://www.authorsconference.com/

National E-book Conference In Portland, Or, March 6-9, 2008

Grab your umbrella and favorite electronic reading device (a laptop or PDA will do) and head to the great Pacific Northwest for the 8th annual EPIC conference, "It's Not Easy Being E," in Portland, Oregon, March 6-9, 2008, at the Lloyd Center Doubletree Inn. This national conference addresses the emerging electronic publishing industry, and attracts publishers, writers and readers of this new medium.

Headlining the conference is luncheon keynote speaker is Michael Powell, owner of Powell's Books, which lays claim to being the largest independent bookstore in the world. Powell's is a noted retailer of e-books, as well as new and hard-to-find used books. The Portland conference will feature e-publisher panel discussions and workshops pertaining to publishing and promoting electronic books, new technologies, and genre and publisher-specific topics. There will be an EPPIE book awards ceremony, honoring excellence in electronic publishing, and opportunities for social and professional networking.

Fees for the three-day conference are $155 for EPIC members and $185 for non-members. A single day rate of $75 is also available. Registration will be open through February 10, 2008.

EPIC, the Electronically Published Internet Connection, is a professional organization for published and contracted e-book and print authors. Established in 1997, EPIC was one of the first advocates of electronic publishing, and has been a strong voice for the industry ever since. Its members write and publish in all literary and non-fiction genres.

For more information on the conference and how to register go to the EPIC website, http://www.epicauthors.com/.

Book Publishing Success for First-Time Authors

Writing a book is a universal ambition. According to a recent survey, 43 percent of women were actively working on a book or planning to write one, and 46 percent of people in general have the goal to become an author on their lifetime list of things to do.

Changes in the publishing industry itself are opening up new opportunities for authors, particularly authors of nonfiction books ... if you know about them.

AuthorSmart.com and eWomenPublishingNetwork have teamed up again to offer their Virtual Publishing Conference, an 11-week series of web seminars, with a real "You can do it!" focus. They cover every aspect of nonfiction book publishing the aspiring author will need for a successful book-publishing journey, from idea through promotion. The classes are fun, interesting and interactive, with plenty of time for participant questions.

See the entire 11-session curriculum and get registration information at AuthorSmart.com}. Classes start on February 5, 2008.

The full series is $249, but the sessions are free to the first 100 who use the discount code AUTHORNOW at registration.

As a bonus for participants: We all think later of the question we wished we had asked during a class -- and now you can get those questions answered! By typing in your question at AskAuthorSmart.com, you can get any book publishing question answered live the following Friday by dialing 712-775-7100 and using the access code 1069131. These calls are free and we will also be taking live questions on the call once we've answered those submitted in advance.

Websites: http://www.ewomenpublishingnetwork.com/
http://www.authorsmart.com/

2008 New York Book Festival Seeks Entries for $1500 Book Award

The 2008 New York Book Festival has set Friday, June 27 and Saturday, June 28 as the dates for its annual program celebrating books that deserve greater recognition from the world's publishing capital.

Last year, over 20,000 attendees enjoyed the beauty and serenity of Manhattan's Central Park as they browsed books, listened to music and author readings and enjoyed our food vendors. This year, the day festival will offer expanded stages and new opportunities for authors, publishers, musicians and vendors. The New York Book Festival awards ceremony will be held on Friday evening, June 27.

The 2008 New York Book Festival will consider published, self-published and independent publisher non-fiction, fiction, children's books, teenage, how-to, audio/spoken word, comics/'zines, e-books, poetry, wild card (anything goes!), unpublished stories, science fiction, horror, photography/art, romance and biography/autobiography works.

A panel of judges will determine the winners based on the following criteria:

1) The story-telling ability of the author.
2) The potential of the work to win wider recognition.

Entries can be in English, Spanish, French or Italian and must be published on or after January 1, 2000. The grand prize for the 2008 New York Book Festival author of the year is $1500 and a flight to New York for the event.

More information on the competition can be found at http://www.newyorkbookfestival.com/.
Entry deadline for the competition is May 25, 2008.

Streamline Your Publishing Process: 7 Key Ways to Finish Your Book!

by Casey Lee

Some authors feel they don't have enough material for a complete book. Here are seven easy ways to add material and pages to your published projects.

1. Conduct a survey or poll on your topic and publish the results.

This can be extremely useful in a number of ways. First you can list it on your website and have people that visit fill it out, and list the results the following month (people love seeing the results), or you can use it for audiences at your speaking engagements. And, I'm assuming if you're writing a book, you would be speaking to every group possible in order to promote your book. Just use your survey at the end of your speech and have the audience fill them out to draw for a door prize. That way you get the results to your poll (which you let them know will be published in your book), their contact information, and be the hero by offering a door prize. Now isn't that a great way to be remembered?

2. Add in some helpful top 10 lists.

People love "top 10 lists" or the "10 key ways to do......", and they're easy to write. To do this, just think for a moment of all the steps it takes to do whatever you're writing about. Then list each step with a little paragraph giving suggestions as to how to use each step effectively. Exactly like this article, except I've only listed seven.

3. Add a resource section.

If you're like most writers, you probably do a lot of research on your subject. And because of that, you should have a lot of inside secrets and useable information that would be valuable to your reader. List each resource along with the contact information or do a comparison between various resources and write a report on your findings.

4. Include worksheets at the end of each chapter.

This is truly one of the best ways to reinforce the reader's learning curve. It's like a refresher course as they read through your book. And, another benefit is that as they finish each worksheet, they'll have more ownership of your book and you'll have more testimonials coming your way. 5. Provide a question and answer series at the end of your book or each chapter.

Think of this as the perfect set up. Just imagine having just the right questions asked and then listing your answers. This is an area that you can really stress your expertise and bring out examples that the reader had not even thought about. This one item will also have your readers considering you the real expert in your field.

6. Interview other experts on your topic.

Now I know we were just talking about "you" being the true expert in your field, but I hate to break it to you, we all have competition. And you can either try to ignore them and hope they'll go away, but they'll probably keep on going like the Energizer Bunny. So, what should you do? Well the smart writer goes to the highest level possible (and the one with the most clout!), to see if they can get an interview. Now I know this sounds really hard, but if you let them know their interview is going to be in a book (and a published one at that), they will see it as publicity. Believe me, the more famous they are, the more they love publicity. If you make them a deal they can't refuse, they'll be happy to accommodate. Just make sure you allow enough time to contact them, and make it apparent that you are on the up and up. Of course, it doesn't hurt to have a professionally designed website. I know our website has helped us in attracting joint ventures with some very famous industry leaders.

7. And, last but not least, co-author your book.

Now this one can be tricky. If you don't find a writer that has the same common goal and one that compliments your style without competing, you won't have a book you'll be proud of or that you'll be able to sell. But, how do you find this type of writer? Well, one way is to join some of the writer's organizations like the Author's Guild. Another way is to attend some of the conferences and writing workshops specifically targeted to writers and authors. Once you find the perfect writing partner, the next step is to take care of the legalities and all the money stuff - in other words, GET EVERYTHING IN WRITING! We can't stress that enough. We've seen many a writer wind up with no book and a lot of time and money wasted. So, if you follow all these rules and still come up empty handed, the best choice would be to have a book producer find the perfect co-author for you. This is a service they offer by finding the perfect writing team, handling all the paperwork, and taking care of all the publishing hassles. Now doesn't that sound much better? By handling all the behind the scenes tasks, you get to focus on what you do best, writing the world's next best seller!

Well, there you have it, that's my list of 7 easy ways to get your book to that final stage. I hope at least one of these suggestions help you accomplish your goal. And remember, anytime Penworth Publishing can help, we're just an email or phone call away.

May all the success in the world be yours!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Casey Lee, "The Publicity Diva", is a delightful and entertaining speaker, accomplished author, and a seasoned publicist with Penworth Publishing and Publicity. Casey has more than 28 years of experience in the publishing and publicity fields. Her clients include Fortune 500 corporations, distinguished experts, best-selling authors, and legendary celebrities. Website: http://www.penworth.com/

Marketing Strategies for Self-Published Authors

First Choice Books specializing in Self Publishing, Printing & Book Binding has launched their new website http://www.selfpublishingbc.com/ that describes their self publishing, printing and bookbinding services.

Today having a published book has never been easier; frustrated authors are finding a more accessible means of having their work published.

First Choice Books however, has focused their services, to assist the self published author in their publishing, printing/ book binding services that include author resources, bookstore inclusions, a self publishing guide; as well as special incentives to help the aspiring author to have a successful book launch. Additionally they've recently added new online media services.

Center Stage Book Club Series

Bestselling writers Luanne Rice, Dennis Lehane, Jim Cramer, and Deanna Raybourn will talk with readers this month in its exclusive "Center Stage Book Club," a new forum that features one-week visits by some of today's top writers. The online discussions are free and open to all readers 24 hours a day at the Barnes & Noble Book Clubs (www.bn.com/bookclubs).

"The Barnes & Noble online Book Clubs have become one of the premiere gathering places where readers and writers can interact with and among each other about their favorite books and other topics," said Marie Toulantis, chief executive officer of Barnes & Noble.com. "With the addition of the Center Stage series, we welcome even more writers to our community of avid readers."

The Center Stage schedule for January features:

-- Week of January 14 -- Dennis Lehane, the bestselling writer of Mystic River and numerous other thrillers, will discuss his books and the current movie adaptation made from his book, Gone, Baby, Gone.

-- Week of January 21 -- Jim Cramer, bestselling author and host of CNBC's "Mad Money," will discuss his new guide to lifetime investing, Jim Cramer's Stay Mad for Life: Get Rich, Stay Rich (Make Your Kids Even Richer).

-- Week of January 28 -- Deanna Raybourn joins to talk about her new mystery, Silent in the Sanctuary, a follow-up to her breakout novel, Silent in the Grave.

Authors in the Center Stage series visit the online discussion forum daily to answer questions about their writing, their books and other topics posed by readers. Participants can post questions in advance and return at their leisure to see responses and comments.

The Barnes & Noble Book Clubs offer a wide selection of scheduled and ongoing discussions of books and literary topics. Popular ongoing clubs include discussions of Harry Potter, paranormal fiction, romantic reads and crime fiction. Many discussions feature an ever-changing lineup of guest authors. The full line-up and schedule can be found at www.bn.com/bookclubs.

Free Solution Lets Publishers Block Copyright Violations

Scribd, the leader in online document sharing and publishing, wants to work with publishers through its Qualified Publisher Program (QPP). The program offers a variety of premium features and enables publishers to proactively fight piracy by providing control over the distribution and viewing of their copyrighted materials.

Scribd's new QPP works in conjunction with copyright holders and automatically blocks uploads of the copyrighted content by non-rights holders. Scribd uses its new Text Matching System (TMS) to compare documents that users upload against those contributed to the filter by copyright holders. Attempts to upload content identified as copyrighted and deemed to be infringing are automatically stopped by Scribd's TMS.

The new copyright protection system is a departure from the status quo for the publishing industry. Until now, online repositories have had no choice but to use DMCA takedown notices to regulate copyright enforcement. This means that infringing content is left online until the rights-holder requests it be removed, which is a cumbersome and slow process.

The QPP provides premium services to authors and publishers for distributing content to Scribd's massive audience of avid readers, while also providing tools to protect against piracy. QPP (http://www.scribd.com/publisher/signup) provides publishers with a Scribd "Shelf" that they can customize with their own branding and use to securely store and distribute their content via the Scribd service. Participating in Scribd's new offering gives publishers a simple, hosted platform for publishing their documents, as well as a slew of features that would be costly and difficult to implement on their own.

Website: http://www.scribd.com/

European reformists creatively and subversively used Romantic prose

Modern advocates for social change could take lessons from the strategy used by early feminists to combat discrimination and promote higher education for women. In a recently published book, Carol Strauss Sotiropoulos explores how European reformists creatively and subversively used Romantic prose, fictional narratives, and patriotic rhetoric to advance their cause. The title is Early Feminists and the Education Debates: England, France, Germany, 1760-1810 (Fairleigh Dickinson University Press).

During the period covered in the book, girls' education was limited to the training required to fulfill their domestic role. Sotiropoulos, a Northern Michigan University professor, illustrates the dominant mentality of the era by quoting Enlightenment philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau: "Woman is made specially to please man … and to be subjugated." The challenge reformists faced was how to argue for broadening education in a way that would gain a responsive audience, not to mention private and state support.

To prevent alienating the men in power – from government officials to doctors to professors – Sotiropoulos said feminist writers used a variety of genres to advance their argument. These included ladies' periodicals, fictional letters, essays, petitions, curricular proposals, and plans for national education.

The authors tried to subversively discredit theories about the alleged differences between male and female brains that prevented women from reasoning the same as men. Sotiropoulos said the issue remains relevant, given the recent controversy over the suggestion that innate differences between genders might explain why there are relatively few female scientists or engineers.

"Many of the reformists invoked the idea of the ‘maternal educator' to make their views more palatable and gain approval," she said. "For example, they would state that mothers needed to be educated so that they could teach their sons to be good citizens. Or they might lobby for mothers to chaperone their daughters to school as a guise for getting women into the classroom. They adapted and reshaped the strategies being used by their opposition."

Sotiropoulos resurrects the writings of 10 women and two men whose voices surfaced during the struggle for equal access. The most widely known was Mary Wollstonecraft, the mother of Frankenstein author Mary Shelley. Wollstonecraft wrote A Vindication of the Rights of Woman in 1792. The manifesto-like treatise called for the overhaul of women's education in Britain and became a landmark piece referenced by succeeding generations. In the same year, the oft-neglected German advocate Theodore von Hippel wrote On Improving the Status of Women. Sotiropoulos calls him "the most astounding radical feminist of the era," especially considering he was a close friend of Enlightenment philosopher Immanuel Kant, who was "no friend to women."

Sotiropoulos said the book helps broaden readers' knowledge about educational reformists who have been forgotten over time and illustrates how political events can impact education policies.

"Finally, a feature relevant to all is the book's examination of subversive expression: how we use language strategically to assist us in getting our ideas accepted when we address – in writing or speech – potentially hostile audiences that wield power. My next project is to study the transatlantic path of the debates, to expand the discussion to the American context during the exciting period of the early Republic."

Sotiropoulos noted that women make up 55 percent of U.S. college enrollments today, but that this has not translated into national political representation. She said women account for 16.3 percent of the members of Congress.

Her book focuses on a period more than 200 years ago, but Sotiropoulos said there are current examples of subversive expression at work.

"One need not look too hard to see the rhetorical strategies at play in slogans such as 'sustainable development' claimed by both environmentalists and economists, or the highly charged 'support our troops,' claimed by people of all political stripes."

Early Feminists and the Education Debates was selected by Choice magazine as an outstanding academic title for 2007. Choice is the official review publication of the Association of College and Research Libraries, Division of the American Library Association.

Steven M. Kendus To Sign Copies Of Hunting The First

Steven M. Kendus, author of Hunting the First State: A Guide to Delaware Hunting, will be signing copies of his book at Waldenbooks at the Dover Mall, 1365 North Du Pont Highway, Dover, Delaware, on Sunday, January 20, 2008 from 1 - 4 p.m. Books will be available for purchase.

Hunting the First State: A Guide to Delaware Hunting, provides an in-depth look at hunting in Delaware and the surrounding region. Author and Delaware native Steven M. Kendus uses his hunting wisdom, experience, and research to preserve Delaware's hunting legacy by sharing important history, tactics, locations, tips, and tricks associated with Delaware hunting.

Website: http://www.huntingthefirststate.com/

Mystery Illness Made Author Practice What He Preached

First-time author Pascoe Sawyers was forced to draw strength from key sections of his self-improvement book when he was struck down with a mystery illness just months before publication.

In August 2007, Sawyers collapsed while delivering a routine lecture, an event which was to turn his whole world upside down. Three key headings from his debut offering MePLC: Your Life Is Your Business, immediately jumped out at him. The words Be Fearless, Be Optimistic and Be Focused, had never been more relevant.

"The doctors were not sure what the illness was, although they initially suspected I might have suffered a stroke and later suggested it might be the beginnings of MS," recalls Sawyers. "After an MRI scan they discovered three lesions on my brain, and I was told I might not work or be able to live a normal life again. That was probably the most terrifying moment."

The 44 year-old father of three was subjected to a battery of tests as doctors attempted to diagnose his condition which still remains a mystery. The effects of the illness, including loss of balance and feeling on the right side of his face, double vision and seriously impaired hearing, kept him off work for two months. He was nursed back to full health by family and friends, and a dogged determination to be well enough to celebrate the publication of his book which he'd spent the previous year working on.

Although two months late, he successfully launched 'MePLC: Your Life is Your Business' on 20 November, 2007 to a packed and appreciative audience in central London. Tim Campbell, winner of BBC TV's The UK Apprentice, who penned the foreword for the book, and health care pioneer Sir Graham Morgan, were among the speakers who gave their endorsement to MePLC at the launch event.

Sawyers, who has a background in local government communications, is a multi-award winner for his public relations work. These include two converted PR Week Awards for highly effective campaigns on promoting the new Wembley Stadium and tackling inner-city gun crime. He is also widely recognized in British local government circles for his skills as a trainer and as an inspirational public speaker.

In researching the book, Sawyers casts his net wide, drawing on the work of American self-improvement guru's such as Anthony Robbins, Brian Tracy and Jack Canfield. He also reflects on his experiences and observations while working with high profile local politicians, leaders of organizations and the personal leadership qualities of friends and family.

Sawyers, who has over 20 years experience of providing leading edge services in the public and voluntary sectors, was amazed by just how many people he met who were unfulfilled in their lives. "Every day I dream of setting up and running my own business, and every day reality wakes me up with a reminder of all the reasons why I can't," was just one of many thought bubbles that has silently floated from his head in recent years, and which resonated with many of the people he has met during his career.

Sawyers argues that most people fail to achieve their dreams because they believe they work for anyone but themselves. In MePLC he makes a powerful and convincing case for the idea that we are all chief executives of our own Personal Leadership Company (PLC), and discloses why accepting that your life is your business is the first and most important step along the road to fulfilling your aspirations.

Having made a full recovery, Sawyers is still undergoing tests as doctors continue their investigation into the possible cause of his illness. "It's been a real rollercoaster year for me", he says. "But the challenges I've faced over the last few months have provided me with a very timely opportunity to put some of the theories and principles I talk about in the book into practice. And guess what? They work!"

Author's website: http://www.meplc.co.uk/