Melody Herr Offers Guide on How to Publish Books

Melody Herr, head of the Office of Scholarly Communications, recently published a book for aspiring authors. Writing and Publishing Your Book: A Guide for Experts in Every Field is now available for purchase online. 

"I get annoyed when a how-to guide treats me like a 'dummy,'" said Herr. "That's why, right up front in the title, I acknowledge that my readers are experts who just don't know much about publishing. I want to help them build the knowledge and skills necessary to become successful authors." 

This book was written for those who are experts in their field but are unsure of how to get started writing a book. Herr guides the reader through every step of the writing and publishing process: constructing a table of contents, preparing a proposal, finding a publisher, negotiating a contract, drafting the manuscript, and marketing the finished product. Throughout, she offers proven strategies for producing a book that highlights the author's knowledge and writing skills. 

For over 16 years, Herr worked for university presses, including Johns Hopkins and the University of Michigan. During that time, she published over 250 books in collaboration with authors in a variety of fields. Now, in her role as the Head of the Office of Scholarly Communications for University Libraries and the Office of Research and Innovation, she hosts a variety of workshops and advises the campus community on best practices for publishing. 

Faculty who have interest in publishing a book are encouraged to contact Herr for individual appointments. Campus organizations are also welcome to contact Herr to set up a workshop or guest lecture. She can be reached at herr@uark.edu.