The Insider's Guide to Getting Your Book Published
Rachel Stock
White Ladder Press, £9.99, ISBN 0-9548219-5-5

What makes a good book?  How do publishers make decisions?  Do you need an agent?  What should you expect after publication?  Written by a commissioning editor, this book is the the most up to date on the market and gives a genuine  insider's guide to the whole publishing process, from commissioning to publication.  By far the best book about breaking into print to date.

An Author's Guide to Publishing
Michael Legat
Hale, paperback, £9.99, ISBN 0-7090-6227-3

A comprehensive, solid book on many aspects of publishing, from submission to contracts to legal matters. Useful 'Complaints and Questions' section. Slightly old-fashioned style and written from an editorial, as opposed to a marketing, perspective. That said, this title offers a helpful overview of publishing issues and is a useful starting point.

Publishing Law (2nd Edition)
Hugh Jones and Christopher Benson
Routledge, paperback, £24.99, 0-415-26154-6

‘A comprehensive guide to the law as it affects the publishing process…a handbook for all those who need a practical understanding of where and how the law may apply, including publishers, authors and agents'.

The Small Press Guide 2002
Writers' Bookshop, paperback, £9.99, ISBN 1-902173-11-1

A clearly laid-out guide to all kinds of outlets for the aspiring writer – from small-press magazines to ezines to self-publishers. In A-Z format, each of the 347 entries include useful information such as circulation, payment terms and website and e-mail addresses. Although the bias of the entries is towards poetry, there are still many other publishing areas to trawl through: short stories, regional interests, special interests (from textiles to fetishes…).

Writers' & Artists' Yearbook
A & C Black 2006, paperback, £14.99, ISBN: 0 713 677120

This directory mixes essential media contacts – for writers, artists, playwrights, film writers, designers, illustrators and photographers – with informative articles about
all aspects of publishing (from getting started as a writer to copyright to publishing to finance). A bookshelf staple.

The Writer's Handbook 2007
Editor Barry Turner
MacMillan, paperback, £14.99, ISBN 1405049375

Now in its twentieth edition, this is the rival to the Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook – think Publishing News as opposed to The Bookseller. Although there is overlap on some of the listings, there are enough differences to make it worthwhile buying both.