PRO CONNECT
Peter Markwith has authored six manuscripts (three self-published) and is a seasoned, international management consultant, author and educator. Prior to founding the consulting firm of Unified Business Technologies in 1999, he held the position of Director/Advisor in H. Ross Perot’s majority owned Perot Systems Corporation.
His literary and business talents are supplemented by academic affiliations that include Bentley University in Waltham, Massachusetts where he served as an Adjunct Professor of Business Management (2001-2007), and the Boston Language Institute where he taught English as a second language to MIT Sloane business professionals and other international expats. He has also served on the University of New Hampshire’s Executives-in-Residence Program at the Whittemore School of Business and Economics.
A graduate of New York’s Pratt Institute, the author grew up in Livingston, New Jersey and lives in New Hampshire.
“A quick pace and likable protagonists make this paranormal treasure hunt a delightful summer escape.”
– Kirkus Reviews
This short guide covers the nuts and bolts of getting a book published, whether by a publisher or on your own.
Markwith and Olivier (Father’s Secret, 2012) have compiled the basic information needed to publish a book. Most of the information contained in this guide can be found on the web for free, and in some cases, the free versions are more comprehensive. But some of the resources are not so easily found on the many various publishing blogs and writers’ sites, such as the suggestions regarding the Library of Congress and its Preassigned Control Number program. Information about how distributors factor into the publishing process is also helpful, as is data regarding costs. The sample questionnaire for reviewers reading a manuscript draft is an excellent feature. Some subjects get too little coverage. There’s not enough background about International Standard Book Numbers (the unique, 13-digit identifiers for books) and copyrights, and the discussion of publishers’ views on unsolicited manuscripts is confusing. Highlighting the importance of grammar and spelling is a worthwhile addition, underscored by the grammatical and spelling errors found throughout this guide. Although the guide is generally accurate, there are missed opportunities to provide readers with a more direct route to resources. The Bowker.com site does include a link to purchase an ISBN, but the better option might be to visit ISBN.org, which explains more about ISBNs and barcodes, and contains other resources worth reviewing prior to purchasing an ISBN.
A well-organized, brief synopsis of publishing basics, and handy to keep on an e-reader.
Pub Date: Sept. 12, 2012
Page count: 25pp
Publisher: Amazon Digital Services
Review Posted Online: Jan. 9, 2013
The tale of a mysterious, fateful summer in Newport, R.I. that blends historical fact and supernatural phenomena.
Eddie Sutton, now in middle age, has a thrilling story to tell. In 1964, when he was 14, his father; his beautiful and wannabe-aristocratic stepmother, Elly; and his younger sister, Franny, moved in to the grand estate of Annandale Farm in Newport. The imposing house and lush grounds, not to mention the estate’s connection with the Kennedy family, should have commanded a steep price, yet Eddie’s father, under pressure from his eccentric twin sister, Julia, purchased it for a song. As young Eddie and Livingston, the family’s caretaker, begin to explore their new home and its history, it becomes apparent that there’s more to Annandale Farm than meets the eye. Rumors of hidden gold, hauntings and decades-old family rivalries begin to solidify into fact, as Eddie and some newfound friends dig deeper—figuratively and literally. Franny, who has Down syndrome, is especially sensitive to the house’s strange happenings, and she becomes a conduit for spirits both benevolent and menacing. With the carefully researched history of Newport architecture and society, Markwith has crafted a compelling mystery that evokes the political and social drama of 1960s New England. He also effectively captures the feeling of being a teenager caught with one foot in childhood and the other in adulthood. Though at times unnecessarily complex and jarringly anachronistic, the novel engagingly presents plenty of twists, genuine surprises and authentic descriptions of a past era in the American haute monde.
A quick pace and likable protagonists make this paranormal treasure hunt a delightful summer escape.
Pub Date: June 1, 2012
Page count: 306pp
Publisher: Unified Business Technologies Press
Review Posted Online: July 26, 2012
Day job
Management Consultant
Favorite author
Dr. David Hawkins, M.D., PH.D.
Favorite book
Letting Go, The Pathway of Surrender
Favorite line from a book
"The Universe is foolproof." - The Science of Mind by Ernest Holmes
Hometown
Livingston, New Jersey
Passion in life
I'm passionate about seeing at least one of my books occupying the number-one spot on the NY Times Bestseller List.
© Copyright 2024 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Hey there, book lover.
We’re glad you found a book that interests you!
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Don’t fret. We’ll find you.