Peter George Markwith

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.

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.