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EJ Thornton has taught publishing to hundreds of students over the past 11 years. Many of those students coming to her classes hadn't written a word yet. They were still trying to figure out if they indeed wanted to give their book the time and attention it would take to get it out. If you're still in the 'dream stage' or 'query stage' of your book and want to make some solid decisions about whether or not it is worth your time... Here is some advice from the publisher!

At this point, you're probably trying to figure out if you want to self-publish a book or if writing a good query letter will get you a publishing contract and you can get paid to write the book. If your topic is very hot, both options will be open to you.

The timing is what to consider when deciding whether or not writing a book is worth the time, energy and effort.

Typically, the commercial publishing route takes between 12-24 months to get on book store shelves. Then once there, you have about 90 days to make a splash with it or it gets remaindered. That 12-24 month clock doesn't start ticking until you have officially signed the publishing contract. So the timeline necessary to get a publisher interested in signing you also needs to be considered.

Writing a reasonable query letter, especially if you're a first time author is the key to making this work. The publisher will be skeptical about giving an advance to a first-time author if he/she has never written a book before. The ability to complete a book on-time and on schedule needs to be proven before they'll be interested in you, even if they're interested in the topic.

If you are in this position, consult with EJ Thornton for the process to choose the appropriate publisher for that subject and how to write the most dynamic query letter for the best and most timely results.

Whether your subject is timely or classic, self-publishing or partner publishing are valid options. Typically, these styles of publishing will get you into the marketplace much quicker, but you have to do more as both the author, publisher and marketing person. It can be quite lucrative.

If you are in this position and need to get your book out, contact Othniel J. Seiden, writing coach, author, speaker and trainer.

If you need validation that your book idea is good enough, that needs to come from inside you. It has to be something you can give your energy and effort to. You're the first one who needs to follow your dream. You can't instill it into anyone else or get anyone else to join you until you have decided to take full ownership of the idea.

If you have trouble talking about with other people - for fear they would steal the idea - relax! Most people will not take an idea. However, if it will make you more comfortable, have them sign a "Non-Disclosure Agreement" before telling them anything. Boilerplates for these agreements exist many places on the Internet.

As far as titles are concerned, however, they are not copyright-able. Titles can not be copywritten. An idea can not be copywritten - only the expression of that idea. So, if you do talk to other people about your project when it is in dream stage, you are risking giving that idea away. A non-disclosure agreement is your best, first line of due diligence if you are in this position.

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Author and publisher, EJ Thornton has brought over 200 books to market in the last several years as the owner of Thornton Publishing (dba Books To Believe In) - six of which she wrote herself, one she co-wrote with her husband John. (Scroll to the bottom of the page to see the set of her books). Books To Believe In accepts no more than 5 book projects a month, and the business, which was incorporated in Colorado in 2001 and primarily sells its existing books. EJ's titles are timeless - the books will be relevant for many, many years. The litmus test a book must pass to become a 'Book To Believe In' is that its intent must be 'To Make the World a Better Place.'

Due to her publishing experience she has been asked to speak and teach about publishing and what it takes to create a successful book-publishing experience. She teaches strategic planning, market readiness, publicity, promotions, 21st century marketing and real-world marketing to authors all over the country. She consults with business owners on how to effectively bring their products and services to market successfully.

Before becoming a publisher, EJ was a computer analyst/consultant for companies such as Hewlett Packard, Trus Joist, Boise Cascade, Ore-Ida, Morrison Knudsen and several branches of the Idaho State government. She worked on several computer platforms and her versatility and ability to problem solve were her greatest assets in this career. After she wrote the book, Angel On Board and discovered the publishing business, she applied these problem solving skills to the problem of the 'first-time' author and their experience in the marketplace. The combination of problems solving skills, marketing skills and technical skills have given her a distinct advantage when developing the publishing company.

Also the CEO of LucidLights, EJ sees the potential to capitalize on products with vast and varied applications. This gives EJ a challenge that any marketer and CEO would dream of. A product with mass market appeal as well as niched and super-niched applications, allows EJ to lead LucidLights down the most profitable paths. Her experience bringing a wide variety of books to market, each servicing a different market niche, gives her a unique advantage to bring LucidLights to each of the potential markets they are intended to serve. Her selling skills, marketing skills, publicity skills and speaking skills will all be major assets when selling LucidLights and LucidBrakes to the world.

EJ has a BS from BSU. She graduated from Boise State University in 1984 with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics. Go Bronco's!