Books are forever. So why not make yours the best? Readers want books they'll love. Books that stay with them long after they've finished. Books that make them want to read more from the same author. No amount of marketing will make readers love a book that's poorly conceived and badly written. If you want your book to get noticed-if you want to find readers-it needs to rise to the top. It needs to be your best book. Whether your form is fiction or nonfiction, whether you publish on your own or through a traditional publisher, your book will benefit from the practical perspectives, strategies, and advice of well-published author and teacher Deb Vanasse. In this practical guide to writing books that rise above the rest, Vanasse includes dozens of "Try This" exercises to demystify the process of turning good books into best books. Beginning with a section that defines the exceptional book, writers learn to focus on the expectations of readers, including transcendence, the high concept premise, and attending to audience and genre. In a section on "Mystery and Mayhem," Vanasse demonstrates how a refined understanding of process leads to best books, and how fresh approaches to character, structure, language, perspective, voice, subtext, and other narrative strategies yield stronger, more vibrant prose. "Some of the best advice available today on the craft of writing." Tanyo Ravicz, author of Ring of Fire "An excellent resource for writers who are serious about their work." Stephanie Cole, author of Compass North