Book excerpt: Book Magic (2nd ed.) is indispensable for every writer who dreams of publication. Easy to read and practical, it provides all the information and tools you need to understand the publishing industry and increase your chances of getting commercially published or ably manage your own self-publication. Books are magic! They turn unknown writers into authors and, perhaps, even into household names. But publishing is a complex world, full of insider rules and financial constraints that, if not respected, cause good book ideas to vanish into thin air and writers to question their calling. Discover how to weave some spells that boost your chances of getting published; explore the wizardry surrounding agents, query letters, and book proposals; and look into a crystal ball at trends in the North American market and in self- and electronic publishing. Find out how the Canadian and American publishing scenes differ and how approachable medium and small publishers really are. Most importantly, learn the best publishing option for your project. Second edition is in paperback only.