My writing career started with reading. As soon as I could hold a book I read everything I could get my hands on, and still do, when I’m not blissfully lost to the wonderful process of telling my own paranormal romance tales. Lately though, my reading has been leaning toward non-fiction and I’ve had a lot of fun with the mental gymnastics presented in books on marketing, publishing, organization, even legal guides.
So I must be into research, right?
Not really. The last time I read non-fiction books specifically for research, my family lamented my new fascination with Feng-Shui in an effort to bring the consulting business of a quirky heroine to life. No worries, she’s still stuck in that doorstop manuscript, and since it really isn’t a paranormal romance novel, she’ll stay there a bit longer (but she’s happy because she’s got her elements staged and tuned correctly).
In general, my non-fiction reading habit seems to ebb and flow based on a variety of factors. (Yes, I freely admit mood factors in) And you might wonder why a paranormal romance author needs to read such reality-based books. But reading stretches all of us, keeps the mind fresh, and often keeps us informed.
One of the best non-fiction books I’ve recently ‘tackled’ is Internet Laws: How to Protect Your Business Website Without A Lawyer by Mike Young, Esq.
Of course doing business online, I understand how important it is to protect my online business efforts and interests. Even though I don’t currently sell books or products directly from my site, my business plan includes that in the near future and I want to be prepared.
This book makes the legalities and myriad details easy to comprehend. I was particularly impressed with the way Young breaks down each chapter and concept. No matter what you think you know about the law and conducting business online, this book is a valuable resource. It helped me identify the strengths and weaknesses of my current situation.
As I said in the review I posted on Amazon, should I need legal advice in the future, I’m confident I’ll know how to present my trouble to the attorney and how – in general – that attorney should assist me. No matter the nature of your online endeavors, Internet Laws by Mike Young is a book you should keep close at hand on your reference shelf, for general guidance to protect yourself and online.
The next book in my series on non-fiction will feature Zoe Winters’ guide: Smart Self Publishing: Becoming an Indie Author
Live the adventure!
