Book Review: Publish This Book by Stephen Markley

While searching the Internet for publishers, I recently stumbled upon an interesting book promotion by SourceBooks in Naperville, Illinois. Their promotion is for a book entitled, "Publish This Book" by Stephen Markley. They are offering a free critique for up to 5000 words of a manuscript when you purchase the book. I thought it would be worth the $10 (after the 35% discount) to purchase the book which appeared to address a topic of interest for me while meeting the promotional requirements allowing me to submit a portion of my manuscript for a fiction novel. So, I bought the book and obtained the required proof of purchase.

I looked at the cover art for Markley's book and I chuckled as it shows a young man holding what appears to be a broken piece of sheetrock with the title of the book, "PUBLISH THIS BOOK", along with the pitch line, "THE UNBELIEVABLE TRUE STORY OF HOW I WROTE, SOLD, AND PUBLISHED THIS VERY BOOK". The young man has torn pieces of paper taped to his jeans with footnotes. His face is obscured by an adequately sized red label with "A Premature Memoir" written on it. I can appreciate good cover design, so I was immediately intrigued enough to give it a few minutes of my time. After all, I paid for the book so I thought I might as well give it a chance.

I began reading this interesting concept book with every intention of putting it down as soon as I reached a point of waning interest. It didn't happen. I found the book interesting, irreverently funny and candid.

Actually, this book is multidimensional. It has many elements that may be difficult to describe without tarnishing the pure entertainment value. So, I will begin with the entertainment value. I believe this book is extraordinarily funny. Markley opens up his life in a way that would frighten the most daring among writers. He unabashedly offers his ego and id as window characters while describing the most private and objectionable details of his prurient mind. He is either dangerously self assured or he is completely nuts. Either way, I think he provides an insight that most of his contemporaries will enjoy. Yes, there is gross humor, but there is also a serious aspect to this guy that makes it very real.

At times, this book is an adult-coming-of-age love story. It is about friends who care about each other.

At other times, it is a narrative on the issues confronting writers. Markley offers his personal experience with writing and promoting his book. It is a dose of reality. It provides a play by play of an aspiring writer struggling to gain a foothold in an uncertain environment that is publishing today.

On a sociopolitical level, this book represents a significant voice among Markley's generation. He describes the thoughts and reactions of his inner circle as they witness the presidential campaign of 2008.

If that isn't enough to satisfy your literary palates, there is a truly complex aspect of this memoir. It is a concept. He is writing the book about writing the book. It is ambitious and I believe Markley pulls it off with aplomb. This concept provides many opportunities for comic effect which he astutely recognizes and exploits. His penchant for using footnotes (as referenced on the cover) adds to the humor.

I will say that Stephen Markley is a great writer. Perhaps he sells himself a little short on experience as I found his days at his school newspaper to be enriching. While I did not have the good fortune to write for my school newspaper, I got a nice perspective from his accounts.

Markley uses every opportunity to promote himself in this story. However, in all fairness, that is what the story is about. While some may consider Markley a bit self absorbed, I think it is clever.

In summary, the book should resonate among writers and people who enjoy high concept literature. It is ambitious and entertaining.