Stinkers! America's Worst Self-Published Books. Michael N. Marcus

      Library of Congress Control Number: 2011914029

      Version 1.72 (EB-1 1006011)

      Published in eBook format by Silver Sands Books

      Converted by http://www.eBookIt.com

      ISBN-13: 978-0-9830-5728-4

      Except for obvious quotations from cited books, promotional works, reproductions of book covers, and reviews—contents are © Copyright 2011, Silver Sands Books. All rights reserved. The author and publisher believe that the use of copyrighted material in this book is permissible as “fair use” under Title 17, Chapter 1, § 107 of the U.S. Code, specifically “for purposes such as criticism [or] comment.” In most cases, quoted reviewers are not identified because the review sources are difficult or impossible to verify—but their work is appreciated. No portion of the original material in this book may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form without permission of the copyright holder, except for brief quotations included in reviews and articles. Photo credits are in the back of the book.

      Please use the physical or email addresses on the previous page for corrections, questions and comments.

      Portions of this book were previously published in other Silver Sands books or online.

      Editor: Mark Shields

      Cover photo from DRB Images

      Notes: (1)This book’s purpose is to educate, inform, instruct and entertain. (2)While this book should be helpful, no book can tell you everything that you might want to know or need to know about the topics it tries to cover. (3)Some errors may not have been detected and corrected. (4)Neither the author nor the publisher will be held liable or responsible for any actual or perceived loss or damage to any person or entity, caused or alleged to have been caused, directly or indirectly, by anything in this book. If you won’t accept these terms, please stop reading.

      Also by Michael N. Marcus

      Books:

      •Independent Self-Publishing: The Complete Guide (2011)

      •Self-Publish Your Book Without Losing Your Shirt (2011)

      •A Self-Published Book Doesn’t Have to be Ugly (2011)

      •Get the Most out of a Self-Publishing Company (2011)

      •The 100 Worst Self-Publishing Misteaks (co-author, 2011)

      •555 Ways to Self-Publish Better Books (2011)

      •399 Valuable Self-Publishing Tips for a Penny Apiece (2011)

      •Internet Hell (2011)

      •Easy E-books (2011)

      •Become a Real Self-Publisher (2010)

      •Stupid, Sloppy, Sleazy (2010)

      •Stories I’d Tell My Children (2010)

      •What I Most Wanted to Get Out of School Was Me (2010)

      •Phone Systems & Phones for Small Business & Home (2009)

      •The AbleComm Guide to Phone Systems (2009)

      •Telecom Reference E-book (2009)

      •I Only Flunk My Brightest Students (2008)

      •What Phone System Should I Buy? (1996)

      •CB Bible (co-author, 1976)

      Blogs:

      •Book Making is where Michael discusses writing, editing and publishing—and other things that interest him or bother him. www.BookMakingBlog.blogspot.com

      •My Final Quarter Century Above Ground deals with dying and death—with appropriate irreverence. www.BloggingAboutDeath.blogspot.com

      •911 Wackos. Some folks call 911 for strange reasons. Sometimes they get into trouble after the call. Sometimes the 911 operators get into trouble. www.911Wackos.blogspot.com

      •For The First Time (or the last time) talks about changes in society and technology: first toilet paper, last country to get TV, etc. www.4TheFirstTime.blogspot.com

      •Oh How Stupid provides an occasional look at some of the stupidest things done by human beings. www.OhHowStupid.blogspot.com

      •Letters to April Wong is a collection of ridiculous and scam emails sent to a person who does not exist. www.LettersToAprilWong.blogspot.com

      •Dial Zero discusses what’s silly, stupid or surprising in telecom. www.DialZero.blogspot.com

      There may be more by the time you read this.

      your book up until I laid it

      down I was convulsed with

      laughter. Someday I intend

      reading it.”

      Groucho Marx

      (1890-1977)

      tossed aside lightly. It

      should be thrown with great

      force.”

      Dorothy Parker

      (1893–1967)

      silent than merely to

      increase the quantity

      of bad books.”

      Voltaire

      (1694-1778)

      truth about its hero;

      but a bad novel tells us

      the