Many writers who've accumulated too many books contemplate the idea of starting a used book business. It seems the perfect bread-and-butter business for a writer. Larry McMurty, Erskine Caldwell, John Dunning and others have done it. Why not you?

It's an attractive thought. Sitting all day in a room surrounded by books, perhaps listening to good music, sipping coffee or tea and chatting with intellectual customers who come in to browse your stock. Between customers and other worthwhile interruptions, one can continue pecking away at the great American novel.

But that's a dream and not reality. The fact is selling books is a business. A hard business that takes time and energy. There's lots more to it than having a room full of books and waiting for customers to take them off your hands.

Steve Weber offers an alternative approach that makes the dream of a book business sound. The information he provides in this slim volume shows how it can be done successfully; i.e., profitably. It still takes work and some business acumen, but following his directions one could build a part-time or full-time business. Rather than the storefront business that requires a substantial investment, Weber utilizes the Internet where a business can be launched for less than $100.

Having done it himself -- going from a part-time to a full-time business in which he's sold more than $1 million of stock -- he now offers his expertise to help the rest of us become his competition. This book answers all the obvious questions -- from where to find books to sell, down to the nasty issues of taxes and legalities -- plus some not so obvious but just as pertinent. He doesn't pull any punches on the negative issues, either.

So, if you've ever entertained the idea of going into the used book business, this is one of the best sources of information you'll find to get you started and keep you going.

[ visit the author's website ]