Deborah Herman

Deborah Herman is an Attorney, Author, entrepreneur, former literary agent, developmental editor, and digital marketing strategist. Herman achieved a law degree in a dual degree major with the Graduate School of Journalism from The Ohio State University, and although she practiced trial law for a few years, she knew her future was in books.

Herman worked as a literary agent with her husband, Jeff Herman, curating thousands of projects and discovering that at least 99% of all book submissions cannot make the grade. During this time, she learned what makes a good book and took on nonfiction assignments to learn the craft. Twelve traditionally published books later, Herman got her big break with the bestselling book Member of the Family: My Story of Charles Manson, Life Inside His Cult and the Darkness that Ended the Sixties (William Morrow) with Dianne “Snake” Lake. Lake, the youngest member of the cult, did not participate in the crimes but testified against them at 17. That book was the culmination of a goal to follow in the footsteps of early pioneers of creative nonfiction. The book opened opportunities to appear in at least four documentaries, interviews on CNN and HLN, and speaking engagements at Crime Con and other gatherings. In addition, Boston College has featured the book in a college class as an example of true-crime writing.

Herman is a self-professed bibliophile and nostalgia aficionado. Her indie publishing company, Micro Publishing Media, has niche imprints, including T.V. Classics Press. Herman has created a unique book style called a pictorial memoir through that brand. These are like scrapbooks that the stars might have kept along the way. So far, she has published Munster Memories: A mini Coffin Table Book, The Donna Reed Show, TV Dinners with recipes from 40 kid stars of the 50s, 60s, and 70s, and a new title called The Family Affair Scrapbook by Kathy “Cissy” Garver.

Herman has achieved three MBA-level digital marketing and social media certification courses to further her marketing education through the Rutgers mini- MBA program. Herman is the co-founder of Writersnetworking.com, formerly Writers, Agents, and Editors Network, and CEO of Author Branding Solutions www.authorbrandingsolutions.com. Her online bookstore is aptly titled Deb’s Book Paradise and specializes in unique used titles. www.debsbookparadise.com

Deborah Herman lives with her husband, three dogs, and two cats in Stockbridge, MA.

Books by Deborah Herman

Why my Funny Bone Doesn’t Make Me Laugh (Villard)

Toasts for All Occasions (Career Press)

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Motherhood (Alpha Books)

Write the Perfect Book Proposal: Ten Proposals that Worked and Why (Wiley/ Turner Publishing)

Fresh Start Bankruptcy (Wiley)

A Simplified Guide to Creating a Personal Will (Wiley)

A Pregnant Couple’s Guide to Sex and Intimacy (Citadel)

The Toughlove Prescription (McGraw-Hill)

Spiritual Writing from Inspiration to Publication (Atria) Soul Odyssey Books forthcoming

Serenity Symbols Coloring Book (Soul Odyssey Books)

Member of the Family: My Story of Charles Manson, Life Inside His Cult and the Darkness that Ended the Sixties (William Morrow)

Inside the Manson Jury (Micro Publishing Media)

Contributor to Jeff Herman’s Guide to Book Publishers, Editors, and Literary Agents

Soul Odyssey Books

Debs Book Paradise

Books That Make You Interview with Deborah Herman

Soul Odyssey Books