By Jorge Casuso

August 8, 2012 -- In his popular "Sneaky Uses" book series, best-selling author Cy Tymony puts everyday objects to unusual uses. But there was nothing sneaky or unusual about his formula for success.

"Don't give up. Small things make a difference," said Tymony, whose "Sneaky Uses for Everyday Things" was a science bestseller that gathered national media coverage.

Tymony will share his struggles to get published and his not-so-sneaky road to success in "Write to Sell: Prepare for Success," a workshop for aspiring writers Thursday at 7 p.m. in the Main Library’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Auditorium.

The workshop will take the aspiring writer "from the initial idea, to polishing your manuscript, pitching it to agents and publishers, getting it published, then advertising the book once it’s on the market," said Robert Graves, public services librarian.

Tymony says he did everything by the book. He wrote a query letter (it took him eight months to get it just right) and a proposal. He landed an agent, who sold the book to a publisher, who assigned it to an editor.

But as "the book was about to come out, it got cancelled" when a new editor took over and scrapped his predecessor's manuscripts.

But rather than seeing it as a setback, Tymony viewed it as an opportunity to tweak the book -- and the pitch.

"I spent another three to four months with the query letter in my pocket, still working on it," he recalled.

And he continued to research other authors, checking out their web pages and blogs, picking up marketing tips and contacts and compiling a media list. He also continued fine-tuning the book.

Not one to easily give up, Tymony landed another agent and publisher and kicked in his marketing campaign, setting up bookstore and library events and calling the contacts on his media list.

"What happens is people wait too late to prepare for the promotional time," he said. "They spend a week or so and then it doesn't get anywhere. You can't start early enough."

Tymony suggests starting the marketing campaign small -- presenting at community centers, preferably in small towns where the book might get picked up by a television or radio station or appear in a local paper.

In his case, the initial coverage of "Sneaky Uses" was in the UCLA Bruin, followed by three articles in The Breeze, a daily paper in the South Bay where Tymony lives.

Since then, his books have been featured on CNN Headline News, the Los Angeles Times, and in U.S. News & World Report.

"You've got to show you're a go-getter, a rain maker," said Tymony, who frequents the Santa Monica library twice a week. "If you don't impress them that you'll sell that book, you may not get the contract."

Thursday's event is free, but tickets are required and will be released one hour prior to the start of the program. No reservations are available, and guests must be present to receive a ticket. Seating is first come, first served.

Santa Monica Public Library, 601 Santa Monica Boulevard, is wheelchair accessible. The Main Library is served by Big Blue Bus routes 1, 7 and 10. Bicycle parking racks are available at the library.

For more information on this and other public programs, visit www.smpl.org or contact the Santa Monica Public Library at (310) 458-8600.