• write a kick ass book
• land a fantastic, eager, well-connected literary agent
• do all you can to help sell your book through self-promotion
• spend money, lots of money
•  get a web presence with blog, facebook, twitter, linkedin, good reads
• hire a publicist
• understand online marketing and advertising
• jump on the e-book bandwagon
• sell… but don’t sell out
• write another book
•  and another

Great insight on what publishing is like today from a pro… check it out.