"Playwriting For Dummies," according to the publisher, "helps any writer at any stage of the process hone their craft and create the most dramatic and effective pieces. The book guides you through every process of playwriting from soliloquies, church skits, and one-act plays to big Broadway musicals. You'll also find advice on moving your script to the public stage and guidance on navigating loopholes. If you're an aspiring playwright looking to begin the process, or have already penned a masterpiece and need trusted advice to bring it into the spotlight, 'Playwriting For Dummies' has you covered."

Parra is an award-winning playwright who has received national acclaim for several of his plays, including the current Off-Broadway play The Devil's Music: The Life and Blues of Bessie Smith. He teaches theatre and playwriting at SUNY Rockland. Parra is the founder and director of the Hudson Valley Professional Playwrights Lab and president of the board of Penguin Rep Theatre in Stony Point, New York.

Parra's The Devil's Music: The Life and Blues of Bessie Smith, the life-story musical about the jazz and blues singer from the 1920s and 1930s, began performances June 7 at St. Luke's Theatre. Conceived and directed by Joe Brancato, the production stars Miche Braden as Bessie Smith, whose career was cut short by a car crash in 1937.

With more than 200 million books in print and more than 1,600 titles, "For Dummies" is one of the most widely recognized reference series in the world. Since 1991, "For Dummies" has helped millions make everything easier. The books "span every section of the bookstore, covering topics from health to history, music to math, sports to self-help, technology to travel and more."

For more information, visit www.Dummies.com.