Arawn, as a start I would suggest reading through this thread. You will find much know-how, often contradictory, but worth reading for all that.
IMO - most "books" on wicca are poor, especially those by authors with silly, made-up names. Wicca is to be lived and practiced, not read about.
To be open and honest about it, I gave up wicca because of all the meaningless rituals and arguments that surround it. Wicca is a new branch on a very old tree. My path is the "old tree".
Final word - American Wicca is different to Brit. Wicca and given that Wicca is of Brit, origin .... well ,make up your own mind.
Whatever you decide, make it a PERSONAL path, not one bound by rules and ritual.