The title of this book, “The Well-Fed Self-Publisher,” caught my eye right off the bat. I’ve been involved with writing and publishing for the last several years and one of the first things you learn is that self-publishing is a hard road and you hardly ever make any money at it. Yet this book blows that out of the water.
Author Peter Bowerman takes us step-by-step through the process of self-publishing a book, from making the decision to self-publish in the first place by debunking the myth that you can’t do everything the publisher can, to learning the ins and outs of marketing, to your cover, your galleys, and then holding the book in your hands. But it doesn’t stop there – he then shows you how to get reviews, use the Internet to sell, and make money on your book, possibly more than you would have made by going with a publisher. I found that quite remarkable.
Peter begins his book by addressing the common perception we all seem to have about self-publishing – that it’s only for people who couldn’t get published any other way. He says he never really seriously considered going with a traditional publisher, because he had figured out a way to self-publish profitably. He liked the idea of quick turnaround (five months as opposed to eighteen to twenty-four months) and he liked having total control over his projects. He does state that he realizes self-publishing isn’t for everyone, and he encourages the reader to make their decision wisely, but for him, it was the right road.
It’s quite impossible for me to encapsulate all the wisdom that’s found in this book. Page after page of great advice, put forth in a conversational tone that’s easy to read without being patronizing – if you’re thinking about self-publishing, this book is an awesome resource for you.
(This book was self-published by Fanove Publishing in 2007.)
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