The joy of self-publishing

Author's note: this book was updated in September 2011 to cover the issue of formatting books into ebook editions and distributing them to major e-readers: Kindle, iPad, Reader, Nook, Kobo...'Times are bad. Children no longer obey their parents and everyone is writing a book.' Cicero 106-43 BC Roman orator and statesman Self-publishing can be more rewarding than being published - creatively, financially, and in other respects - if you go about it the right way. You could well be confused, as many self-publishers are, by the multiplicity of options available to you. The good news is that you can now make your books visible and available to book buyers around the world at minimal cost. This book was made available worldwide as a paperback for a one-off payment of just GBP42.00 and as an ebook (Kindle, iPad, Reader, Nook, Kobo...) for a one-off payment of GBP95.00. As a self-publisher, what are your options for new books? Should you choose an offset lithography print run, a digital print run, or maybe print-on-demand (POD)? Hardback or paperback, or other formats? Possibly an ebook too?And, crucially, how will you get your books distributed cost-effectively to buyers around the world? This book will take you through the options and explain their relative advantages and disadvantages. It provides guidance on selecting book topics with strong sales potential; writing distinctively; obtaining a professional critique of your work; writing content-rich non-fiction; writing in a number of genres; choosing between hardback and paperback and other formats; choosing the optimal printing method; book content formatting; book specifications; colour plate section options; distribution; print-on-demand ('POD'); order fulfilment; dealing with Amazon, Lightning Source, Nielsen, and Bowker; printers; copy editors and proofreaders; typesetters; cover designers; photographers; pricing; marketing your books - and a whole lot more besides. Mike Buchanan, a British writer and former business consultant, is the author of six books. He's been published internationally by a major publisher (in English and Chinese editions), and he's self-published. He much prefers self-publishing, for a variety of reasons.In January 2010, at the age of 52, he took early retirement and now writes and self-publishes full-time. He developed the model of 'professional self-publishing' outlined in this book. The model has been designed to help self-publishers enjoy their writing more, increase their output of strong titles, and maximise their profits.