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Is Self-Publishing For You?: A Quick Guide For Navigating Today's Book Publishing Maze
If you’re an author with a just-finished manuscript—or an aspiring author dreaming of one day writing a book that will make the bestseller list—you probably know that getting to the last words of your story isn’t the end of your book’s story. Once your book is written, the next step is to get it published.
Once, the dream was to find a traditional publisher. Today, we’ve all heard about the amazing self-publishing success stories—indie authors who have leaped from obscurity to become mega-selling publishing stars seemingly overnight. It sounds great. But how do you know if self-publishing is for you?
In this quick guidebook, I’ll take you beyond the hoopla and the hype to a down-to-earth look at your publishing options. We’ll look at the pros and cons of traditional publishing, consider when a subsidy press might be a viable alternative, and take an in-depth look at what’s really involved when an author decides to become the publisher of his or her book.
We’ll also examine each step involved in the publishing process and come up with some sample budgets. Then we’ll discuss which publishing model might be best for you and your book.
You’ve worked hard on writing your book. If you want to make an informed decision about your next step, this book is for you.
Once, the dream was to find a traditional publisher. Today, we’ve all heard about the amazing self-publishing success stories—indie authors who have leaped from obscurity to become mega-selling publishing stars seemingly overnight. It sounds great. But how do you know if self-publishing is for you?
In this quick guidebook, I’ll take you beyond the hoopla and the hype to a down-to-earth look at your publishing options. We’ll look at the pros and cons of traditional publishing, consider when a subsidy press might be a viable alternative, and take an in-depth look at what’s really involved when an author decides to become the publisher of his or her book.
We’ll also examine each step involved in the publishing process and come up with some sample budgets. Then we’ll discuss which publishing model might be best for you and your book.
You’ve worked hard on writing your book. If you want to make an informed decision about your next step, this book is for you.
154 pages, Paperback
First published May 29, 2014
1 person is currently reading
163 people want to read
About the author
Libi Astaire
37 books57 followersI am a mystery writer and explorer of Jewish history who was born in Kansas and now lives in Jerusalem.
The first book in my Ezra Melamed/Jewish Regency Mystery Series, The Disappearing Dowry, was named a Sydney Taylor Notable Book for 2010. Other books in the Jewish Regency Mystery Series, which revolves around Regency London's Jewish community, include The Moon Taker (2015) The Doppelganger's Dance (2013) Tempest in the Tea Room (2012), and Jewish Regency Mystery Stories (2015).
I also work as a journalist, where I frequently write about Jewish history. A topic dear to my heart is the Anusim - Spanish Jews who were forced to convert during the Middle Ages and who became the target of the Spanish Inquisition. My novel about modern-day descendants of Anusim living in Catalonia, Terra Incognita, was published by Targum Press in 2010 and is now available as an ebook and paperback at Amazon.com, etc.
My other books include The Banished Heart, a novel about Shakespeare's writing of The Merchant of Venice; Day Trips to Jewish History, a collection of essays about lesser known people and places in Jewish history; and several ebooks for the Jewish holidays, including: Choose Life! 8 Chassidic Stories for the Jewish New Year, 36 Candles: Chassidic Tales for Chanukah, Pass Over to Freedom: 15 Jewish Tales for Passover, and The World Is Built With Kindness: 15 Chassidic Tales for Shavuos, which bring Chassidic masters such as the Baal Shem Tov and Zusya of Hanipoli into the eReader era.
The first book in my Ezra Melamed/Jewish Regency Mystery Series, The Disappearing Dowry, was named a Sydney Taylor Notable Book for 2010. Other books in the Jewish Regency Mystery Series, which revolves around Regency London's Jewish community, include The Moon Taker (2015) The Doppelganger's Dance (2013) Tempest in the Tea Room (2012), and Jewish Regency Mystery Stories (2015).
I also work as a journalist, where I frequently write about Jewish history. A topic dear to my heart is the Anusim - Spanish Jews who were forced to convert during the Middle Ages and who became the target of the Spanish Inquisition. My novel about modern-day descendants of Anusim living in Catalonia, Terra Incognita, was published by Targum Press in 2010 and is now available as an ebook and paperback at Amazon.com, etc.
My other books include The Banished Heart, a novel about Shakespeare's writing of The Merchant of Venice; Day Trips to Jewish History, a collection of essays about lesser known people and places in Jewish history; and several ebooks for the Jewish holidays, including: Choose Life! 8 Chassidic Stories for the Jewish New Year, 36 Candles: Chassidic Tales for Chanukah, Pass Over to Freedom: 15 Jewish Tales for Passover, and The World Is Built With Kindness: 15 Chassidic Tales for Shavuos, which bring Chassidic masters such as the Baal Shem Tov and Zusya of Hanipoli into the eReader era.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 27, 2014
I received a free digital copy from storycartel in exchange for a review.
This is a good book about the advantages and disadvantages of different routes to self-publishing. I appreciated the information about the editorial process, printing, and marketing. The different budgets were helpful. A focus was placed on Amazon services, and I would have like more information of other services to see what was out there. The book was well-organized and flowed well.
This is a good book about the advantages and disadvantages of different routes to self-publishing. I appreciated the information about the editorial process, printing, and marketing. The different budgets were helpful. A focus was placed on Amazon services, and I would have like more information of other services to see what was out there. The book was well-organized and flowed well.
June 24, 2014
Self-Publishing Made Easy (and Understandable!)
Libi Astaire, an award-winning author, has recently published a remarkable book for writers, called Is Self-Publishing for You. In this book, Astaire breaks down the publishing systems into easy-to-read terms. Is Self-Publishing for You is an extremely helpful guide dedicated to helping you decide what publishing method will work for you and suit your needs the best.
This book has the most up-to-date and well-presented information on the topic that I’ve seen so far. It is most relevant for writers who are researching how to sell and market their books, but I believe that others would also find it both helpful and informative.
From the beginning of the book, Astaire is humble about her knowledge of the topic, and clearly has a desire to help others succeed in writing and publishing their books. In clear terms she explains the pros and cons of traditional publishing, how subsidy publishers work, and how self-publishing works (and can work for you). Since this guide is mostly about self-publishing, the many tips through the book are aimed towards those considering “taking the plunge”.
Beyond just explaining the self-publishing process, she shows what one could expect a typical budget for self-publishing to look like, and goes into detail on the different things you’ll want to do to make your book a professional book. She also shows you how much you could expect to earn off your book. After that, she teaches you how to successfully market your book—without becoming discouraged at the amount of work and effort it can take—and actually learn to enjoy marketing!
Overall, in my opinion, this is an amazing book. Astaire clearly put a lot of research and thought into writing this book so clearly and concisely. Newbies and veterans alike on the writing front will gain fresh information and encouragement from reading this book. I will definitely be recommending this resource to friends who are considering what method of publishing to use for their works, and what they should do when they go about marketing.
Note: I received this copy for free from Story Cartel, in exchange for my honest opinion in a review.
Libi Astaire, an award-winning author, has recently published a remarkable book for writers, called Is Self-Publishing for You. In this book, Astaire breaks down the publishing systems into easy-to-read terms. Is Self-Publishing for You is an extremely helpful guide dedicated to helping you decide what publishing method will work for you and suit your needs the best.
This book has the most up-to-date and well-presented information on the topic that I’ve seen so far. It is most relevant for writers who are researching how to sell and market their books, but I believe that others would also find it both helpful and informative.
From the beginning of the book, Astaire is humble about her knowledge of the topic, and clearly has a desire to help others succeed in writing and publishing their books. In clear terms she explains the pros and cons of traditional publishing, how subsidy publishers work, and how self-publishing works (and can work for you). Since this guide is mostly about self-publishing, the many tips through the book are aimed towards those considering “taking the plunge”.
Beyond just explaining the self-publishing process, she shows what one could expect a typical budget for self-publishing to look like, and goes into detail on the different things you’ll want to do to make your book a professional book. She also shows you how much you could expect to earn off your book. After that, she teaches you how to successfully market your book—without becoming discouraged at the amount of work and effort it can take—and actually learn to enjoy marketing!
Overall, in my opinion, this is an amazing book. Astaire clearly put a lot of research and thought into writing this book so clearly and concisely. Newbies and veterans alike on the writing front will gain fresh information and encouragement from reading this book. I will definitely be recommending this resource to friends who are considering what method of publishing to use for their works, and what they should do when they go about marketing.
Note: I received this copy for free from Story Cartel, in exchange for my honest opinion in a review.
June 25, 2014
In Is Self-Publishing for You, Libi Astaire guides aspiring authors through the maze of publishing, whether traditional publishing or self publishing. While she promises success to no one, she allows writers to come to a solid understanding of what to suspect.
Astaire knows, in part from personal experience, that it's not just a matter of attaching the Word document to an email, shipping it off to the publisher and immediately appearing on the New York Times Bestseller list.
In fact, she has no problems telling writers that selling 500 copies of their book could be considered success.
The best part is that this is not just a read it once, put it down, kind of book. Instead it will be handy to have around as a resource when the next manuscript is ready.
Astaire gives writers all the options to allow them to make an informed decision regarding which route to pursue towards publishing their book. Any writer considering self-publishing would benefit from reading this book first.
I received an electronic copy of this book from Story Cartel in exchange for an honest review. I received no other compensation.
Astaire knows, in part from personal experience, that it's not just a matter of attaching the Word document to an email, shipping it off to the publisher and immediately appearing on the New York Times Bestseller list.
In fact, she has no problems telling writers that selling 500 copies of their book could be considered success.
The best part is that this is not just a read it once, put it down, kind of book. Instead it will be handy to have around as a resource when the next manuscript is ready.
Astaire gives writers all the options to allow them to make an informed decision regarding which route to pursue towards publishing their book. Any writer considering self-publishing would benefit from reading this book first.
I received an electronic copy of this book from Story Cartel in exchange for an honest review. I received no other compensation.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews