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14 Steps to Self-Publishing a Book
How do I self-publish my new book?
And how much will it cost?
Have you ever asked yourself these questions? If so, 14 STEPS TO SELF-PUBLISHING A BOOK is the perfect book for you! In this concise and practical self-publishing guide for aspiring authors, Mike Kowis, Esq., shares his 14-step process to publishing attractive, well-written, and effectively marketed books. Don’t worry, it’s MUCH easier than you think!
In this step-by-step guide, you will learn:
• Everything you need to know about self-publishing, including advice for editing, designing, distributing, and marketing your book;
• How much this process costs; plus
• The surprising lessons Mike learned from self-publishing his award-winning debut book.
This handy book also includes a checklist of the entire 14-step process so you won’t miss a single thing.
MIKE KOWIS, ESQ., is a corporate tax attorney, college instructor, and award-winning author. During the two-month process of self-publishing his first book, Engaging College Students: A Fun and Edgy Guide for Professors, Mike took careful notes on each step and later decided to write this book to help other authors who want to self-publish. Mike holds a bachelor’s degree and two law degrees, including an advanced law degree from Georgetown University Law Center. He lives in Texas with his beautiful wife, Jessica, their two rambunctious children, and two noisy but sweet dogs. You can find more information at www.engagingcollegestudents.com/self-....
And how much will it cost?
Have you ever asked yourself these questions? If so, 14 STEPS TO SELF-PUBLISHING A BOOK is the perfect book for you! In this concise and practical self-publishing guide for aspiring authors, Mike Kowis, Esq., shares his 14-step process to publishing attractive, well-written, and effectively marketed books. Don’t worry, it’s MUCH easier than you think!
In this step-by-step guide, you will learn:
• Everything you need to know about self-publishing, including advice for editing, designing, distributing, and marketing your book;
• How much this process costs; plus
• The surprising lessons Mike learned from self-publishing his award-winning debut book.
This handy book also includes a checklist of the entire 14-step process so you won’t miss a single thing.
MIKE KOWIS, ESQ., is a corporate tax attorney, college instructor, and award-winning author. During the two-month process of self-publishing his first book, Engaging College Students: A Fun and Edgy Guide for Professors, Mike took careful notes on each step and later decided to write this book to help other authors who want to self-publish. Mike holds a bachelor’s degree and two law degrees, including an advanced law degree from Georgetown University Law Center. He lives in Texas with his beautiful wife, Jessica, their two rambunctious children, and two noisy but sweet dogs. You can find more information at www.engagingcollegestudents.com/self-....
- GenresWritingNonfiction
64 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 15, 2017
About the author
Mike Kowis
7 books30 followersMike Kowis, Esq., is a corporate tax attorney, business law professor, frequent speaker, and award-winning author. In his spare time, he enjoys spending quality time with his family, reading, writing, and competing in off-road racing.
Mike has written five nonfiction books about various topics he feels passionate about, including a humorous book about college teaching tips (Engaging College Students: A Fun and Edgy Guide for Professors), a self-publishing guide (14 Steps to Self-Publishing a Book), a book marketing guide for independently-published authors (Smart Marketing for Indie Authors: How I Sold my First 1,563 Books and Counting!), an exciting book about off-road racing with his teenage son (Texas Off-road Racing: A Father-Son Journey to a Side-by-Side Championship), and a fun-filled trivia book about taxes (American Tax Trivia: The Ultimate Quiz on U.S. Taxation).
In addition, he co-authored a FREE eBook about authorship with Ms. Sharon C. Jenkins (Maximize Your Book Sales with Data Analysis: The Cure for Authorship Analysis Paralysis).
Mike has earned a bachelor's degree plus two law degrees (including an advanced law degree from Georgetown University Law Center). He lives in Texas with his family. You can find more information about his helpful books and speaking engagements at www.mikekowis.com.
Mike has written five nonfiction books about various topics he feels passionate about, including a humorous book about college teaching tips (Engaging College Students: A Fun and Edgy Guide for Professors), a self-publishing guide (14 Steps to Self-Publishing a Book), a book marketing guide for independently-published authors (Smart Marketing for Indie Authors: How I Sold my First 1,563 Books and Counting!), an exciting book about off-road racing with his teenage son (Texas Off-road Racing: A Father-Son Journey to a Side-by-Side Championship), and a fun-filled trivia book about taxes (American Tax Trivia: The Ultimate Quiz on U.S. Taxation).
In addition, he co-authored a FREE eBook about authorship with Ms. Sharon C. Jenkins (Maximize Your Book Sales with Data Analysis: The Cure for Authorship Analysis Paralysis).
Mike has earned a bachelor's degree plus two law degrees (including an advanced law degree from Georgetown University Law Center). He lives in Texas with his family. You can find more information about his helpful books and speaking engagements at www.mikekowis.com.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 6, 2017
This really is a comprehensive guide and well worth the money. I chuckled to myself over the fact that it is so comprehensive that the author even points out that you will need to think of an idea and then write your book first! It reminded me of Mrs Beeton’s famous instruction when writing a recipe for cooking hare, “First catch your hare”! The book is divided into three chapters: first comes the fourteen step guide; chapter two is concerned with the costs involved and chapter three gives ten lessons learned by the author from publishing his first book (this is his second). It probably helped that I was in full agreement with the author about what needs to be done as the manuscript nears publication – I couldn’t agree more that it is essential to pay for good copy editing – however good a writer you may believe yourself to be. The greatest drawback I have discovered as a reader of lots of self- -published books, is that the author often scrimps on this service and the finished products are often littered with typos and instances of bad grammar.
January 4, 2022
Quick read and excellent reference book. I found it very helpful
May 12, 2017
I was really excited to read this one since I just finished my "book baby" and unsure what to do next. As much as I loved working with the small indie publishing company for my first book, I wanted to try self publishing. But as I know nothing, I wanted my research to be short and to the point, which is exactly what Mike Kowis does here. It's a quick read and he even offers up estimated monetary values - which is what I like.
The blurb pretty much sums up this book. It's a 14-step guide that will help you with what you need on your self-publishing journey. It doesn't sound all that daunting. 14 steps. No big deal, right?? And the way Mike lays it out, it doesn't sound too big of a task. It is a marathon, after all.
Rest up, writers. And see you on the other side.
The blurb pretty much sums up this book. It's a 14-step guide that will help you with what you need on your self-publishing journey. It doesn't sound all that daunting. 14 steps. No big deal, right?? And the way Mike lays it out, it doesn't sound too big of a task. It is a marathon, after all.
Rest up, writers. And see you on the other side.
July 21, 2019
No fluff. Extremely practical
So many books for writers are filled with bland, obvious advice - write daily, get enough sleep, exercise,etc. Kowis' book is full of details about getting your book on the shelves. Websites, costs,timeframes, realistic perspectives on book reviews, and where to get professional help. If you are looking for arm chair quarterbacking, this is not the book. He had been through the grinder and comes out the other side.
So many books for writers are filled with bland, obvious advice - write daily, get enough sleep, exercise,etc. Kowis' book is full of details about getting your book on the shelves. Websites, costs,timeframes, realistic perspectives on book reviews, and where to get professional help. If you are looking for arm chair quarterbacking, this is not the book. He had been through the grinder and comes out the other side.
June 7, 2021
Mike does a very nice job of providing a clear roadmap to self-publishing.
The book is easy / quick to read and the checklist is highly useful.
It's one thing to read a map, and it's another to learn from the journey of an earlier traveler who explains the map to you. The book reads like Mike is on the journey with you. He weaves in color commentary of his experiences. Great blend of process and context ... excellent benefit to a new author.
Recommend this book!
The book is easy / quick to read and the checklist is highly useful.
It's one thing to read a map, and it's another to learn from the journey of an earlier traveler who explains the map to you. The book reads like Mike is on the journey with you. He weaves in color commentary of his experiences. Great blend of process and context ... excellent benefit to a new author.
Recommend this book!
May 1, 2020
This book is more like a checklist. A reference to have on hand, for quick tips as you begin your self-publishing journey. An easy reference as opposed to one of the giant textbooks you can get on the subject.
May 7, 2020
Informative book
Dear author, I loved your sweetness, the way you presented your book-publishing story is outstanding. Yes I do agree that people don't support in the starting state. Therefore creator must focus on creating quality stuff.
Dear author, I loved your sweetness, the way you presented your book-publishing story is outstanding. Yes I do agree that people don't support in the starting state. Therefore creator must focus on creating quality stuff.
November 18, 2021
What You Need To Know In Order To Self Pulish Your Book
Although this book is a short read, it gets straight to the point. If you need information fast, this book will give you a good over view of the self publishing process.
Although this book is a short read, it gets straight to the point. If you need information fast, this book will give you a good over view of the self publishing process.
May 18, 2020
There is no fluff in this book— just good practical advice he has simplified to make it less intimidating. I learned a lot from this book and it’s much better than others I have read.
March 7, 2022
Begin the begin!
Mike's book give the necessary steps to self publishing. There is a lot to know and learn, he lays out a fundamental list that is easy to follow so you won't become overwhelmed. Good luck.
Mike's book give the necessary steps to self publishing. There is a lot to know and learn, he lays out a fundamental list that is easy to follow so you won't become overwhelmed. Good luck.
May 15, 2022
Which result
I am a writer and I am close to self publishing my first book, have a second book I am editing and have begun a third.
I found this book very informative and agree with the authors assessment of "It's not cheap"but I write on.
I am a writer and I am close to self publishing my first book, have a second book I am editing and have begun a third.
I found this book very informative and agree with the authors assessment of "It's not cheap"but I write on.
November 28, 2022
Informative, easy to follow and gets right down to business. A great reference to have on hand as you navigate the complex world of self-publishing.
March 5, 2022
A concise read of how to self publish a book and the costs involved to make it happen. I particularly like that the Author sought a Mentor to assist him when he had writer's block to finish his book.
February 2, 2023
Great checklist. Very helpful to keep your head on straight with everything you need to juggle before publishing.
April 11, 2017
Disclaimer: I received this book through a Goodreads giveaway for the purpose of writing this review. No other compensation was offered or requested.
Back in the day, self-publishing was the province of cranks and egomaniacs who couldn’t find a legitimate publisher. “Vanity presses” preyed upon people who thought there was a large untapped market for dreadful poetry and paranoid ravings. Sometimes a good book would manage to surface from the self-published world, but it was rare. Times have changed. New book distribution models, fancy software and the existence of e-books mean that self-publishing can be quite viable for the author who’s willing to put in the effort.
It’s not easy. There are still vanity presses that will charge big bucks for a worthless product, and the sheer variety of available options can confuse and frustrate the budding writer. Thus this book, which provides a helpful template of things to do that will improve chances of success. Mr. Kowis is the author of Engaging College Students: A Fun and Edgy Guide for Professors, and uses his experience with that project to inform his advice.
The first step, as it turns out, is not “write a book.” Mr. Kowis presumes that you have advanced to the first draft manuscript stage, as his first step is “finalizing” that manuscript. The final step is marketing the finished book, with many stops in between.
At several points the author suggests paying a bit more to hire a professional (for editing and cover design, for example) rather than attempting to do everything yourself. (I note that I did not find any typos in this book, and while the cover is not spectacular, it works very well for the slim volume this is.) The steps seem complete enough, and the author gives suggestions on where to search next if you need more information.
The second part of the book discusses costs involved in self-publishing, and the differences between Mr. Kowis’ first book (kind of fancy) and this one (bare bones and reusing some resources paid for during the first book’s publishing.)
The third part is ten lessons the author learned from writing his first book–I’m not going to give many spoilers, beyond acknowledging that yes, it is difficult to get reviews even when there are free copies available. Even folks like me who do reviews on the regular can feel like it’s pulling teeth, so don’t feel too bad if your friends don’t come through.
There’s an appendix which turns the 14 steps into a checklist, but I recommend treating the order as a guideline more than a rule as some things need to get done simultaneously.
There are lots of guides to self-publishing on the internet, but it’s nice to have it all in one place on your shelf. Consider buying this one for your writer friend who’s been considering self-publishing.
Back in the day, self-publishing was the province of cranks and egomaniacs who couldn’t find a legitimate publisher. “Vanity presses” preyed upon people who thought there was a large untapped market for dreadful poetry and paranoid ravings. Sometimes a good book would manage to surface from the self-published world, but it was rare. Times have changed. New book distribution models, fancy software and the existence of e-books mean that self-publishing can be quite viable for the author who’s willing to put in the effort.
It’s not easy. There are still vanity presses that will charge big bucks for a worthless product, and the sheer variety of available options can confuse and frustrate the budding writer. Thus this book, which provides a helpful template of things to do that will improve chances of success. Mr. Kowis is the author of Engaging College Students: A Fun and Edgy Guide for Professors, and uses his experience with that project to inform his advice.
The first step, as it turns out, is not “write a book.” Mr. Kowis presumes that you have advanced to the first draft manuscript stage, as his first step is “finalizing” that manuscript. The final step is marketing the finished book, with many stops in between.
At several points the author suggests paying a bit more to hire a professional (for editing and cover design, for example) rather than attempting to do everything yourself. (I note that I did not find any typos in this book, and while the cover is not spectacular, it works very well for the slim volume this is.) The steps seem complete enough, and the author gives suggestions on where to search next if you need more information.
The second part of the book discusses costs involved in self-publishing, and the differences between Mr. Kowis’ first book (kind of fancy) and this one (bare bones and reusing some resources paid for during the first book’s publishing.)
The third part is ten lessons the author learned from writing his first book–I’m not going to give many spoilers, beyond acknowledging that yes, it is difficult to get reviews even when there are free copies available. Even folks like me who do reviews on the regular can feel like it’s pulling teeth, so don’t feel too bad if your friends don’t come through.
There’s an appendix which turns the 14 steps into a checklist, but I recommend treating the order as a guideline more than a rule as some things need to get done simultaneously.
There are lots of guides to self-publishing on the internet, but it’s nice to have it all in one place on your shelf. Consider buying this one for your writer friend who’s been considering self-publishing.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews