14 Steps to Self-Publishing a Book

by Kerri Simpson

Overview

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 award-winning* 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.

*This book was selected as a Finalist in the Business: Writing & Publishing category of the 2017 International Book Awards and received Honorable Mention in the Non-fiction Writing/Publishing genre of the 2017 Readers' Favorite Book Awards.

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-publishing-guide.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780997994667
Publisher:	Lecture PRO Publishing
Publication date:	02/16/2017
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	62
File size:	197 KB

About the Author

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-publishing-guide.

Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION: My Self-Publishing Journey

CHAPTER ONE: The Step-by-Step Guide

            STEP 1: Finalize your manuscript.

            STEP 2: Create a new business to self-publish and market your book.

            STEP 3: Buy a domain name for your book’s website and build the webpages.

            STEP 4: Buy ISBN numbers from Bowker.

            STEP 5: Apply for an LCCN number from the U.S. Library of Congress (for print books only).

            STEP 6: Apply for a merchant account at your preferred shipping company.

            STEP 7: Create a social media platform to promote your book.

            STEP 8: Decide where you want to sell your book and in what formats.

            STEP 9: Hire a professional cover designer to make your book cover.

            STEP 10: Hire a professional graphic designer to format the interior pages of your print book and/or convert your manuscript to an eBook.

            STEP 11: Purchase an editorial book review well before the book launch date.

            STEP 12: Upload your book files onto the distributor’s website.

            STEP 13: Register your book with the U.S. Copyright Office within three months after the publication date.

            STEP 14: Market your book.

CHAPTER TWO: Costs to Write, Self-Publish, and Market

            CATEGORY 1: Writing Costs

            CATEGORY 2: Self-Publishing Costs

            CATEGORY 3: Marketing Costs

CHAPTER THREE: Ten Lessons from Writing My First Book

            LESSON 1: It’s a marathon.

            LESSON 2: It’s not cheap.

            LESSON 3: Marketing is the hardest part.

            LESSON 4: Legal writing and book writing are different.

            LESSON 5: Good salespeople make for successful authors.

            LESSON 6: Wise businesspeople make for successful authors.

            LESSON 7: Not everyone will buy it.

            LESSON 8: Book reviews are challenging.

            LESSON 9: Watching book sales is addictive.

            LESSON 10: Authors help one another.

CONCLUSION: If I Can Do It, Anyone Can!

APPENDIX: Self-Publishing Checklist

ABOUT THE AUTHOR