Top positive review
5.0 out of 5 starsA Must Buy Guide for Authors Looking to Self-Publish
January 27, 2013
A Detailed Guide to Self-Publishing with Amazon and Other Online Booksellers Vol. 1 by Chris McMullen is an accurately titled guide that provides in-depth instructions on the self-publication process. When I bought this guide, I was looking for tips on two issues: pricing of my books, and marketing strategies. This guide provides a ton of useful information on the former, but leaves the latter topic to volume two of the series.
The author is a professor at a university who self-publishes his works via Amazon Createspace for print, and also publishes electronically via Amazon Kindle Publishing and other major ebook formats. What strikes me, when I started reading, is the author's ability to impart information in a very casual, conversational manner. As an educator by trade, his mind is automatically trained to impart information in digestible portions to his readers. This is an important point to note, because a first time publishing author can read this guide, and use it to publish his work. This book is broad in the range of topics covered, but the author is able to discuss the material in a way that readers can easily follow.
The author uses Microsoft Word, and he provides an in-depth discussion of the differences between versions 2003, 2007, and 2010, and how to use the tools and formats to create a variety of books. He also discusses the use of illustrations, and the differences that each online publisher has regarding image sizes.
For me personally, the most important topic is pricing, and the author does not disappoint me in this subject. He discusses your expected royalty from each publisher, and goes through the numbers in great depth. He also stresses the important of qualifying for Amazon's 4-for-3 pricing for paperbacks, and also qualifying for Amazon's free shipping for orders over $25.
A Detailed Guide to Self-Publishing wiht Amazon and Other Online Booksellers, Volume 1 by Chris McMullen truly lives up to its name. I only have two disappointments with this book. First is the fact that the author left marketing out for a second volume. Second is the lack of online contact information for the author, in case readers have questions regarding his book. Despite these misgivings, this book is VERY detailed, and HIGHLY RECOMMENDED to novice self-publishing authors, and experienced authors alike.
