The Well-Fed Self-Publisher: How to Turn One Book into a Full-Time Living | 
| Author: Peter Bowerman
Publisher: Fanove Publishing
Category: Book
List Price: $19.95
Buy New: $11.75
You Save: $8.20 (41%)
New (17) Used (7) from $11.75
Avg. Customer Rating:  60 reviews
Sales Rank: 35341
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 294
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.1
Dimensions (in): 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.5
ISBN: 0967059860
Dewey Decimal Number: 070
EAN: 9780967059860
ASIN: 0967059860
Publication Date: August 1, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: PERSONALLY SIGNED TO BUYER BY AUTHOR! Several new (unused) books slightly dinged: minor scratches, smudges, small tears on binding, minor creases on cover.
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Product Description
Landing a publisher has never been harder. So many want to get published, but few understand the enormous challenges, the fierce competition, and the merciless reality of bookstore shelf. But, what if you are one of the lucky ones to land a publisher? Well, heres what you can count on: anemic royalty rates, 18 to 24 months to publication, and giving up the rights to your book. And guess what? Youll still be expected to do most of the marketing yourself! Theres a better way. Thanks to the Internet, self-publishing has become easier, more viable, and more potentially lucrative than ever before. In 2000, veteran commercial freelancer Peter Bowerman self-published The Well-Fed Writer (an award winning Book-of-the-Month Club selection) and in 2005, he did the same with its companion, TWFW: Back For Seconds (triple-award-finalist). The books became standards in the lucrative field of commercial freelancing: writing for businesses, large and small, and for hourly rates of $60-125+ or more. As this is written, together, the two books about 50,000 copies in print had earned him a full-time living for over five years. The definition of a full-time living (straight from the horses mouth): Okay, were not talking picking-out-chateaux-in-the-South-of-France kind of money, but the book paid all my bills (including a couple of print runs each year), allowed me to stay the course in funding my retirement account, stay completely out of debt, and take a few nice vacations each year. Would that work for you? The Well-Fed Self-Publisher is a 300-page, detailed, step-by-step blueprint that explains exactly how the author did what he did. According to Bowerman, This book is for those who really want to turn their passionate creative efforts into real pay-the-mortgage money. Acknowledging that self-publishing carries an enormous amount of negative baggage (and deservedly so), the author says the focus of the book is to dramatically raise the bar on quality, for starters: Ill show you how to create a book indistinguishable in quality from one produced by a reputable publishing company; how to do a far better job of marketing and promoting that book than a publisher ever could; and how to make far more money than you ever would with that publisher. And by doing it all yourself, you control the timetable (potentially shaving 12 to 18 months off production). Plus, you retain all the rights, allowing you to leverage the brand youve created into a host of profitable spinoff businesses each with its own income stream. Starting from perhaps not-so-obvious fundamentals (Write a book people will want to read), the book progresses through a discussion of the significant limitations of the conventional publishing model (despite the best intentions of most publishers). Then, in a nod to the outright panic and terror most creatives experience at the mere mention of the term sales and marketing, the book provides an entire early chapter to help demystify these often daunting concepts. As Bowerman is quick to point out, Success as a self-publisher is far more a function of a process than an aptitude. Its far less about some way you have to be than it is about a bunch of things you have to do. At that point, the book kicks into gear, offering up discussing in-depth discussions of book production, distribution, marketing, promotion, publicity (through ones own web site, the Internet, radio, article writing, bookstores and far beyond), Amazon, spinoff businesses, and an entire chapter on the controversial so-called revolution known as POD publishing (print-on-demand). The book finishes with five appendices offering up resources and a time line for the self-publisher, a primer on foreign rights, and more.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 55 more reviews...
Taking the Mystique Out of Self-Publishing September 4, 2008
Piggy-backing on the success of his earlier two books in the "well fed" series, Peter Bowerman has crafted an excellent guide to help brave souls tackle the challenges of self-publishing. It's not surprising that he has the answers when you consider the success he has had with his earlier books.
Bowerman explains clearly why he believes (as I do) that self-publshing is by far the preferable road for authors writing targeted nonfiction books. That decision becomes even more salient when you recognize that the major publishing houses today expect all but their celebrity authors to handle and pay for the promotion of the book. Any experienced author knows that without extensive promotion, few books can succeed.
A major consideration when I turned to self-publishing for my most recent work was my refusal to acccept a piddling royalty when I was the one who would have to foot most of the bill to promote the book. I have never regretted my decision.
While self-publishing is admittedly a time-consuming, major undertaking, books like this one pave the way well. Bowerman cuts through the mystique of publishing and clearly and succinctly outlines the basic directions you need to produce your book profitable. I recommend it strongly.
Charles Jacobs, author of "The Writer Within You."
Best book I've Read on Book Marketing August 29, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Not only does Bowerman give concise, easy-to-follow, and thorough guidelines for self-publishing, he has compiled the best information I have found in one package on how to sell and distribute a book. Self-publishers, small presses, and authors--regardless of who published their books--will find a wealth of information, that, if followed, can make the difference between starving and eating well. As an author and publisher of "True Fiction," including Joan Bochmann's gripping novel, Absaroka what I'd like to see next from Bowerman is a similar book for marketing fiction.
I'm so grateful for this book! August 17, 2008
The Well Fed Self Publisher provides a realistic and practical approach to self-publishing. There are a lot of self-publishing scams out there that play on the emotions of aspiring authors. Self-publishing is and always will be a business operation connected to the greater publishing community. However you choose to publish your book, book promotion is essential. This is definitely one of the strengths of WFSP: your marketing options. IF you want to make a profit on your book, you need the facts to swim with the sharks and survive. I also use other self-publishing books for reference, but I appreciate the conversational (and humorous) style that Peter Bowerman uses to describe and teach the big picture of self-publishing. As I investigate self-publishing, the more I find I don't know. I thought finishing my book was enough and self-publishing would magically produce profits to compensate for my time investment. I was living in a dream world and I'm so grateful I have an outline, provided in the Appendix, to follow and organize the responsibilities of successful self-publishing.
 UNIQUE BOOK July 10, 2008
I am independently publishing my book and there are only about three books that are REALLY strong on the topic and this book is one of those books. What I really like about this book is it isn't a new version of Dan Poyter or Marilyn/Tom's Book ~ the book is unique and well organized....its new info ~ I appreciate how he gave contact info to contractors. I liked his website list format so much I am using it on my book (He put them all in the back, I was considering doing it chapter by chapter) Get the book!
Ravished Again June 28, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I was so thrilled to see that Peter Bowerman had done it again, and was so close to publishing my second book that I bought the e-book, downloaded it, printed it out and spent several evenings happily employed with a hole-punch.
I couldn't wait for the print version, so now I've got a pretty bulky, but useful, product. I love it! I use it! It's great!
Thanks, Peter
Mary Lynn Archibald
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