Tuesday, October 24, 2006
The Well-Fed Self Publisher
The Well-Fed Self Publisher
by Peter Bowerman
Fanove Publishing 2007
ISBN-13: 978-0-9670598-6-0
ISBN-10: 0-9670598-6-0
In the interest of making a full disclosure: Peter Bowerman sent me a free copy of The Well-Fed Self Publisher and asked me to review it. I begin my review in making this disclosure not just because of ethical considerations, but because it is the best way to illustrate the valuable, insightful, and honest way in which Mr. Bowerman approaches his subject. In fact, he emphasizes the value (and methods) of soliciting reviews as an essential marketing strategy for a self-publisher. This is only one of the many ways in which The Well-Fed Self Publisher becomes a “must have” for those who hope to succeed in selling their writing in a tight, competitive marketplace–especially if they do not have access to traditional publishing: he tells us why gaining that access can be, and often is, the least profitable way in which to sell the products of their creative (writing) genius. Furthermore in his writing style he speaks to his readers in clear, direct, cheerful and encouraging prose that makes you want to know him as a friend–another valuable illustration of how a self-publisher ought to appear if he expects to sell his work.
Although as Bowerman admits, even emphasizes, the fact that self-publishing works better for non-fiction than for fiction, nevertheless, for me as a writer of fiction, ninety percent of what he says about self-publishing is useful–and necessary–information for publishing fiction as well. In fact, if anything, he underestimates the value of his ideas and information for fiction writers. The fact that selling fiction to agents, publishers, and ultimately readers is tougher for fiction than non-fiction is pretty well acknowledged in the book-writing world and most fiction writers are aware of the fact: the mechanics of publishing and marketing are the same however, and having a resource and reference like The Well-Fed Self Publisher is as important to the fiction writer as it is for the writer of non-fiction.
I have one novel in print (soon to be republished in a revised edition) by a small independent press and a second novel that I am publishing under my own imprint in November using a print on demand (POD) technology. Whereas I don’t think I have made a huge mistake in choosing either route, I think that I might have gained immeasurably (and probably sold more books) if I had read The Well-Fed Self Publisher before I made the decisions I did–especially since Mr. Bowerman so clearly explains the difference between Self Publishing and POD.
If you are not already a famous writer with an agent and publisher ready to make you one of their in-house brand names, you will make a big mistake if you don’t read The Well-Fed Self Publisher.
Buy it from Amazon.com by clicking here.
by Peter Bowerman
Fanove Publishing 2007
ISBN-13: 978-0-9670598-6-0
ISBN-10: 0-9670598-6-0
In the interest of making a full disclosure: Peter Bowerman sent me a free copy of The Well-Fed Self Publisher and asked me to review it. I begin my review in making this disclosure not just because of ethical considerations, but because it is the best way to illustrate the valuable, insightful, and honest way in which Mr. Bowerman approaches his subject. In fact, he emphasizes the value (and methods) of soliciting reviews as an essential marketing strategy for a self-publisher. This is only one of the many ways in which The Well-Fed Self Publisher becomes a “must have” for those who hope to succeed in selling their writing in a tight, competitive marketplace–especially if they do not have access to traditional publishing: he tells us why gaining that access can be, and often is, the least profitable way in which to sell the products of their creative (writing) genius. Furthermore in his writing style he speaks to his readers in clear, direct, cheerful and encouraging prose that makes you want to know him as a friend–another valuable illustration of how a self-publisher ought to appear if he expects to sell his work.
Although as Bowerman admits, even emphasizes, the fact that self-publishing works better for non-fiction than for fiction, nevertheless, for me as a writer of fiction, ninety percent of what he says about self-publishing is useful–and necessary–information for publishing fiction as well. In fact, if anything, he underestimates the value of his ideas and information for fiction writers. The fact that selling fiction to agents, publishers, and ultimately readers is tougher for fiction than non-fiction is pretty well acknowledged in the book-writing world and most fiction writers are aware of the fact: the mechanics of publishing and marketing are the same however, and having a resource and reference like The Well-Fed Self Publisher is as important to the fiction writer as it is for the writer of non-fiction.
I have one novel in print (soon to be republished in a revised edition) by a small independent press and a second novel that I am publishing under my own imprint in November using a print on demand (POD) technology. Whereas I don’t think I have made a huge mistake in choosing either route, I think that I might have gained immeasurably (and probably sold more books) if I had read The Well-Fed Self Publisher before I made the decisions I did–especially since Mr. Bowerman so clearly explains the difference between Self Publishing and POD.
If you are not already a famous writer with an agent and publisher ready to make you one of their in-house brand names, you will make a big mistake if you don’t read The Well-Fed Self Publisher.
Buy it from Amazon.com by clicking here.
