Despite the prevalence of self-publishing opportunities and the greater acceptance of the publishing route among authors, readers, and the industry as a whole, the process of going it alone can be confusing and daunting. Self-publishing platform BookBaby has made the process all that much easier, first by creating a business model that works for authors instead of ripping them off, and now by offering a free download of Guy Kawasaki‘s ebook guide to self-publishing.
Kawasaki is the author of twelve books for businessmen and industry newbies, covering every aspect of the business in easy to understand but informative language. His co-writer on APE: Author, Publisher, and Entrepreneur, How to Publish an eBook was Shawn Welch, and together the duo is working to ensure that authors have every tool at their disposal to publish their work on their own.
One of the ways that BookBaby stands out from the self-publishing competition is in its business model. Whereas some self-publishing companies and “vanity presses” rip authors off by charging up front for service and then charging additional royalties as high as 55% of net profits, BookBaby is one of the few companies in the industry that does not take any additional fees; the author earns royalties from the different platforms that BookBaby distributes to, and retains all percentages after the retail platforms’ fee. In addition, BookBaby has made a name for itself in the free author tools that it provides its clients, especially in the areas of marketing and promotion.
Kawasaki and Welch’s book will be available from BookBaby as a free download through the end of July by visiting bookbaby.com/apebook.
Mercy Pilkington is a Senior Editor for Good e-Reader. She is also the CEO and founder of a hybrid publishing and consulting company.