Reviewed by Philip Van Heusen for Readers' Favorite
Sallie Dawkins' Self-Publishing Simplified: Your Step-by-Step Guide to Success has new and prospective authors in mind. However, this book contains many golden nuggets that will also help seasoned authors. Sallie motivates the reader by giving all the information needed to be a successful self-publisher. I have over fifteen books published and still found the information in this book very useful. Every step in the publishing process is thoroughly covered with advice for maximizing the impact of your book. One piece of advice Sallie gives is to “concentrate on what you did well rather than fixating on what didn’t go according to plan.” While Sallie gives the different options involved in publishing, she makes her own suggestions but leaves the choice to you. This is not a book for “Dummies,” but a guidebook for those who think and want to know what options are available. I highly recommend this book to all who plan to write and publish a book.
Self-publishing can be complex and time-consuming, but Self-Publishing Simplified by Sallie Dawkins cuts to the chase and gives expert advice from one who has been there and done that. As one reads Sallie’s easy-to-understand instructions, writing does not seem such a foreboding task. After guiding the reader through the four main ways to publish—tradition, hybrid, vanity, and self-publishing—Sallie breaks the writing task into key stages that are easy to follow: preparation, writing, revision, publishing, launching, and marketing. In her successful effort to make sure all the bases are covered, she gives plenty of resources that expand the contents of her book. I look forward to applying the new knowledge to increase my sales and continue to publish quality books. Sallie has thought of everything, including a practice project at the end. When you see your books in publication, you will be grateful that you took the time to read this guide.
