Guides for authors who ship books

Complete formatting guide for indie authors — eBook file types (EPUB, MOBI, KPF), print specifications (trim sizes, margins, gutters, bleed, ISBN barcode placement), tool comparison (Vellum, Atticus, Calibre, InDesign), and step-by-step guides for KDP and IngramSpark.

The full cost breakdown — editing ($500–$3,000), cover design ($200–$1,500), formatting ($50–$500), ISBN ($125–$295), distribution, and marketing. With a comparison of DIY, mid-range, and premium launch budgets, plus the hidden costs most authors miss.

An honest, data-driven comparison across six dimensions — royalties, timeline, creative control, marketing, upfront costs, and distribution — plus guidance on when to choose each path and how the hybrid approach works for authors doing both.

The complete indie publishing process — nine steps from finished manuscript to live book with real royalty data flowing in. Covers manuscript editing, ISBN registration, cover design, formatting, distribution channels (KDP, IngramSpark, Draft2Digital), pricing strategy, launch planning, post-launch marketing, and sales tracking.

A practical, honest comparison of the seven best self-publishing tools for indie authors — from Publisher Rocket for keyword research to Vellum for formatting and Draft2Digital for wide distribution. With a features-vs-pricing matrix and a decision framework by author stage.

A complete marketing playbook for indie authors: pre-launch anticipation, launch week tactics, Amazon optimization, email list building, review strategies, paid advertising, and the long-tail discoverability work that keeps selling your book for years.

Fifteen steps that take a finished manuscript all the way to launch day — and beyond. From developmental editing to royalty tracking, every stage an indie author needs to manage, with notes on where most authors lose momentum.