Customer Reviews

Self-Publishing Simplified

5 star:		(88)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book helped guide me through the maze of POD publishing and other options, which can be a minefield for the unwary. My new novel, The Remembering, A Novel of Karma & Global Peril, was published by Outskirts Press three weeks ago and exceeded my expectations for a professionally produced product and a smooth production phase. Self-Publishing Simplified is a must-read for anyone trying to navigate their way past the rather nasty world of traditional publishing.

This "book" by the president of Outskirts Press is nothing more than a nicely bound version of the publisher's guidelines, programs and options for their Print On Demand services. It is available in its entirety --at no cost-- at their web-site. There are 2 valid reasons to buy it however.
(1) You get a $20 coupon at the back of the book to use toward one of their packages should you decide to publish with them. So the net savings is about $15
(2) It is a relatively inexpensive way to see the quality of the books they publish -- the binding, the front & Back cover, etc.
My recommendation is to go to their web-site and then if you're seriously considering publishing with them buy the book.

As someone who has pubished with Outskirts Press, I can say that this book covers the elements of self publishing in a way to illuminate the whole process to those first time authors who need to know of this latest type of publishing. There are undounbtedly many like me for whom POD publishing is a revelation. My book "People Are Everything" was helped enormously by the whole process.

I had an idea to share (the healing power of imagery)and knew that I wanted to publish a book about this. I tried for two years to find an agent or a publisher, and felt I needed to move forward and do this. Reading Self-Publishing Simplified inspired me and made it seem possible to proceed with my dream. In May of 2006, "Imagery In You" was published. I highly recommend this guide to you if you are considering self-publishing.

This is a fantastic guide for the beginer. The easy to follow examples lend themselves to immediate use. I found the step by step ideas to be very helpful to me. I had never published before. Now, Ive published my book, Let-Go, Let-God Awareness and am very pleased. It is said that the proof of the puddingis in the eating. That is certainly the case with Self Publishing Simplified. The new concept, so well explained by its originator in The Long Tail, graphicly displays why self publishing is part of the long tail.

Seldom does abook get right to the heart of the matter without being pedantic . SelfPublishing Simplified goes straight to the heart of self publishing and does it in language anyone can understand. It is five star and a very helpful book.

Gene Reynolds, Author of Let-Go, Let-God Awareness

Following Outskirts simple guidelines I was able to publish my novel, Bosque Boy, economically and with complete control over content and format. If you're sitting at home writing the Great American Novel and don't want excessive intrusion on your creation, this is a formula that will work for you.

Jimmy Mason
author of Bosque Boy

Self-Publishing Simplified was one of the reasons why I decided to self-publish. It was easy, I dealt with people who knew what they were doing and in the end it was fun producing my own book. SPS is a step-by-step treatus on how to be a published author. I appreciated the clearly written information of Mr. Sampson - [author]. His direction and insight convinced me to published my first book - BEHIND THE YELLOW FILTER - with Outskirts Press. My second book - BLIND SPOT - is currently in the production process with Outskirts Press. Simply put, I am a believer. Self-Publishing Simplified is exactly what it is.
Stuart Held, author - BEHIND THE YELLOW FILTER and soon to be on the market - BLIND SPOT.

This book is a must-have for anyone who wants to know more about POD Publishing, and if you're ready to Self-Publish a book, Outskirts Press is the place to do it. My novel DANCING ALOUD, a romance novel, was published by Outskirts Press a few weeks ago, and my experience was positive. No odd surprises, no phoning or e-mailing and never getting an answer, they're there with you every step of the way. The service, and your book when it's done, is excellent. Buy the book and learn more about Self-Publishing, then place your book with Outskirts Press.

Like many, I too knew very little in the self-publishing world. I traveled many websites to learn that self-publishing was the definate means for fulfilling my scribal dream. The real question was . . . which self publisher do I choose.

My final decision came after re-searching Outskirts website and found three reasons for choosing Outskirts.
1st - obtaining a copy of the book SELF-PUBLISHING SIMPLIFIED, which is quite informative. Not only for the benefit of publishing with Outskirts Press, but a plethra of knowledge into the publishing world of both self publishing and also the laborsome road with larger publishers.
2nd - the opportunity to make payments towards a publishing package (if in need of) - along with their terrific packaging prices.
3rd - the on going market coaching after your book is published with Outskirts (Simply put - PRICELESS).

Marketing is a major key in an authors success and Outskirts marketing coach's have given me the powerful knowledge to continue my quest to reach the readers of our globe to read my first book WHITE HOLLY, and publish a second book - soon to be released late fall 2007.

I forwarded all book publishing materials to Outskirts Press last September 2006. My Book WHITE HOLLY, A Spirited Yuletide Tale; was published in December of 2006 and I received my author's copies on Martin Luther King Day (Jan 2007). It is a gratifying feeling to see your book in print and a gratifying experience in becoming a self-published author.

Knowledge is power, depending on how you attain and utilize that knowledge. The book SELF-PUBLISHING SIMPLIFIED is a smart way to obtain self-publishing knowledge. A hands on for any writer seeking to fulfill their dream, as I have.

LadyGray
Author of the Spirited Yuletide Tale - WHITE HOLLY
White Holly

Self-publishing was the necessary tool to get me started on a trek that has taught me more about POD than I could have imagined.
I had my dream come true when Outskirtspress helped me, step by step to publish my story. A story that comes with a background against all odds. Because of my past illnesses I am, for the most part, forced to work from home. Outskirts allotted me all the time needed to process everything.
There's no better way to describe myself save that of survivor. I suffered my first heart attack at the age of twelve where I was ambulanced to Kaiser Hospital only to be wrongly diagnosed due to the rarity of my disease. The fact is this said disease didn't even have a name until 10 years after my first heart attack.
At the age of 26 I was, again, ambulanced to a hospital while suffering heart failure when working in Los Angeles. The emergency technician recorded a heart rate of over 280 bpm. This time properly diagnosed by Seders Sinai hospital of Los Angeles with having Wolf Parkinson's White Syndrome (WPW). It is said that most who suffer from this disease had died before they ever knew they were sick. Many of those who were properly diagnosed like Regie Lewis of the Boston Celtics and Hank Gathers from Loyola Marymount University died when attempting to perform their athletic profession due to the severity of such a crippling disease.
As documented at Loma Linda International Heart Institute, I had endured more life threatening heart failures than anyone in the USA hitherto.
In 1986 while fitted with a 48-hour EKG, halter unit-recording device, it was reported that any one of the 500-plus episodes of arrhythmias could have been fatal.
In 1989 I was one of the first in America to undergo an experimental procedure referred to as `Partial Catheter Ablation'. The assumed success of the surgery was televised in Los Angeles, California on the Channel Four News with Steve Candelous reporting. Unfortunately, the success was short lived when the palpitations and fainting spells returned only stronger with every episode.
To this day I have endured over 15 heart surgeries, hundreds of Electro-Physiological Studies, three pacemaker implants and many other related surgeries due to side-effects and unfortunate malpractice.
The true endurance of the human spirit was defined when I was prognosticated with having only six to eight months to live in 1991. Fortunately, he proved contrary to all the American Medical Association when he refused to give up, and continued to fight armed with only willpower and the temerity to live. As miracles unfolded, I had to learn to guide my own heart (literally). When the incessant attacks would occur, I would will my rhythm to a stable rate. Not quite as definitive as being defibrillated by medical staff, but effective enough to keep him alive while waiting for help.
Today I have been said to be the walking miracle. Twenty years after being given a death sentence, I speak and lecture at schools and colleges. The topic of my penchant is that of love and the endurance of the human spirit and "NEVER SAY CAN'T".
My audience are amazed when I attach my heart monitor to the microphone and, like a yoga instructor, show my ability to change the rate of my heart from 70 bpm to 180 bpm and back again within seconds.

And now with the help of Outskirtspress, there will be many more of my inspirational books for me to put on the shelves.
This book, 'Self-Publishing' is the key to getting started on your dream.
Imagine what it would feel like to have your own story published.