Review
REVIEWS OF FIRST EDITION:
"Absolutely required reading for every author who wants to publish their own works. This book will give you expert guidance to safely controlyour work, avoid lawsuits and scams, while maximizing tax deductions. It should be on every self-publisher's desk--highly recommended." -JoelFriedlander, TheBookDesigner.com
"This vital resource for every self-publisher clearly outlines the legal issues authors need to know.... Well-written and authoritative yet unhampered by legalese.... Outstanding. This is a book that is likely to help any self-publisher avoid many headaches." -ForeWord 5-Star Review
"Should be on every author's shelf.... Sedwick simplifies the scary andpresents ways to avoid ending up in a costly legal battle. Her goal isto help you avoid wasting money and time on things that could have beenavoided in the first place.... Don't hesitate; get your copy now." -Self-Publishing Review
From the Author
When I self-published my historical novel, Coyote Winds, I discovered there was no legal guide to help self-publishing writers deal with the wide-ranging and complicated issues of publishing, includingcopyright, defamation, and taxes. At conferences, writerscornered me to ask important and worrisome questions. I wanted to answer those questions and more. I wrote the Self-Publisher Legal Handbook tohelp writers publish and promote their work while minimizing legal risks and errors.
For instance, many writers aresurprised to find out that they are starting a small business. They have questions about incorporation and crowd-funding, not to mention hiringfreelancers and deducting expenses.
Or they areconsidering purchasing a publishing package from a self-publishingservice company and wonder how to distinguish between an honest companyand an unscrupulous one. They worry about losing their copyrights.
Many suffer from what I call contract anxiety. When they try to read acontract, the page looks like 5,000 words run through a blender.
And what about author platforms? How do writers write blog posts that areprovocative but not defamatory? How do they find eye-catching imageswithout spending a fortune? They wonder if their websites need privacypolicies, and what do DMCA, COPPA, and DRM mean anyway?
Dozens of books and websites offer advice on designing covers, editingcontent, and tweeting effectively, but few will tell writers how toprotect their Social Security Numbers or spot a scam.
But there is also a personal reason I wrote the Handbook.
My parents were artistic people; my mother an actress and my father astage and television director. By temperament or choice, they did notunderstand business or money. When I was young, I saw them being takenadvantage of over and over again. I went to law school so I would havethe tools to navigate the business world myself and to help creativepeople like my parents.
Writing and publishing a book is a significant investment in time, money and emotion. It is tough enough to make money in a business where fewer than five percent of books sell over 1,000 copies. Writers should not lose money (or sleep) by hiring the wrong self-publishingservice company or getting sued for copyright infringement.
Many chapters in the book will also help a traditionally published writerwho is blogging, tweeting, and creating content for Internetdistribution.
About the Author
I grew up in the wilds of New York City before there were coyotes inCentral Park. My parents were theater people, and for many summers weoperated a summer stock theater in the Poconos. From those theater years and from reading countless books, I fell in love with the power of thestory to make us laugh, learn, love and cry. I majored in English atCornell University and spent several years as an advertising copywriter. When I grew tired of being broke, I attended University of Chicago LawSchool, then moved to San Francisco where I have practiced business lawfor almost thirty years and raised my twin daughters.
Find out more at: helensedwick.com
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