Review
"
Self-Publisher's Legal Handbook isabsolutely required reading for every author who wants to publish their ownwork. Filling a long-standing need, this book will give you the expertguidance to safely control your work, avoid lawsuits and scams, whilemaximizing your tax deductions. It should be on every self-publisher'sdesk--highly recommended." -
Joel Friedlander, The Book Designer.com "This vital resource for everyself-publisher clearly outlines the legal issues authors need to know.... Well-writtenand authoritative yet unhampered by legalese.... Outstanding. This is a book thatis likely to help any self-publisher avoid many headaches." -ForeWord 5-Star Review
"Should be on every author's shelf.... Sedwick simplifies the scary and presents ways to avoidending up in a costly legal battle. Her goal is to help you avoid wasting moneyand time on things that could have been avoided in the first place.... Don'thesitate; get your copy now." -Self-Publishing Review
"Every writer needs this book! Self-publishing writersalready wear so many hats; who has time to be a lawyer in addition to a writer,social media expert, and marketing pro? Legal issues are ignored becausewriters figure they wouldn't understand them. Wrong! Sedwick's book answers alltypes of questions, including those writers wouldn't think to ask. Read thisbook and stay out of legal trouble!" -
Arlene Miller, M.A., The Grammar Diva ™
From the Author
When I self-published my historical novel,Coyote Winds, I discovered there was no legal guide to help self-publishingwriters deal with wide-ranging issues such as copyright, defamation, and taxes. Dozens of books offer advice ondesigning covers, editing content, and tweeting effectively, but few will tell writershow to protect their Social Security Numbers or spot a scam. I wrote the Self-Publisher Legal Handbook to help writerspublish and promote their work while minimizing legal risks.
Many writers have questions aboutincorporation and crowd-funding, not to mention hiring freelancers anddeducting expenses. Or they are considering purchasing a publishingpackage from a self-publishing service company, and wonder how to distinguishbetween an honest company and an unscrupulous one. When they try to read a contract, the page looks like 5,000 words run through ablender!
How do writers writeblog posts that are provocative, but not defamatory? How do they findeye-catching images without spending a fortune? They wonder if their websites needprivacy policies, and what do DMCA, COPPA, and DRM mean anyway?
And there is a personal reason I wrote theHandbook.
My parents were artistic people; my mother anactress and my father a stage and television director. By temperament orchoice, they did not understand business or money. When I was young, I saw thembeing taken advantage of over and over again. I went to law school so I wouldhave the tools to navigate the business world myself and to help creativepeople like my parents.
Writing and publishing a book is a significantinvestment in time, money and emotion. Writersshould not lose money (or sleep) by hiring the wrong self-publishing servicecompany or getting sued for copyright infringement.
Many chapters in the book will also help atraditionally published writer who is blogging, tweeting, and creating contentfor Internet distribution.
From the Back Cover
Writing and publishing a book is an investment of time, money, andemotion. Don't lose your copyright by signing the wrong contract, or wastemoney by buying into a scam, or lose sleep by getting sued for defamation. A self-published author herself, Helen Sedwick uses 30 years oflegal experience to cut through the legalese and show you how to - Set up your business
- Hire freelancers
- Protect your copyrights
- Understand publishing and POD contracts
- Spot scams
- Avoid infringement
- Steer clear of defamation and privacy claims
- Navigate social media regulations
- Collaborate with partners
- Save on taxes
Sedwick's mission--to keep you out of court and at your desk, writingyour next book. Helen Sedwick is a California attorney representing small businessand entrepreneurs. Her historical novel, Coyote Winds, has earned five-starreviews from ForeWord Reviews and Compulsion Reads and is an IndieBRG MedallionHonoree.
About the Author
HELEN SEDWICK is a Californiaattorney with thirty years of experience representing businesses andentrepreneurs as diverse as wineries, graphic designers, green toy makers, softwareengineers, investors, restaurateurs, and writers. She graduated from Universityof Chicago Law School in 1984 and practiced for more than 20 years at top-tierSan Francisco firms. In 2007, she moved to the Sonoma wine country and set upher own firm so she could find more time to enjoy life and write.
Find out more at: helensedwick.com