If you publish your own book, you will make more money, get to press sooner, and keep control of your work. You have all the ingredients to be a successful author - publisher - this book will be your recipe.

Plan your product. Find a need and fill it. Target your audience before you can write your book. Who are your readers and what do they want? How can you help them by delivering the most value while taking the least amount of their time? You need something to lean on - this book will be your escort.

Whether you self-publish or turn your manuscript over to a publisher, the author always has to do the book promotion. Most authors find out too late that publishers do not promote books. "If it is to be, it is up to me." You need guidance and encouragement - this book will be your coach.

Plan your promotion before you write your book. Read this book and draft your marketing plan. You need a plan and this book will be your guide.

Writing the book is the easy part; the tip of the iceberg. The real work begins when you switch hats to expend time and money on promoting the books. As you enter this new territory, this book will be your beacon.

Book promotion takes time. Book reviews take three months to three years to appear because magazines and even daily newspapers have long lead times. The easiest mistake is to send out books for review, news releases on your books, or a direct-mail offer and then to sit back and wait for the results. The secret of savvy book promotion is to keep up the pressure: keep sending out the packets and keep making the phone calls. You need a constant reference and this book will be your mentor.

Linda Radke has made your new venture easy by providing a simple road map to economical self-publishing. Start now by taking the first step. This book will be your secret weapon.

The world of self-publishing is exploding, with thousands of authors taking the plunge into this exciting endeavor every month. The rewards can be great, but so too, can be the risks. The budding self-publisher must be careful and spend his/her money wisely, particularly in these tough economical times. Fortunately, Linda F. Radke has come to the rescue with her newly updated book, The Economical Guide to Self-Publishing, to safely guide authors through the ins and outs of publishing, while also advising where to spend, how much to spend, and when not to spend those hard earned dollars.

The Economical Guide to Self-Publishing breaks down the rather confusing and mutli-step task of publishing a book into simple to understand sections beginning with editing a manuscript all the way through publication and, just as important but so often overlooked by new authors, marketing. What makes this book stand out from so many of the other books offered to aspiring authors is that Radke includes sections on many of the tools authors will need to successfully run their own business. In clear, concise, easy-to-understand language, the author gives an overview of various items including printers, invoices, banking, prepayment options, contracts, mailing list sources, shipping, flyers, and even how to be a good guest on TV as well as a myriad of other topics. Of course, Radke also covers the more common subjects such as copyright, where to get an ISBN, cover design and press releases.

The author includes several essays written by others (an editor, typesetter, publicist, etc.) who offer their valuable expertise. The one I found particularly interesting was 'When Disaster Strikes, Strike Back!' by Lynda Exley. Written about her and her son's experience with promoting their book, this essay is funny and yet, informative. Every author will likely relate to their mistakes while promoting a book.

Of course, the title of this book implies money saving ideas and the text doesn't disappoint. Getting free publicity is something every author wants and Radke offers tips on how to proceed to clinch an interview. The author also looks at other ways to save money such as using short print runs; the importance of printing bids; partnership publishing; and co-opportunities. Indeed, throughout The Economical Guide to Self-Publishing, there are countless tips to control the budget of the new author.

Quill says:
Get a copy of this book before you delve into the world of self-publishing.
Review Date: October 2009
Reviewed by: Holly Connors
FeatheredQuill.com

5.0 out of 5 stars
*An Instructive Time And Money Saving Handbook*

"THE ECONOMICAL GUIDE TO SELF-PUBLISHING" is an essential tool needed for successful Self-Publication, which offers great support to be in today's very competitive market. This unique book introduces an incredibly powerful concept of Self-Publishing, and how it works.

This simple, easy-to-read guide explains how to get started, while clearly describing what the author needs to know. This complete guide to Self-Publishing offers a professional, author-friendly book publishing environment, directing the reader to the best possible opportunities to achieve success with their book. I recommend this book to all writers, authors, and Self-Publishers. Linda F. Radke presents facts of interest as she walks you through the Self-Publishing process, outlining steps of how to stay in control, without facing authorship in total darkness. Most important, she demonstrates how the Self-Publishing experience can be a success, while saving money. This informative, skillfully written guide is a useful resource for the presentation of your first book, covering the journey from your manuscript to promotions. "THE ECONOMICAL GUIDE TO SELF-PUBLISHING" is as interesting as THE SECRETS OF SELF-PUBLISHING, and as practical as THE COMPLETE SELF-PUBLISHING HANDBOOK. In today's evolving book publishing industry, authors are taking control of their writing, and book publishing options. Linda F. Radke will lead the way, and open the golden door to opportunity, and success.

July 16, 2009
Geraldine Ahearn "Author Geri Ahearn"

A new trend seems to be developing in the world of publishing and now more than ever before, authors are looking at self publishing. Why? The reasons are many. The advancement of publishing technology makes self-publishing much easier than ever before.

For me it was maintaining complete control of my book and the potential for making a profit was much greater. My own book is now in its third printing and about to go to a fourth. If I had it to do all over again, I would definitely self-publish, but the first thing I would do is buy a copy of "The Economical Guide to Self-Publishing." Following the examples outlined in Linda F. Radke's book takes the guess work out of doing it yourself. She covers every aspect of publishing yourself, from the very basic to the more advanced. There is no doubt this book will serve as your step-by-step guide to success in your own publishing quest.

Cliff Johnson
Author; Wrong Side of the River
Misty Peak Publishing

By Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA)

5.0 out of 5 stars For anyone aspiring to publish their own work, April 13, 2009

Even in the present economic climate that has compelled the major publishing houses to cut back the numbers of titles they produce, it has never been easier to publish a book -- or sell one. In "The Economical Guide To Self-Publishing: How To Produce And Market Your Book On A Budget", Linda F. Radke draws upon her more than 24 years of experience and expertise as a publisher whose Five Star Publications has produced award-winning and commercially successful books that were traditionally published, self-published, and published through limited partnerships. The result is a compendium of solid, practical, step-by-step information that takes the aspiring author from manuscript to published book, and then on to the tasks of marketing, promotion, publicity, and sales. "The Economical Guide To Self-Publishing" covers such issues as transforming a manuscript into a typeset book; recruiting illustrators and editors; obtaining copyrights, ISBN numbers, and bar codes; getting printing bids; publishing as a home business; developing mailing lists; even handling interviews. Of special note is what "The Economical Guide To Self-Publishing" offers by way of strategies and tactics for effectively marketing a book on a limited budget. Enhanced with an appendix listing useful publications and associations for the self-published author, "The Economical Guide to Self-Publishing." is highly recommended reading and an invaluable resource and 'do-it-yourself' reference for anyone aspiring to publish their own work.

ISBN: 978-1-58985-101-6
$ 19.95
Publisher: Five Star Publications, Inc.
Date Published: 2nd Ed. January 2009
Softbound
170 pp