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Before the Launch: What Indie Authors Need to Know When Self-Publishing a Book
Prepare for the self-publishing process so your book stays relevant, and marketable, for longer.
Before the Launch isn’t a book. It’s a manual.
If you are looking for a book to curl up with, be entertained by, and read cover-to-cover in a couple of sittings, Before the Launch isn’t for you.
This manual has been compiled over the course of 14 years, during which we’ve managed the publication of more than 400 books for our self-publishing clients. It contains detailed advice based on our experience in using KDP, IngramSpark, Bowker, and numerous other self-publishing tools and services—and now we’re sharing it with you.
Before the Launch is your guide to understanding the important decisions you need to make and things you need to do during the book preparation process that have an impact on marketing success once your book is released.
These decisions and steps are rarely considered “book marketing,” yet marketing can and does suffer if these tasks are not done correctly, or not done at all.
Why do we call Before the Launch a manual?
— Self-publishing is a multi-step process, executed over the course of weeks and months. Before the Launch is designed for “just-in-time” learning.
— Publishing a book is a multidisciplinary project, requiring business, legal, marketing, and research know-how. Each of the 58 topics has color-coded cross references to related topics.
— The publishing tasks that lead up to the release of a book overlap with each other. Before the Launch includes our trademarked 14-track Countdown to Book Launch timeline that illustrates these overlaps so you can stay on track during the lead-up to your book’s release.
Like any good manual, our guidance is findable when you need it—and we’ve built in learning extensions.
We’ve put as much care and thought into how the manual is organized as we have put into writing it. Our goal is to teach you what you need to know, when you need to know it.
— The manual is organized into 5 Prepare, Register, Amazon, Review, and Release.
— We’ve included 140 links to additional authoritative information for deeper learning or additional resources.
— Your purchase includes access to 3 orientation a tour of KDP, a tour of IngramSpark, and how to view an Amazon book product detail page like a publisher.
— Because publishing timelines overlap, the 58 topics contain 283 color-coded cross-references to help you quickly locate related topics.
— We’ve even included downloadable Word, Excel, and PDF files to make it easier to perform the exercises recommended in the comp research, metadata collection, running a price-drop sale, and coordinating ARC printing with POD distribution via KDP and IngramSpark.
Before the Launch is your self-publishing manual for the best launch possible.
Comprehensive, accessible, and based on real-world experience, Before the Launch is a manual for self-publishers of fiction and nonfiction alike. It’s so handy, you’ll want the eBook as well as the original 204-page spiral edition. Get your copies today.
Before the Launch isn’t a book. It’s a manual.
If you are looking for a book to curl up with, be entertained by, and read cover-to-cover in a couple of sittings, Before the Launch isn’t for you.
This manual has been compiled over the course of 14 years, during which we’ve managed the publication of more than 400 books for our self-publishing clients. It contains detailed advice based on our experience in using KDP, IngramSpark, Bowker, and numerous other self-publishing tools and services—and now we’re sharing it with you.
Before the Launch is your guide to understanding the important decisions you need to make and things you need to do during the book preparation process that have an impact on marketing success once your book is released.
These decisions and steps are rarely considered “book marketing,” yet marketing can and does suffer if these tasks are not done correctly, or not done at all.
Why do we call Before the Launch a manual?
— Self-publishing is a multi-step process, executed over the course of weeks and months. Before the Launch is designed for “just-in-time” learning.
— Publishing a book is a multidisciplinary project, requiring business, legal, marketing, and research know-how. Each of the 58 topics has color-coded cross references to related topics.
— The publishing tasks that lead up to the release of a book overlap with each other. Before the Launch includes our trademarked 14-track Countdown to Book Launch timeline that illustrates these overlaps so you can stay on track during the lead-up to your book’s release.
Like any good manual, our guidance is findable when you need it—and we’ve built in learning extensions.
We’ve put as much care and thought into how the manual is organized as we have put into writing it. Our goal is to teach you what you need to know, when you need to know it.
— The manual is organized into 5 Prepare, Register, Amazon, Review, and Release.
— We’ve included 140 links to additional authoritative information for deeper learning or additional resources.
— Your purchase includes access to 3 orientation a tour of KDP, a tour of IngramSpark, and how to view an Amazon book product detail page like a publisher.
— Because publishing timelines overlap, the 58 topics contain 283 color-coded cross-references to help you quickly locate related topics.
— We’ve even included downloadable Word, Excel, and PDF files to make it easier to perform the exercises recommended in the comp research, metadata collection, running a price-drop sale, and coordinating ARC printing with POD distribution via KDP and IngramSpark.
Before the Launch is your self-publishing manual for the best launch possible.
Comprehensive, accessible, and based on real-world experience, Before the Launch is a manual for self-publishers of fiction and nonfiction alike. It’s so handy, you’ll want the eBook as well as the original 204-page spiral edition. Get your copies today.
- GenresNonfictionBusiness
204 pages, Spiral-bound
Published April 25, 2025
4 people are currently reading
1765 people want to read
About the author
David Wogahn
11 books20 followersDavid Wogahn is the founder and president of AuthorImprints, and has taught self-publishing classes for Writer's Digest University, Jane Friedman, the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi), the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), and the Santa Barbara Writers Conference, among other publishing professional organizations.
David is the author of six books about self-publishing, including the Countdown to Book Launch® series. In 2012, he became the author of the first LinkedIn Learning course on the topic of self-publishing (Lynda at the time).
He has worked for the Los Angeles Times, the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee, and was co-founder and COO of the first online publisher of sports team branded websites known today as the CBS College Sports Network.
David is the author of six books about self-publishing, including the Countdown to Book Launch® series. In 2012, he became the author of the first LinkedIn Learning course on the topic of self-publishing (Lynda at the time).
He has worked for the Los Angeles Times, the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee, and was co-founder and COO of the first online publisher of sports team branded websites known today as the CBS College Sports Network.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 3, 2025
Highly recommend for new independent authors, or those who want to launch their next self-published book with great success.
I received an advance review copy of this book from the publisher, and I am reviewing it voluntarily as a book publishing professional. This book is an essential guide for independent authors who want to publish high-quality, professional works.
What impressed me most about "Before the Launch" is how approachable and practical it is. For example, there are sections to learn about how to price your book, get distribution, build an author platform, and even calculate royalties.
The Wogahns created a guide that doesn't overwhelm, but instead empowers independent authors to take professional steps with confidence. In an industry where it's easy to get lost in the noise, this book helps authors stand out through thoughtful, professional craftsmanship rather than shortcuts or guesswork.
Launching a book is incredibly hard work, and the authors clearly understand this challenge (and help you navigate the path). They've organized the essential pre-launch steps in a way that feels manageable, rather than daunting. The guidance is specific enough to follow, yet flexible enough to adapt to different types of projects. As someone who highly values professionalism in publishing, I appreciate how this book encourages authors to think beyond just "getting published" to actually launching strategically.
If you're serious about self-publishing and want to do it right, this is the roadmap you need.
I received an advance review copy of this book from the publisher, and I am reviewing it voluntarily as a book publishing professional. This book is an essential guide for independent authors who want to publish high-quality, professional works.
What impressed me most about "Before the Launch" is how approachable and practical it is. For example, there are sections to learn about how to price your book, get distribution, build an author platform, and even calculate royalties.
The Wogahns created a guide that doesn't overwhelm, but instead empowers independent authors to take professional steps with confidence. In an industry where it's easy to get lost in the noise, this book helps authors stand out through thoughtful, professional craftsmanship rather than shortcuts or guesswork.
Launching a book is incredibly hard work, and the authors clearly understand this challenge (and help you navigate the path). They've organized the essential pre-launch steps in a way that feels manageable, rather than daunting. The guidance is specific enough to follow, yet flexible enough to adapt to different types of projects. As someone who highly values professionalism in publishing, I appreciate how this book encourages authors to think beyond just "getting published" to actually launching strategically.
If you're serious about self-publishing and want to do it right, this is the roadmap you need.
September 7, 2025
So, I'm looking at this book right now: I have put perhaps 50 sticky tabs on 50 separate pages, and literally sideways-smushed the tip of a yellow highlighter by highlighting sections or sentences on well more that those 50 pages. And I've self-published a number of books, so I should know this dang stuff.
Very thorough instruction by Wogahn on broad tactics and processes to follow in very early stages of publishing (months before the book comes out) on developing a launch team, shoring up your email lists, connecting with readers and professional promoters, and more unthought-of issues like taxes on book revenue and blurbs. And lots of Amazon publishing info and lots of alternate-to-Amazon info. And bunches of checklists and download links for tracking of book matters, pre-pub and post-pub.
I was given this as a spiral-bound pre-publication book a while back, which is why I can't remember if I got it because I attended an author talk or won it in some book lottery of some sort. No matter—if you have questions about self-publishing, bring two highlighters to this book.
Very thorough instruction by Wogahn on broad tactics and processes to follow in very early stages of publishing (months before the book comes out) on developing a launch team, shoring up your email lists, connecting with readers and professional promoters, and more unthought-of issues like taxes on book revenue and blurbs. And lots of Amazon publishing info and lots of alternate-to-Amazon info. And bunches of checklists and download links for tracking of book matters, pre-pub and post-pub.
I was given this as a spiral-bound pre-publication book a while back, which is why I can't remember if I got it because I attended an author talk or won it in some book lottery of some sort. No matter—if you have questions about self-publishing, bring two highlighters to this book.
June 30, 2025
Top-notch book for self-publishing authors
This is such a helpful book. I have been involved in book writing, formatting and publishing for years. David really puts together everything a self-publishing author would need to know all in one place. The book is well-organized, intensively cross-referenced and easy to access the information needed at hand. Having self-published a number of books, this would have been so helpful to have at the start of my journey. A lot of this information I learned the hard way, and there was so much new to learn as well. I would highly recommend this book to any author who is seeking to self-publish their book.
This is such a helpful book. I have been involved in book writing, formatting and publishing for years. David really puts together everything a self-publishing author would need to know all in one place. The book is well-organized, intensively cross-referenced and easy to access the information needed at hand. Having self-published a number of books, this would have been so helpful to have at the start of my journey. A lot of this information I learned the hard way, and there was so much new to learn as well. I would highly recommend this book to any author who is seeking to self-publish their book.
May 7, 2025
I highly recommend this book to anyone who is involved with self-publishing, especially for those planning to publish their first book. This “how to” manual provides an excellent overview of the steps and key decisions to consider in the self-publishing process.
I hope that you enjoy this wonderful guide for your self-publishing journey as much as I have.
I hope that you enjoy this wonderful guide for your self-publishing journey as much as I have.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews