Blank Page to Bookshelf: From First Sentence to First Sale: Fiction Writing, Character Creation, and Self-Publishing Basics

by Mark McNease

You have a story in you. This book shows you how to finish it—and publish it.

In Blank Page to Book Fiction Writing, Character Creation, and Self-Publishing with KDP, author and workshop instructor Mark McNease distills years of experience into one clear, practical guide for writers ready to move from idea to finished book.

Designed for writers at any stage, this step-by-step handbook walks you through the entire process—from developing story ideas and creating compelling characters to revising with purpose and confidently publishing on KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing).

Inside, you’ll learn how ideas into stories that sustain a full bookCreate believable, engaging charactersBuild plots that move and resolveEstablish a realistic, repeatable writing habitRevise without endless rewritingPrepare your manuscript for publicationPublish your book on Amazon KDP, step by stepWritten for beginners, returning writers, and anyone tired of unfinished drafts, this book combines proven workshop guidance with real-world self-publishing know-how.

If you’re ready to stop planning and start publishing, this is your roadmap from blank page to bookshelf.

112 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 1, 2026

About the author

I've recently released 'Blank Page to Bookshelf: From First Sentence to First Sale,' condensing two years of my workshops into one easy to read guide on fiction writing, character creation, and self-publishing.

I've also written horror as M.A. McNease - not a pen name, it's my initials. Books under M.A. McNease include 'I, Warlock,' 'A House in the Woods (1 and 2)', and 'Hell to Pay' (a two-book volume of both House in the Woods books).

I'm the author of the Kyle Callahan Mysteries, two of which have been best sellers on Kindle. In 2022 I released the second Maggie Dahl Mystery, 'Open Secrets,' with Maggie pursuing another killer in sleepy Lambertville, NJ.

My Detective Linda mystery, 'Last Room at the Cliff's Edge', was released in September, 2016, and called a winner by Publishers Weekly. I released the first Marshall James thriller, 'Murder at the Paisley Parrot', in 2017, followed by 'Beautiful Corpse,' 'Final Audition,' and most recently 'Night Flight to Murder Town' in 2025.

'Black Cat White Paws: A Maggie Dahl Mystery' was released in 2018, followed by 'Open Secrets.'

I have 10 audiobooks currently available (Audible, Amazon, various retailers). My short story 'Stop the Car' was selected as a Kindle Single and is now an audiobook narrated by the amazing Braden Wright. It was selected twice to be included in the Amazon Prime reading library.

For old time's sake I also have two Emmys for Outstanding Children's Program for 'Into the Outdoors', a television show I co-created and wrote for two years that is now in its 17th year.

I live in the New Jersey woods with my husband, Frank, and our two cats, Wilma and James.

You can find me at my website, MarkMcNease.com.

Reviews

[Gregory · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm currently in the middle of a writing project, and Blank Page to Bookshelf: From First Sentence to First Sale: Fiction Writing, Character Creation, and Self-Publishing Basics caught my eye specifically for the "Self-Publishing Basics" part of its title. (I received a copy through Goodreads' Giveaways program--something actually discussed in the book--in exchange for my review.)

The book is a distillation of author Mark McNease's writing workshops. It covers a lot of ground in its 112 pages, making it a very breezy read, as well as easy to skim through if you just want a refresher on certain points. McNease writes in a clear, encouraging manner, never getting too bogged down in detail. He also provides examples throughout to illustrate his points.

The first three-quarters of the book cover the actual writing process. The chapters are generally short and quick, with occasional lengthier, more detailed sections on key topics such as character biographies. McNease provides numerous "Something to Try" writing prompts that contribute to the feeling of a workshop in book form.

For my money, the real gold is in the last quarter of the book, where McNease gets into specifics about self-publishing options, with a particular focus on Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP). This portion of the book is filled with detailed, practical information for authors interested in self-publishing, answering questions I hadn't even thought to ask. McNease provides literal cover-to-cover guidance for getting your work into the hands (or devices) of readers.

For writers looking for a helpful primer covering the whole process of creating a book, with a specific focus on self-publishing options, I recommend Blank Page to Bookshelf.

[Jennifer Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Perfect Guide for Authors

I really enjoyed this book. It covers everything an author needs to know from writing, publishing and promoting. I have always wanted to learn about self publishing but I had never found anything that wasn't confusing on the subject until now. This is the perfect how-to guide. This book is easy to understand and really informative.