How to Self-Publish Your Book: The Fast, Free & Easy Way

by Mateja Klaric

A step-by-step guide to the technical aspects of self-publishing for absolute beginners. It will show you how to format your book in MS Word, prepare and format images for print, design your book cover using free tools, and more. It includes print screens so that you'll be able to see the exact steps you need to take. You will also get a general overview of everything you need to self-publish your first book the fast, free & easy way. This is the second edition of book 1 in the "Self-Publishing Made Easy" series.

ebook

First published December 10, 2017

About the author

Mateja started to write short stories at the age of ten and later became a freelance journalist, radio personality, whistleblower, and explorer of the inner worlds. She also ran her own advertising agency for eight years. Apart from that, Mateja's life resembles a roller coaster ride full of ups and downs and some pretty wild turns. Among other things, her car was destroyed by tanks and she survived several brushes with death as well as a complete destruction of her former way of life and career. She graduated in psychology from Arizona State University and is now a writer, photographer, and transformation guide.

Reviews

[Don Gerstein · Rating 4 out of 5]

I almost stopped reading this book before I was close to a third of the way through, and if that happens to you, I strongly encourage you to continue reading because it gets better. Much better.

The author apparently has had difficulties dealing with Amazon, and it is easy to discern that she is not a fan. I certainly can understand that someone might struggle to get a book noticed when the virtual aisles are jammed with hundreds of thousands of new books every year, and a company as large as Amazon may bit be terribly sympathetic.

Once past this section of the book, the author shines. I found the detailed explanations on the pros and cons of both Amazon KDP and Draft2Digital very informative. Listed out and divided by pros and cons makes it easy for anyone to make an informed decision. Sections on GIMP and the Amazon KDP cover Creator will aid those who are concerned about how to create graphics and an effective layout for a book cover. Pictures are included as visual aids, further helping to demystify the procedure.

In short, there are a lot of tips, laid out logically in an easy to assimilate fashion. In the content as well as at the end, there are links to supporting articles that will enhance your knowledge. I recommend you take the time to read through these.

There are advantages today we never had. Twenty to thirty years ago opportunities to self-publish our own books at little or no cost were non-existent, nor could we obtain almost instantaneous help simply by turning on an electronic device and connecting to various Internet groups. Mateja Klaric’s book functions as a handy road map and should help you find your way around some of the publishing traps and pitfalls. Four stars.

[Robert Fishell · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are looking to self-publish, this is the book you want to read first. Then read the other two in the series. Klaric knows the self-publishing business better than anyone else, and she has a rare talent for packing a lot of information into a compact, easy-to-read package.

All of the dos and don'ts you need to know are here, and there is a lot of tutorial information that will help you get your manuscript published. If I had read this book before beginning my own endeavor to get my titles into print, I'd have had a much easier time of it, even though I am tech-savvy enough to have worked through many of the obstacles on my own.

You can get the Kindle version for free if you buy the print version (a tip you should follow), so buy it as a desktop reference, and keep the electronic copy wherever you do your work. I do a fair amount of writing and editing on my phone – a tip I will offer – and it's nice to have a copy on hand via the Kindle app.

Just buy it.

[Tyler G. Warne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really appreciate Mateja's efforts to help other self-published authors. There are so many things to know about publishing. When you go out on your own, there are so many routes and directions to consider. The easiest, most affordable options are sometimes difficult to find. Mateja makes that simply clear.

There are some huge companies that will try to take your money without much return on investment. It is important that any author not take their hard work to someone who just wants to take their money and leave them for broke. Kindle and Draft2Digital make life easier for those who need to save money and make the most of their investment.

Mateja uses thorough, clear, concise language with a map to understand the options for producing a finished self-published product.

I trust her methods and her approaches to self-publishing. Beyond Kindle and Draft2Digital there are many print-on-demand companies, those more difficult to reach the endpoint.

Thanks again, Mateja.

[Brittain *Needs a Nap and a Drink* · Rating 1 out of 5]

Any excuse to use what is quite possibly the best gif in the world. I mean, who the hell is so good at the milly rock that they can do it in the shower, throw a bar of soap against the wall, and catch it without missing a beat?

Fucking legend.

I am a consumer of goods and a reviewer of said goods and my review reflects my opinion of the book, the series, and the lack of professionalism.

Well shit, apparently my mind isn't going to let me walk away quite yet.


I don't mind books that teach you the ins and outs of an industry. What I do take issue with is when books are designed to encourage manipulation of any sort. I think books like this, where it is about taking advantage of customers and then the author refuses to treat reviewers as neutral parties, are just absurd. They fall into the same category of trash that Pick Up Artist books do.

This is how you manipulate women into bed with you. This is how you get away with rape.

I can understand the desire to want to seem knowledgeable in a subject and publish a book on it. However, maybe you should actually be successful in the industry before you try to claim to be an expert. The lack of professionalism is evident in both the website and the content.

Buyer beware!

[Andrew Pilkington · Rating 5 out of 5]

A clear, concise and very basic guide that offers a peek into the world of self publishing for the aspiring writer. This book provides practical aids and routes that will give the reader/writer the
"how-to" as well as the realization of the pitfalls involved in self publishing that should be avoided, along with providing realistic expectations of what one will garner from this pursuit.

[Vico Biscotti]

Excellent. Clear and complete step-by-step from draft to published. Detailed but, at the same time, concise and easy to read. It also covers many related aspects, as revenues to be expected, in a very concrete way, far from the hype of self-publishing. Precise and objective.