Wide for the Win: Strategies to Sell Globally via Multiple Platforms and Forge Your Own Path to Success

by Mark Leslie Lefebvre

Are you looking for ways to stop being dependent upon only Amazon for your author earnings income?

Are you hoping to expand and grow your sales on multiple platforms in global territories?

Do you need strategies to help you get started NOW in terms of creating a successful "publish wide" author plan?

Would you like to increase and optimize your sales on Apple Books, Kobo, Nook, Google Play and more?

 

Then WIDE FOR THE WIN is the book for you.

 

The book is based on knowledge derived from decades of working within the publishing and bookselling landscape and in-depth discussions, interviews, and insights from represenatives from the major publishing platforms along with tips, strategies, and pathways to success from hundreds of authors who have already discovered the thrill of forging their own unique pathways to success.

 

If you're looking for a magic bullet, you've come to the wrong place. But if you're looking for ideas, inspiration, and strategies for planning out your own long terms success as an author selling globally on multiple platforms, then you're in luck.

WIDE FOR THE WIN prepares you not only with a fundamental understanding of the mindset required for long-term writing and publishing success, but also insights and proven processes that allow you to take full control of your intellectual property's earning potential and reach more of the right readers for your work than ever before.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction

470 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 23, 2021

About the author

Mark Leslie Lefebvre has been writing since he was thirteen years old and discovered his mother’s Underwood typewriter collecting dust in a closet. He started submitting his work for publication at the age of fifteen and had his first story published in 1992, the same year he graduated from university.

Under the name Mark Leslie, he has published more than a dozen full length books. He pens a series of non-fiction paranormal explorations for Dundurn, Canada’s largest independent publisher. He also writes fiction (typically thrillers and horror) and has edits fiction anthologies, most recently as a regular editor for the WMG Publishing Fiction River anthology series.

The very same year, Mark saw his first short story in print he started working in to book industry as a part-time bookseller, and was bitten by the book-selling bug. He has worked in virtually every type of bookstore (independent, chain, large-format, online, academic and digital). He has thrived on innovation, particularly related to digital publishing, and enjoys interacting with the various people who make the book industry so dynamic.

Between 2011 and 2017, Mark worked at the Director of Self-Publishing and Author Relations for Kobo where he was the driving force behind the creation of Kobo Writing Life, a free and easy to use author/small-publisher friendly platform designed to publish directly to Kobo’s global catalog in 190 countries. By the end of 2016, Kobo Writing Life established itself as the #1 single source of weekly global unit sales for Kobo and, in primarily English language territories, responsible for 1 in every 4 eBooks sold.

Mark has spoken professionally in the United States and Canada, in the UK and across Europe, specializing in advances in digital publishing and the vast and incredible opportunities that exist for writers and publishers.

Reviews

[Jo-Ann Carson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hold on to your pens, fellow writers. This book will open your eyes to the wonders of becoming a Wideling--a writer who publishes on a wide spectrum of online and brick-and-mortar storefronts. It's well organized and written in clear prose, so it's easy to use as a reference guide. But I recommend reading it from cover to cover first, as there are lots of hidden gems tucked inside. Lefebvre begins by defining what it means "to go wide," and explains the advantages and disadvantages of the practice. Places you can sell your book are described in detail, and a whole section is dedicated to libraries.

It's wonderful having all this information in one place delivered by a writer who has played an integral role in the publishing industry for decades. I highly recommend Wide for the Win for all writers

[Ginger Cain · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ugh. What a waste of time.

If you want to listen some Canadian joke lecture you about BLM and American politics while tooting his own horn about how wonderful he is then this book is for you. This was a total waste of time and filled with near total fluff. Not worth the 6 bucks at all

[Lynn Cahoon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good overview for all the current distributors/vendors if you're not going Amazon exclusive.

[Ashton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great overview to selling wide

If you're active in the publishing arena, then this book is a must read. Even if you don't sell wide currently, it'a important to keep up to date with what'a happening in the industry.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has given me so many ideas of ways to build my author business. A lot of things I'd never even considered. It's written in a conversational tone, and the author provides numerous examples to entertain the reader. A great addition to any author's tools for success.

[Jenny Bunting · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

As someone who is planning to go wide in the next couple months, this was a good, comprehensive introduction to all the platforms.

However.

The first 50-60% is bloated and a lot of it vague and/or irrelevant to the main themes of this book. The author goes on meandering personal stories that go on too long to make its point. There's also a lot of repetition on key points that it sounds condescending. I also would've loved the author to incorporate more soundbites or interviews from other wide authors, to illustrate his points more richly and broadly, instead of just Erin Wright (who I think is super interesting and a gift to the wide community).

Full disclosure: I did skip some parts that are not relevant to me at this time, but intend to reference, i.e. audiobooks or some obscure markets.

[Blake Wolfe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for people considering going wide with their books! The first third of this book is all about mindset and I found that the most helpful. The rest of the book overviews the different retailers and how they work. Definitely worth the read.

[Clarissa Gosling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helpful and informative. Lots to think about and to implement.

[L.J. Breedlove · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always learn something

Excellent book for all authors faced with the complicated landscape of today’s publishing world. Mark gives you a great overview of the myriad ways you can market your book. Read and apply!
I have read several of his books. And with them all I find myself putting the book down and implementing something before coming back to the book. This book was no different! Read, digest, implement, read some more.
Highly recommend.

[Bonnie Schroeder · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author has a lengthy background in independent publishing and I believe he is a principal with Draft2Digital now, so he knows his stuff. He really, really dislikes Amazon, and it shows. A lot of good information here nonetheless, especially the section on libraries, with useful tips on the different librarians (acquisitions, reference, events) and how to approach them. Good explanation of acronyms, too. This book would be useful for any independently published author.

[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Publishing advice

I guess I went into this book thinking it was going to be more about marketing tips. It's really a how-to guide for people just learning to publish wide, which is something I've only been doing for a few months. I got some good publishing tips, so it was worth the read.

[Michael Lynes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good in parts

Perhaps I should have had different expectations for this book. I did find it useful but it convinced me to stay with Amazon rather than going wide. The exact opposite of the authors’ intention. I wanted to read a book that would guide me through the decision, instead I was presented with a wealth of, sometimes overwhelming, information. The author is highly knowledgeable and a committed author/publisher. I think a second edition could usefully move quite a lot of information to an appendix or an online resource and add a substantial ‘decision tree’ section that would guide authors like me through a series of steps. I was left feeling that there is an evangelical element to the wide decision that isn’t really backed up by the evidence for most authors.

[Michele Amitrani · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot say enough good things about this book.

Mark has crafted the ultimate book for WIDE publishing. This is the first book I read that lead me to think about publishing wide as a mindset, rather then simply a long term strategy.

I am an author who has started publishing wide a collection of novellas. I know little of the subject. I’m constantly learning, and Mark’s book gave me a thousand plus ideas to experiment.

If I had to summarize this book in one world I would sat ‘possibilities’. Wide for the Win is really about that. The endless possibilities an author can unlock if they just stop for a second and think of the whole world that exists outside of Amazon.

And that world is large enough to welcome anyone willing to take the leap and start thinking WIDE.

Highly recommended.

[Chris Boutté · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not exaggerating when I say that this may be one of the only books that you need if you’re a self-published author. When the author sent me a review copy, I was instantly thinking, “Why is this such a long book? The thesis seems pretty straightforward.” It’s true that the thesis is pretty simple to grasp, but this book provides way more than just arguing that you should go wide as a self-published author. After breaking down all of the benefits of going wide and the downsides of being exclusive, this book covers just about everything you need to know. It breaks down every major book distribution platform, how they work, and the pros and cons. Then, it discusses a wide range of marketing strategies as well as how and why you need to get your books in libraries.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The perfect addition to your resource library, whether you're thinking of publishing wide or already publish wide. The author's down to earth writing style makes you feel like you're having a chat over a coffee or a beer with a good friend who is easy to talk to. This book covers a lot of ground from the importance of a wide mindset to practical tips. You're sure to walk away with plenty of food for thought to forge your own path to success as a wide author.

[Marge Phelps · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strategies for indie authors for going global

Very informative told in a relaxed, conversational tone. The book reads like you are having a one-on-one session with Mark. There was a lot about Amazon which surprised me but even though I am quite familiar with Amazon, there were aspects of the platform I was unaware of, so useful on a compare and contrast basis.
Mark offers an insider's viewpoint for anyone seeking to expand their readership.

[Elle Kay · Rating 1 out of 5]

Don't need to be lectured on a US-based anti-cop movement from a Canadian liberal. Returned the book after taking great offense to the author's ignorant anti-police political stance.

[Julio Carlos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mark Leslie, is not only a great writer, author of the Canadian Werewolf series, which we reviewed one fantastic book, Fear and Longing in Los Angeles, which you should check out, but is also a Best-selling author, that, and the fact that he was the Director of Self-Publishing and Author Relations of Kobo AND works with Draft2Digital, tells us that he has lots of experience in the realm of Marketing.

So, today we are not reviewing a book of fiction, BUT, a very practical, simple and straightforward book/guide of marketing that transpires the experience, the know-how, the tricks and the tips of someone that has DECADES of experienced, tried and proven success when it comes to the Traditional Publishing world and the Self-Publishing world, both in terms of writing and marketing.

IF, dear readers, this author didn’t have the sales record, the success and the accolades to back-up his claims on this book, well, then, we wouldn’t be recommending it to you, you can be assured of that. Plus, another reason why we decided to go “outside” our sphere of reviewing fiction, is because we know that many of you are writers, and Scribble’s is here to help you on your success as such.


A side fact here, just you and me, this book has the best Intro in the marketing world, and you should totally check out the books of Erin Wright. Moving on then!

The first cool fact about this book is the narrative. Narrative? Wait, this isn’t fiction, why are we talking about narrative? LOL, because…. the way Mark explains things, in a very friendly, conversational and light manner, makes this book captivating at once. I mean, who would ever think in reading the glossary? YES! You will read the Glossary, because… the way Mark explains the terms, you will not only get the definition, but you will get insights into how things work instantly! It’s super fun and I would never thought that one day I’d do this.

Yes, don’t skip the glossary because it has MANY terms, that are used around the publishing and writing world that newbie writers, and even experienced writers don’t have a proper clue of what they are really about, and that is crucial and a big advantage in the game. Thank you Mark.

Mark’s conversational narrative will keep you, not only informed, but entertained and engaged on reading this book, because, as you will notice, this isn’t fiction, so boredom is a huge problem, yeah. You will LAUGH while learning, which is something really, really cool and rather effective when it comes to marketing, because if I found this book on a store and read a few pages, I’d buy it without second thoughts, mind that. THIS is how you should write a marketing book, proving, once again, that Mark can teach you to get the job done when it comes to increasing your sales. Excellent!

Something that you want to know, right off the batch, is that “WIDE for the win” shouldn’t be seen as a “one-read-and-go” book. No. This is a guide, a manual of a type of mindset and approach when it comes to selling and marketing your books, this is a book that will “follow and guide your journey” on the WIDE spectrum of things.

The main objective of this book, it seems, is to show writers that there is MORE than just Amazon when it comes to publishing, that there are other outlets, many times better than Amazon when it comes to individual tastes, because, let’s face it writers, the competition in there is just too brutal and needless. This, and to also help those who are on Amazon to thrive with their books, which is super nice!

Given that I, personally, read many “teaching” books, I can confirm the veracity of the effectiveness of Mark’s approach due to the objective, detached and quasi-scientific approach of transmitting the knowledge that he has, without closing, or narrowing the scope of possible thoughts of the reader, or, in plain-speak, letting the reader take conclusions for himself while presenting his own views. This is very nice, and respectful from Mark, making this book even more effective in delivering its message.

To point this, Mark talks, in his oh-so-Canadian way about Amazon and his non-hate for it, which we totally understand, and he explains his positions in a very positive, mature light while bringing his points forward with grace and firmness but letting the reader take out their own conclusions on the overall topic. It’s lovely.


Mark approaches things here VERY realistically and bluntly. No beating around the bush, no going round and telling irrelevant stories, no. He tells you what you should know, whether you like it or not. You know you can trust his words, because he shows the worries of writers and how writers themselves can have those worries solved, and the many marketing paths they can take in a given situation, not by showing things in a “do-this-when-that-happens” fashion, but by first and foremost working on the mind-set and approaching the way writers should think about such problems and situations.

One of the points that Mark uses to “mark” his approaches are the games that Amazon pulls towards indie writers when it comes to KDP Select, KU and the whole Amazon “exclusivity” program, to which we fully agree and it’s really an eye-opener to indie-writers. This book will makes waves, big ones… E. Wright also comes with GREAT points here on the matter, while also showing techniques on how to better achieve the “WIDE” performance that many authors need.

Wide for the win, and I have to stress this fact, is not simply a book about marketing strategies for your book. It’s a guide on a new type of mind-set that will redefine the way you think about your career as a writer, AND as you market your books.


It is a marketing book, but it’s not only a marketing book, because in order for you to understand the marketing strategies that Mark tells you, you HAVE to be on the proper mind-set, so please, do not skip chapters and go to the marketing part, and if you are not willing to change your perspectives on the way you go about your career, are satisfied with the results you are getting, and you don’t want more, well, this probably isn’t the book marketing book for you. BUT! If you want to give it an honest try, and learn how to give more stability to your book revenues, and reach those 4, 5 and 6 figure incomes from your books, then, this is the book for you.

A SUPER eye-opener, and a LIFE-SAVER for experienced writers, be them indie/self-published, and especially for newbie writers, and no matter what your level is, you are still going to learn a LOT from this book and profit even more from the advices and techniques of Mark Leslie. So, before you go and buy a bunch of ads on AMS, do read this book, this is the crash-course that you as a writer need to boost your sales and your career.

Ps: Don’t be daunted by the 400+ pages of this book, it’s just the format. You will read this in a blink of an eye. It’s easy on the eye, entertaining, with practical easy to understand methods, resources and suggestions when it comes to marketing your book. You’ll read this in no-time at all. Trust us.

Pros:
Excellent approach when it comes to passing the message
Excellent way of illustrating things and convincing the writer on what he needs to do to get better results
Clear paths of action with resources inside the book
No-pressure, open-end approach on things
Great humour and narrative
LOTS of tactics to get where you want
A realistic setting of expectations when it comes to results
Short, straight to the point chapters
Easy to read book layout

Cons:
Although the book is throughout cool, there are a chapter or two in there that could’ve been shortened, due to the personal stories that although made a point, deviated a little from the topic.

Score: 9.7/10

[Tikiri Herath · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that every author should read, regardless of how they plan to publish.

I didn’t pick this book up earlier because I thought the WIDE approach was what I would do once I had a few books out and had got to know the biggest retailer well.

This book showed me how much more advantageous it is to understand the complete ecosystem of the publishing universe to make more astute and wiser decisions from the beginning.

I loved the emphasis on having the right WIDE mindset—an important topic which is usually omitted in other publishing books.

Even though Mark recommends the WIDE approach, he provides perspectives from other authors who differ as well. I always like to hear both sides of a story and come to conclusions myself, so this more balanced viewpoint ratcheted up my respect for this book and the author.

Using humor, but more importantly, sharing detailed tactics on how to go WIDE is what makes this book invaluable. I highlighted the heck out of it and will be keeping this close as a reference guide.

Because the publishing world moves very quickly, I caught a few areas where the information was outdated, BUT Mark gives a link to his website at the end of this book where he maintains updated information. That is supremely helpful.

I finished this book feeling optimistic and excited. Going WIDE doesn’t seem as difficult or out of reach anymore. This book opened up more doors to me, giving me new venues and platforms to share my stories. Thank you, Mark.

I cannot recommend this book enough. And I would suggest it to new and experienced authors alike.

Ten stars!

[Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Review

This was such a well-written and engaging read. The perfect reference and guide for any aspiring authors out there who are hoping to get a handle on the new directions that self-publishing and the electronic book era have brought, the author does an excellent job of balancing conversational tones that make up the majority of this book and the research that is evident in every chapter.

The thing that stood out to me immediately was the way the author delved into so many different facets of publishing in today’s market. From the exclusivity benefits and negative effects of Kindle exclusive releases to the discoverability of box sets for those who are seeking to release a series of books at once, this book has something for everyone. What is perfect about this book is that authors who have specific questions or concerns about their work and publishing can find something to help in here, with each chapter and section marked carefully to help pinpoint and allow the reader to find each detail carefully.

The Verdict

A remarkable, educational, and thought-provoking non-fiction read for readers and aspiring authors alike, author Mark Leslie Lefebvre’s “Wide for the Win” is a must-read book of 2021. The perfect tool and reference book for those who are hoping to crack into the complex world of self-publishing and marketing their work, this book will allow readers to weave their way through this complex market with finesse and knowledge that few are able to grasp within their first year or two in the market. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

[Taryn Moreau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great overall approach to being an author with lots of solid advice, even for authors in 2025.

That said, I think Wide for the Win would have been stronger if it kept its focus on the why of going wide and the high-level strategies that tend to work. Well, actually, I'm sure this book works well as an e-book. The audiobook format is a bit awkward to navigate, since I had to listen to long lists and details that were irrelevant to me and, sometimes, outdated, but I hesitated to skip ahead in places in case I missed something.

Wide for the Win is a great book to skim for tactics in addition to building a more core strategy. I prefer resources like Sarra Cannon's Heartbreathings courses and content, but this book definitely strategy my mind when it comes to what "wide" can look like and all of the opportunities out there!

[Lorelei Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book incredibly helpful. It was written in a way that made it super easy to read and understand the information, with enough personality and real life to keep me ploughing through. As someone who had no idea how to even begin going WIDE but was tired of living with the anxiety of Amazon having control of my business, this book was exactly what I needed. It gave me the perfect amount of information to get me started on the path with a lot more confidence than I had before. I highly recommend this book for anyone thinking about going WIDE but feeling overwhelmed by it all or having no idea where to start.

[F. Stephan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read book for all aspiring writers

(but not too fast in your carreer)

an incredible book which opened my eyes to a dozen publishing options opened to authors going wide. So, a 100% must-read if you wish to leave Amazon.

But not too fast because it's so dense. If you haven't started on your path to go wide, it's going to be hard to understand all the benefits you can get from his book. I was thrilled to read it but marked half the pages for a reread or further analysis.

A book I highly recommend

[Miranda Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have been self published for a long time, and I was looking for some help with going wide. I felt this book had some tips but was mostly full of padding. The first half deals with whether or not to stay exclusive with KDP (Amazon) and the author used other people's articles (with permission) about this (one a particular anti-Amazon take), to flesh this out.

The author talks a lot about their success - not least making money off other author by selling this kind of book - despite them actually starting in self-publishing years ago, long before it became the challenge it is today. This book is also four years old and some of the information is already dated. This book is a platform to upsell, things like courses by Mark Dawson (who sells how to get published courses for extortiate amounts of money - when you get them free from people like David Gaughran and Dave Chesson (Kindlepreneur)), and also for his courses and other books.

He is one of the founders of a facebook group called Wide for the Win, that does has some valuable information, but is also a conduit for those selling courses to authors. I paid 100 dollars to one of the founders for a course, but realised it was just a single video (though a long one) from a webinar they'd done, and even though I had questions there was no option to get them answered. Shame.

I skim read this book. And although there were bits that were interesting, it didn't offer much that was new to me. Personally there are better places to get this information.

[Sequoyah Branham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lefebvre has written a very introductory kind of book to the idea of selling books wide. I appreciate that he goes deeper than just having your book available in more than one place.
He gives an overview of many different channels available to authors and some ways they can be used in a wide model.

I read this book in the spare moments while I was waiting places and because of the layout that worked really well. Many sections are only a couple (ebook) pages long making it doable in short spurts.

[Julie Cordiner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Comprehensive account of the reasons for publishing wide rather than with Amazon exclusivity and with good tips on the approach to different platforms. However, given that I am already committed to wide indie publishing, I felt it was too heavy on persuasion. There was a lot of repetition in the detailed information about the various platforms. Could have been shorter and written more efficiently.

[Marina Pacheco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whether you have or are planning to publish wide or exclusive, traditional or indie this is a must read book. Mark’s extensive experience in the book industry and as an author of fiction and non fiction gives this book a depth and breadth few other “how to” books on publishing manage. This book is jam packed with information and sensible advice. I read it right through once and will be coming back to it as a reference work for years to come.

[Adam Collings · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mark Leslie Lefebvre is a trusted voice in the self-publishing world. In this book, he goes into detail on the mindset and strategies needed to successfully publish wide (and why you should). He also discusses the variety of services and options for eBooks, print, audio, and getting into libraries.

Essential reading for anyone who wants to publish their books beyond just Amazon.

[Sarah Butland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant! The time is now to read this book. I don't like that I didn't read it many books ago, but I can't let that stop me from going wide next time.

This Mark and Erin break everything down in small nuggets of big wisdom fountains, motivating and inspiring me to win through publishing.

If you're interested in publishing a book, read this book before you do.

[N. Lang · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great information, even if you are wide!

Wow! Very informative. Even if you are already wide with your books. Still a lot of great into. Like did you know Libraries buy at a bigger price then the consumer? Get it!