Self-publishers have a lot on their plates. Not only do they have to write what they want to publish, but they also need to know where to look for experts to assist them in the publishing process. Perhaps an author has plenty of time but little know-how or maybe he or she has the know-how, but is under a time crunch due to other obligations. Finding those who are not only good at what they do, but who are also a good fit for the writer and their publishing goals can be a time-consuming task in and of itself.
Authors Joel Friedlander and Betty Kelly Sargent both have extensive experience in self-publishing (Ms. Sargent has also worked with some big names in traditional publishing). This lends credibility to their collective abilities to provide a resource guide that is well researched and well thought out. In theory, THE SELF-PUBLISHER’S ULTIMATE RESOURCE GUIDE works to alleviate the time crunch. While none of the information offered is proprietary and can easily be found online, it is a time saver to have a centralized source to start with. In reality, however, it is still left to the reader to research further the listings offered. A writer should do their due diligence, of course, but there is no rating system for the entries, nor is there any indication about how those listed were vetted. On a budget? No dollar ranges are listed for applicable entries, and so there’s no way to know which would fit into those particular confines. Given the nature of the internet, the information may also quickly go out of date, something the authors note along with an email address to submit ideas for entry into the next edition. Generally, THE SELF-PUBLISHER’S ULTIMATE RESOURCE GUIDE is well laid out, divided into three main sections—Prepare, Publish, and Promote. The subsections of each are clearly set apart and include a brief description of exactly what the subsection entails, and why a self-publisher should consider using someone from a particular subsection. Each service-related listing in the subsections include the city and state, telephone number, email, website address, and exactly what their specialties are. All entries appear to be United States based, which may prove to be problematic for writers in other countries, depending on their preferences.
THE SELF-PUBLISHER’S ULTIMATE RESOURCE GUIDE is a good starting point, leaving time to track down more needed specifics.
~IndieReader.