Description

Thinking about publishing a book — but not sure where to begin? You’re in the right place.

Most people who want to publish have all the talent and commitment they need. They get stuck because publishing is brand new to them, and no one has explained what it actually involves. Ready, Set, Publish! is the orientation no one gives you: a friendly, no-hype tour of how publishing really works, what decisions lie ahead, and why they matter — before you spend a dollar or pick a single tool.

Straightforward explanations

Drawing on many years in publishing and a decade teaching first-time authors, Mike McCandless explains editing, design, formatting, cover art, ISBNs, distribution, and marketing in plain English. You’ll move forward with steadier footing, realistic expectations, and the confidence that you aren’t missing something essential.

This is not a get-rich-quick scheme. It’s honest basic training for the journey from “someday” to “it’s live.” Book 1 of the Publish It Yourself! Series.

You’ll get a working understanding of:

• Traditional, independent, and self-publishing — what each actually involves, and which fits your goals
• Editing, cover design, and formatting — what to expect, what it costs, where to spend
• The major self-publishing platforms (Amazon KDP, Draft2Digital, IngramSpark, Lulu, and others) with honest pros and cons
• Print-on-demand explained, including the real royalty math with real numbers
• Distribution strategy: when to go “narrow” with one channel and when to go “wide”
• Building an author brand without becoming a marketing robot
• Email lists, social media, and an online presence that fit your goals, not someone else’s playbook
• Audiobooks, merchandise, and revenue streams beyond the printed page
• Writer’s block, negative reviews, and the human side of writing for an audience
• Copyright, contracts, ISBNs, taxes, and trademarks — the business stuff no one warns you about
• What AI, international markets, and the next wave of technology mean for indie authors

Practical tools you’ll actually use:

• A marketing and promotion checklist
• Sample publishing and distribution timelines
• 50+ frequently asked questions, answered honestly
• A glossary of 130+ publishing terms so you can speak the language with confidence

This book is for you if:

• You have a manuscript (or an idea for one) and don’t know what comes next
• You’ve watched a YouTube video on KDP and felt more confused, not less
• You’re considering self-publishing and want the honest picture before investing time and money
• You’re a subject-matter expert, memoirist, novelist, or hobbyist who wants to publish without being taken for a ride

It isn’t for you if you’re shopping for a “publish a book by Friday, quit your job by Monday” promise. There are plenty of those books. Put this one back.

Ready, Set, Publish!is Book 1 in the Publish It Yourself! Series — a curriculum designed to carry first-time authors from orientation, through writing prompts, into hands-on KDP instruction, and on to AI-assisted workflows. Start here, and the rest of the series makes sense. Skip the hype. Build the foundation. Publish with confidence.