How to Self-Publish Like a Pro: Tips from 5 Bestselling Authors Who Left Big Publishers

Self-publishing has become an increasingly popular option for authors in recent years. But is it the right choice for you and your book? This series on self-publishing will walk you through everything you need to know about how to self-publish a book.

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How to Self-Publish a Book

Is Self-Publishing Right for You?

The indie publishing landscape has continued to evolve rapidly in recent years. While the typical success story often focuses on unknown authors turning into bestsellers, many established and traditionally published writers are now opting to self-publish as well. Let’s look at some of the major authors who have gone indie since 2020 and how they navigated the process.

In 2021, bestselling novelist Dean Koontz decided to self-publish his new novel The Other Emily after parting ways with Amazon Publishing due to creative differences. Koontz called the experience “liberating” and appreciated having full control over the book’s release and marketing. He partnered with Author Services Inc., a self-publishing company associated with his literary agency, to produce and distribute the book. It became a New York Times bestseller.

Popular thriller author Greg Iles also went indie in 2021, self-publishing his novella Black Cross through his own production company Mississippi Son Publishing. He wanted more flexibility with pricing and to make it permanently free to readers. Iles said he found the process smooth and plans to release more self-published works.

Celebrity chef Paula Deen decided to self-publish her cookbooks starting in 2020 after her previous publisher terminated her contract over a racial controversy. She launched her own imprint Paula Deen Books and released several new titles focused on Southern comfort food recipes. Deen said self-publishing allowed her more creative freedom and direct fan interaction.

In 2020, bestselling novelist Laura Lippman left her longtime publisher William Morrow to self-publish the digital release of her backlist under the banner Relegation Books. Citing better royalties and artistic control, she plans to continue publishing frontlist titles traditionally while her backlist goes indie. Lippman used conversion and distribution services like Draft2Digital.

Popular cartoonist Scott Adams, creator of Dilbert, began self-publishing both print and ebooks of his non-fiction work starting with Loserthink in 2019. Adams enjoys the higher royalty rate and faster speed to market that self-publishing provides. He uses Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing and CreateSpace platforms.

While self-publishing is certainly not for every author, these recent examples illustrate how it can be a viable and rewarding path even for established names who want more independence over their creative work and publication process. By leveraging distribution platforms and services tailored for indie authors, they gain flexibility and control without sacrificing reach.

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