Author, Publisher, Entrepreneur
How to Publish a Book
How to Publish a Book
Welcome to the APE: Author, Publisher, Entrepreneur—How to Publish a Book website. This site contains all the information you need to buy, review, and use APE.
In 2011 the publisher of Guy Kawasaki’s New York Times bestseller, Enchantment, could not fill an order for 500 ebook copies of the book. Because of this experience, Guy self-published his next book, What the Plus! and learned first-hand that self-publishing is a complex, confusing, and idiosyncratic process. As Steve Jobs said, “There must be a better way.”
With Shawn Welch, a tech wizard, Guy wrote APE to help people take control of their writing careers by publishing their books. The thesis of APE is simple but powerful: When a self-publisher successfully fills three roles—author, publisher and entrepreneur—the potential benefits are greater than with traditional publishing.
Guy and Shawn call this “artisanal publishing.”
Artisanal publishing features writers who love their craft, and who control every aspect of the process from beginning to end. In this new approach, writers are no longer at the mercy of large, traditional publishers, and readers will have more books to read.
APE is 300 pages of tactical and practical inspiration. People who want a hype-filled, get-rich-quick book should look elsewhere. On the other hand, if you want a comprehensive and realistic guide to self-publishing, APE is for you.
“There must be a better way.”
- Steve Jobs
“As digitization creates a revolutionary opportunity for writers to become their own publishers a new self-publishing infrastructure has emerged. This book will become the standard guide to this new publishing universe.”
Jason Epstein, former editorial director of Random House and co-founder of On Demand Books.
“Nuts, bolts, and inspiration too. Once again, Guy delivers, kicking the shiitake out of anyone who would tell you that you shouldn’t, wouldn’t or couldn’t write a book.”
Seth Godin, author and founder of The Icarus Project.
“Guy’s book is the perfect companion on the journey of independent publishing and great reading for the millions who aspire to become authors.”
Atif Rafiq, General Manager, Kindle Direct Publishing at Amazon.com
“APE is easily the most comprehensive, best organized, nuts-and-bolts-useful work on self-publishing I’ve seen to date. I think Guy has written the bible on self-publishing, and I expect it will be recognized—and widely used—as such.”
Barry Eisler, bestselling novelist of the John Rain series including The Detachment, Requiem for an Assassin, and The Last Assassin.
Kindle Ebook
$9.99
Printed Book
$24.99 $16.49
We have decided to remain exclusive to Amazon. At this time we have no immediate plans to release the book on other ebook platforms. However, Amazon has free Kindle apps available on almost any device: Mobile Phone, Tablet, PC, Windows, or even in a web browser at read.amazon.com.
Take this quiz to determine how much you already know about self-publishing.
Enter basic information about your book, and this tool will calculate your approximate royalty.
APE contains over 350 hyperlinks. If you own the ebook version, all you need to do is click on them. But if you own the printed version, use this page to navigate to the hyperlinks.
Check out the APE Pinterest board created by the enchanting +Peg Fitzpatrick.
The IBPA offers extensive discounts to self-publishers ranging from FedEx shipping to wholesale discounts at Lightning Source. Click the link below to become a member.
Disclaimer: We have no ties to IBPA or any motivations other than making things easier for authors. This is just a suggestion, we get nothing if you sign up (non-affiliate link used).
We’ve made a lot of great downloadable resources available for APE. We only ask that you share this page on your social network before you download them. It’s quick, it’s easy, and it helps people learn about the greatness that is APE!
The following downloads are available after you share this page on your social network:
Use the MCAT to test copyeditors. The copyeditor of APE, Rachelle Mandik, created this test. Send the test document to copyeditors and ask them to “Track changes while editing.” (If the copyeditor doesn’t know how to do this, it’s an automatic fail.) Then compare their copyedits to Rachelle’s answer key.
Use this Word document to write your non-fiction or fiction books. The document contains the sections and Word styles used to create a book that’s easy to organize and lay out.
Use this InDesign document to lay out your book. It contains the InDesign styles to lay out your book without having to learn InDesign from scratch.
Use this contract template to hire editors, designers, and other consultants. This document protects you and the consultants that you hire in an equitable manner.
Guy Kawasaki is the author of APE, What the Plus!, Enchantment, and nine other books. He is also the co-founder of Alltop.com, an “online magazine rack” of popular topics on the web. Previously, he was the chief evangelist of Apple. Kawasaki has a BA from Stanford University and an MBA from UCLA as well as an honorary doctorate from Babson College.
Shawn Welch is the author of From Idea to App, iOS 5 Core Frameworks, and iOS 6 for Developers as well as the developer of several iOS apps. Previously he worked as a senior media-editor for Pearson Education. He also helped pioneer many of Pearson’s earliest efforts in iPad solutions. Welch has a BS from Kansas State University.
Photograph Downloads for use in reviews. (Click to download)
Guy Kawasaki
Shawn Welch
Cover Download
APE Cover (1563×2500)
© 2012 Guy Kawasaki and Shawn Welch, All Rights Reserved
Wordpress template designed by TeoThemes, modified by Shawn Welch
Header photograph taken by RC Concepcion
