A few weeks ago I finally finished the manuscript for my upcoming book: The Simple Path to Wealth.
Whew!
While that’s great news (at least to me), the challenge now is to take it from manuscript to publication, which I plan to do with Amazon.
These next steps are going to require professional help. Since I’ve not done this before, I’ve been sorting out what those steps are and how to find the best people for them.
And the best place to start that search, it seems to me, is right here. After all, the readers of jlcollinsnh.com are the smartest, most talented, most professional and most competent group of folks on the planet. From what I’ve seen, the best looking too.
Indeed, already I’ve engaged outstanding talent from your ranks:
- Lucas, who now provides all the tech support that keeps things humming along so smoothly around here these days and who spearheaded the recent redesign.
- Tim, my book editor, and without whom there would be no finished manuscript.
- Mr. Money Mustache, who has graciously written the Foreword for this book.
- And, of course, Joan and Brian who are responsible for my now famous (infamous?) F-you video.
The fact that these people all love this blog and respect its mission, makes their efforts all the more compelling.
So if you feel the same way, would like to join their ranks and (importantly!) have one of the professional skills listed below needed to make this book the absolute best it can be, please let me know.
Here’s what I’m looking for:
Proofreader. Tim, my editor, has created a list of specific things to check, along with the usual grammar and punctuation.
Fact checker. It has already been fact checked by Go Curry Cracker and The Mad Fientist, two of the financial bloggers I most highly respect. However this was mostly for the concepts presented. They are not professional fact checkers. Now I need a fact-checking pro to carefully comb thru it looking for errors like the one Doug found here.
Interior layout and design. Fonts, margins, lists, sidebars, headlines etc. I know I could do this myself on Amazon, and many do. But in my view this is a highly skilled task best done professionally and by someone who understands what best works for the book’s message.
Book size. Again, I’d be looking for guidance as to what the physical size of the book should be. I suspect there is research as to what works best for each book type.
Cover design. The vast majority of book covers leave me cold. Especially those done for non-fiction books. But a great cover can make all the difference and, again, I suspect there is research as to what works best for each book type.
Marketing. I’m fairly confident the book will do well in this FI community of ours. But I’ve been told it also has the potential to break out to a much wider audience. However, to make this happen will require a professional marketing effort.
Other important task that needs to be done and that I’ve overlooked. Tell me what it is and why you’re the one to do it.
If you are interested, please send me an email: jlcollinsnh@comcast.net and…
- Put the task you are interested in on the subject line.
- Tell me about your professional experience in doing this.
- Share samples of your work.
- Tell me what you charge.
- Tell me anything else you’d like me to know.
Please only respond if you have professional experience in this stuff. While engaging readers who are enthusiastic supporters of this blog and it’s mission is important, that alone is not enough.
I’d also like to hear from any of you who have been thru this book publishing process, especially with Amazon. I’m very much a newbie trying to sort thru all the tasks and processes that need to be done.
So if you can tell me any steps I’m missing, describe in detail how to upload everything to Amazon once it is ready, provide guidance as to timing the process of hitting the publish button once all this prep is done and/or share your experience, please do so in the comments below. That way, other readers interested might also benefit.
Thanks in advance for your help!
And thanks, too, to all of you who have asked about the book over these last couple of years and who have encouraged me to get on with it and keep going. Your interest and enthusiasm has meant more to me than you know.
Addendum:
Recently I was interviewed by Hahna Kane for the Master Your Money Summit. We had a blast!
Here are some more: As Seen On
Speaking of books, here’s what I’ve been reading recently and recommend:
One in a series of novels
Interestingly, it references Bertie Wooster.
Southern missionary packs up his family and heads to the Congo. It doesn’t go well. Narrated in rotating chapters by his wife and four daughters. Compelling tale very well told. Amazing as the style and tone shifts between her narrators.
Predicting the future is risky business, but Ross makes an interesting case for how markets are changing and what industries are driving the change. Given the current political debate here in the US, I especially enjoyed his section: The Geography of Future Markets.
