Publish Like the Pros: A Brief Guide to Quality Self-Publishing

Publish Like the Pros: A Brief Guide to Quality Self-Publishing is a must-read for new authors who want to get it right when self-publishing their books. Self-publishing is a perplexing and ever-shifting landscape; it's easy for authors to get taken in by self-publishing companies that promise the moon but don't deliver. In just 88 pages, Publish Like the Pros takes the confusion out of self-publishing and gives authors the six steps to publishing quality professional books that don't scream "I'm self-published!!" The self-publishing author will find everything he or she needs to get started, including cover design, book titles, typesetting, editing, and proofreading, and a special chapter on book distribution, pricing and marketing.

Written by a book designer with years of experience working with both first-time authors and seasoned publishers, Publish Like the Pros speaks directly to new authors who want to publish a book that they can feel proud of and that sells!

...Industry leaders praise "Publish Like the Pros":

DeFilippo has written a complete overview of the book industry and the publishing process that will allow both authors and self-publishers to make their way through the self-publishing process quickly and successfully. I was amazed at the up-to-date insights and money-saving advice in this book! Want to do it right? Want to avoid a lot of the mistakes that plague first time self-publishers? Read Publish Like the Pros and call 1106 Design.
—Amy Collins, owner of The Cadence Group and New Shelves Distribution, http://ww.thecadencegrp.com/distribution

Traditional self-publishing has been hijacked (I should know!). Authors who follow the “do-it-yourself” approach recommended by self-serving POD publishers soon discover that plain covers do not attract buyers. In Publish Like the Pros: A Brief Guide to Quality Self-Publishing, Michele DeFilippo explains how quality books have always been created—with an eye to the future. Armed with this advice, authors can take full advantage of today’s unprecedented opportunity to distribute and promote their books without middlemen, and successfully compete in the book publishing industry.
—Dan Poynter, author of The Self-Publishing Manual

As a book shepherd who turns unpublished writers into well-published authors, I'm constantly guiding authors away from cheap junk and toward choices that create a book that looks and sounds as good as or better than anything coming out of the big publishers. DeFilippo's pleas for professionalism will be very helpful in convincing my clients that it's much better to self-publish the right way—if you want to create a book that will sell copies and influence people.
—Shel Horowitz, book shepherd and book marketing specialist, http://shelhorowitz.com

Michele DeFilippo has worked in various aspects of the book publishing industry since 1972. 1106 Design was founded in 2001, when independent publishing first began. As of 2025, the company has produced more than 4,000 books and enjoys an outstanding industry reputation.