What is "book self-publishing help" ?

Let's say you have a book you want to publish.

     Maybe it's your novel.  Maybe it's about your religion.  Maybe it's the history of your town.  Maybe you're an antique pickup truck enthusiast and you figure publishing a book could help you earn some money giving talks at antique car events.

     But whatever it may be, let's say you have a book project and you are giving it a serious effort.

     So let's say you've gotten the materials together.  You've written the text and you've probably got the text typed into a computer file.  If there are pictures maybe you have them inserted in the file where they belong.

     I hope you've had somebody who you trust proofread the text for errors.  I hope you have familiarized yourself with copyright law and got permission from anyone whose rights you'd be violating otherwise, for example with the pictures or quotations.

     Now what's next?  Well, what do you want to do?  There are lots of possibilities.

     Do you want to manufacture some paperback books?  Maybe just a few to give away or maybe a supply of them to sell at antique car events.

     And do you want to put your book out on the internet?  Maybe that's the main thing you have in mind, like with an e-book, or else you might just figure the internet could help with publicity.

     There are many possibilities.

     So how do you do all that?  It's true that self-publishing is much easier now with digital technology.  But still, chances are you don't have all the skills required to do everything you'd like to do with this project.

     Well, maybe you should hire an expert specialist to do some aspects of the work.

Who am I ?

     My name is Stone Riley.  I'm an old computer software engineer retired after 36 years in that profession, also with a second career as a writer, painter and digital artist.  I have self-published several books of my own and also helped other people do it.

     So this line of work is like my two disparate professions are finally coming together.

What can I do for you ?

     If you need advice to choose a publishing method and company, I can offer that.  And I can prepare your book's computer files for input, doing everything that is possible to get the product you expect in the setting you select.  I can do this with either physical or electronic books.

     Furthermore, if you hired me, you'd get an engineer.  We would do it properly.  First we would agree on what I am expected to produce and then agree on what you would pay me.

     Also, if the job is big I would do the work in small separate steps, giving you the files produced by each step, so that even if you fired me half way through, you'd still get something useful.

     And we would have everything documented in clearly worded e-mails.  All of that is normal business for a software engineer.

     And by the way, I am an artist too; I also do book covers, layouts, typography, picture editing, etc.

     But let's be clear on what I will not do.  I will not give you legal advice.  I will not give advice on how to sell the book.  And I will not take over management of your project; you are the boss and I will not do anything without your direction.

     I certainly will produce some useful work before sending the first bill but I will not continue work if you fail to pay your bills as stipulated in our agreement.  (By the way, I've never sued a client yet.)  And all of that is normal business too.

How much will it cost ?

     Or, anyway, do you even need me beyond a little chat?  If you do, we can probably reach a reasonable agreement.  Just send an e-mail and let's discuss your project.  Of course there will not be any charge for that first consultation.

You can click here to send an e-mail: stone60@aol.com

Or view some sample book covers: Book Cover Gallery

Or visit my main art website: www.stoneriley.com