3266 - OLLI Workshop: How to Easily Self-Publish an eBook or Print Book (Steven Simon)
Course Description
Instructor: Steven Simon, Ph. D.
How great would it be to see your own book printed and on sale within days? Self-publishing a book has become easier and faster than ever, and usually at no cost. However, for the uninitiated, making the right choices and following through can seem like a daunting task. Focusing on non-fiction such as self-help and personal growth, memoirs, autobiographies, history, hobbies, instructional guides/manuals, and family history, this course will teach how to take your manuscript quickly to print. We will use instruction, illustrations, and samples to show how to self- publish your creation as an ebook, paperback, or hard-cover. The course will include comparison of 3 of the most highly rated publishing platforms with respect to factors such as ease of use, book covers, formatting and software for submission, front matter to include, how to submit, costs, marketing value, and expected profits from sales. This will help you choose one or more platforms that will best help you reach your publishing intent quickly and simply. We will also discuss book pricing. Finally, we will introduce some basic marketing strategies for self-published books.
Instructor will recommend a few books to purchase.
*Open to public for registration.
Bio: Steve has had a lengthy career as a counseling psychologist, administrator, company CEO, university faculty member, journal editor, and writer. He has recently self-published several non-fiction ebooks and print books, including 3 of his own. He is familiar with the current platforms for self-publishing and how to use them (without giving up!!). Steve’s company also recently established a new publishing division. He was an active member of the Bay Area Professional Writers Guild (Tampa Bay Area) through which he gave presentations to aspiring writers. He has also written blog articles on writing careers. Steve has a Ph.D. in counseling from Kent State University and a master's in rehabilitation counseling from the University of Florida. He currently is a licensed professional counselor in Georgia, has a private practice in career counseling, does court testimony on disability cases, and is finishing his 5th book, hopefully to be self-published by the time of this course. He has taught graduate courses at Kent State University, The Ohio State University, DePaul University, and the University of South Florida.