The Well-Fed Self-Publisher

“Peter Bowerman has proven to be the single most helpful person in our self-publishing undertaking, and not just once, but many times over. He is a wonderful consultant, very knowledgeable and approachable.

"Even if you are fairly confident of the direction in which you are heading, bouncing your ideas and plans off of Peter, at the very least, will reassure you that you are indeed heading down the best possible path. And if you're new to self-publishing, Peter's experience and wisdom is likely to not only save you money and heartache, as it has us, but dramatically increase your chances of being successful.”

Gary Egeberg & Wayne Raiter, Authors (and self-publishers)
The Forgiveness Myth
www.theforgivenessmyth.com

“Peter played THE key role in developing and refining my book title. This elusive element plagued me during the several years I was writing. My subject required particular sensitivity and a nuanced title/subtitle/sub-subtitle combination to capture and balance almost conflicting communication requirements.

"Peter stayed with me, and kept at it, digging deep and deeper until he hit paydirt. He dug up a gold nugget of a title, for which I am profoundly grateful. The more I live with 'Notes from the Waiting Room,' the more I love it. It captures the pensive aspects of the book, and suggests the environment from which the book's offerings emanate. Peter, you did good.”

Bart Windrum, Author
Notes from the Waiting Room:
Managing a Loved One's End-of-Life Hospitalization
(Includes: Choosing End-of-Life Care Without Hospitalization)

"Before I read Peter’s book, The Well-Fed Self Publisher, I had no idea what it meant to publish a ‘legit’ book (read, not a vanity press title). Without having Peter as my consultant, I would never have been able to untangle the maze that is the publishing industry.

He’s helped me with back cover copy, title selection, press releases and direct mailers to name a few. Peter has been my mentor, my business confidant and my coach. He has gone above and beyond simply answering my never ending list of questions to go that extra step to help me be successful in my endeavor. He is passionate, smart, easy to work with…the list goes on and on. I plan on keeping him on my ‘team’ indefinitely."

(From an author whose book title I questioned as not fitting her subject nor truly doing her whole book concept justice. I suggested an alternative, and she wrote…)

“The transformation from ‘The Color Book’ to ‘Art Sparks!’ is ingenious. I originally thought the intent of my book was a focus on creating art with color, when actually the book really is about generating ideas and motivating young ones to spark and ignite their own ideas using color! It took your sharp eye to discern this most important, necessary change and change an ambiguous title into a highly focused one. It was an invaluable shift that places the emphasis where it needs to be – on the development of creative ideas! Thanks, Peter for your unique vision.”

(She also had me rewrite her back cover copy and when she saw the result, wrote):

“Wow, I’m speechless! You have such a gift. You really put a fantastic spin on the type. I truly am in awe of your talents and ease of creation. I can’t thank you enough. You saved my title and helped me out so much!”

"Even after I read Peter Bowerman's books, the insight he offered in his consulting role was priceless. He steered me to the right cover designer and the level of editing my novel really needed. In hindsight I can tell that his advice made the critical difference between a total disaster and a book launch with a real shot. Anyone investing the time and money to launch a book shouldn't be asking whether they can afford to retain Peter. Ask whether you can afford not to."

Update from Bob to his creative team in early January 2015:

When I first spoke to Peter, I was set to settle for a copyedit from the printer, and he persuaded me (took some doing) that I really needed professional editing—no matter how good I thought the book was. That advice made all the difference in the world.

The Making of the Lamb has won this year’s Gold Medal in the General Fiction category of this year’s Illumination Awards (recognizing exemplary books in the ever-growing Christian branch of publishing). The book would never have achieved this level of excellence without Kristen and Mason’s editing, Peri’s cover design, Peter’s counsel, or Ian’s artwork. You all deserve to share in this and use it as a credential to promote your own professional efforts.

“Thank goodness I ran across Peter before my company’s book (written by the firm’s principals) went to print. In short order, he gave us advice that saved us an immeasurable amount of money ($40,000 if I had to guess). Peter’s straightforward advice on how to create a GREAT subtitle helped us to take our plan for this book to the next level!

"We were missing a simple yet crucial element and Peter saved us. What I enjoyed most about working with him? He didn’t tell us what we needed to do; he asked strategic and focused questions that helped my whole team really get behind the changes we needed to make.”

“With 'Led Zeppelin' in your title, you’d better do things right. Especially if you’ve never published a book before. When we begged Peter to mentor us, he was as excited as we were. Wow! Enthusiasm and expertise! His diplomatic critique of our website was devastating. He shot holes in our blimp, but he was bang-on. He helped patch up our site in time to ride the wave of international publicity for Zeppelin’s O2 Arena reunion gig.

"Peter’s mantra: build demand for your book. Our website does that. People can’t wait to buy our books. We’ve earned a reputation for solid research and brand-new info. We’ve developed incredible rapport with our audience, largely by emulating the way Peter has treated us. He’s smart. Sincere. And a hoot to work with. He treats your book as his own.

"Recently, we asked for help with book pricing and shipping charges. Concerned we were paying too much for our printing, he shopped around. Care and commitment? Priceless. Thank you, Peter, for helping us get the Led out.”

Frank Reddon, Author
Lou Anne Reddon,Editor
SONIC BOOM: The Impact of Led Zeppelin
www.enzepplopedia.com

“Trying to brand and promote yourself is, to paraphrase Churchill, like standing in a bucket and trying to lift yourself up by the handle. Although I've had a successful career in creative communications, when time came to promote my book, I saw the need for outside opinions.

“Enter Peter Bowerman. His on-the-money feedback and real-world insights have been a joy and wonder. He closely collaborated with me during the naming of my book. He poured his wisdom into my marketing plan. And he's given me tons of practical advice.

“The guy is good. I wholeheartedly recommend Peter Bowerman's consulting services to all writers and authors. Don't sit alone at an empty table. Call in the Well-Fed Writer.”

Sam Harrison
Atlanta, GA
Author: Zing! 5 Steps and 101 Tips For Creativity on Command
www.zingzone.com

“Thanks so much for being so thoughtful and thorough in our mentoring sessions on my budding self-publishing venture. Being my first work, it's been wonderful to be able to consult with you on all of the various issues to consider: title, subtitle, back cover copy, ebook, marketing strategy, soliciting endorsements and so much more.

"You have already saved me much wasted effort. Not only do you give me definite opinions, you back them up with sound reasoning, facts and your proven successful experience with your books. In addition, your copywriting expertise has also helped me, in both your titling coaching and helping me craft an effective pitch letter. I feel blessed to have you in my corner. I will definitely be emailing soon again to add on some more time. ”

David Lundberg, Author
“ What God REALLY Wants You to Know:
God's Universal Truths Shared by All World Religions”

“THANK YOU for being my shepherd on my upcoming book. It’s amazing what a few hours with someone who knows their stuff can do for someone like me. With your direction, I can say that I have both feet firmly planted in the right path towards success.”

Michael Stelzner, Author
How to Write White Papers
Founder, www.whitepapersource.com
International Authority on White Papers

“After my first book was published by a specialty publisher in 2000, I was shopping around for another publisher for my second. I found out very quickly that the publishing industry had changed drastically in four years! Peter was able to convince me that self-publishing is the way to go, guide me through the publishing process and provide invaluable contacts and advice (including great advice on crafting an effective title) to help me get started on my self-publishing journey.

“At one point in the process, when I thought I had a finished product, Peter was brutally honest about the book and its potential in its form at the time. It was tough to hear, but I retooled my efforts, changed the cover, expanded the content, and it really made a difference in the final result. Bottom line, he possesses the experience necessary to coach other writers regarding their specific situation. Thank you, Peter!"

Karen Steede-Terry, Author
Full-Time Woman, Part-Time Career
Integrating GIS and the Global Positioning System
Austin, TX

“Peter’s advice was instrumental in helping me devise and improve a marketing strategy for my novel, 'Teeth in a Pickle Jar.' More specifically, he advised me to change the book’s cover so as to make it more 'salable'; he also offered suggestions on how to promote the book to my target audience (women) through online and other channels. I will likely use his expertise again in the near future.”

“I have always believed that good advice is priceless. Peter’s mentoring sessions, I am sure, greatly increased the prospects of success for my first book, How to Get to Heaven. After carefully reading The Well-Fed Self Publisher, I engaged Peter for three hours of consultation. Between his personal advice and the many helpful aspects of his book, I’m certain my bottom line will be three to four times what it would otherwise have been. I’d call that a great return on investment.”

Will Bronson, Author, How to Get to Heaven
BA, MA, Master of Theological Studies, Doctor of Ministry
www.bronsonenterprisesllc.com

“Self-publishing can be a lonely endeavor at times. As I navigated the many steps, Peter Bowerman was my lifeline - from serving as a sounding board during early strategic planning to answering later questions about distributors. It would not have gone as easily without Peter just a call away. The time savings and peace of mind were well worth it!”

Casey Hibbard
Author, Stories That Sell: Turn Satisfied Customers into Your Most Powerful Sales & Marketing Asset

“Peter worked with me in the early stages of my book (about construction for homeowners) and his input was extremely helpful. After reviewing my table of contents and several chapters, he offered his feedback, which, crucially, helped me see that not only was I writing to the wrong audience, but that my “techno-speak” was neither reader- friendly nor engaging.

"He also made me realize that the material needed a clearer purpose and more lineal progression. With this excellent feedback, I’m excited about rewriting the material, and feel much more confident in being able to write the right book for the right audience in the right way. I look forward to working with Peter again!”

“Peter Bowerman has made the daunting digestible and even... fun! Combined with a focused study of his book and careful application of the Biz-in-a-Box templates, his mentoring and generous correspondence have been a huge support and time-saver for me. I would recommend him as a key ally for anyone considering self-publishing. He’s the REAL DEAL, and he sincerely cares about your success. What more do you need? He’s got the business acumen, and the heart, to make your publishing experience a worthwhile journey.”

Holly Payne, writing coach
Author (fiction), The Virgin’s Knot, The Sound of Blue, and Kingdom of Simplicity (Grand Prize winner of Writer's Digest 2011 International Self-Published Awards) http://www.skywriterseries.com

“Peter’s book, ‘The Well-Fed Self-Publisher’ was the first book I grabbed when I realized I was actually going to write a book. It’s literally almost in shreds, I’ve referred to it so much! It’s superior to other books out there, and I liked it better than even Dan Poynter’s!

"Plus, I hired Peter for his mentoring services, which was invaluable. He pushed me to target my market more – good advice that was subsequently echoed by others. And – this is big! – we’d discussed doing a companion book, and he suggested making it an ebook. That’s exactly what I’ve done, which has helped spur pre-publication sales. For anyone who plans to publish their own book, I highly recommend Peter’s books and services.”

Marjorie Geiser, RD, NSCA-CPT
Author, “Just Jump: The No-Fear Business Start-up Guide
for Health and Fitness Professionals”
http://www.meg-enterprises.com

“I had already read Peter Bowerman's book, I wanted to see if there was value in additional coaching time so I arranged a phone session. What stood out for me was his ability to cover as much information as I wanted in such a short time.

"He runs a 'no B.S.' coaching session and gives information as quickly or as in depth as you are looking for. His flexibility, combined with his expertise, has had me return repeatedly to add more hours when issues I am unsure about arise. Just try him once; you'll see the value immediately. I should know, I am a Corporate Coach myself.”

“I was so impressed with The Well-Fed Self-Publisher that I decided to hire Peter and benefit from his mentoring/consulting services for my own book. Am I glad I did! I benefited so much from his services that I even wrote about it on my blog! I can’t say it enough: he was instrumental in the book’s success, coming up with a better title and subtitle for the book (a compilation of interviews with the top bloggers in the world).

"The original name? Interviewing the Pros. Peter came up with an amazing name: Blog Blazers (and even the URL was available). One with punch. One that drew attention. Crucial since you only have a few seconds to convince someone to pick up your book.

“Peter also worked on the back cover copy for the book. The copy he wrote was amazing (and I often work in marketing). It really drew in potential book buyers. You can tell he's been doing this professionally. In some reviews of the book, people have used parts of the copy for the review. That’s how powerful it is!”

“Peter Bowerman is a fun and informative self-publishing guru―by sharing his vast industry knowledge, Peter gave me the tools I needed to finish and then self-publish and market my book. In addition to Peter's assistance with my self-publishing and marketing plans, he created a provocative title and back-of-the-book copy for my book which was right on target.

"Peter's creative title and copy made my book look professional and engaging―Peter captured the energy I was looking for. Both front and back covers have generated a lot of positive feedback thus far and it has been a delight to work with Peter―I look forward to using his services for my next book."

"Thank you so much for this first consultation of guidance on my book project. It was enormously helpful. I came prepared with a few questions but I ended up have many, many more answered, and left with resources and suggestions even beyond what is in your fabulous Well-Fed Self-Publisher book. And even better, you offer your font of expertise in a friendly, down-to- earth, easy-to-understand manner. I can hardly believe all I received in just one hour.

"I also checked out your Title Tailor site because I know I'll need help with my title and back cover copy. After reading through the impressive transformations you created with several author's initial titles and sub titles, I'm sold! Your work really does speak for itself. I will definitely be back for your consulting help for this."

"My wife (world champion powerlifter, kettlebell instructor and personal fitness trainer) and I had been working on writing our fitness book for over a year and wanted to get it published. But we were clueless as to how to do that.

"We were lucky to come across The Well-Fed Self-Publisher at a local bookstore. After reading the book we contacted Peter for additional help in getting our book published. He convinced us that we could publish our book ourselves and do it professionally. And he helped identify who we were writing for so that we could rewrite the book in a more targeted fashion.

"Then he worked with us to come up with the title (Intensercise), subtitle and back cover copy. And he shared his contacts so that we could confidently hire an editor, illustrator, and book and cover designers.

"Our book is still in the publishing process (it’s taken longer than we thought it would), but we’re now very close to having copies in our hands. Honestly, without Peter’s help we’d still be spinning our wheels and no closer to publication than we were a year ago."

Andrew & Michelle Kilikauskas, Authors
Intensercise: Tapping the Forgotten Secret to Multiplying Your Workout Results
www.intensercise.com (Pending)

"Peter guided me to profitability with his marketing expertise. Hiring him is money VERY smartly invested. He delivers a strong ROI. You won't be disappointed."

Kirt Manecke, Author
Smile: Sell More with Amazing Customer Service
www.SmiletheBook.com

"Thanks Peter! That self-publishing mentoring session was just what I needed to get my book back on track after it had fallen off the rails. You really listened carefully to my various publishing predicaments and your advice on Print-on-Demand was particularly valuable. You also got me thinking about spin-offs and I’ve now come up with quite a few ideas. I’d recommend your mentoring service to any one embarking on the self-publishing adventure."

Mark Schneider, Writer
Author, "Dodging the Real Estate Rip-Off"
Western Australia
www.westernwriter.net