10 Secrets to a Bestseller: An Author’s Guide to Self-Publishing [Book Review]

So, this book review is decidedly not a good one. I gave this book two stars on Goodreads. While it has a nice cover and it definitely tries hard to sell you on the “10 Secrets to a Bestseller” throughout the book, it boils down to little more than “10 Basic Entry Level Facts that You Could Google Yourself.” Maybe that’s not as catchy of a title though!

I think there are enough scammy books about how to make money writing out there and I wasn’t thrilled to run into another one of them.

10 Secrets to a Bestseller: An Author’s Guide to Self-Publishing [Book Review]

Book Description:

“**Featured in Forbes, The Star (Canada’s Most Popular Newspaper), Fox New Radio and many other national outlets

Calling all writers! 10 Secrets to a Bestseller is the self-publishing guide you’ve been looking for.

Whether you’ve dreamed of writing the Great American Novel, have a series of techno-thrillers in your drawer, or are drafting a self-help fitness book, you know in your heart of hearts that you’re a writer. You know it because you have always felt the drive to write; because you’re constantly coming up with new ideas; because you have something to say to the world . . .

The only problem is getting the world to listen.

That’s where 10 Secrets to a Bestseller: An Author’s Guide to Self-Publishing comes in. Thoughtfully crafted by Tim McConnehey, the creative force behind numerous award-winning and bestselling books, this in-depth, approachable guide will help you navigate the complex world of self-publishing, from crucial steps like researching your market and designing a great cover, to challenges like finding the right editor.

In the past, authors were limited to a fine chemistry between themselves, an agent, and a publisher, and the selling process became increasingly focused on the commercially viable (as defined by the editor, marketing . . . everyone but the reader). Now, a diversity of self-publishing options has opened up a whole new world to aspiring authors where they can reach their readers directly—but a world so diverse it can be bewildering. McConnehey helps you make sense of the process involved in bringing your book to market. Looking at real-world success stories from his self-publishing company, Izzard Ink, you’ll learn the added value of professional design, what should be on your pre-publishing checklist, why proofreading is an essential (though often overlooked) step, how to market and distribute your book in ways proven to maximize your sales, and much more.

Whether you’re just beginning to outline your first memoir or you’re well into your fifth novel, 10 Secrets to a Bestseller will help you get your work into the hands of readers and take your writing career to the next level.”

Will this book help you take your writing career to the next level?

After reading this book, it was kind of funny to re-read the back cover description. That last line that says it will help if you are well into your fifth novel? It’s a great marketing line, but blatantly false. (Source: I’m an author well past my fifth novel.)

I have been self-publishing since 2017, but I like to get different perspectives on methods for marketing and publishing from a variety of sources. I like to stay well informed on the topic overall and this was not the book for that purpose. This book contains very basic, entry-level information that a quick review of Amazon’s KDP Dashboard info pages could give you.

Is this a good book for a first-time author?

So, would I recommend this book for a new writer that is ready to self-publish for the first time? No. That is who this book was written for, but not for the purpose of helping you hit “PUBLISH.” This book was written in a way that presents information that is sometimes grossly overexaggerated (such as publishing will cost you thousands!) I think the intent here to overwhelm authors so that they feel that doing it themselves is too stressful, too expensive and that they are better off hiring the service mentioned in this book to just take care of things for them.
Yes, this book is almost entirely an advertisement for Izzard Ink Publishing services. This is a self-publishing service that is essentially a vanity publisher that helps connect self-pub authors with editors, cover designers, and formatters. In return, the company charges them a pretty penny.
For the purpose of working as an extended ad for Izzard Ink, this book is fantastic! Their marketing method absolutely works because I read the book and the other disappointed reviewers did too. They somehow managed to get the book into the hands of plenty of readers, so maybe they do know a thing or two about marketing. But if you are looking for a good resource or an entryway into publishing, you can find much better books on the topic out there. Save the money (although this book is currently free for Kindle) and prevent the inevitable eye roll when you read “At Izzard Ink we help authors…” for the 20th time.

In the question of “skip it or read it,” definitely skip this one!