Here is a selection of valuable reading on self publishing, book marketing, print on demand, and book design. Most links are for more info at Amazon.com, an affiliate.
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Aiming at Amazon: The NEW Business of Self Publishing, or How to Publish Your Books with Print on Demand and Online Book Marketing on Amazon.com, by Aaron Shepard, Shepard Publications, 2007. My book about print on demand and online book marketing on Amazon.
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POD for Profit: More on the NEW Business of Self Publishing, or How to Publish Your Books With Online Book Marketing and Print on Demand by Lightning Source, by Aaron Shepard, Shepard Publications, 2007. My book about publishing with print on demand through Lightning Source.
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Print-on-Demand Book Publishing: A New Approach to Printing and Marketing Books for Publishers and Self-Publishing Authors, by Morris Rosenthal, Foner Books, 2004. Morris, co-founder of the pod_publishers group on Yahoo! and popular blogger on both self publishing and Amazon, is a fellow explorer and pioneer in using print on demand for profitable self publishing. This book is essential reading for the depth and originality of his experimentation, observation, and analysis.
Become a Real Self-Publisher, by Michael N. Marcus, Silver Sands Books, 2010. Despite the tendentious title, an occasional error, and some long-windedness, this is a great source of tips on a wide range of topics in modern self publishing. The section on book design will be especially helpful for users of Word 2007.
ePublish: Self-Publish Fast and Profitably for Kindle, iPhone, CreateSpace and Print on Demand, by Steve Weber, Weber Books, 2009. Though skimpy in some details—CreateSpace, for instance, is barely discussed—this book is interesting in turning the usual approach to self publishing on its head. Instead of starting with print and adding ebooks, Weber suggests doing ebooks first and advancing to print only if justified.
Self-Publishing for Dummies, by Jason R. Rich, For Dummies, 2006. As a general reference on self publishing, this one is more timely than others, though coverage can be sketchy with big gaps.
The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Self-Publishing, by Jennifer Basye Sander, Alpha, 2005. Though weak on new approaches, this is a good buy for its excellent discussion of what goes into designing a commercial book—the subject in which most books on self publishing are weakest!
The Self-Publishing Manual: How to Write, Print, and Sell Your Own Book, by Dan Poynter, Para Publishing, 2006. The classic reference on self publishing—though it has little about new approaches.
The Complete Guide to Self-Publishing: Everything You Need to Know to Write, Publish, Promote, and Sell Your Own Book, by Marilyn Ross and Sue Collier, Writer’s Digest Books, 2010. Another classic book on traditional self publishing, now updated to include print on demand—but completely missing the most professional approach to it.
How to Start and Run a Small Book Publishing Company: A Small Business Guide to Self-Publishing and Independent Publishing, by Peter I. Hupalo, HCM Publishing, 2002. Good for miscellaneous business details.
The Step-By-Step Guide to Self-Publishing for Profit!: Start your Own Home-Based Publishing Company and Publish your Nonfiction Book with CreateSpace, by C. Pinheiro and Nick Russell, Pineapple Publications, 2009. A good intro if you’re new to self publishing and working with Amazon’s CreateSpace.
The Chicago Manual of Style, 15th Edition, University of Chicago, 2003. This is the book publishing industry’s standard reference for everything from grammar to the parts of a book.
Copyediting: A Practical Guide, Third Edition, by Karen Judd, Crisp Learning, 2001. If you’re not quite ready for the Chicago Manual, this might be a more comfortable introduction to getting things right.
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Perfect Pages: Self Publishing with Microsoft Word, or How to Design Your Own Book for Desktop Publishing and Print on Demand (Word 97–2003 for Windows, Word 2004 for Mac), by Aaron Shepard, Shepard Publications, 2006. My own guide to producing your book with MS Word.
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The Complete Manual of Typography: A Guide to Setting Perfect Type, by James Felici, Adobe, 2003. Felici understands not only traditional typography but also how it has translated to the computer. Read this so you can make your books look good. Don’t expect your software to do it for you! (For beginners, this is much better than Robert Bringhurst’s book.)
The Official Adobe Print Publishing Guide, Second Edition, by Brian P. Lawler, Adobe, 2005. A good book for learning about basic book production technology and terminology, especially in regards to graphics. It will help you understand what your printer needs and wants from you.
Print on Demand: A Graphics Handbook, by Lon Barfield and Peter Maxwell, Bosko Books, 2005. Shows samples of graphics and type as printed by Lightning Source, the dominant U.S. POD print service.
Better Gray in Print on Demand: How to Improve Grayscale Appearance in Toner Based, 600 Dots per Inch Printing, by Martin Koch, Martin Koch Verlag, 2006. If you’re adept in using Photoshop (not just Photoshop Elements), this book may help you achieve the very highest quality interior photos and other graphics that are possible in print on demand.
Plug Your Book!: Online Book Marketing for Authors, by Steve Weber, Weber Books, 2007. An eye-opening guide to cutting-edge publicity opportunities on the Web.