Interview with Dan Poynter: Successful, Self-Published Author

Dan Poynter began self-publishing when he started writing books on subjects (parachutes and hang gliding) he knew publishers wouldn't be interested in. Because he knew publishers wouldn't take an interest in the genres he chose, he took it upon himself to find a printer and self-publish his own books. Not only did he take on the responsibility of publishing on his own, but Poynter also took on the marketing role.

Later, when Poynter's books were ready to sell, he proved to the whole world that self-publishing your own book can bring you success! "Hang Gliding," Poynter's second self-published book, became a best-seller when it sold over 130,000 copies! In fact, just last year (2006) Poynter reported selling 10-20,000 copies of his books (more than 120) every year. Talking about inspiration! This man is the one you want to learn from if you're considering the self-publishing route.

Now, don't think you can just write a book, find a printer and then BOOM! your successful. Self-publishing isn't that easy -- there's a lot of work, time and money involved -- and I'm sure Poynter would agree with me. However, don't let the process scare you away. If you think you have a book you know people will want but you don't think the publishers will, by all means give self-publishing a shot. Poynter's book, "The Self-Publishing Manual: How to Write, Print and Sell Your Own Book, 15^th Edition" will give you all the information you need to not only be successful, but to be self-published as well.

Would you like to learn a little more about Poynter and how he markets his work? I thought so, and that's why I won't keep you waiting any longer. Let's move on to the interview, shall we.

At what age did you discover you were born to write?

I am not sure I have discovered that yet. We are all in the information business. We deliver our expertise in several ways: writing, speaking, etc., and writing is just one of the delivery methods.

Congratulations on your success with self-publishing! Can you share with other writers some of the marketing techniques you used to become successful?

Before you start writing, make sure there is a market for your proposed book and that you can reach it. Identify and be able to locate people interested in your subject. Write what you love and sell to your friends.

I began with books on parachutes and skydiving. I am a skydiver and was a parachute designer, and I know how to reach my market through parachute stores, skydiving centers, skydiving clubs, parachute catalogs, the International Parachute Symposium and so on.

How do you find ideas for your books?

Write what you love. Turn your passion center into your profit center. Turn your avocation into your vocation. I began with books on skydiving.

Can you share any advice with other writers/authors on how they too can make their book a success?

Promotion is up to you. Publishers do not promote books. Your promotion plan is more important than your writing plan. Without promotion no one will know you have written.

The first three things that should be done: send out review copies, send articles to magazines in your field and send e-mail announcements to everyone in your own e-mail address book.

Did you try the traditional publishing route before you chose to self-publish?

My first book was a 500-page technical treatise on parachutes. Realizing no publisher would buy it -- or even understand it, I published myself. Since then I've sold manuscripts to publishers and I've published other authors. I have a wide-range of experience.

What were some of the mistakes you made with your first self-published book, and what did you learn from those mistakes?

Not knowing that magazines and newsletters would review your book free. I did not know you could send review copies to publications.

If you would like a list of more than 90 categories of magazines, see

http://parapublishing.com/sites/para/resources/maillist.cfm.

In "The Self-Publishing Manual: How to Write, Print and Sell Your Own Book, 15th Edition" you discuss bookstore chains, and you said "the best way to approach larger bookstore chains is to have a distributor's sales rep visit," but what if the author makes the visit? Can you give other authors a few tips on how they can get their book onto the shelves of the larger bookstore chains (Barnes & Noble, Borders and etc...) if they decided to approach the bookstores on their own?

Individual author-publishers can call the chains and try to get an appointment, but distributors have an existing relationship with them. Distributors also handle Amazon.com. If you have a problem with your listing at Amazon, good luck trying to get it fixed. But I can call my distributor's rep and the fix will be made overnight. Do not underestimate the value of a distributor.

And that concludes my interview with Dan Poynter. If you still want to know more about book writing, publishing and promoting get Poynter's free information kits, and visit his Web site -- I'm sure he'd be delighted to have you stop by.