When you think about self-publishing a book, you may doubt it will lead to fame and fortune. However, Izzard Ink is happy to tell you that many great authors started their careers self-publishing their books, and you can too.
Below you will find examples of storied authors who are loved the world over who started out self-publishing their books.
Irma Rombauer: The Joy of Cooking
The Joy of Cooking has been a staple in kitchens everywhere for almost 100 years. Although microwaves, air fryers, and Instapots were not yet invented when Rombauer published her book in 1931, her tried-and-true recipes are still relied upon today and considered the gold standard of cooking.
According to a post on Encyclopedia.com, Rombauer paid a publisher to print copies of her book and then shopped it around herself, to modest success. A publishing house then picked up on it, republishing it to much greater success. However, Rombauer’s health began to suffer during this time, and the reasons are said to partially be due to the constant fighting with her publisher over costs and royalties.
Not only did Irma Rombauer become wildly successful after self-publishing her cookbook, but she was 54 years old when she did it. Why do we mention this factoid? We don’t want you to let anything stop you from self-publishing your first book.
Beatrix Potter: The Tale of Peter Rabbit
Beatrix Potter’s impetus for self-publishing The Tale of Peter Rabbit was the stack of rejection letters she had received from the publishers to whom she had sent her manuscript. According to a story in The Guardian, she instead paid to have her story and illustrations printed, and within a year one of the publishing houses that had rejected her came crawling back, asking for the opportunity to publish her book themselves.
Potter agreed and it was a smashing success; however, she argued extensively with her publisher about her next book. The publisher wanted her to make cuts and changes, and she refused, self-publishing her book instead. Once again, her publisher gave in to her demands and published her book as she wished.
The lesson here? Hold fast to your principles and never give up.
Margaret Atwood: Double Persephone
You may not have read Double Persephone, the self-published poetry book by Margaret Atwood — it contains only seven poems and she printed only 220 copies of her subsequently award-winning book — but you have surely heard of this illustrious author and her legendary book The Handmaid’s Tale.
Atwood went on to become one of the most successful writers of all time.
Self-Publishing with Izzard Ink
Regardless of your reason for choosing self-publishing, the process will be better, easier and faster if you work with Izzard Ink. Contact us today to learn more about how to self-publish a book.
