Self-publishing has been in existence for a long time and many famous authors started off through self-publishing. However, many people tend to misinterpret the term self-publishing and some even confuse it with vanity publishing, which is totally different. As writers find it more and more difficult to get their book published the conventional way, this book hopes to highlight to all these aspiring authors that there are alternative solutions, one of which is to be his or her own publisher.

The information in this book is based on collection of various people's opinion about self-publishing and how it might affect the publishing industry in general. For those of you who are considering the option to self-publish, this book will provide a good background understanding of the self-publishing activities, why writers self-publish and how it differs from vanity publishing. This book also talks briefly about Internet publishing, which is now gaining considerable popularity among self-publishers. It also provides a brief guide on getting started. As for those who have not decided or even never heard of this option, well, this is the book to help you make the decision as to whether self-publishing is a viable option for you. There are also some case studies included in the book.

Lastly but not least, this book hopes to enlighten the public on the self-publishing concept, and thus avoiding any further misinformation or misinterpretation of the industry. This book is a must for all aspiring authors, writers, publishers, booksellers, and anybody with interest in the publishing industry, directly or indirectly.

The book is published from a dissertation written as part fulfillment for M.Phil in Publishing Studies, University of Stirling, Scotland, UK.