The Indie Author Guide: A Self-Publisher's Toolbox by Heather Hildenbrand (4 stars)

About The Indie Author Guide: A Self-Publisher's Toolbox
(from Goodreads)

"The Indie Guide is a must read for new writers, or writers that are still just bumping their heads in frustration with the business! Hildenbrand knows what you need and gives it to you, both barrels!" –Misty Provencher, Author of the Cornerstone Series 

“Breaking into the writing industry can be a scary process, but Heather's Indie Guide provides you with a plethora of knowledge to make the leap a little less intimidating. With step by step instructions and suggestions on where to go no matter where you are on your journey, the Indie Guide can be your road map to creating an amazing opportunity for yourself.” –Megan Curd, Author of Steel Lily 

Whether you’re an aspiring author or have been published for a year, this guide is full of information, links, and support sites that can help increase sales and streamline your business as a self-published author. This guide is not like other self-help books on publishing. It includes very specific how-to instructions along with a timeline so you also know when to implement each item. If you’re looking for vague instructions or easy banter, this guide is NOT for you. If you need a little sarcastic humor and someone in your ear telling you to get off your butt and make your dream happen, this IS the guide for you! 
What’s inside: 
–An extensive list of links to editors, cover artists, formatters, and bloggers is included. 
–Marketing, blog tours, release day blitzes 
–Formatting, cover art and artists for hire, editors, what to ask when hiring out 
–Garnering reviews, how and where to meet bloggers 
–Where to find review groups, beta readers, critique partners 
–Branding, blogging, and social media 
–Time management, daily goals, sales strategies, what works, what doesn’t. 
All of this and more is included in this hold-your-hand-style guide.

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Review

As an indie-published author myself, I admire Heather Hildenbrand's success and achievements. When I saw she had an author guide, I jumped at the chance to buy it. 

For new authors, this is a must-have. This is the type of guide that can save you years of trial and error--trust me, I fiddled around until I learned it and wish I would've had this kind of resource. The section about formatting is essential for new authors as well as information on how to plan out your marketing scheme.

For more experienced authors, there are still some good tidbits here. It's always great to have trustworthy and useful websites at hand. Not only are these listed in the book, but there is a convenient guide at the end. Plus, there's information on iBooks, an outlet I haven't tried yet, and advice about giveaways, pricing, and newsletters.

All in all, this is an excellent resource guide to have around: essential for newbies and helpful for those with more experience. My fingers are crossed for a book two with the next level of tools.

Rating: 4 stars

About Heather Hildenbrand

Heather Hildenbrand is the YA and NA author of more than eight novels including the bestselling Dirty Blood series. She is a co-founder of Accendo Press, a collaborative publishing effort dedicated to publishing stories that ignite the imagination, a fiction author, and the owner of Phoenix, an author consultant and coaching company that provides support and information for new and experienced self-published authors as they navigate the waters of self-publishing and marketing. 

For more information on Phoenix, visit www.phoenixauthorink.com