Famous Authors Who Self-Published: Why Self-Publishing Can Be a Good Fit for Your Book

Have your manuscripts collected enough dust? Perhaps you have considered self-publishing your novel; a poetry collection, a book of short stories, or even those recipe cards you thought to compile into a family cookbook. Nevertheless, you've always thought that self-publishing was just a waste of time, not respected in the industry. There is success, however, for the author who wishes to self-publish.

Take the case of Beatrix Potter who on September 4^th, 1893, sat down to write a picture letter to five-year old Noel Moore. Noel, who was feeling rather ill, was the son of Beatrix's ex-governess. She really didn't know what to write to the child so she penned him a story-a story about four little rabbits. "The Tale of Peter Rabbit" was soon turned into an exercise book and Ms. Potter sent it off to six publishers. Each of the publishers sent her a rejection letter.

Beatrix Potter, not deterred by these rejections, proceeded to self-publish a limited edition of "The Tale of Peter Rabbit" in 1901. Only 250 copies were printed. Publisher Frederick Warne, who had also rejected Peter Rabbit, changed his mind when he saw the finished product. "The Tale of Peter Rabbit" seemed to have commercial possibilities after all and was published with color illustrations in 1902. Since then, Ms. Potter's picture letter to a sick child about Flopsy, Mopsy, Cotton-tail and Peter has sold over 40 million copies. And still selling, I might suspect.

Then we have the extraordinary accomplishment of Irma Rombauer to consider. It all began with pickling cucumbers and preparing jellies for the annual fall cook-up, or cook-out, whichever you prefer, for her church. She gathered and wrote down a few recipes for a class she was asked to teach there. Her cakes, no doubt, were very popular with her students and with the rest of the neighborhood. It seemed that her love for gardening manifested itself through the wild roses which cascaded over the sides of her famous wedding cakes.