Can you give me examples of successful book self publishing?

Question

I just self published my first book, "Top Gun Management" at Lulu.com and it ranks 5,883 in sales after two weeks. I wonder what kind of sales numbers successful books achieve. Information from people who have been there and done that would be appreciated.

Answer 1

Self-Publishing Hall of Fame

Scott Adams, creator of the Dilbert comic strip and book series, self-published an original ebook, God's Debris, early in 2001 as a way of testing the market for a new book. As a result, he was able to get an “unusually good deal” from his regular publisher, Andrews McMeel, when he sold them the book rights.

In 1998, Arthur Agatston, author of The South Beach Diet, began by self-publishing several hundred pamphlets outlining his diet ideas for patients. Several years later, with the help of an agent, he sold rights to Rodale. Within a year, the book had sold almost seven million copies.

Julie Aigner-Clark founded the Baby Einstein company to produce early-learning videos, DVDs, and audio CDs for babies and toddlers. Many of the products feature poems written by her. The company has won many awards for its products and has sold more than 8 million copies of its videos and other products. In November 2001, she and her husband sold the company to Disney for $25 million.

Nigerian writer Christopher Albani was jailed in his home country for publishing some of his books. A number of his books were banned in Nigeria before he sold right to his first U.S. novel, GraceLand, to Farrar Straus Giroux with the aide of agent Sandy Dijkstra.

Craig Alesse began Amherst Media by self-publishing his own how-to photography books. His company is now one of the premiere how-to photography publishing companies in the world, distributing to photography stores across the country.

Debbie Allen sold 40,000 copies of her Confessions of Shameless Self Promoters and then sold reprint rights to McGraw-Hill. In addition, she sold rights to a new book, Positively Fearless Selling, to Dearborn Trade. An international speaker and consultant, she helps businesses to out-market, out-sell, and out-profit their competition.

Marc Allen, publisher of New World Library, chose to publish his own book, Visionary Business, after publishing many other bestselling titles, including Creative Visualization by Shakti Gawain, The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success by Deepak Chopra, and The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle.

In 1962, trumpeter Herb Alpert and his partner Jerry Moss formed A&M records with $100 apiece. One of the first albums they produced was the gold-selling Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass's Whipped Cream & Other Delights, a classic record of the mid-60s. They built A&M into the nation's largest record company not owned by a conglomerate before finally selling out to Polygram in 1989 for $500 million.

Judith Appelbaum originally self-published How to Get Happily Published, then sold the rights to Harper Collins. The book has now been through many editions and has sold more than 500,000 copies.

Mary Appelhof self-published Worms Eat My Garbage. Her first edition sold more than 100,000 copies. In 1997, she published her second edition.

for more success stories...
http://www.bookmarket.com/selfpublish.html

Answer 2

What you're asking for is about success stories of the past. What I'm more interested in is the success stories of the future. If Steve Jobs had stopped to think of anyone else who has sold a smartphone before Apple, we wouldn't have the iphone now.
What everyone says above is right on many counts. There have been authors who have made it big, while the vast majority just don't make it at all. What many people forget however is that nothing sells unless there are people to market them. If the Harry Potter series has sold millions of copies, it is because the publishers really marketed the book. You as a self publisher need to do the same. You've done all the hard work till now. Just market the book. There are a number of ways that you can do this and I am a member in a blog where I regularly post articles on the subject. Maybe I'll write one about marketing in the next few days.

Answer 3

Certainly there are some best sellers such as the "Celestine Prophecy", but success can be relative. A local self published book selling just 1,000 copies may net more profit than than one picked up by a publishing company.

The vast majority of books published never make the best seller's list. That does not mean they did not have any success.

Answer 4

There have been only nine self published books that made it to the best seller list. Celestine Prophecy is the only title I recall. Quite honestly selling a couple hundred self published books is considered a success. That's why most people don't do it. But if you are happy with your sales figures. Congrats. Pax - C

Answer 5

I have a lot of experience of self-publishing (without e-) and it is a job for a salesperson. E-publishing is not very different. It is not enough to have a good product, you will have to promote it. If you are that kind of person, just go for it. It can be hard, but it can also be fun!

Answer 6

Check out Matthew Reilly's website and read about his first book Contest.

Answer 7

The harry potter collection