b.cognosco

But self-publishing is not for the feint, as this article points out. It's hard work, and it's not just about the writing. Writers -- now like everyone else who wants to succeed -- have to be capable business and sales people, and have the fortitude to keep pushing in the face of adversity.

Self-promoting self-published teen author gets half-mil deal. A 19-year-old author of a self-published epic fantasy novel has successfully promoted his book into a worldwide publishing deal reportedly worth $500k.

This young author became one of the latest graduates of the difficult world of self-publishing to climb into the major publisher big leagues. World rights to Paolini's "Eragon" and its two unwritten sequels were sold recently to the youth division of one of the country's most prestigious houses, Alfred A. Knopf, in a deal reportedly worth more than $500,000...

The young author, who recently turned 19, has now learned far more than just to sound like a big-time author. He has learned about the draining grind of book promotion, with more than 70 appearances around the country during 2002, from elementary schools to bookstores. And he has also learned the power of persistence, to keep slogging away through good times and bad.

(Thanks, Vera!) [Boing Boing Blog]