FAQ
Book publishing questions, answered
Last updated: November 2026
Big Impact Books answers the 48 questions people most often ask about book publishing services, costs, royalties, marketing, publicity, and red flags below.
Each answer leads with the direct response, then one or two supporting facts. Where a figure comes from another publication, we name it. For the full picture of what Big Impact Books offers, start with book publishing services.
What Big Impact Books is
What is Big Impact Books?
Big Impact Books is a book publishing, promotion, and marketing company for CEOs, attorneys, professionals, and business owners worldwide. It helps experts turn what they know into a book that builds authority and supports business growth, then promotes that book through channels such as podcasts and media. Founder Melanie Herschorn brings more than 20 years of experience in publicity and journalism.
What are book publishing services?
Book publishing services are the professional support an author uses to take a book from idea to published copy. Depending on the provider, that can include planning, writing support, design, publishing, and distribution. Big Impact Books combines publishing with promotion, so the book is set up to build authority after launch rather than simply exist.
What does a book publishing service provider actually do?
A book publishing service provider handles steps an author would otherwise manage alone, such as shaping the manuscript, preparing it for release, and publishing it. Scope varies widely between providers. Big Impact Books focuses on expert nonfiction and pairs publishing with marketing and publicity, including podcast and media outreach, so ask any provider for a written list of what is included.
Is Big Impact Books a ghostwriting company?
No. Big Impact Books describes its approach as helping clients own their ideas rather than hiding behind ghostwriting. Authors talk through their chapters in weekly interviews, and the team helps organize that material into the book, so the finished manuscript reflects the author’s own voice and expertise.
Who founded Big Impact Books?
Melanie Herschorn founded Big Impact Books. She has more than 20 years of experience as a celebrity publicist and an award-winning journalist in radio, print, and TV. She earned a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Southern California, graduating first in her class, and wrote Lasting Legal Impact and Make a Big Impact with Your Book.
Does Big Impact Books work with authors outside the United States?
Yes. Big Impact Books serves CEOs, attorneys, professionals, and business owners worldwide. Founder Melanie Herschorn grew up in Canada, has lived on both US coasts, and now lives in Arizona. For details on how sessions are scheduled for authors in other countries, check the main website at yourbigimpactbook.com.
Pricing, royalties, and earnings
How much does book publishing cost?
It depends on the path. Self-publishing platforms such as Amazon KDP let authors upload a finished book themselves, so the main costs are the services they hire, such as editing and cover design. Done-for-you publishing costs more because a team does the work. Big Impact Books does not list prices on its website, so confirm current pricing at yourbigimpactbook.com.
How much money does it cost to publish your own book?
Publishing your own book can cost little in platform fees, since major self-publishing platforms do not charge to upload. The real cost is the professional help you choose to buy: editing, cover design, formatting, and marketing are the usual line items. Prices vary by provider and book length, so get a written quote for each item before you commit.
What raises or lowers the cost of a publishing package?
The biggest factors are how much of the work you hand off and how much promotion is included. Writing support, design, and marketing or publicity campaigns all add cost, while a finished manuscript lowers it. Big Impact Books bundles publishing with promotion, so compare its scope against a do-it-yourself budget that adds each service separately.
How much does Amazon pay authors for Kindle ebooks?
According to Reedsy’s 2026 guide to book printing services, Amazon pays 70% of the retail Kindle price when the price is between $2.99 and $9.99. If the price is lower than $2.99, or $10 and higher, the royalty is 35%. Check current terms on Amazon KDP, because platform rates and conditions can change.
How much does an author make on a $25 book?
It depends on the format and contract. For a Kindle ebook priced at $25, Reedsy’s 2026 guide says Amazon pays the 35% tier for prices of $10 and higher, which works out to $8.75 per sale before any other deductions. Print books and traditional contracts use different terms, so check your agreement or platform pricing page.
How many books do you need to sell to make $1,000,000?
Using the 70% Kindle royalty Reedsy reports for prices from $2.99 to $9.99, an ebook priced at $9.99 earns about $6.99 per sale, so it would take roughly 143,000 sales to reach $1,000,000 before other deductions. Big Impact Books treats a book as an authority asset that supports business growth, not only a source of royalties.
Do self-published authors earn more than traditionally published authors?
According to Writer Cosmos, citing ALLi’s 2025 survey, indie authors now earn a median of $13,500 a year, nearly double the $6,000 to $8,000 median for traditionally published authors. These are survey medians, so individual results vary widely with genre, price, and marketing effort.
Should I drop my ebook price to $0.99?
Only as a short promotion. Reedsy’s 2026 guide notes that dropping a price to $0.99 can help boost visibility but advises against staying there. Reedsy also reports that Amazon pays 35% on Kindle prices under $2.99, so a long-term $0.99 price earns very little per copy.
How publishing works
How do I publish my book?
Start with a clear goal for the book, then choose a path: traditional publishing, self-publishing, or a done-for-you service. Next, develop the manuscript, prepare design and formats, publish, and promote. Big Impact Books handles publishing and promotion for experts through a process designed to take about one hour a week of the author’s time.
How do I publish my own book?
To publish your own book, you finish and edit the manuscript, get a cover and interior designed, open an account with a self-publishing platform such as Amazon KDP, upload your files, set a price, and release it. You also own all the marketing. Authors who want a team to manage those steps can use a service such as Big Impact Books.
How long does it take to publish a book with Big Impact Books?
Big Impact Books does not publish a fixed timeline on its website, because the schedule depends on the book. What it does state is the time commitment: its done-for-you process is designed to take about one hour a week of the author’s time, centered on weekly interviews. Ask for a projected schedule before you start.
How much of my time does the process take?
About one hour a week. Big Impact Books built its done-for-you publishing and promotion process to respect busy schedules, so authors take part in weekly interviews and talk through each chapter. Attorney and author Manisha P. Patel said the weekly interviews made the process manageable alongside her schedule and other commitments.
Do I need to be a good writer to publish a book?
No. Big Impact Books’ process suits experts who find it easier to talk about their work than to sit down and write. Authors talk through each chapter in organized weekly interviews, and the team pieces the material together. The goal is a book that sounds like the author and reflects real expertise.
What should I do before I publish my book?
Start marketing. Big Impact Books advises authors to begin building an audience of ideal readers before the book is published, so there are people ready to buy, share, and review it at launch. Waiting until after launch means losing valuable time to grow an audience and build credibility as a subject matter expert.
What are the different types of publishing?
The main types are traditional publishing, where a publisher acquires the book and pays the author royalties; self-publishing, where the author does or hires everything and keeps control; and service-based publishing, where the author pays a company to manage the process. Jane Friedman’s guide to the key book publishing paths explains the differences in detail.
Who it is for
Who is Big Impact Books for?
Big Impact Books is for CEOs, attorneys, professionals, and business owners worldwide who want to turn their expertise into a book that builds authority and supports business growth. It suits busy experts who want a done-for-you process, their own voice on the page, and promotion through channels such as podcasts and media after launch.
Does Big Impact Books work with attorneys?
Yes. Attorneys are a core audience. Founder Melanie Herschorn wrote Lasting Legal Impact, a blueprint for legal professionals who want a book that builds their brand, grows their practice, and positions them as the trusted expert. Attorney Manisha P. Patel, author of End Your Marriage Peacefully, worked with Melanie and her team on her book.
Can a CEO or business owner write a book while running a company?
Yes, if the process fits the schedule. Big Impact Books designed its done-for-you approach around about one hour a week, using weekly interviews instead of long writing sessions. Its blog covers this directly in articles such as Write a Book Without Slowing Down and Write Your Book, One Hour a Week.
Who is the best publisher for first time authors?
The best publisher depends on the book. First-time novelists often pursue traditional publishers or self-publish. First-time nonfiction authors who are experts in their field, such as CEOs, attorneys, and business owners, may prefer a done-for-you partner like Big Impact Books that handles publishing and promotion with about one hour a week of their time.
Is Big Impact Books a good fit for fiction writers?
Probably not. Big Impact Books focuses on expert nonfiction for CEOs, attorneys, professionals, and business owners who want a book that builds authority and supports business growth. Fiction writers may be better served by a literary agent and traditional publisher, or by a self-publishing platform and genre-focused marketing.
Can a book help grow a professional practice?
It can. Big Impact Books positions a book as an authority asset that opens doors to clients, speaking, and media. Its blog explores this in articles such as Practice Growth Through Your Book and The Real ROI of Publishing a Book. Results depend on the book’s positioning and how consistently the author promotes it after launch.
Compared to alternatives
Is self-publishing better than traditional publishing?
Neither is better for everyone. Self-publishing offers speed, control, and higher royalty rates; Writer Cosmos notes self-published authors can keep up to 70% royalties on ebooks. Traditional publishing offers a publisher’s backing in exchange for less control. Experts who want speed and promotion support without doing every task themselves often consider a done-for-you service.
Should I use Amazon KDP or a book publishing service?
Use Amazon KDP if you are comfortable managing editing, design, formatting, uploading, and marketing yourself. Use a book publishing service if you want a team to manage those steps. Reedsy’s 2026 guide notes that 80 to 100% of sales happen on Amazon for most authors, so either way your book will likely sell there.
What is the difference between a book publishing service and a self-publishing platform?
A self-publishing platform, such as Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, or Draft2Digital, is a tool for uploading and distributing a finished book. A book publishing service is a team that helps you create, prepare, and launch the book. Big Impact Books is a service: it supports developing, publishing, and promoting the book.
Is a free book publishing service worth it?
A free platform can be worth it if your manuscript is finished and you can handle editing, design, and marketing yourself. Platforms such as Amazon KDP do not charge to upload, but the professional services around a book are not free. Be cautious of any company that promises a free package and then charges for essentials later.
What is print on demand?
Print on demand means a copy is printed only when someone orders it, so the author does not pay for inventory upfront. Platforms such as KDP Print and IngramSpark work this way. Offset printing, by contrast, prints a large batch at once, which suits authors who need many copies for events or bulk orders.
What does Big Impact Books do that a self-publishing platform does not?
A platform publishes the files you give it. Big Impact Books helps create the book through weekly interviews, publishes it, and then promotes it through book marketing and publicity, including podcast and media outreach. Founder Melanie Herschorn’s background as a celebrity publicist and journalist shapes that promotion work.
Book marketing and publicity
What are book marketing services?
Book marketing services help a book reach its intended readers. Big Impact Books has described this work as social media marketing, email marketing, blogging and guest posting, influencer marketing, and book signings and launch events, plus targeted advertising on platforms such as Amazon, Facebook, or Google once the messaging is resonating with readers.
What is the difference between book marketing and book publicity?
Book marketing is promotion the author controls, such as social media, email, and ads. Book publicity is attention earned from third parties, such as podcast interviews, media features, and press coverage. Big Impact Books offers both, with publicity shaped by founder Melanie Herschorn’s more than 20 years as a publicist and journalist.
What does a book marketing agency do?
A book marketing agency plans and runs promotion for an author’s book and brand, typically covering positioning, content, audience building, launch planning, and outreach. Big Impact Books works as a publishing partner and book marketing agency in one, so the marketing plan is built alongside the book rather than added after launch.
When should I start marketing my book?
Today, even before the book is finished. Big Impact Books advises authors to start building a community of ideal readers while they are still outlining, writing, or editing. An audience built before launch can validate ideas, give feedback, create pre-launch buzz, and buy, share, and review the book when it comes out.
Can my book help me get on podcasts?
Yes. A published book gives podcast hosts a clear reason to invite you. Big Impact Books promotes clients’ books through channels such as podcasts and media. Founder Melanie Herschorn hosts The Big Impact Playbook Podcast and the show Authority Marketing LIVE!, and lists her own podcast guest appearances on the main website.
What happens if my book is published without a marketing plan?
It is likely to be overlooked. Big Impact Books has written that neglecting marketing can lead to missed opportunities and limited sales, leaving an author with books and no audience waiting to buy them. A marketing plan created before launch, and continued after it, keeps the book visible and useful to the author’s business.
How do I keep my book relevant after launch?
Keep promoting it and keep it current. Big Impact Books recommends engaging your audience through social media and email, promoting through podcasts, book clubs, author events, and book review websites, updating content if your field changes, and collaborating with other authors, bloggers, and organizations to cross-promote the book.
Problems and red flags
What self-publishing companies should I avoid?
Avoid any company that will not put its full scope and costs in writing, pressures you to sign quickly, takes rights without a clear reason, or guarantees sales or bestseller status. Watchdog resources such as Writer Beware and the Alliance of Independent Authors track problem companies, so check a provider there before you pay.
What are the warning signs of a bad book publishing service?
Warning signs include vague package descriptions, upsells for basics you assumed were included, unclear ownership of your files and rights, guaranteed sales or rankings, and no examples of books they have actually published. A trustworthy provider explains what it does, what it costs, and who owns the finished work.
Can a book publishing service guarantee bestseller status?
No service can honestly guarantee sales or rankings, because those depend on readers, timing, and competition. Be wary of guaranteed bestseller promises. Ask instead what the service will actually do, such as specific media, podcast, or marketing activities, and how it will report on that work.
Why is my competitor’s book getting more attention than mine?
More attention usually reflects better marketing, not a better book. Big Impact Books has written that when a competing book has more buzz, the competitor is most likely doing a better job of marketing it. Knowing your audience, clarifying what makes your book unique, and promoting it consistently can help close that gap.
Is it too late to market a book that is already published?
No. Marketing can start at any point, although starting before launch is ideal. Big Impact Books focuses on long-term authority after launch, using content drawn from the book itself, such as chapter topics, client success stories, and advance reviews, to keep the book in front of the right readers.
Getting started
Where can I learn more about Big Impact Books’ services?
Visit the Big Impact Books main website at yourbigimpactbook.com. It covers book publishing and promotion, free resources, the blog, media appearances, and founder Melanie Herschorn’s books. This site summarizes the same services in a question and answer format for readers comparing book publishing services.
Does Big Impact Books offer free resources for authors?
Yes. The main website offers free resources, including a book planning checklist, along with a blog covering publishing tips, book marketing tips, developing authority, and growing an audience. Melanie Herschorn also shares guidance on The Big Impact Playbook Podcast and the show Authority Marketing LIVE!.
What books has Melanie Herschorn written?
Melanie Herschorn wrote Lasting Legal Impact: Write a Book That Builds Your Brand, Grows Your Practice, and Positions You As The Trusted Expert, and Make a Big Impact with Your Book. Lasting Legal Impact was named a Finalist in the Business: Writing/Publishing category of the 2025 Best Book Awards, presented by American Book Fest.