An empowering guide for passionate writers, The Influential Author takes a holistic, grounded, and intellectual approach to nonfiction self-publishing. Ignore the hype and overblown promises about a quick and easy path to becoming an author. This extensively revised second edition of a consistent bestseller expertly dissects the intricacies of planning, writing, editing, publishing, and promoting your book, ensuring that your work meets, and even exceeds, the standards set by traditional publishing. Immerse yourself in wisdom born from firsthand experience, including case studies of 16 self-published non-fiction titles that show you how to: Select the most compelling idea to turn into a book from many possibilities in your head. - Organize your knowledge into structured sections, chapters, and subheadings for seamless flow and comprehension. - Master editing and refinement through feedback from editors, proofreaders, beta-readers, and tactical market testing. - Craft a captivating title, description, and cover design that capture your message and incite interest from ideal readers. - Price and promote each format of your book, be it digital, paperback, hardcover, or audiobook narration. - Embrace the lifelong rewards of passive income, influence, and other forms of success from your book's enduring popularity. Writing and publishing a book can be a life-changing experience, but only if you know how to make the right people take your message seriously. The Influential Author is an indispensable companion to usher you onto the path of having your words make a meaningful impact. "(Diehl) delivers a practical and encouraging guide to self-publishing nonfiction... Though lengthy, Diehl's book can be quickly read and is crammed with practical ideas that readers will want to highlight and refer back to when they endeavor to write their own book." Publisher's Weekly "Gregory establishes seven aspects of the relationship between an author and their nonfiction book: philosophy, strategy, creation, refinement, presentation, promotion, and reward. Each of these areas is explored thoroughly and it becomes readily apparent that the 'rules' apply to all writers of nonfiction, no matter their stage of experience! Highly recommended." San Francisco Review of Books "Every year there is at least one book that is a 'must read' for the aspiring writer seeking to have their manuscript become a book, and their book become successful. This year that 'how to' manual is Gregory V. Diehl's The Influential Author: How and Why to Write, Publish, and Sell Nonfiction Books that Matter ... A complete and comprehensive course that should be a part of every community, college, and university library Writing/Publishing instructional reference and resource collection." Midwest Book Review "( The Influential Author ) is refreshing, leaving no misinterpretation on what success is for a nonfiction writer. Diehl's writing is compelling and inspiring, aptly following the tenants of his own message. The author's book is a must-read for aspiring writers." US Review of Books "I appreciate Diehl's critical gaze and think that he has contributed a great many ideas to the conversation of publishing within this book. Diehl has a strong sense of the types of nonfiction books he wants to create and the readers who want to buy them." Publishing Research Quarterly , Volume 36, Issue 4 A nonfiction book with a valuable message can feed a specific type of hunger held by thousands of readers for generations to come. It can be a medium of information that adds longevity to the most valuable products of its author's life, even long after they are gone. If you think you desire to write and publish, you must ask yourself what your book will do that no other book already does. You must inquire about your reasons behind your desire and whether they are strong enough to bring order out of the chaos of your still-unprocessed thoughts. Gregory V. Diehl understands the transformative power of the right book in the right hands. He writes with the hopes that his work will make its way to those who need it: deep thinkers unsatisfied with ordinary approaches to important subjects. His work often deconstructs and challenges cultural narratives that keep people from establishing and embodying who they really are. When he's not writing, Gregory offers alternative education and mentorship informed by his wealth of diverse cultural experience across the globe. Residing now in a scenic village in Armenia, amidst a backdrop of books and felines, Gregory's preferred pastime is silent contemplation.