I’ve always loved writing, design, and research. After decades in the publishing world working with small presses and indie authors, I realized that I have spent years testing, reviewing, and writing about every book marketing platform and promotional tool I could get my hands on—usually on behalf of my clients. In fact, my deep dive into book marketing started in the early 2000s, when I wrote an eBook on publishing and marketing eBooks—back when that was still a novelty and eBooks were unprotected PDFs. It spent more than a year on my publisher’s bestseller list. Along the way, I also noticed another trend: some of the best book marketing tools are free. That led to my short, practical guide, How to Market Your Book for Free, Before You Publish. That last part matters because if you haven’t built your marketing foundation before launch, you’re already playing catch-up. When I started my own book project, I had three non-negotiables: 1. Accessibility first. As my book designer bio shares, I’m deeply committed to plain language and accessible design. I’m a member of the Canadian Association of Journalists, Plain Language Association International (PLAIN), Plain Canada Clair, and the Interaction Design Foundation, and I serve on the HRM Accessibility Advisory Committee. For the print edition of How to Market Your Book for Free, that meant larger fonts, clear structure, and readability at the forefront. 2. International relevance. Self-publishing isn’t limited by borders, so neither is my book. Wherever possible, I’ve included resources and strategies for authors in the UK, Australia, Canada, and the USA. 3. A little fun in the layout department. I let my designer brain off the leash and played with the interior layout, and yes, I might’ve had a little too much fun. The eBook ended up needing its own design entirely, but honestly? I wouldn’t change a thing.