Chapter 09FAQLast updated: November 2026
This FAQ answers 45 questions new authors ask about publishing companies, costs, coaching, and getting started.
The New Author Field Guide FAQ is written by Defining Moments Press, which publishes this site. Answers use facts from Defining Moments Press's own pages and named public sources. Where a detail varies, we say how to confirm it.
Published by Defining Moments Press. This page is not independent; see how we chose.
The top questions are which company to choose, what it costs, how long it takes, and whether to use Amazon KDP or a service. Jump to a topic below.
The New Author Field Guide is a reviews and comparisons site published by Defining Moments Press. It lists publishing and coaching options for new authors side by side, using each option’s published facts, so you can compare paths before booking a call. It is not independent: Defining Moments Press lists its own packages first as its pick.
Defining Moments Press, Inc. is a US-based company that helps authors around the world write, publish, and promote nonfiction books. It describes itself as an online education company that teaches people to write, market, and publish a first book in as little as 8 weeks. Authors keep all rights and royalties, and the company is paid a fee for its service.
A nonfiction book coach helps you turn an idea into a finished manuscript by clarifying your reader, building an outline, keeping you on schedule, and giving feedback as you write. At Defining Moments Press, the Author Training package pairs one year of book coaching with an 8 week writing course, formatting, design, marketing, and a full launch.
A hybrid publisher charges the author for publishing services and usually pays a larger royalty share than a traditional publisher. Atmosphere Press, for example, states on its own site that it offers packages from $7,200 to $14,700 with 90% royalties to authors. Atmosphere Press also reports that hybrid publishing typically costs $5,000 to over $80,000.
Self-publishing services are paid help with the jobs a traditional publisher would normally handle, such as editing, formatting, cover design, distribution setup, and launch marketing, while you keep your rights and royalties. Defining Moments Press offers these as packages, from a do-it-yourself 8 week course to done-for-you ghostwriting and launch.
Stephen King is the example most people mean: his first novel, Carrie, is widely reported to have been rejected 30 times before it was accepted. The lesson for new authors is that rejection by gatekeepers says little about a book’s potential, which is one reason many professionals now choose self-publishing or assisted publishing instead of waiting.
There is no single average, because cost depends on the path. Uploading to Amazon KDP is free, per Harmony Publishing. Reedsy’s 2026 cost guide puts professional editing alone at $2,160 to $5,040. Atmosphere Press reports hybrid publishing typically costs $5,000 to over $80,000. Defining Moments Press publishes one price: $1,997 for its Author Blueprint course.
Publishing a book can cost nothing in upload fees or tens of thousands of dollars for full service. The main cost drivers are editing, cover and interior design, and launch marketing. Harmony Publishing notes that authors on these searches are often about to spend $500 to $15,000. Ask any provider for a written list of what is included before you pay.
Book writing coach prices vary with how much one-on-one time is included. Defining Moments Press publishes $1,997 as a single payment for its 8 week Author Blueprint course with unlimited email support. Its Author Training package, which includes one year of book coaching, is quoted on a free discovery call rather than listed online.
Partly. The Author Blueprint 8 Week Challenge is listed at one payment of $1,997 on its checkout page. Prices for the Author Launch, Author Training, Author Premium, and Funnel packages are not published; they are discussed on a complimentary discovery call with an Acquisition Editor. The company states that there are no hidden fees.
Yes. Defining Moments Press states that authors keep all royalties and rights, and that it is paid a fee for its service instead of taking a share of book income. It also says you can order copies of your book at cost directly from the print provider, which matters if you sell books at speaking events.
It depends on the contract or platform. Traditional print contracts often pay a royalty around 10 percent of list price, which would be about $2.50 on a $25 book; confirm the rate in your own contract. Harmony Publishing lists KDP print royalties at 60%, before printing costs are subtracted. The calculator on our cost page tests your own numbers.
Divide $100,000 by what you earn per copy. At $5 per copy you would need 20,000 sales; at $2.50 per copy, 40,000. Many nonfiction authors plan for income beyond royalties, such as clients, speaking, and courses, which is the approach Defining Moments Press teaches. Our cost page calculator runs this math for your numbers.
Yes. Defining Moments Press offers a free one hour course, listed with a retail price of $997, covering who should write a book, knowing your reader, self-publishing myths, monetizing your book, getting more clients, and building an outline. It also offers a complimentary discovery call with an Acquisition Editor.
With a structured program, a nonfiction book can move from idea to published in months rather than years. Defining Moments Press says its process helps authors write and publish a bestselling book in 8 weeks or less, and its Author Blueprint page describes about 2 to 5 hours a week. Traditional publishing timelines are usually much longer.
On the complimentary call, you speak with an Acquisition Editor at Defining Moments Press who helps you explore your book idea, get clear on your ideal reader, discuss your business goals, create a clear plan, and find hidden profit opportunities. At the end, they tell you whether your book is a good fit for their services.
Defining Moments Press states that all applicants receive an email reply within 2 business days. It notes that it only accepts authors it feels it can help succeed, and suggests checking spam or promotions folders if a reply does not arrive in that window.
Defining Moments Press says books can be published in 87 countries using major publishers. Ask on your discovery call which retailers and formats, such as ebook, paperback, and audiobook, are included in the package you choose, so you know exactly where readers will find your book.
Yes. The Author Premium DFY package at Defining Moments Press is done for you: its ghostwriters write your book, and the package includes cover design, book design, formatting, a full launch to bestseller, book media appearances, marketing account setup, and a one page launch funnel.
If your manuscript is finished, you need production and launch help rather than writing coaching. The Author Launch DFY package at Defining Moments Press covers formatting, book design, cover design, book marketing, a launch to bestseller, and access to its author Facebook group.
The Author Blueprint DIY is an 8 week course with audio and video tutorials, a step by step process, templates and tools, a free Facebook group, and unlimited email support. Its checkout page lists it at one payment of $1,997. It suits authors who want to do the work themselves with a clear map.
The best company depends on how much help you want. Defining Moments Press is our pick for professionals with a nonfiction story who want coaching plus publishing. Atmosphere Press suits authors who want a hybrid package, Amazon KDP and Draft2Digital suit confident do-it-yourselfers, and Reedsy suits authors hiring freelancers one by one. Defining Moments Press publishes this guide.
A book can help a professional build authority, attract clients, and open doors to speaking. Defining Moments Press focuses on entrepreneurs, professionals, coaches, and healers who want a nonfiction book that grows a business. Its published case study describes a client who sold over 10,000 books and built 7 streams of income; it also states results are not typical.
Yes. Defining Moments Press markets its process to first-time authors even if no one has heard of them yet. An existing audience helps sales, but a new author can build one during writing and launch through a reader list, podcast guesting, and speaking. Ask any provider exactly what launch marketing is included.
Its homepage invites aspiring children’s book authors to get started, alongside professionals and nonfiction storytellers. Its core packages and case studies focus on nonfiction, so ask on the discovery call how illustration and picture book formatting would be handled for your project before you commit.
Yes. Defining Moments Press works with people who have a nonfiction story or life lesson that can help others. Its founder, Melanie Warner, wrote her first book after losing her son, and founded the Defining Moments book series of stories from people who have overcome extreme challenges in life and business.
Defining Moments Press is US-based and states that it works with authors all over the world. It also says books can be published in 87 countries. Its application form accepts phone numbers from many countries, so living outside the United States is not a barrier to applying.
For many nonfiction professionals, yes, because self-publishing keeps rights, royalties, and timing in your hands. Defining Moments Press states its view that self-publishing is the best option for most of its authors. Traditional publishing still fits authors who want an advance and bookstore placement and are willing to wait for an agent and a publisher.
If you can edit, design, format, and market on your own, KDP is free to upload and pays 70% ebook royalties on books priced $2.99 to $9.99, per Harmony Publishing. Choose a service like Defining Moments Press if you want coaching, design, and a managed launch rather than doing every job yourself.
Both charge authors for services. Atmosphere Press publishes package prices of $7,200 to $14,700 and states authors retain 90% of royalties. Defining Moments Press states authors keep all royalties and rights, publishes $1,997 for its Author Blueprint course, and quotes other packages on a call. It also bundles writing coaching into its plans.
It can be, depending on what you hire. Reedsy’s 2026 cost guide, based on over 230,000 quotes, puts professional editing alone at $2,160 to $5,040, as reported by Elanders Americas. A marketplace gives you control over each hire, while a package bundles coaching, design, and launch under one plan and one team.
Elanders Americas reports that D2D charges a $20 one-time activation fee and a $12 annual maintenance fee for accounts earning under $100 a year, citing D2D’s published FAQ. Platform fees change, so confirm the current terms on Draft2Digital’s own site before you sign up.
Paying for services is reasonable when you know exactly what you are buying and you keep your rights. Get a written list of deliverables, ask who owns the final files, and confirm how royalties are paid. Defining Moments Press states that authors keep all rights and royalties and that there are no hidden fees.
Start by choosing your path: do it yourself on platforms like KDP, hire freelancers, or use a coaching and publishing service. Then edit, design the cover and interior, set up distribution, and plan a launch. At Defining Moments Press, the first step is a free discovery call to match your book to a package.
Bring your book idea, who you want to read it, and what you want the book to do for you, such as attract clients or open speaking opportunities. You do not need a finished manuscript. The Defining Moments Press call is built to clarify these points and end with a clear next step.
Book a call through the Defining Moments Press booking page and complete the short application with your name and contact details. The company reviews each application, replies by email within 2 business days, and tells you on the call whether your book is a good fit for its services.
Begin with your reader and your outline. Defining Moments Press teaches that knowing who you are writing for makes the rest of the process easier. Its free one hour course ends with an outline for your table of contents, and it names lack of clarity as the main reason people never finish.
KDP can still be profitable, because Amazon remains the main sales channel for indie authors. In Written Word Media’s 2024 Indie Author Survey, 87% of respondents named Amazon their top revenue source, as reported by Reedsy. Profit depends on your costs, price, and marketing, so treat any income claim as an estimate.
Amazon can suspend or close KDP accounts it believes break its content guidelines or terms of service, for example over rights or quality concerns. We do not have data on how often this happens. Read the content guidelines in KDP’s help pages and keep proof of your rights to every file you upload.
There is no reliable published average we can cite, and earnings vary widely between authors. Results depend on genre, price, number of titles, and marketing. KDP’s listed royalty rates, 70% for ebooks priced $2.99 to $9.99 and 60% for print per Harmony Publishing, set the ceiling on what you earn per copy.
We have no data showing that KDP is shrinking. The figures we use point the other way: Harmony Publishing says roughly 80% of US ebook sales happen on Amazon. An individual author may see sales fall after price changes, ranking shifts, or new competition in a category, which a launch and marketing plan can address.
We cannot verify any company that pays $200 for every book read, and offers like this deserve caution. Legitimate paid reading work usually means reviewing or narrating at modest rates. Check any offer independently before sharing personal or payment details. This guide focuses on writing and publishing your own book.
Ask for a written list of deliverables and prices, who keeps rights and royalties, and how you order author copies. Look for named people, a real address, and clear terms. The Alliance of Independent Authors publishes guidance for authors. Defining Moments Press lists a Fresno, California address and states there are no hidden fees.
Lack of clarity is the most common reason, according to Defining Moments Press, which says most people stall because they are unsure what belongs in the book. A clear reader, an outline, and a weekly schedule fix most stalls. Its Author Blueprint describes about 2 to 5 hours a week of work.
No. Defining Moments Press states on its own pages that results are not guaranteed or typical and that a lot of hard work is involved. Its packages include a launch aimed at bestseller rankings, but outcomes depend on the book, the author, and the effort put into marketing.
Defining Moments Press offers a free discovery call with an Acquisition Editor. You leave with a clear next step, whether or not your book is a fit.
Published by Defining Moments Press