This is a letter I have received from South African author – Francois* - and is published with his consent. It details his experience as a first-time author dealing with the publishing company Partridge Africa. I will leave the letter as unedited as possible and add only comments and clarity where I think they might be needed. (Dave.)

For those looking to educate themselves, click here for further reading on the dubious practices of Author solutions and other vanity presses.

45 000 , 78, 71 – A code for that safe where you keep the things no one must find? Nah, even better. Our digital publishing startup recently turned four (counting from the evening of its conception). This post is a textual-reminiscence over the year that was and what it meant for the self-publishing author.

I had a wee bit of fun compiling a list of how many writers had been welcomed through our doors to emerge the other side a literary cowboy, an outlaw in the land ruled by the traditional publisher: a serious, self-publishing author.

I wanted to kick-off the new year by asking a simple question: How our website and blog has made your day better.

There are obviously a few ways in which a popular, populated blog can help a reader. I wanted to ask a few simple questions of my digital publishing platform. The answers would be gleaned from the vast databanks of our friendly neighbourhood oracle, Google Analytics.