Emilio Corsetti III has an interesting perspective on the concept of “self-publishing a book,” something we’ve never heard before but certainly resonates. Emilio says to authors:
Don’t let anyone call you a self-publisher. My book was independently published. In the film industry, when an individual embarks on making a film without the backing of a major studio, it is called an independent film. A self-published book is something that only your family and friends see.
And indeed, Emilio states that his new book Scapegoat: A Flight Crew’s Journey from Heroes to Villains to Redemption is not self-published; it is independently published. To fellow authors, Emilio advises, “If you think of yourself as a self-published author, you are cutting yourself short.” He continues, “Look at it this way. If I am interested in a book, and that book is professionally designed and edited, I don’t care who the publisher is.” And what he says next probably rings true for most readers: “I have never gone looking for a book because it was published by a specific publisher. I could care less who published the book. All I am interested in is a good story.”
And Emilio’s Scapegoat: A Flight Crew’s Journey from Heroes to Villains to Redemption is a good story. It recounts the true tale of an airline crew wrongly blamed for causing a near-fatal accident, and the captain’s decades-long battle to clear his name. Emilio is a professional pilot himself, with over 25,000 hours of total flight time. He is also attracted to stories of wrongful convictions. “This book is the story of a wrongfully convicted flight crew. They weren’t convicted criminally, but they were convicted professionally and in the public eye,” recounts Emilio. “The story unfolds similarly to a wrongful criminal conviction: investigators following false leads, investigators trying to shape the evidence to fit their theories, sloppy work, the destruction of evidence, and even faulty eyewitness testimony.” Besides telling a compelling story, Emilio hopes that his book will help clear the flight crew in the professional and public eye.
1106 Design was pleased to assist Emilio with all aspects of his book, from cover design to interior design to the index. He recommends authors who want to publish independently to surround themselves with people who are knowledgeable about the book publishing industry, and to “learn the benefits of collaboration.”
When asked which part of the process to publish his book was the most challenging, he replied, “All of it!” However, Emilio did find some useful tools, such as Scrivener. “My first book (35 Miles from Shore: The Ditching and Rescue of ALM Flight 980) took three and a half years to write,” recalls Emilio. “This book, which is considerably longer, took just two years. I wouldn’t start any book-length project without this very useful tool.”
Most authors would say that book marketing is the biggest challenge. Emilio says that soliciting reviews is the most important thing any author can do. “Reviews are how people discover books and how people decide whether or not to purchase a book. No book can be sold if no one knows about it.” We agree.
Emilio pointed out that his book is available in ePub and Kindle versions, in addition to print. “The eBook has enhanced features such as in-context images, color images on applicable devices, hyperlinked table of contents, endnotes, and index, along with chapter metering and custom dictionaries,” he says proudly. Scapegoat will be available as an audio download as well.
Emilio is always on the lookout for compelling stories. We’re looking forward to the day he does and to his next independent publishing adventure! Congratulations Emilio, on the publication of Scapegoat: A Flight Crew’s Journey from Heroes to Villains to Redemption.
Scapegoat: A Flight Crew’s Journey from Heroes to Villains to Redemption
Author: Emilio Corsetti III
Genre: Narrative nonfiction
Author Website: www.EmilioCorsetti.com
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/Emilio.Corsetti.III
Twitter: @EmilioCorsetti
