Self-Publishing a Book? Here's Why There's Never Been a Better Time
- 5 hours ago
- 4 min read
Almost everyone knows someone who’s said,
“One day I’ll write a book.”
Most never do.
Not because they don’t have an idea, but because they assume publishing is complicated, expensive or reserved for professional authors.
The reality is very different.
We regularly hear from people who have started to write and want advice on how to publish their finished book.
Sometimes it's from someone who's spent thirty years perfecting their craft and wants to share what they've learnt, sometimes it's a family recipe book that's been handed down through generations. Sometimes it's a business owner wanting to establish themselves as an expert in their industry and occasionally, it's simply someone with a story they feel deserves to be told.
Whatever the reason, there's one thing many of those people have in common: When it comes to turning their prose and pictures into a physical book they don't know where to start.
You don't need a publishing house anymore
Years ago, publishing a book often meant convincing a publisher to take a chance on you.
Today, that's no longer the case. Self-publishing has opened the door for anyone with knowledge, passion or a story to share.
Whether you're printing 5 copies or 5,000, producing a professional book has never been more accessible.
At Soar Valley Press, we've helped first time authors, experienced writers, businesses, charities and community groups transform ideas into books people are proud to put on their shelves.
Every book starts the same way
Not with a printed page.
You may have developed a business process that others could learn from. Perhaps you’ve spent decades researching your village’s history. Maybe your grandmother’s recipes deserve to stay in the family for another hundred years. Or perhaps there’s a novel that’s been sitting in your laptop for far too long. Every published book started life as exactly the same thing.
An idea.
Whatever the subject, every finished book started life as a blank page.
We've printed more than you might think
One of my favourite things about working in print is the variety of books that pass through our production room.
Over the years we've produced:
Business books that help entrepreneurs share their expertise
Cookbooks filled with family recipes and local favourites
History books preserving communities, organisations and remarkable stories
Children's books
Novels
Training manuals
Charity publications
Commemorative books
Every one completely different and every one important to the person who created it.
Five books you probably didn't know were printed in Billesdon
One thing that always surprises people is just how many books have been produced from our factory in Billesdon.
Some recent examples from this year include:
• A recipe book for Notting Hill Prep School
• A guide book for Kelmarsh Hall
• A book of memoirs for a local couple
• A children’s wellbeing journal for a local celebrity
• A Yearbook for The Bearded Collie Club
Each started with an idea and each became something people can now hold, read and share.
More than just printing
People often think they need to arrive with a perfectly prepared print-ready PDF.
The reality is, you don't.
Sometimes we're involved much earlier in the process…
Anna helps transform manuscripts into professionally designed page layouts that people genuinely enjoy reading.
Dave is always happy to discuss paper stocks, cover materials and the finishing touches that make a book feel premium.
Will ensures every page is printed, folded, bound and finished to the highest standard.
And Chris will happily help guide you through the whole process, right through to delivering the finished books to your door.
Publishing a book should be exciting, not overwhelming.
Choosing the right finish
One of the biggest decisions you'll make is how your book is bound.
Should it be perfect bound, casebound, wire bound or saddle stitched.
Each creates a different experience.
A cookbook that's going to live on a kitchen worktop has very different requirements to a business book or a family memoir. That's why it's worth thinking about the finished product just as much as the words inside it.
If you're unsure which option is right for your project, we've already written a guide comparing the most popular binding methods.
Your book deserves to be held
There's something special about holding your own book for the first time.
Scrolling through a PDF on a laptop simply isn't the same.
The weight, the texture, the smell of fresh print and the feeling of turning the first page knowing an idea that once existed only in your head has become something real.
It's one of the reasons I still love working in print.
Final thoughts
Whether you're writing a cookbook, a business guide, a local history book, a novel or simply preserving your family's story for future generations, self publishing has made turning an idea into reality more achievable than ever.
When you're ready to take that next step, we'd be delighted to help. From page layout and paper choice through to printing, binding and finishing, we'll guide you through the process and help bring your book to life.
After all, every published author started with exactly the same thing:
A blank page.
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