The Tech Stack Behind a One-Person Publishing House

When I first sat down with Jennifer's manuscript, I had no idea how to turn it into a book that someone could actually hold in their hands - let alone buy from a bookstore anywhere in the world. I wasn't a publisher. I wasn't a designer. I was an engineer who knew how to solve problems, but I had stepped into an industry I knew nothing about.

And that's the first challenge of running a one-person publishing house: you have to do everything, even when you don't know what "everything" is.

Fortunately, Jen and her team of creatives, handle all of the creative elements from the manuscript to, hand drawn illustrations to book layout to cover design. That means I can focus on taking that finished illustrated manuscript and turn it into a book that people can hold, anywhere in the world, in any language required, in any format the market needs. And to put in place business systems that support our business growth and profitability.

From Manuscript to Marketplace

The publishing process is a mystery until you're in the middle of it. At first, it seemed simple: write a book, get it printed, sell it. But the reality is a long and winding road full of questions I didn't know to ask:

• How do you get an ISBN?

• Where do you print?

• What's the difference between a proof copy and a distribution-ready book?

• How do you market a title so people even know it exists?

Each answer uncovered three more challenges. It was overwhelming, confusing, and sometimes downright maddening. But it was also amazing. With every step, I realized that the tools exist to help you build an entire publishing business from scratch - if you're willing to learn.

The Tool Stack

Here's a glimpse of the toolkit I've built along the way:

Less than <25% of the 80+ Apps and Service used on a regular basis

It's a lot, right? And the surprising part is: I use most of them regularly, Each one solve a very specific problem - from using Canva for almost everything, to generating QR codes, to managing ISBNs, to distributing globally on Amazon and IngramSpark, to promoting through BookBub and GoodReads, to working with freelances on Reedsy or Fiverr.

This is the reality of a one-person publishing business. You don't have departments - you have tabs open on your browser.

Why it's worth it

The day I held our first finished book in my hands was one of the most satisfying moments of my life. Because it wasn't just paper and ink - it was us, our baby - Jen and I had put everything into making that moment happen and there it was in our hands. It was proof that if you are creative enough, passionate enough, persistent enough, even with no background in publishing you can take your idea, learn the process, and create something that people can read anywhere in the world.

That's still pretty amazing to me.

What's Next

This post is just the beginning of a series where I'll share more about the tools and services I've come to rely on. I'll break the stack into groups - creative design tools, publishing platforms, marketing channels, productivity apps, and more. I'll also highlight the solutions I couldn't live without (spoiler: ChatGPT and Canva are at the top of the list).

If you're an indie author, creative entrepreneur, or just curious about what it takes to publish, I hope you'll follow along. And if you're already in the trenches, I'd love to hear: what tools can't you live without?

Running a one-person publishing house isn't easy - but with the right digital toolbox, it's possible. And that, I think, is something worth sharing.