We asked our clients to share their self-publishing journey and provide suggestions for new authors.
Author: Robert W. Callahan
Book: Hopw to Shoot a Handgun – Correcting the Eight Most Common Shooting Errors
Please tell us a little about yourself and what prompted you to write a book:
I am a retired 31 year Federal Law Enforcement officer. During my career, among many other things, I served for more than 20 years as a Firearms, Self Defense, Disturbance Control and Special Tactics instructor and specialist. I learned early on in teaching firearms that there are really only eight basic errors that shooters make. Whether they are experts or novices, they make the same eight errors. I also noticed that every book or even booklet I found concerning how to shoot a handgun contained much information I considered superfluous to basic handgun shooting: such things as trajectories, muzzle velocities, etc.
Please tell us a little about your book:
My booklet, currently entitled “How to Shoot a Handgun”. The booklet briefly discusses the basics of aiming at a target, pulling the trigger and hitting your intended target. It then goes into the eight common errors that every shooter makes whether they are a Novice or an Expert. Using graphic depictions of a target with bullet holes in it and using a basic clock face which shows how the shot pattern appears for each of the errors. The booklet names each error, describes each based on the accompanying graphic and instructs the shooter on what action to take to correct the error. For example, one of the errors is called “Breaking the Wrist.” This error causes the majority of the shots fired to strike the target in the 5:30 to 6:30 pm area on the clock face and correcting it is simple.
How long did it take you to finish your book?
Once I started actively writing the booklet, it only took about eight weeks to have a presentable finished copy..
Do you offer your book as an ebook? No
What has been the most challenging aspect of self-publishing and what suggestions would you give to a new author?
The greatest challenge I encountered in self-publishing finding locations and venues in which to place the booklet for potential customers to have access. My most lucrative so far has been gun shows. I would suggest trying to do a little market research prior to actually trying to sell your book. Look for places and or events in which you can place your booklet or present it yourself (gun shows for me). Additionally, find someone else who may know something about the market, provide them with a complimentary copy and maybe even provide them with some kind of incentive to sell the book for you (something like an agent).
