12 Introduction Sigmund Freud said that people write books for three reasons: fame, love, and money. So let’s make it happen! But 昀椀rst let me repeat: you’re not just writing a book. You’re starting a commercial enterprise, which includes marketing, 昀椀nances, and all the other facets of a pro昀椀t- making enterprise. 吀栀e book business requires time and e昀昀ort, and above all, information. Without information, you can 昀椀nish a manuscript, but you may also be the only person who ever reads it. I am here to make sure you have all the tools you need to not let that happen! One more thing . . . Maybe part of you thinks there’s an easier way to achieve those three enticing goals of fame, money, and love. For example, you may be wondering why you can’t just start a podcast or a blog and update it every couple of days. As we’ll discuss, you can—and should—start a pod- cast or blog, but the foundation of your business must be your book. Your book will validate you as a real writer, not just in your reader’s mind, but in your own mind too. A book shows you’re serious. You’ve paid the price and jumped through all the hoops required to get it out into the world. Everyone can respect, admire, and appreciate that. Plus, once your book is in the world, there’s no limit to where it can go or the in昀氀uence it can have. Nothing