Hate to be a naysayer, but there are at least as many very successful independently published books that have apparently never been properly edited as there are independently published and professionally edited books. This is especially true for nonfiction, although true in varying degrees for fiction, too. Our subsidiary company provides a range of services for micro- and self-publishers, but I would never allege that our editing will create success for anyone's book. Don't get me wrong. I believe every book should be professionally edited, but that editing will not -- in and of itself -- lead to success. Editing is necessary, but marketing is king. If you can only afford one, best to spend your money on marketing.

Jerry, Finally, somebody has come up with the perfect descriptive term for all those outfits determined to separate writers from their money. They may call themselves "self-publishing companies" (an oxymoron) or "POD publishers" but they are just modern incarnations of the old subsidy/vanity press. However, their persistent use of those terms has made it impossible to discuss, in a meaningful, way the options available to writers who are unable or uninterested in pursuing a contract with an established publisher (i.e., with royalties and/or advance but without the author paying for anything). Too many writers bristle at the application of the subsidy or vanity press label, and their ears seem to close to reasoned argument from that point onward. "Publishing mill" is the perfect term. I love it. I hope you won't mind if I start using it. It's perfect. Cheers, Walt Shiel Publisher, Slipdown Mountain Publications LLC http://WaltShiel.com