: Re: Who are some examples of recent famous self-published authors? What famous authors, within the last 40 years, were self-published?

@Kristi637

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Christopher Paolini - Eragon (Bestseller.)
Richard Paul Evans - The Christmas Box (#1 Bestseller.)
Mark Danielewski - House of Leaves (cult classic, initially self-published
online, it was issued in print by Pantheon Books.)
Catherynne M. Valente - The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making (Inaugurated a best-selling series. Initially self-published online, later issued in print by Feiwel & Friends.)
Becky Chambers - The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet (Critically acclaimed SF novel. Originally self-published it via a Kickstarter campaign; it was subsequently re-published by Hodder & Stoughton.)

It's worth noting that while critical reaction to these books has been mixed (mostly bad for Paolini and Evans, mostly good for the other three), they all share one important trait --their authors were all exceptionally good at promoting their own work. As I've said repeatedly, that's the one most important trait for a successful self-publisher.

In point of fact, the three internet-published authors all successfully built a community of engaged fans as the book was being written. That certainly seems like a new model for a successful self-publisher, the modern equivalent of the newspaper serials that built Dickens' fame.

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