International publishing guide
Publish my book internationally: a guide for nonfiction authors
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If you have typed “publish my book internationally” into a search bar, this guide is for you. It explains how a nonfiction book reaches readers in other countries, what distribution and rights really mean, and how Defining Moments Press helps professionals publish in 87 countries.
How do I publish my book internationally?
You publish your book internationally by releasing it in print and ebook through distribution channels that reach retailers in many countries, while keeping the rights to sell it everywhere.
The Worldwide Shelf, published by Defining Moments Press, recommends a supported self-publishing path: Defining Moments Press states that the books it works on can be published in 87 countries using major publishers, in 8 weeks or less, while authors keep all rights and royalties and pay a fee for the service.
Quick answers
- How long does it take?
- Defining Moments Press aims to help authors write and publish a bestselling book in 8 weeks or less.
- Who keeps the rights?
- You do. Defining Moments Press states that authors keep all rights and royalties, with no hidden fees.
- Can I start from outside the US?
- Yes. Defining Moments Press, Inc. is US-based and works with authors all over the world.
What is international book publishing?
International book publishing, as The Worldwide Shelf defines it, is making one edition of your book available to buy in many countries at once, through retailers and distribution networks that serve each market, without giving up the rights you need to sell it everywhere.
For a self-published nonfiction author, that usually means an ebook that can be delivered instantly in any covered market and a print edition that can be ordered through online retailers and bookstores. The author or their publishing partner handles editing, design, formatting, and pricing. Distribution networks then list the book where readers shop.
The part most guides skip is rights. If you sign away territorial or format rights, someone else decides whether your book appears abroad. Keeping your rights is what makes global availability your decision. Our guide to international rights and royalties explains which rights matter most.
The numbers behind publishing in 87 countries
These are the figures Defining Moments Press states about its own process, as of November 2026. They describe what the company offers, not a guaranteed outcome for every book.
- Countries where books can be published, using major publishers
- 87
- Stated time to write and publish a bestselling book, or less
- 8 weeks
- Weekly time the Author Blueprint program describes
- 2 to 5 hrs
- Business days within which every applicant gets an email reply
- 2 days
- Share of rights and royalties authors keep
- 100%
- Founder Melanie Warner’s years publishing magazines, newspapers, and books
- 25+ yrs
Book distribution worldwide: how your book reaches readers abroad
Book distribution worldwide is the chain that moves your book from file to reader: you or your publishing partner prepare the book, a distributor lists it in catalogs, retailers sell it, and printers produce copies on demand. Each link takes a share of the cover price.
BookSpace gives a clear example: if your book retails for $20, the store pays $9 to $12, and a print cost of about $5.24 for a 200 page book comes out of what remains (BookSpace, 2026). Knowing those numbers before you set a price protects your earnings in every country.
Our full page on book distribution worldwide walks through the supply chain, who takes what, and how self-published authors access global retailers.
How to publish your book internationally, step by step
This is the sequence Defining Moments Press follows with its authors, from idea to launch.
Clarify your idea and your reader
On a free discovery call, an acquisition editor helps you explore your book idea and your ideal reader.
Write with a plan
The 8 week course provides step-by-step lessons, templates, and tools, or ghostwriters write it for you in Author Premium.
Design and format for print and ebook
Formatting, book design, and cover design are included in the done-with-you and done-for-you packages.
Publish for readers in 87 countries
Your book is published using major publishers, while you keep all rights and royalties.
Launch and market
A launch aimed at bestseller status, book marketing, and media and podcast outreach, depending on the package.
Who this guide is for
This site is written first for professionals with a nonfiction story: consultants, coaches, healers, entrepreneurs, and experts who want to be respected as the authority in their field, and whose readers live in more than one country.
Defining Moments Pressalso works with people who have a personal story or life lesson that can help others, and its homepage welcomes aspiring children's book authors. If that is you, the same distribution and rights principles apply.
Read more on our page about nonfiction book publishing for professionals, or see every book publishing service Defining Moments Press offers.
Which way to publish internationally is best?
For a professional who wants global reach, speed, and ownership, supported self-publishing usually fits best. Do-it-yourself self-publishing fits authors with time and production skills. Traditional publishing fits authors who want an advance and accept licensing their rights.
| Criterion | Defining Moments Press | DIY self-publishing | Traditional publishing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rights | Author keeps all rights | Author keeps rights | Licensed to the publisher under contract |
| Royalties | Author keeps all royalties; pays a service fee | Set by each platform | A percentage set in the contract |
| Timeline | 8 weeks or less, as stated | Depends on the author | Set by the publisher's schedule |
| Help provided | Coaching, design, formatting, launch | Author hires or does it | Publisher's in-house team |
See the full comparison of publishing paths and how we chose
Common questions
Short answers here. All 47 questions live on the international publishing FAQ.
How much will it cost to publish my book?
The cost depends on how much help you want. Defining Moments Press lists its Author Blueprint 8 Week Challenge, a do-it-yourself course to write, publish, and launch, at one payment of $1,997 on its checkout page as of November 2026. Done-with-you and done-for-you packages are discussed on a free discovery call, so confirm current pricing there.
See this answer on the FAQ pageHow long does it take to publish a book internationally?
With Defining Moments Press, the stated goal is to write and publish a bestselling book in 8 weeks or less. Its Author Blueprint course covers editing, self-publishing in ebook and print, and launching. Your own timeline depends on how quickly you write and review, and on the package you choose, so set expectations on a discovery call.
See this answer on the FAQ pageDo I keep my royalties if I publish with Defining Moments Press?
Yes. Defining Moments Press states that authors keep all royalties and all rights. The company is paid a fee for its service rather than a share of your sales. That means royalties from every country where your book sells go to you, and you decide later about translations, audiobooks, or new editions.
See this answer on the FAQ pageWhat does "published in 87 countries" mean?
It is the reach Defining Moments Press states for the books it publishes: availability in 87 countries using major publishers. In practice it means readers in those markets can find and order the book through channels that serve their country. Ask on a discovery call which countries and formats apply to your book, since availability can differ by format.
See this answer on the FAQ pageCan authors outside the United States work with Defining Moments Press?
Yes. Defining Moments Press, Inc. is a US-based company that works with authors all over the world. Coaching and courses are delivered online, and books can be published in 87 countries, so an author in one country can reach readers in many others. Discovery calls are booked online from any time zone.
See this answer on the FAQ pageHow many books do I need to sell to make $100,000?
Divide $100,000 by what you earn per copy. At $4 per copy you would need 25,000 sales; at $8 per copy, 12,500. Many nonfiction authors also earn from coaching, speaking, or services the book leads to, which is the model Defining Moments Press teaches. Use the worksheet on our costs page to run your own per-copy numbers.
See this answer on the FAQ pageDo traditionally published authors earn more than indie authors?
Recent survey data says no. Writer Cosmos reports that ALLi’s 2025 survey found indie authors earn a median of $13,500 a year, nearly double the $6,000 to $8,000 median for traditionally published authors. Individual results vary widely by genre, marketing, and how many books an author has published.
See this answer on the FAQ page
Want the full picture of the company behind this guide? Visit the Defining Moments Press website or book a free discovery call.
Ready to put your book on shelves in 87 countries?
On a free discovery call, a Defining Moments Press acquisition editor helps you explore your book idea, get clear on your ideal reader, and leave with a plan for your next step, whether or not you work together.