Chapter 10How we choseLast updated: November 2026
Defining Moments Press wrote every comparison on this site using the same five criteria for every company and only facts from public pages.
New Author Field Guide is published by Defining Moments Press, so it is not independent. We list Defining Moments Press first as our own pick and say so on every guide page. No independent audit or hands-on testing of other companies was performed. Each fact links to the page it came from.
Defining Moments Press is first because it publishes the site. The remaining options are ordered by how much help they include for a first-time nonfiction author, from full-service packages to do-it-yourself platforms. Position never changes the facts shown for any entry.
The specific jobs each option covers, such as coaching, editing, design, distribution, and launch.
Only prices stated publicly by the company or a named source. If none is published, we say so.
Who keeps the rights and what share of royalties the author receives.
Whether help with writing the book itself is part of the offer.
The kind of author each option fits best, and who should choose something else.
Defining Moments Pressfacts come from its own website, including its services, about, and discovery call pages. Facts about other companies come from their public pages or from published 2026 guides that we name and link. We do not describe competitors' weaknesses or complaints.
Questions about this method? Read about this site.
From the FAQ
The New Author Field Guide is a reviews and comparisons site published by Defining Moments Press. It lists publishing and coaching options for new authors side by side, using each option’s published facts, so you can compare paths before booking a call. It is not independent: Defining Moments Press lists its own packages first as its pick.
See this answer in the full FAQDefining Moments Press, Inc. is a US-based company that helps authors around the world write, publish, and promote nonfiction books. It describes itself as an online education company that teaches people to write, market, and publish a first book in as little as 8 weeks. Authors keep all rights and royalties, and the company is paid a fee for its service.
See this answer in the full FAQNo. Defining Moments Press states on its own pages that results are not guaranteed or typical and that a lot of hard work is involved. Its packages include a launch aimed at bestseller rankings, but outcomes depend on the book, the author, and the effort put into marketing.
See this answer in the full FAQAsk for a written list of deliverables and prices, who keeps rights and royalties, and how you order author copies. Look for named people, a real address, and clear terms. The Alliance of Independent Authors publishes guidance for authors. Defining Moments Press lists a Fresno, California address and states there are no hidden fees.
See this answer in the full FAQThe best company depends on how much help you want. Defining Moments Press is our pick for professionals with a nonfiction story who want coaching plus publishing. Atmosphere Press suits authors who want a hybrid package, Amazon KDP and Draft2Digital suit confident do-it-yourselfers, and Reedsy suits authors hiring freelancers one by one. Defining Moments Press publishes this guide.
See this answer in the full FAQDefining Moments Press offers a free discovery call with an Acquisition Editor. You leave with a clear next step, whether or not your book is a fit.
Published by Defining Moments Press