You have a story. You have expertise. And you want to publish a book.

The problem is you don't know how to turn that expertise into a book. You want it done right. You want it done well. You want it to reflect the quality of your work. And, of course, you want people to actually read it.

In Pressed, Kory Kirby—after eight-plus years of guiding experts through the publishing process and taking more than one hundred books across the finish line—distills his hard-earned system into a strategic, practical, step-by-step guide to self-publishing a nonfiction book.

You'll learn how to:

• Position your book around a real reader, a real problem, and a clear promise.
• Plan and write your book in a way that fits your life, strengths, and schedule.
• Work with editors, designers, and collaborators like a professional publisher.
• Manage the technical and operational steps of modern-day publishing.
• Launch with intention, market with consistency, and grow your business.

This isn't a vague road map or a magical method to book publishing, promising no work and only thirty days of rainbows and unicorns—because that's how you end up with a book that's rushed, poorly positioned, badly edited, uploaded, and lost to the digital dust.

The reality is that it takes pressure.

Strain and stress are what make a book that's Pressed (the perfect word for this system).

A book that's Pressed is planned, edited, designed, published, and distributed intentionally. Once it gets started, it gets finished! It lives in vibrant conversation with your ideal reader. It aligns with your business and your why. It spreads your ideas and showcases your expertise.

Let's get you a book.

Kory Kirby is a publishing strategist, book editor, and designer who helps experts turn their knowledge into beautiful, high-performing books. To date, he's taken 113 books across the finish line—each one crafted with intention, pressure, and pride. Kory is the author of Why Do You Exist? and Pressed: The Book on Publishing Books—for Experts and Thought Leaders. He was raised in the heartland: Minnesota. An ex-professional skier and ultra-endurance bikepacking racer, Kory channels that same discipline, curiosity, and grit into every project he touches. He now resides where the mountains greet the sea in Port Angeles, Washington, with his dog, Bodhi.

"Pressed is the single best resource for anyone who wants to publish a book—full stop. It balances big-picture vision with the nuts-and-bolts execution required to actually get a book finished and distributed everywhere. If you're serious about writing a book, start here." — Tom Stearns, author of Graphic Sales and GTM consultant

"Kory's book is the real deal. Too much publishing and marketing advice sets up the author to write and finish their book, but doesn't explicitly state how marketing must be considered from step 1. Pressed expertly weaves key marketing decisions through the book planning, writing, and publishing process, setting up the author for impact and success from day 1. His writing is entertaining and sincere. If you're an expert with a message, looking to create a book that may outlive you, Pressed is for you." — Renee Puvvada, #1 bestselling author, writer of top-ranked Smokin' Hot Books newsletter

"I just read your chapter on marketing—LOVED IT. Helpful, practical, love your author voice. Encouraging, no-nonsense." — Katrina Busselle, coach and author A Million Reasons Why You Can't

"It's been a real pleasure reading your advice about working with authors. You highlight and address so many objections and misunderstandings. It can only make everyone's lives easier to know more about this process! This is a super-useful book." — Dr. Joanna Puckering, editor, author Gifts, Virtues and Obligations of University Volunteering

"With Pressed, Kory Kirby has provided authors with an invaluable guide for bringing their works to their audiences. This must-have road map covers all aspects of self-publishing with a voice that is welcoming, authoritative, and reassuring." — James Gallagher, editor of 400+ manuscripts for publishers & indie authors, Castle Walls Editing LLC

"An exhaustive guide to self-publishing." — Josh Raab, book editor & producer for Al Gore, Netflix, and $1B+ Founders

"Pressed cuts through the noise of independent publishing and delivers authors a clear, laser-focused path to meaningful success." — Jazmin Welch, book designer at fleck creative studio