A new book by Kory Kirby

Pressed

The Book on Publishing Books—for Experts and Thought Leaders

Years of pressure—released.

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

  • 4.9 out of 5 on Amazon
  • Hot New Release on Amazon
  • Itasca’s Top 10, April ’26
The Pressed hardcover standing on a wooden chair in warm window light

Straight from the feed

Pressed, in the wild

Tap to read in full.

Video reviews

Readers, on camera

Tom Stearns stearns.io
Norbert Teston ntcreativeconsulting.com
Zach Kristensen juxtabook.com
Lauren Erickson onward.marketing
Aaron Baker imaaronbaker.com
Chad Bareither bareithergroup.com
Hand-drawn illustration: a whirlwind of ideas, notes, photos, and devices funnels into a book press, which presses out a cheerful book with a P on the cover

About the book

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 distills his hard-earned system into a strategic, practical, step-by-step guide to self-publishing a nonfiction book.

You’ll learn how to

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

Inside the hardcover

Made for the hand

Clothbound, smyth sewn, yellow endpapers and ribbon marker, textured paper and hand-drawn illustrations throughout.

The Introduction spread, with its hand-drawn illustration of the press
An open spread with a margin illustration and the yellow ribbon marker
Pressed open to the Introduction on a wooden chair
The open cover showing the endpapers and ribbon
Pressed standing open to a full-page illustration
The Five Parts of You spread
A hand turning a page with a small illustration
A numbered list page on brand, content and platform
A how-to page on choosing Amazon subjects and categories
Kory Kirby smiling in a black t-shirt in front of white cedar shingles
Black-and-white photo of Kory Kirby at his desk

About the author

Kory Kirby

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.

Work with Kory at korykirby.com
The Pressed hardcover standing upright, front cover facing out

Your turn

Get your copy

Join the readers above. Pressed is available in hardcover on Amazon.

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