Michael McCandless has worked in and around book publishing for more than four decades in the traditional publishing, textbook, technical, nonprofit, and independent self-publishing sectors. He has published more than 30 books and has self-published since the dawn of the print-on-demand and internet ages. His books and self-publishing classes emphasize clarity over hype, realistic expectations, and respect for the creative process. Prior to establishing Touchwood Press to publish fiction and nonfiction titles from independent authors, he was an executive and management consultant for Silicon Valley and nonprofit organizations.