Fire Amazon. Build Your Own Book Business.

Teaching self-help authors to build profitable independent businesses.

You’ve written a book. Maybe several. You’re watching Amazon take most of your profit whilst you do most of the work.

There’s another way.

A way that puts you in control. A way that builds something lasting, on your terms, without bending to corporate platforms.

What’s covered on this site

  • How to build a six-figure publishing business without Amazon
  • The obstacles you’ll face (and what I learned navigating them)
  • Why independence matters more than convenience
  • What it takes mentally to stay independent
  • Practical lessons from thirty years of self-publishing
  • Real stories from the treacherous waters of big tech platforms

What makes this different

Most publishing advice tells you to play nice. Optimise for Amazon. Follow the platform rules. Build on rented land.

This doesn’t.

I’ve spent thirty years building three six-figure indie publishing businesses whilst refusing to follow anyone’s rules.

I moved from DIY punk culture to profitable publishing. I’ve had payment platforms frozen by the US government. I’ve been targeted by vindictive politicians. I’ve learned what it takes to survive when platforms would rather silence you than support you.

This isn’t theory from someone who got lucky once. It’s hard-won knowledge from three decades of staying independent when staying independent wasn’t easy.

If you’re tired of being told to compromise, this might be useful.

Who this is for

This IS for you if:

  • You’re building something independent, on your own terms
  • You refuse to be shackled by traditional publishing
  • You’re willing to do the hard work independence requires
  • You want raw, uncompromising advice from someone who’s lived it
  • You have the mental toughness to forge your own path

This is NOT for you if:

  • You want sanitised advice from someone playing it safe
  • You’re looking for easy shortcuts
  • You prefer working within big platforms

What you’ll get

  • Part memoir chronicling thirty years of self-publishing
  • Part practical guide with hard-won lessons you can apply
  • Real obstacles I faced and how I navigated them
  • Uncompromising approach that kept me independent through it all

About me

I’m Robin Harford. For the past fifteen years, I’ve run Eatweeds, a wild food education business that’s featured at the top of BBC Countryfile’s foraging guide.

I’ve written bestselling books on wild plants. I teach courses near Exeter. I work with medical herbalists, marine biologists, and artists.

But my real expertise is in building a profitable publishing business that doesn’t depend on Amazon or any other platform. That knowledge came from thirty years of making every mistake, surviving every obstacle, and learning what actually works when you refuse to compromise.

This site is where I share that knowledge with writers who want the same freedom.