The process by which an author publishes their book independently, without the intermediation of a traditional publisher. In self-publishing, the author assumes all editorial responsibilities (editing, typesetting, cover design, ISBN) and commercial responsibilities (distribution, marketing, pricing), but retains full control over the work and receives higher royalties. With the growth of digital platforms like Amazon KDP, self-publishing has become a viable and popular alternative among authors, especially for specific niches or new authors.