Totally off the topic of your work but have you been pretty happy with self publishing through Amazon?

I have a teacher friend who has his book done and ready but doesn't know where to go from there.

lol - tell him to email me at [email protected] and I'll send him a file on publishing through createspace (this is the print version side of things) and info on using the kindle direct publishing

I'm very happy with all the control I have over my book - my own cover, not a publisher's choice; my own title, not the publisher's choice; and no one gets any of the royalties but me

and basically you set your own price