Is writing controversial books ever safe?

Many authors have written controversial books, and are either completely ignored, or become the butt of jokes.
Subject matter and presentation (eg: fiction vs non-fiction), are big variables.

>> Could vindictive individuals track me down if I never ever say what I did to anyone?

Anything is possible. There's a lot of unstable people out there.
A pseudonym wouldn't hurt. It would at least make it harder to track you down. But it probably wouldn't stop someone that is really determined.

Have you ever looked yourself up in Google?  What about sites like Spokeo?  It is getting harder and harder to be invisible now if you are on the internet.  And of course organizations like the NSA and FBI have the resources to find you whether you use an alias or not.

Thanks. Has anyone ever been able to get a personally published book decently circulated?

U'r right.
My parents, my brother and a dozen or more friends might  buy it. - maybe out of pity, even!
I'd have to hope they recommend it to many more people, each.
It's a moronically naive dream to go it without a normal publishing house. - could probably find testimonies to its futility, even if the personal publishers have a success story page.  ?

Quite a few people have "self-published" their books.  But they also sell them themselves.  Getting a book carried by the bookstores is very difficult.  Especially since book sales are going down anyway.  There are a lot of companies that will help you "self-publish" your book.  But here's an article about the costs: http://www.pbs.org/mediashift/2013/05/the-real-costs-of-self-publishing-book/

Thank you everyone.

This is not a book that will appeal to the masses, or be a trilogy of trilogies! George still hasn't finished his - Star Wars! - Will in next five years.

Based on some earlier comments, I don't feel safe in revealing too much.

Thanks for that article on "Real costs...publishing. ."

I don't care about fame or recognition. I'd despise it. You'd have to know me to understand. How likely is a deal with a Barnes and Nobel manager to allow me to be shelved somewhere, if I supply the books, even for a slight monetary loss? My topic is valid, and compelling.

I can afford and definitely will get my book professionally reviewed, edited, cover designed and formatted.
I might just simply brazen myself into being read, after self-publishing. I can send many to many organizations I know would be curious?
Thanks

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