Author: Jodee Thayer

ABOUT JODEE THAYER: With over 20 years of experience in sales and management, Jodee Thayer works as the Manager of Author Services for Outskirts Press. The Author Services Department is composed of knowledgeable customer service reps and publishing consultants; together, they all focus on educating authors on the self-publishing process in order to help them publish the book of their dreams. Whether you are a professional looking to take your career to the next level with platform-driven non-fiction or a novelist seeking fame, fortune, and/or personal fulfillment, Jodee Thayer can put you on the right path.
Jodee Speaks

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!

This time of year, we take the time to give thanks for the many blessings in our lives. I am thankful for each of you who follow my blog and for the opportunity to help authors achieve their dreams of publishing a book. I hope you have a great Thanksgiving!

ABOUT JODEE THAYER: With over 20 years of experience in sales and management, Jodee Thayer works as the Manager of Author Services for Outskirts Press. The Author Services Department is composed of knowledgeable customer service reps and publishing consultants; together, they all focus on educating authors on the self-publishing process in order to help them publish the book of their dreams. Whether you are a professional looking to take your career to the next level with platform-driven non-fiction or a novelist seeking fame, fortune, and/or personal fulfillment, Jodee Thayer can put you on the right path.
Jodee Speaks, Uncategorized

Which Type of Publisher is Right for You

In today’s publishing industry, authors have a lot of options when it comes to choosing a publisher. Success is no longer synonymous with a large, traditional publishing company. While large publishing companies are still a top choice among many writers, today’s authors have the freedom of choosing a publisher that fits their needs and who will best represent their book, and for some, that isn’t a large publisher. Here is a break down of the publishing options available to you and how to decide which publisher is best for your project.

1. Large, High-powered, Traditional Publisher

Many authors have always dreamed of having their book published by a large, traditional publisher, so this is still a top choice for people who want to work with a traditional publishing company and who don’t mind the time and work that goes into landing a contract with one of these companies. Authors who go this route often receive many rejections before landing a publisher and find that the process takes a very long time. Many authors also complain about the lack of freedom this choice offers. Despite these drawbacks, traditional publishers offer credibility, distribution channels, and low upfront costs.

2. Small, Independent Publishers

Large publishing firms aren’t the only option for people interested in the traditional publishing route. There are also many small publishing companies that offer similar benefits as large publishers. If you are considering an independent publisher, it is important to do plenty of research before sending your submission because many companies are looking for specific types of books to publish.

3. Self-Publishing

The number one reason people choose this option is control. Self-publishing authors have complete control of the entire process — the title, the cover art, the story. The writer decides if and when the book is ready to be published. There are no rejection letters, and the books often get published much quicker than those printed by traditional publishers. The main downfall to self-publishing is the upfront cost. Authors who want to self-publish a quality book usually spend money on professional services such as editing and illustrations as well as the cost of printing and marketing the book. Self-publishing is a great option for niche writers, professionals who want to sell a book as part of their services, and fiction writers who feel compelled to share their story but don’t want to work with traditional publishers.

I’d love to know, what made you choose your publishing company?

ABOUT JODEE THAYER: With over 20 years of experience in sales and management, Jodee Thayer works as the Manager of Author Services for Outskirts Press. The Author Services Department is composed of knowledgeable customer service reps and publishing consultants; together, they all focus on educating authors on the self-publishing process in order to help them publish the book of their dreams. Whether you are a professional looking to take your career to the next level with platform-driven non-fiction or a novelist seeking fame, fortune, and/or personal fulfillment, Jodee Thayer can put you on the right path.
Jodee Speaks

5 Misunderstandings About Using Photos When Self-Publishing

One of the most confusing areas of publishing for self-published authors is copyrights. Many authors aren’t familiar with or misunderstand copyright laws — especially when it comes to using photos in their books or on their covers. Here are five of the most common misunderstandings.

1. “Download Free Photos” Sites

Many authors misunderstand the “download free photos” sites.  Most of these sites only allow the images to be used for blogs, websites, and other personal applications; not for publication.  Also, since these images are designed primarily for use on a computer, they are typically very low resolution and not suitable for printed publication.

2. Wikipedia Photos

Contrary to popular belief, it is not permissible to publish all photos downloaded from Wikipedia.  The author needs to look closely at the annotation on the page where they found the image to see the requirements.  Some will require the author to obtain permission from the copyright holder.

3. Limitations

Some copyright holders will sell the right to publish their image, but their permission may have limitations on the number of copies or length of time.  Many self-publishing companies will not accept a limited authorization.  Authors should check with their publisher before purchasing any such rights to publish
an image.

4. The Copyright Holder

Just because a photo is in your possession doesn’t mean you have the right to publish it.  The copyright holder is considered to be the person who took the photo. Therefore, the original photographer is the one who must grant authorization to publish the image.

5. Subjects in Photos

Despite my previous point, just because you took the photo doesn’t necessarily mean you have the right to publish the photo.  If there are people in the photo, then the author should obtain a photo release from the subjects.

I’d love to know what questions you have about photo copyrights. Please comment below.

ABOUT JODEE THAYER: With over 25 years of experience in sales and management, Jodee Thayer works as the Director of Author Services for Outskirts Press. The Author Services Department is composed of knowledgeable customer service reps, publishing consultants and marketing professionals; together, they all focus on educating authors on the self-publishing process in order to help them publish the book of their dreams and on assisting authors with marketing and promoting their book once published. Whether you are a professional looking to take your career to the next level with platform-driven non-fiction or a novelist seeking fame, fortune, and/or personal fulfillment, Jodee Thayer can put you on the right path.
Jodee Speaks

Top 6 Self-Publishing Copyright Questions

One of the most confusing topics for new authors is copyrights. I am constantly asked questions by new authors who want to avoid copyright infringements. Here are the top six copyright questions I am frequently asked by self-publishing authors.

1) Is my manuscript copyrighted when self-publishing?

Yes, the copyright for your material was secured as soon as you created it, or when it became fixed in a manuscript for the first time. No publication, registration or any other official act is required to secure copyright.

2) If copyright is automatic, why should I register for a copyright?

Filing with the U.S. Copyright Office creates a public record of the basic information of your book, which gives you the ability to sue for infringement and statutory damages. Doing this creates a legal presumption that your copyright is valid and allows you to recoup up to thousands of dollars, and possibly attorney fees, without having to prove actual monetary harm.

3)  How do you know if something in your book is copyright protected?

 In most cases, any picture, material, text, information, quote, map, song, image or illustration that you personally did not create is copyright protected by the person(s) who created and/or published the material.  Any text or pictures found in a book, magazine or newspaper is copyright protected by the publisher, artist photographer or some other entity.  And yes, most information found on the internet is copyright protected.  For example, if you pull material from Wikipedia, it’s copyrighted by somebody. 

4) What is Fair Use?

Under “Fair Use,” some copyright protected material can be used without permission; however, there are no clear-cut rules, only guidelines and factors to be considered. Fair use is not a right, only a defense. If you are unsure, please consult a legal advisor or copyright researcher.

The following four factors are used to determine fair use: 1) The purpose and character of the use, including potential gains for commercial 2) The nature of the original copyrighted work 3) The proportion or percentage of the copyrighted material in relation to the work as a whole 4) The potential effect on the value of the copyrighted material.

5) Will citing the source of the material free you from copyright infringement?

 No!  Citing the source will not avoid possible court litigation.  Permission must be obtained. 

6) How can I avoid being accused of libel?

Stating an opinion is not libelous, though it’s best to be careful not to make an accusatory statement about anyone when using real names. Do not make the following statements, as they are clear grounds for a libel case: Falsely accusing someone of a crime, or having been charged, indicted or convicted of a crime; falsely identifying someone with an infectious disease; falsely charging someone or an organization with a claim that discredits a business or office and lowers their profitability; and falsely accusing someone as being impotent.  If you are publishing a true story, you may want to change names of characters and places as well as use a pen name. 

I would love to hear your other questions regarding copyrights, and perhaps, I can address them in future book posts.

ABOUT JODEE THAYER: With over 25 years of experience in sales and management, Jodee Thayer works as the Director of Author Services for Outskirts Press. The Author Services Department is composed of knowledgeable customer service reps, publishing consultants and marketing professionals; together, they all focus on educating authors on the self-publishing process in order to help them publish the book of their dreams and on assisting authors with marketing and promoting their book once published. Whether you are a professional looking to take your career to the next level with platform-driven non-fiction or a novelist seeking fame, fortune, and/or personal fulfillment, Jodee Thayer can put you on the right path.
Jodee Speaks

If You Self-Publish Your Memoir, Read This

Many self-publishing authors have questions about self-publishing a memoir and avoiding a libel suit. Libelous statements are published statements that are false and damaging. However, even if what you write is true, someone can still accuse you of libel. Here is what you need to know to protect yourself.

  • If you make negative statements about another person or entity that have not been proven in a court of law, you need written permission.
  • If you are unable to obtain written permission, take steps to protect yourself:
  • Change all names of people and places.
  • Use a pen name.
  • Do not include an author photo.
  • Do not include an author bio.
  • Consider listing the book under the “Fiction-Biography” genre rather than non-fiction.

I know these steps can sometimes be hard for memoir writers because they are so emotionally involved in their stories and they want the world to know their story. However, publishing a book without permissions can lead to legal, and possibly physical, danger. People such as abusers do not like the world knowing the truth, and they may retaliate against authors who share their stories.

Many publishers will reject the story for publication if the above  precautions are not taken.  Some authors think their “freedom of speech” allows them to say whatever they want.  Unfortunately, this is not the case!  If what they are saying infringes on someone else’s rights, they cannot publish without the other person’s permission.

However, it is possible to share your story by using the above precautions. There are plenty of people who use pen names and have very successful books. Don’t let fear of a libel suit prevent you from sharing your story, but do take the necessary steps to protect yourself.

You can learn about libel, by reading this previous post: Questions Self Publishing Authors Ask: Non-Fiction Book Considered Libelous.

ABOUT JODEE THAYER: With over 25 years of experience in sales and management, Jodee Thayer works as the Director of Author Services for Outskirts Press. The Author Services Department is composed of knowledgeable customer service reps, publishing consultants and marketing professionals; together, they all focus on educating authors on the self-publishing process in order to help them publish the book of their dreams and on assisting authors with marketing and promoting their book once published. Whether you are a professional looking to take your career to the next level with platform-driven non-fiction or a novelist seeking fame, fortune, and/or personal fulfillment, Jodee Thayer can put you on the right path.