Author: selfpublishingadvisor

Advocacy in Self-Publishing, Book Marketing, from the archives, karl schroeder, Kelly Speaks, Self-Publishing, Uncategorized

From the Archives: “Self-Publishing – A Growing Industry”

Welcome back to our new Tuesday segment, where we’ll be revisiting some of our most popular posts from the last few years.  What’s stayed the same?  And what’s changed?  We’ll be updating you on the facts, and taking a new (and hopefully refreshing) angle on a few timeless classics of Self Publishing Advisor.

∗∗∗∗∗

[ Originally posted: January 11th, 2010 ]

Did you know that over 40% of all book sales in the United States last year took place online, through e-retailers like Amazon.com and BarnesAndNoble.com? More and more people are becoming comfortable with (and even accustomed to) shopping online. What’s more, consumers are more likely to purchase lesser-known and self-published books, according to Inc. Magazine.

What does this mean for the self-published author? With the convenience of on demand-printing and full-service self-publishing options: Good things. Selling books online is more cost-effective than selling through a typical bookstore, and that means more money in your pocket. Again, make sure your publisher lets you set your own retail price, royalty, and discount to take maximum advantage of shifting consumer trends.

Just something to keep in mind as you write and investigate the publishing options best in-line with your goals.

Have fun and keep writing!

by Karl Schroeder

sales growth

Almost six years on from Karl’s original post, we now have the benefit of hindsight to apply to many of his predictions–and fortunately for all of us who happen to be involved in the self-publishing industry, most of them came true!  According to Statista.com, “some 41 percent of global internet users having purchased products online in 2013”–and the numbers have continued to climb steadily from there.  And in respect to total e-commerce sales, a separate Statista article shows that Chinese retail giant Alibaba had a massive 23.7% market reach (outright) in 2015, but that Amazon and its affiliated sites together had an aggregate market penetration of 39.6% (the affiliates earned 22%, and Amazon proper 17.6%).

Many companies might struggle to find their niche in a market so overrun by big business, but smaller, more nimble organizations (including hybrid and self-publishing firm Outskirts Press) have shown they’re more than capable of keeping their footing.  Outskirts, which ranked in Inc. Magazine‘s top 500 or 5000 for four years in a row starting in 2009, continues to ensure that its authors make waves in the Amazon bestseller listings–and get their books onto actual physical bookshelves, as well.

And Outskirts Press is just one company among many who are succeeding at delivering on the promises of self-publishing as laid forth by Karl in his article: convenience in on demand-printing and full-service self-publishing options, cost-effective marketing, and more money in authors’ pockets, not to mention control over retail price, royalties, and discounts.  Inc. Magazine and others have come forward to bolster our knowledge and understanding of the inner workings of the publishing and self-publishing business, with articles like “How to Self-Publish Your Book” (2011), “How to Self-Publish a Business Bestseller” (2012), and “Publisher’s Note: Celebrating the Power of Partnership” (2015) underscoring new ways to adapt in an ever-shifting landscape of opportunities and challenges.

Some things have changed since 2010: Barnes & Noble seems to be stuck in a slow and gradual decline, print books seem to be on the rebound after Hachette and the other Big Five traditional publishing houses won their battle in the Amazon price-fixing war, and so on.  But other things haven’t changed: self-publishing is succeeding where traditional publishing continues to fail–in providing vital and necessary services and support to authors whose books are too daring, too interesting, and too precious to fall through the cracks.

What does this all mean, though?  It means, as Karl’s article so eloquently stated, that self-publishing remains a “Growing Industry.” ♠

 

KellyABOUT KELLY SCHUKNECHT: Kelly Schuknecht is the Executive Vice President of Outskirts Press. In addition to her contributions to the Outskirts Press blog at blog.outskirtspress.com, Kelly and a group of talented marketing experts offer book marketing services, support, and products to not only published Outskirts Press authors, but to all authors and professionals who are interested in marketing their books and/or careers. Learn more about Kelly on her blog, kellyschuknecht.com.
Kelly Speaks, news from the self publishing world, self publishing news, Uncategorized

Self-Publishing News: 12.28.2015

This week in the world of self-publishing:

2015 been a “quiet” year in publishing, writes Jonathon Sturgeon for FlavorWire in this December 23rd article––and self-publishing has not been exempt.  As a small bright note, however, says Sturgeon, “adult coloring books and books ‘written by’ YouTube Megastars helped keep print books out of the red in 2015″––and many of these books were put out by indie, hybrid, and self-publishing authors.  Looking ahead to 2016 may prove a bit more complicated, as Sturgeon goes on to say: “I will now make a series of extravagant claims about what will happen in book publishing in 2016. Some of these claims, I’ll admit right now, rest on little but the shaky edifice of intuition. Some rest elsewhere.”  Among his predictions for 2016, Sturgeon predicts: “we will see the rise of the novel written by group or committee,” “we’re also likely to look on helplessly as computers write novels with increasing sophistication,” we should “Look for increased investment in Hollywood-style superprojects, and look for content that is fabricated especially for this purpose,” and “that publishing will lean harder on the multimedia blockbuster model of Hollywood because the ‘unexpected comeback of actual books’ is not as strong as we’re making it seem.” Sturgeon goes on to take a quick look at erotica and young adult literature, and given their huge popularity he concludes with one final prediction: “I also wouldn’t be surprised if we see a literary novel that emulates an erotic novel.” Whether or not he’s right on all fronts, FlavorWire is a massive distributor of information, much like BuzzFeed and PopSugar.  It may not have the literary cachet of a Publisher’s Weekly article, but Sturgeon’s piece is likely to be read far and wide as an indicator of millennial attitudes towards publishing.

“Gone are the days where a writer had to send their manuscript by courier and hold their breath while waiting for a response,” writes Unity Blott in this December 24th article for the Daily Mail. “Now, thanks to e-book publishing, armed with just a laptop and an internet connection, anyone can be their own editor, agent and publisher.”  She goes on to introduce four women––Mel Sherratt, Stephanie Hudson, Tracy Bloom, and Louise Ross––who, in her words, “got bored of waiting and took matters into their own hands.”  Blott, who transcribes a brief interview with each woman, is keen to impress upon her own readers the value of independence and authorial control when it comes to publishing; each of these four women struggled to find their place in the world of traditional publishing, and found their homes––as well as an excellent sense of community and support––when they made the decision to strike out into the barely-tested waters of self-publishing.  For more of Blott’s articles and information about Sherratt, Hudson, Bloom, and Ross, follow the link!

Says Pratima Shantaveeresh of the New Indian Express on December 24th, “Everyone has a book in them, but not all can put the first sentence down or sell the first book to a publisher.”  Luckily,  says Shantaveeresh, “there is The Write Club Bangalore, started in August 2011 to encourage aspiring authors.”  The Write Club, only four years old, now has more than two thousand members––around 35 of which show up every week in Bangalore to practice, give each other feedback, and participate in a casual but rich atmosphere of mentorship and mutual support.  The club’s principal organizer, author Sharath Komarraju, says that the group attracts “all kinds of writers … Those who treat it as a light hobby and want to write something fun every weekend, those who enjoy the social aspects of the club and attend to catch up with friends, and those who want to write and publish novels.” With a population of well over two million, Bangalore is the capital of India’s souther Karnataka state and a hotbed of literary talent and self-publishing.  For more of Shantaveeresh’s article and an update on what’s happening in the publishing world in India, click here.

Echoing Shantaveeresh, Robert Kay begins his article for Hawaii Reporter (dated December 26th) with the line: “It’s been said that ‘everyone has a book in them.'”  Kay––whose interest is, like Shantaveeresh’s, rather local––goes on to write that “Thanks to the Internet and the commensurate growth of technologies that support self-publishing, a number of Hawaii writers have taken the leap” into self-publishing.  One of these authors, Mike Schmicker, has seen a great deal of recent success with his book The Witch of Napoli (“selling like hot cakes on Amazon,” says Kay).  In March of 2015, The Witch of Napoli “hit the Amazon Top 100, ranking No. 41 in paid books out of 3.3 million books for sale in the Kindle bookstore”––and briefly “earned the No. 1 slot in both the historical fantasy and victorian historical romance categories in three countries — the U.S., Canada and England,” says Kay.

To read Kay’s full article and interview, chase the rabbit through this looking glass!

spa-news

As a self-publishing author, you may find it helpful to stay up-to-date on the trends and news related to the self-publishing industry.This will help you make informed decisions before, during and after the self-publishing process, which will lead to a greater self-publishing experience. To help you stay current on self-publishing topics, simply visit our blog every Monday to find out the hottest news. If you have other big news to share, please comment below.

KellyABOUT KELLY SCHUKNECHT: Kelly Schuknecht is the Executive Vice President of Outskirts Press. In addition to her contributions to the Outskirts Press blog at blog.outskirtspress.com, Kelly and a group of talented marketing experts offer book marketing services, support, and products to not only published Outskirts Press authors, but to all authors and professionals who are interested in marketing their books and/or careers. Learn more about Kelly on her blog, kellyschuknecht.com.

amazon reviews, Self-Publishing Book Review of the Week, Uncategorized, weekly self published book review

Saturday Book Review: “The Prince and the Scorpion”

Book reviews are a great way for self-publishing authors to gain exposure. After all, how can someone buy your book if he or she doesn’t know it exists? Paired with other elements of your book promotion strategy, requesting reviews is a great way to get people talking about what you’ve written.

When we read good reviews, we definitely like to share them. It gives the author a few (permanent) moments of fame and allows us to let the community know about a great book. Here’s this week’s book review, courtesy of the Midwest Book Review:

the prince and the scorpion

The Prince and the Scorpion

by Dick Nelson

Publisher: Outskirts Press

ISBN: 9781478741435

Synopsis:

America is under attack from her mortal enemies … and only Brad Tilsdale can save her.

In the highly anticipated sequel to The Trojan Horse Conspiracy, Brad Tilsdale—former Navy SEAL, FBI agent, CIA operative, and now National Security Advisor to the President—expands his influence over the U.S. government’s clandestine operations, while a weak President looks the other way. As Tilsdale weaves his way through the Washington bureaucracy to head off a massive Al-Qaeda attack, his sharply etched character begins to evolve in sinister ways, revealing a dark and ruthless side of his personality.

Tilsdale plots and schemes to protect the United States, often from itself. His unorthodox alliance with the two most influential women in Washington—a romantic triangle with treacherous implications—becomes a struggle for control of the nation’s Special Operations and clandestine services, exposing layer upon layer of personal agendas and an insatiable pursuit of power. In a final cataclysm of violence and duplicity, Tilsdale’s character emerges as a flawed hero who will kill without remorse in order to achieve his secretive goals, aided by a beautiful, powerful woman who is irresistibly drawn to his strength.

The Prince and the Scorpion is a gripping, action-packed tale of political intrigue, assassination, and heroism—a tale that will leave the reader with an entirely new view of their government in Washington … and the people who manipulate it..

Critique:

In The Prince and the Scorpion, Dick Nelson once again spins a superbly fashioned novel of political intrigue, assassinations, and heroism. A solid entertainment from first page to last, The Prince and the Scorpion is very highly recommended, and along with its prequel, The Trojan Horse Conspiracy (9781432795085, $19.95), would prove to be an enduringly popular addition to community library Action/Adventure fiction collections. It should be noted that The Trojan Horse Conspiracy and The Prince and the Scorpion are also available in Kindle editions ($2.99 and $9.99 respectively).

[ reviewed in the Mystery/Suspense Shelf of Midwest Book Review ]

Here’s what some other reviewers are saying:

Brad Tisdale, former Navy SEAL and FBI agent (The Trojan Horse Conspiracy) and now National Security Advisor, meets his match in the Scorpion, a well-funded and highly resourceful terrorist. The two clash in a series of terrorist plots, but Tisdale is also beset with other world crises, and deals with competitors and enemies in the US and other governments (some fictional, some thinly disguised real world actors). Nelson mixes history, alternative history and speculation to produce near-constant action.

Reflecting his military background, the author is particularly effective in his treatment a broad range of weapons and intelligence systems, as well as tactics and procedures from the unit to the theater level. He is also keenly aware of the internal workings and conflict in the US and foreign governments.

This is a spellbinding novel about what it is (or should be) like to operate at the highest level of government: the loyalty and the duplicity, the cumulative effect of shadow war on people and relationships, and the deep bonds between warriors. Both books in this series are recommended to fans of John Sandford, Michael Connolly, and Robert B. Parker.

– Amazon Reviewer Bat

Fasten your seat belt and tighten your shoulder harness! Nelson’s latest work takes the reader on a fast-moving three dimensional journey of action in the “black ops” world with lots of action and twists in the plot. There are also some rather steamy amorous adventures in the story.

The plot is a blend of real the real and the fictional, wonderfully blended together. The reader is taken around the world in this fast-paced adventure. In the preface, the author encourages the reader to look up some the book’s fascinating locations using “Google Earth” – which I did and that adds anther dimension to this fascinating novel.

I liked everything about this book, including the cover.

I can’t wait for Nelson’s next book!

– Goodreads Reviewer ROBERT M HINCKLEY

saturday self-published book review

Thanks for reading!  Keep up with the latest in the world of indie and self-published books by watching this space every Saturday!

Self Publishing Advisor

selfpubicon1

Conversations with a Self-Publishing Writer, Royalene Speaks, Self-Publishing, Uncategorized

Conversations: 12/25/2015

LET ALL THE WORLD KNOW (Part IV)

Last week’s blog felt a bit sappy to me. Sometimes being sappy can be a good thing. So I thought I’d continue in that vein this week and talk about the MIRACLES that happen when writing. After all, we are in the December Season of Miracles!

christmas tree

For most of us who call ourselves Writers and/or Authors the simple act of sitting down TO write is a miracle. There are days when the storyline or the main character(s) may blur in our imaginations—then another miracle happens and suddenly we are joyously experiencing the perfect words spilling onto the page with clarity and ease. Below is my Santa list of favorite books I’ve found under my Christmas tree over the years—and—if I were a billionaire I’d send these to every writer/author in the world.

 

  • A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. This timeless story continues to give me hope for the future of our world—that minds and hearts can be healed and nurtured toward good.
  • The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg. A dream miracle adventure that allows my imagination to soar.
  • The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. Totally captivating with each character clearly developed and alive as they discover the depths of Faith and family connections.
  • The Little Match Girl by Hans Christian Anderson. Such a poignant story demonstrating that what appears to be tragic circumstances may become miraculous.
  • A Charlie Brown Christmas by Charles Schulz. With the new Peanuts movie out in theatres, the superb characters in all the Schulz stories will continue to lift our spirits and teach us many good life-lessons.
  • The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojciechowski. A reclusive woodcarver is asked to make a Christmas crèche. What happens next blesses every Reader.
  • The Littlest Angel by Charles Tazewell. What does an angel give the new born Son of God as a birthday gift? The answer has been enriching imaginations for a long, long time.
  • The Crippled Lamb by Max Lucado. This story brings unexpected gifts to Readers as they discover that even the prayers of “little lambs” are answered.
  • The Legend of the Candy Cane by Lori Walburg. Strangers are rarely met with open arms these days. However, in this story, a young girl befriends the special stranger and learns of an amazing mystery that reveals the beauty of Christmas.
  • Silent Night: The Story of the World War I Christmas Truce by Stanley Weintraub. For more adult readers, this true tale is about warring soldiers (Germans and Allied Forces) who placed candlelit Christmas trees on trench parapets, sang carols, and shared food parcels from home.

 

Of course, I could add a few hundred more to this list of favorite books, but the Eve of Christmas is drawing nigh and I must rest my hands to begin a new chapter of my new novel in the NEW YEAR.

christmas tree2

May all the books you’ve published (and are ready to publish) find their way under many a Christmas Tree. And, as tiny Tim says, “A Merry Christmas to us all; God Bless us, every one!” ⚓︎

 

RoyaleneABOUT ROYALENE DOYLE: Royalene has been writing something since before kindergarten days and continues to love the process. Through her small business—DOYLE WRITING SERVICES—she brings more than 40 years of writing experience to authors who need “just a little assistance” with completing their projects. This is a nice fit as she develops these blogs for Outskirts Press (OP) a leading self-publisher, and occasionally accepts a ghostwriting project from one of their clients. Her recent book release (with OP) titled FIREPROOF PROVERBS, A Writer’s Study of Words, is already receiving excellent reviews including several professional writer’s endorsements given on the book’s back cover.  

Royalene’s writing experience grew through a wide variety of positions from Office Manager and Administrative Assistant to Teacher of Literature and Advanced Writing courses and editor/writer for an International Christian ministry. Her willingness to listen to struggling authors, learn their goals and expectations and discern their writing voice has brought many manuscripts into the published books arena.
elizabeth speaks, Holidays, in your corner, Uncategorized

In Your Corner : Christmas Traditions!

In this busy world, our equally busy lives can sometimes get in the way of passing along traditions to our family.  Publishing a novel, a memoir, a cookbook, or some other piece of writing is an oft-neglected but rewarding way to pass on our traditions–as well as our special holiday stories–to family members and to our friends!

pierogies pierogi varenyky

For example, take the cookbook.  There are infinite varieties and forms that the cookbook can take–no two cookbooks look or feel or read the same, even if they overlap in terms of recipes.  Why is that?  Well, for one, a cookbook is first and foremost an artifact of its author’s personality, history, culture, and interests.  The most interesting cookbooks, in my opinion, are not the ones produced by Williams Sonoma (as swoon-worthy as we all find their copper pots to be) or even Cooks Illustrated (although, let’s face it, we like the science).  Books produced by committee may have their strengths, but they don’t lock in the same quality of story.

Take these three cookbooks, for example, all of them put out by Outskirts Press:

“The Seven Fishes: An Italian Christmas Cook Book”
“Firewood, Family & Friends”
“Easy as Hell Dinner Party Cookbook”

We have Sleeping with the Seven Fishes: An Italian Christmas Cook Book (2013) by Mike KC; Firewood, Family & Friends Cookbook (2010) by Cheryl Paninder; and the Easy as Hell Dinner Party Cookbook (2013) by Bill Bjorkman with Michael Cilella of the Cox Roosevelt Inn.  And as you can tell from first glance, they’re all radically different books!  One is geared specifically towards the holidays, one towards the cozy kind of relationships we prize during the holidays, and one towards the home cook with ambitions at throwing a gourmet extravaganza.  (I’ll leave it up to you to decide which is which!)

What’s most important to note about these books, however, isn’t the covers themselves but what the covers and titles and typography–and all of the other graphical elements–combine to imply about the stories behind the individual books.  These are the things that are worth taking note of as a self-publishing author–and whether you’re thinking of publishing a cookbook or some other type of book, the same principle holds true–because these are the things that grab a reader’s attention in the bookstore and compel that person to carry your book all the way to the check-out clerk.  Authorship isn’t exactly a cult of personality, but it can sometimes be useful to think of a published book the same way you might think of a person going in for a high-stakes job interview: presentation matters, because it conveys a lot about that book’s/person’s backstory.

 And for better or worse, people connect with story.

 
spiral cut ham

The Christmas holidays is an especially important time to be thinking about helping to preserve your family’s history and legacy by self-publishing a book.  That’s because Christmas, perhaps more than any other holiday, is rich with oral storytelling traditions, baking traditions, and narrative traditions of all kinds.  You can both collect new material for your book and enjoy the rich conversations that will inevitably collect around the news that you’ve got a book in the works.  And sometimes, at Christmas as at other times of year when our relationships with the past are the hinge upon which our lives turn, we can all do with a little reminder:

It is my hope and wish that you enjoy a wonderful, relaxing Christmas–a Christmas thickly textured with the best kinds of traditions!

 

Merry Christmas!  

You are not alone. ♣︎

ElizabethABOUT ELIZABETH JAVOR: With over 18 years of experience in sales and management, Elizabeth Javor works as the Manager of Author Services for Outskirts Press. The Author Services Department is composed of knowledgeable publishing consultants, pre-production specialists, customer service reps and book marketing specialists; together, they all focus on educating authors on the self-publishing process 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, Elizabeth Javor can put you on the right path.