Category: Kelly Speaks

Kelly Speaks, Self-Publishing Week in Review

Self-Publishing Week in Review: 8/05/14

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 Tuesday to find out the hottest news.

Self-Published Authors Make A Living — And Sometimes A Fortune (http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2014/07/25/334484331/unknown-authors-make-a-living-self-publishing)

This article discusses how much money self-publishing authors make and how some authors are able to make a “fortune.” It also discusses Hugh Howey’s report that suggests that self-published authors make more money overall from ebooks than those signed with the big five publishing houses. It is an interesting read for all authors.

31 Percent of Daily E-Book Sales Are Now by Self-Published Authors

(http://smallbiztrends.com/2014/07/self-published-ebooks-on-amazon-study.html)

According to a report by the author’s advocacy group Author Earnings, self-published ebooks now account for 31 percent of daily ebook sales on Amazon, and self-published authors are now earning nearly 40% of all ebook royalties on the Kindle store.  This data is very encouraging to independent authors.

Surprising Self-Publishing Statistics

(http://booklife.com/books/07/28/2014/surprising-self-publishing-statistics.html)

This article also looks at the report released by the group Author Earnings as well as a 2014 survey from the founder of Smashwords. Key findings include:

  • The Big Five traditional publishers now account for only 16% of the e-books on Amazon’s bestseller lists. Self-published books now represent 31% of e-book sales on Amazon’s Kindle Store.
  • Indie authors are earning nearly 40% of the ebook dollars going to authors.
  • $2.99 and $3.99 are currently the pricing sweet spots for most ebook bestsellers.
  • Readers prefer longer ebooks. In fact, bestselling books tend to be over 100,000 words.
  • Pre-orders give authors a sales advantage.

Be sure to check out the full article for more surprising statistics!

If you have other big news to share, please comment below.

ABOUT 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 at http://kellyschuknecht.com.
Kelly Speaks, Uncategorized

Don’t Miss These Opportunities to Promote Your Book

Book fairs are an excellent way to promote your self-published book, learn about the publishing industry, and network with other professionals. Even though the year is more than half way over, it’s not too late to promote your book at some of this year’s book fairs. Here are a few you might want to add to your calendar.

2014 Beijing International Book Fair

Show Date: Aug 27, 2014 – Aug 31, 2014
Location: Beijing, China
Deadline: Aug 05, 2014

2014 LIBER (Spain)

Show Date: Oct 01, 2014 – Oct 03, 2014
Location: Barcelona
Deadline: Sep 10, 2014

2014 Frankfurt International Book Fair

Show Date: Oct 08, 2014 – Oct 12, 2014
Location: Frankfurt, Germany
Deadline: Sep 12, 2014

2014 Pennsylvania Library Association

Show Date: Sep 29, 2014 – Sep 30, 2014
Location: Lancaster, PA
Deadline: Sep 12, 2014

2014 Illinois Library Association

Show Date: Oct 15, 2014 – Oct 16, 2014
Location: Springfield, IL
Deadline: Sep 26, 2014

2014 New England Library Association

Show Date: Oct 19, 2014 – Oct 21, 2014
Location: Boxborough, MA
Deadline: Oct 03, 2014

2014 California Library Association

Show Date: Nov 07, 2014 – Nov 09, 2014
Location: Oakland, CA
Deadline: Oct 06, 2014

2014 New York Library Association

Show Date: Nov 06, 2014 – Nov 07, 2014
Location: Saratoga Springs, NY
Deadline: Oct 17, 2014
Many of these book fairs have deadlines that are fast approaching, so be sure to sign up soon.
In addition to these popular book fairs, look for local events where you can promote your book. County and state fairs are often a good choice as are hometown fall festivals.
I’d love to know, where do you plan to promote your book this year?
ABOUT KELLY SCHUKNECHT: Kelly Schuknecht is the 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 at http://kellyschuknecht.com.
Kelly Speaks, Self-Publishing Week in Review

Self-Publishing Week in Review: 7/22/14

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 Tuesday to find out the hottest news.

 A Publisher of One’s Own

This interesting article from Inside Higher Ed looks at self-publishing statistics and the role self-publishing currently plays in academic publishing. This thought-provoking piece illustrates the problems with traditional publishing while discussing the reluctance of many scholars to self-publish. This is a must read for all academic writers.

Kindle Unlimited earmarks $800k extra for self-publishers 

Amazon recently confirmed it will increase its fund for self-publishers agreeing to loan their ebooks by $800,000 this month. The retailer predicts an uptick in downloads with the launch of the Kindle Unlimited subscription service. Those with ebooks already being distributed under the Kindle Owners Lending Library will automatically see their titles added to Kindle Unlimited.

 Self-publishing surging to 31% of ebook market, claims report

A new report claims that self-published authors have surged to 31% of ebook sales on Amazon and are now earning more ebook royalties than writers published by the “Big five” traditional publishers. While some people have questioned the data, the figures show that self-published authors are successful and that the industry is growing.

If you have other big news to share, please comment below.

ABOUT 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 at http://kellyschuknecht.com.
Kelly Speaks, Uncategorized

Achieve Your Summer Reading Goals While on Vacation

Reading is one of the best things writers can do to improve their own work. Reading offers inspiration, teaches the craft, and provides insight into what is (or isn’t) successful right now. I frequently encourage writers to set reading goals — read a certain number of books per month. Your summer vacation is the perfect time to achieve those summer reading goals.

Years ago, when you went on vacation you’d pack a small stack of books to enjoy on the plane or as you laid by the pool. Once those books were finished, your reading was done. Obviously for space reasons (and wonderful suitcase weight limits), it just wasn’t possible to pack all the books you wanted to read. Luckily, times have changed.

E-readers make reading while traveling easy. You can download books to reader before leaving or wait and download books as you need them. This offers countless reading possibilities.

While you probably already have a reading wish list, I encourage you to read something you wouldn’t normally read. This is a great way to step outside your comfort zone and discover a new writing style that might just inspire your own work. For book suggestions, check out bestselling lists such as Outskirts Press Top 10 Kindle Books.

I’d love to know, what are you reading on your summer vacation?

ABOUT KELLY SCHUKNECHT: Kelly Schuknecht is the 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 at http://kellyschuknecht.com.
Kelly Speaks, Self-Publishing Week in Review

Self-Publishing Week in Review: 7/15/14

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 Tuesday to find out the hottest news.

How to Get Successfully Published TODAY: Big 5, Indy, or Self-Publish?

This great article discusses the pros and cons of three publishing options. It also mentions famous self-published authors and reasons why self-publishing might be the right choice for you. This is a must read for authors trying to decide which publishing route to go.

Self-Publish Like a Pro: Finding an Audience

This author recommends using various sites to connect with readers and share your book. She shares her own personal experiences with the sites and how her marketing approach has helped her build a loyal fan base. This is an interesting read for all writers.

Smashwords Releases 2014 Indie E-book Sales Survey

Smashwords recently released an insightful e-book sales survey that can help authors plan their next books and marketing approach. Key findings include: readers want longer e-books; series books outsell standalone titles; and series that offer the initial title for free earn more money.

If you have other big news to share, please comment below.

ABOUT KELLY SCHUKNECHT: Kelly Schuknecht is the 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 at http://kellyschuknecht.com.