Category: self publishing news

And now for the news!

Some highlights from this month in the world of self-publishing!

• How Erika Latanya Became a Bestselling Author — and How You Can, Too!

Despite this being a slow news day (in the book world, not the larger world—our thoughts are with those currently facing down Hurricane Dorian) this beautiful gem from Black Girl Nerds caught our eye. Written by self-publishing author Erika Latanya, the piece chronicles Latanya’s journey from self-publishing to traditional publishing and back again, a fascinating little insider’s glimpse into the reasoning behind these decisions. Writes Latanya,

So, I’ve been self-publishing books for a little over two years now. In between, I signed with two different publishers because I wanted more exposure for my work. Not only did I want more exposure but I also wanted to become a bestselling author. Aye, it’s every author’s or aspiring author’s dream. Being able to claim “bestselling author” is the equivalent of earning a verified badge on social media.

But things didn’t quite go according to plan. Latanya goes on:

I wrote my first book and I just knew I’d sell a ton of copies. Ummm — that did not happen. When I signed with two different publishing companies, I assumed they could get me that badge. Ummm — I still didn’t get a badge.

Despite Latanya’s unflagging optimism, elbow grease, and even the leg up that traditional publishing is supposedly supposed to provide those authors who pursue it, selling her books remained an uphill battle. And finally? She broke out of the rut by returning to self-publishing, this time putting her own name down for the publisher and mixing up the kinds of books she was writing. But the main difference, Latanya notes, between her first (not bestseller) book and her second (bestseller) book was something else entirely:

I asked myself, “What did I do differently this time around that I hadn’t done before?” The answer is: Promote. Promote, promote, and then promote. I ran ads, held a giveaway, and even gave some books away for free. Word of mouth helped a lot, too.

While many things about publishing and self-publishing are universal experiences, much also differs from person to person. We love to raise the profile of authors who have something to say for those who are looking to get into self-publishing themselves, and Latanya is certainly fully in control of her own narrative. It’s empowering—and enlightening—to read her story. Many thanks to Black Girl Nerds for hosting her story!

• Self-Publishing Helps Parents Share New Books with Kids

Our second article for the day comes from NewsUSA by way of The Brownsville Herald, and it touches on one of the reasons why more people than ever before are moving from reading to writing self-published books. As the article puts it, “some parents are seeing gaps in the available options of topics they want to share with their children. To combat this, there is a growing trend of parents who have taken matters into their own hands and turned to self-publishing to fill these holes themselves.” Because self-publishing is a safe and welcoming space for books targeting niche audiences or covering material that isn’t quite one-size-fits-all (the way that the United States public school system must necessarily attempt to be), these parents are looking to self-publishing as a place not just to find educational and entertaining books that do what no Big Five publishing house can do, they’re ready and willing to dive into the creation process themselves! While the article is very specifically pro-KDP, its principles apply to all self-publishing companies. The article closes, “These parents have been able to create the books they couldn’t find for kids and found financial success – and sometimes a whole new career – in the process.” And that’s an idea we can get behind.

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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 each month to find out the hottest news. If you have other big news to share, please comment below.

And now for the news!

Some highlights from this month in the world of self-publishing!

• Knowing Your Worth: Finding Value in Self-Publishing Why writers shouldn’t let industry validation determine the value of their work

While much of the title of this article is self-explanatory, we’re excited to see it out there in the world! Brooke Warner writes this week for Publishers Weekly that there is value in self-publishing, just as there is value in traditional publishing—and that value is dependent on the author’s individual needs. She continues:

Of course I understand any author’s desire to get published traditionally. After all, the seduction of going that route is strong. To be chosen, to have one’s work paid for, to have someone else shoulder the risk—these remain goals and dreams and ambitions that most authors continue to carry, even after they’ve independently published one or countless books.

But value and its cousin worth are sneaky little beasts. I have my ears well-tuned for the ways in which these words show up in conversation with women writers in particular. Value and worth are tricky because they’re words that connote money and finances, yet they encompass so much more than that. After all, it’s rarely the material things in life that top the list of things we most value or that make us feel most worthy.

And many authors aren’t willing or able to take the time or invest the energy necessary to make a success out of a self-published work; others simply overlook the possibility that self-publishing would offer equal or superior value for them in their specific circumstances. Notes Warner:

I champion every author who wants to pursue any kind of publishing opportunity, and I always wish them the best. What triggered me during our conversation was the notion that discovering whether or not the author’s book had value would be inherent in that experience. Authors must determine for themselves whether or not this is so before they shop their book to agents, editors, and publishers. […]

For debut authors, I advise them to be in it for the long haul and to celebrate the small victories, such as moments of connection with readers, a glowing review from a stranger, and the potential that these victories will have to propel the next book. When shopping to publishers, or deciding whether and how to publish at all, consider the qualities inherent in worthiness: the quality of being good enough and the quality of deserving attention or respect. The biggest win for authors, even bigger than an advance from a big house, is to be able to access those qualities and believe them to be true, regardless of the publishing outcome for their work.

We just … we have so much love for this article.

• Authors write their own happy ending with success of self‑published ebooks

This article from Arthi Nachiappan of the UK’s The Times comes at a timely moment for those of us who need a moment of encouragement in the midst of a heavy-headline month; Nachiappan opens with the success story of Nicola May, bestselling author of self-published romance works, and whose books have brought her considerable financial as well as statistic success in sales. While much of the article lives behind The Times’ paywall, enough is visible to know that Nachiappan’s article is an important tonic and redress for some recent public statements attacking or at least insinuating negative things about those authors who choose to self-publish instead of pursue a traditional publishing path.

• Self-published author sells more than 50,000 books after scooping top prize

In other good news out of the UK, The Sun‘s Jack Peat brings us this article about self-publishing phenom David Leadbeater, whose self-published work of archaeological fiction, The Relic Hungers, took home some pretty impressive accolades … as well as some seriously amazing sales figures. The article touches upon other nominees and winners for the Kindle Literary Awards, one of a number of high-profile and worthy book awards each year for which self-publishing authors can submit their work for consideration. Speaking of Publishers Weekly, the PW team has previously published a great starter list of awards for authors to look into, which you can find here at the link (see the bottom of the article for the full list). We’ll be keeping track of this year’s awards and keeping you informed of what to watch for!

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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 each month to find out the hottest news. If you have other big news to share, please comment below.

And now for the news!

Some highlights from this month in the world of self-publishing!

• Why Beatrix Potter Ended Up Self-Publishing The Tale of Peter Rabbit

Once upon a time, way back when, we mentioned on this blog that Beatrix Potter self-published her most famous work, The Tale of Peter Rabbit (see our post here). This week the story is coming back around again thanks to this lovely piece on Mental Floss by contributor Garin Pirnia. Writes Pirnia, Potter wasn’t willing to compromise on her personal vision for her books, and:

On December 16, 1901, a 35-year-old Potter used her personal savings to privately print 250 copies of The Tale of Peter Rabbit. The book turned out to be a hit—so much so that, within a year, Frederick Warne and Co. (one of the publishers that had originally rejected the book) signed on to get into the Peter Rabbit business. In October 1902, they published their own version of The Tale of Peter Rabbit, complete with Potter’s illustrations, and by Christmastime it had sold 20,000 copies. It has since been translated into nearly 40 different languages and sold more than 45 million copies.

We’re so glad that Potter went ahead and stuck up for what she knew was the right format for her book, and of course we’re grateful that the success of The Tale of Peter Rabbit allowed her to pursue more publications in that series. Pirnia also points out that Potter’s doggedness in seeing her vision through transformed the way that picture books are written, illustrated, and sold—a win for everyone, ultimately, in the end. Three cheers for more stories about one of the self-publishing greats!

• With self-publishing in Canada, profit isn’t the main motive

The Missassauga is bringing us some interesting news this week with this article from contributor Carola Vyhnak, covering the self-publishing story of author Jenn Bruer, who looked to Beatrix Potter (how fitting for this week’s run-down of news!) for inspiration when she was getting started. Writes Vyhnak, “As a stay-at-home spouse and foster parent, the Mississauga resident was afraid traditional publishers wouldn’t take her seriously.” Relateable, right? But she had plenty to add to the conversation, Vyhnak continues, “So she wrote a book to help others and, using post-Peter Rabbit, digital-age technology and $6,670 of her own money, self-published it last December.” After moderate success in selling the book, Bruer reflects that the best part of the process had nothing to do with making a profit—it was seeing her book’s positive impact on the larger conversation around mental health and wellness. “‘I just thought it was the right thing to do,’ she says of the 224-pager, written ‘from my heart. […] Burnout is rampant in our society,’ especially among those in the helping professions, explains Bruer, who found her own way to physical, mental and spiritual wellness.” This is an important lesson for all of us, but usefully, the article doesn’t stop there—it provides hard numbers, additional anecdotes from others involved in the self-publishing process, and in general helps pull back the veil of one of the lesser-known aspects of self-publishing: the speaking of one’s truth out into the world. We can all do with more positivity and truth!

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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 each month to find out the hottest news. If you have other big news to share, please comment below.

And now for the news!

Some highlights from this month in the world of self-publishing!

• 10 People Who Wrote Themselves Into The Millionaires’ Club (5 Are Self-Published)

This article came as a bit of a (welcome) surprise, courtesy of The Richest, and contributor Karen Simao. Simao provides brief biographical snippets about each author she features, with a quick reminder that “the internet has also changed this market. Since some years ago, the public has seen talented writers who self-published their books online and are making a fortune. Some of them were rejected many times by traditional publishers.” A quick note, though: this list is not synonymous with the top ten authors in regards to earnings, but every author included has become a millionaire as a result of their work, traditionally or self-published—and that alone puts them all in the top tier of author-earners. Of the self-publishing authors she profiles, we’ve mentioned a few already here on the blog: Amanda Hocking, EL James, and David Chilton come to mind. A number of other authors, including Michael J. Sullivan, have published through both traditional and self-publishing channels, demonstrating yet again that these choices are not always in competition with each other. Self-publishing has a healthy and important role in the marketplace, democratizing access for both readers and authors.

• My Journey Of Self Publishing

Another great article this week comes from Nicole Serena Silver, an author as well as founder of Ignitingfp.com and GROWmyfuture.org, two entrepreneurial-inspired (and inspiring) portals for the curious-minded. Silver set out to write without a clear idea of what the publication process might look like. She writes, “I did not realize the complexity of the journey I was about to embark on.” The challenges were numerous:

Did you know paperweight makes a huge difference on how potential buyers subconsciously perceive the quality of your book? Yup, I did not know that. Did you know that the newest trend is soft touch books? Soft touch books feel cheap like wrapped plastic books, yuck. At least in my opinion — no offence meant if you like them. Did you know that Shopify rocks?! It’s a super helpful resource for selling your book independently without Amazon taking a ginormous cut and it can also increase your brand quality. There are lots of little details, all which I am figuring out every step along the way.

And while Silver’s article is not itself long, it opens an important door in the conversation about self-publishing, and also points readers to more of her thoughts on the subject, which can be found through her various social media platforms. More at the link!

• Is it worth paying $7,500 to have your book published? Maybe

This piece from Barbara Lane of Datebook is an important one, as it deals with a question at the heart of self-publishing: what is the value and role of a so-called “vanity press”? Many times, you’ll find self-publishing companies fighting to create linguistic distance between what their businesses do and what vanity presses do, given what Lane is talking about when she writes that “In many cases […] having your book published by a vanity press, as the name implies, carries something of a stigma. After all, if your book is any good, wouldn’t one of the reputable publishing houses want the honor of bringing it into the world and pay you for the privilege?” The answer might be a surprising one to some, given that Lane sees vanity presses and hybrid publishing companies as helping to fill a growing void and answering a need in the publishing industry. Writes Lane, “As the publishing world becomes increasingly competitive and the purse strings ever more tightly drawn, it’s become harder and harder to get a contract with a traditional publisher. To meet the needs of writers dying to get their work out, a new crop of hybrid publishers has sprung up. It’s a whole new game out there.” Nobody likes to spend money if they (a) don’t think they need to, or (b) are not receiving fair value for their investment. And Lane acknowledges that $7,500.00 (the cost to publish through She Writes Press) is a hefty price tag, but she also notes that many authors who choose a similar route are turning to crowdsourcing in order to pay off publishing fees. She also notes that one’s reason for publishing plays an important role in determining which publishing route is best suited. A worthy opening salvo of what we hope is an ongoing conversation!

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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 each month to find out the hottest news. If you have other big news to share, please comment below.