Category: self publishing news

news from the self publishing world, self publishing news, Self-Publishing, Uncategorized

Self-Publishing News: 2.5.2018 – The Company Files!

february

And now for the news!

Some highlights from this month in the world of self-publishing, specifically news from or regarding self-publishing companies!

The title might be straightforward, but as Forbes contributor Adam Rowe wrote this week, the recent history of self-publishing is anything but, unless you’re looking at sales numbers … and if you are, those numbers tell a very simple story, one of rapid exponential growth in both production and publication as well as readership and market share. As Rowe puts it in the opening to his article, “In September 2014, there were “perhaps two million” titles in the Kindle Store, according to digital publishing expert David Gaughran. Today there are seven million.” Rowe interviewed Gaughran for his article, unspooling his origins in the self-publishing industry as well as his thoughts on where things have gone (and how they’ve gotten here). Says Gaughran, “It’s not just that the market has swelled; the tools we have for reaching readers have evolved at an incredible rate. It’s harder today, in some ways, and easier in others. But definitely more complex overall.” Complex is our forté! We highly recommend you check out the full article on the Forbes website.

Looking to take the next step in self-publishing your book this February by branching out in your marketing? The best deal around seems to be this one from Outskirts Press, which offers 15% off their Global Book Tour service package. For those unfamiliar with book tours, we can’t recommend them enough (no matter whom you choose to incorporate into your team) here on Self-Publishing Advisor. Interested in knowing more about book tours in general, and what they can do for your book? Check out Elizabeth’s brilliant blog post on the subject, and check out the Outskirts Press website for more information on their February deal.

Remember Medium? It’s been going through a lot of changes lately (some of which we’ve documented on our blog in various news posts), some of them significant. This one seems to be less dramatic than the usual, just a change in chief editor (as if that weren’t still an incredibly significant change!). But Siobhan O’Connor comes with an experience portfolio to rival the best, with experience at Time Inc. and a number of other important traditional print institutions, and many think she has a real chance of making the company finally turn a profit. Medium, a Twitter platform dedicated to longform self-published articles, has struggled to find a financial model which might do so. We’ll be watching closely!

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

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news from the self publishing world, self publishing news, Uncategorized

Self-Publishing News: 1.29.2017 – January Round-Up

January, illustrated name of calendar month, illustration

And now for the news!

Some highlights from this month in the world of self-publishing, wrapping up what’s new for you and yours in January 2018.

We’ll start off today with the announcement of a new kid on the block; every month it seems as though the self-publishing industry adds another heavyweight to the list of available options, and January was no different as America’s last big brick-and-mortar bookstore chain launched a self-publishing platform. This move, announced in a sweep of press releases, is seen by many in the industry as an attempt for the chain, which has suffered slow attrition in sales and the rapid exit of its e-reader (the Nook) in recent years, to rival the incredible popularity of Amazon’s Createspace and KDP services. What many may forget is that B&N already had a self-publishing platform, only it was tied to the Nook. The “new” Barnes & Noble Press™ is an update of that existing platform, untethered from its Nook associations. For more details, check out the press release.

Speaking of Amazon, more big news this month as Forbes took on the controversy surrounding the distribution giant’s ongoing treatment of self-publishing authors, which hasn’t always been easy to parse. This article by contributor Adam Rowe tackles what exactly happened during a brief interlude when many self-publishing authors found a 50% royalty option displayed on their author dashboard, an option which was both unselectable and surprising (the company typically provides 35% and 70% options, contingent upon book price). Writes Rowe, authors “and other industry  watchdogs are now speculating that an upcoming change may offer the 70% only to KDP-exclusive authors while giving authors who chose to also sell their ebooks in other markets the 50% rate for non-exclusive ebooks.” Not everyone has adopted that angle, but many, it would seem, are braced for bad news. Rowe concludes his article with a brief but interesting paragraph framing the current debate within equally current statistics; you can read the full article on the Forbes website.

Here’s an interesting piece from Jeff vonKaenel of the Sacramento News Review, on the nature of journalistic freedom by way of a review of the new Spielberg film, The Post. Sound a bit out of our wheelhouse? We thought so too, until we stumbled across the later paragraphs, all of which unspool why traditional print journalism has struggled to find a funding model that will continue to work in the age of Google Adwords and … you guessed it! … self-publishing. Yes, this editorial is somewhat of a rallying cry for well-vetted information in news media. Yes, it was written by someone with a fairly large stake in the newspaper’s success. And yes, it gives an unsubtle push for more people to invest in print journalism (specifically the News Review). It’s not, for lack of a better term, a self-disinterested piece. But it is thought provoking. Self-publishing has contributed to change not just within the world of books, but also the world of news. The world of magazines. The world of music. The world of comics. The world of gaming. The old models simply don’t work anymore. So what’s next, vonKaenel encourages us to ask? I think that’s up to us, the ones who have figured out another viable way.

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

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news from the self publishing world, self publishing news, Uncategorized

Self-Publishing News: 1.22.2018 – Publishing Trends Roundup

January, illustrated name of calendar month, illustration

And now for the news!

Some highlights from this month in the world of self-publishing, specifically regarding publishing trends within the publishing industry, and their implications for all authors!

If there was an article title I thought least likely to ever appear in print or the digital sphere, it was this one: gig economy workers looking to romance writers (including, specifically, self-published authors!) for tips on how to get ahead in the digital age. This fascinating article comes to us from the Associated Press by way of Washington’s Top News (WTOP) and was written by Chris Larson of the University of Colorado and released through The Conversation (“an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts,” according to the article). In short, this has top of the line credentials, and speaks to a felt need in the self-publishing community: to be recognized not just by and within the publishing industry for the many successes and strengths of self-publishing, but also to be recognized by those outside of it–by other professionals in other fields, as a peer among peers. With a caveat to E.L. James (authors of the immensely popular Fifty Shades series), Larson writes that his research indicates that “the median income for romance authors has tripled in the e-book era. And more and more are earning a six-figure income.” This is great news, especially if the reasons why can be extrapolated and translated to other fields. Larson has some thoughts on that, too, and we highly recommend you read the full article at the link!

In another article with shockingly good credentials and authority, New York Times regular contributor Alexandra Alter describes in an interview just how e-books and the digital revolution, self-publishing included, have affected her job. Alter, for context, “covers the book industry” (according to the article) for the Times, and is a regular contributor to their very popular podcast, “The Book Review.” In other words, she’s one of the best-placed individuals to comment upon significant and ongoing trends in publishing at large. Here, Alter writes of how she came to e-books with the birth of her eldest daughter, a familiar tune to many e-book aficionados, all of whom need their hands free for various parenting duties. And despite being deeply vested in traditional publishing and print media, Alter sees value in the self-publishing industry: “Self-publishing has been one of the most fascinating corners of the industry to me,” she writes. “There have been a handful of massively successful self-published authors who have started their own publishing companies, and they’ve started to publish other ‘self-published’ authors. But publishers have survived so far through consolidation, and we’ll probably see more of that.” There’s lots to unpack throughout this article, and we highly recommend you take a look at the original on the Times website!

In one of the more useful trends to arise in the self-publishing industry, companies are now beginning to see the value in providing aspiring authors with tools for taking charge of and organizing their own publication and marketing needs. The latest release comes from Outskirts Press, a self-publishing company with which we are familiar. This month, it released its 2018 book marketing calendar, which comes complete with “valuable book competition deadlines, marketing tips and other up-to-date information they need to successfully promote all year.” If this sounds like the sort of thing which might prove helpful to you (and we’ll be the first to admit that we love bullet journals and budget and daily planners!) we recommend you take a look at the full article on Benzinga.

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

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brent sampson, news from the self publishing world, self publishing news, Uncategorized

Self-Publishing News: 1.15.2018 – New Releases!

January, illustrated name of calendar month, illustration

And now for the news!

Some highlights from this month in the world of self-publishing, specifically new releases written by self-publishing authors and published by independent presses! Today we’ll be featuring brand-new **nonfiction** releases in the Outskirts Press Bookstore!

Are you looking to self-publish a book? This latest book from the founder of self-publishing company Outskirts Press, Brent Sampson, identifies the most common questions related to self-publishing today and then provides clear and concise answers in a visually appealing format. You might be wondering, for example, what makes “independent” self-publishing unique from “free” self-publishing and “full-service” self-publishing … and Sampson has the answers! The book delves into 25 such questions, each of which elegantly encapsulates the ethic and philosophy of self-publishing. With a decade and a half of experience running a self-publishing company as well as self-publishing and marketing his own books, Sampson is an important voice in the world of indie, hybrid, and self-publishing literature, and if his previous books are any indication, this one will be an excellent addition to any prospective author’s bookshelf!

Are you a fan of works of creative nonfiction and autobiography such as Helen Macdonald’s H is for Hawk or Patricia Hampl’s A Romantic Education? Arvin F. Spell III’s narrative of a life during the timber and turpentine days of southern Georgia—stories from the turn of the 19th Century and into the early 20th Century—embodies everything we love about the genre as it weaves tales of sentiment, humor, drama, and sometimes even horror into a tapestry of personal insight. Spell grew up listening to these same stories as told by his father, whose family has its roots deep in the rich Georgia soil and the timber industry of the time, and now he’s here to share them with readers who love the atmosphere and mystery to be found in the half-light falling through virgin timber.

Once upon a time … okay, no. Let’s face it: these days, even in ultra-modern 2018, there’s a stigma attached to the career field of education. Commonly expressed sentiments include: “Anyone can teach, so why do you need a four-year degree?” and “The education system is so messed up, but if educators only did [x], everything would be better.” This is just a sampling; anyone who’s ever acquired a degree in the arts or humanities will sympathize. But the fact of the matter is that these sentiments are being expressed by people who have no (or very little) experience in the field, and as with any career or field or industry, the true inhabited experience can only be fairly represented by those who have lived and worked within it. That is why Doug Green’s new book, Teaching Isn’t Rocket Science, It’s Way More Complex is such a refreshing read. It’s packed full of insights garnered from a lifetime in education; Green has been an educator since 1970, teaching physics, chemistry, and computer science, as well as working as an administrator at various levels. With teaching experience at SUNY Cortland and Binghamton University and over 400 articles in peer-reviewed journals to his name, Green knows his stuff.

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.

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news from the self publishing world, self publishing news, Uncategorized

Self-Publishing News: 1.8.2018 – The Interviews!

thinkstockphotos-859091566.jpg

And now for the news!

Some highlights from this month in the world of self-publishing, specifically interviews with or articles written by self-publishing authors and experts!

“Heather Day Gilbert has had a busy few years,” begins this profile by Register-Herald features editor Michelle James. The author in question, Heather Day Gilbert, is what you might call dedicated, with nine books out and self-published in just four years. (Her latest is Guilt by Association.) Her path to publication begins in grade school, with writing competitions, and continued through her years in college at Bob Jones University and married life. But it wasn’t until a friend challenged her to participate in NaNoWriMo–an event and nonprofit we’re huge fans of here on Self Publishing Advisor–that Gilbert began the process of publishing her writing. Her first published novel centered on Viking Eric the Red’s ward, and the first recorded European child to be born in North America; later novels were also Viking-themed, before Gilbert moved on into writing crime fiction. Central to her own experience has been the necessity for self-publishing and self promotion; writes James, “even though not having a publisher was disappointing at first and life as a self-publisher has been busy, Gilbert says it’s turned out for the best. j’I have control over all the books,’ she says. I have three audiobooks. I pick my own narrator. It worked out the way it was supposed to.'” That said, Gilbert acknowledges the challenges set before self-publishing authors. You can read more by clicking the link to read the original article, here.

It’s the age-old question, isn’t it: How does a successful author make the magic happen? In this interview for the Rocky Mountain Outlook, Jordan Small questions Danielle Arsenault about her experiences self-publishing a zine (and later, cookbooks) while living abroad in South Korea. Says Arsenault of her zine, “The purpose of life is a life of purpose. These recipes have the power to heal the body and ignite the spirit. This is worth all the stress and uncertainty that being an entrepreneur comes with.” Inspiring, to say the least. But what about the practical details? Small also interviews Jamey Glasnovic (traditionally published) and Nancy O’Hare (self-published), both of whom discuss their separate paths to publication and their reasoning for making the choices that they did. Says O’Hare: “I self-published my book. Self-publishing gives the author complete flexibility over timing, pricing, marketing and hiring support such as editors, photography and design. I wanted to keep costs down, but deliver a high-quality product that I hoped readers would value.” We couldn’t sympathize more; O’Hare’s reasoning is more or less the guiding ethic of Self Publishing Advisor. We highly recommend you check out the rest of Small’s interviews at the link!

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.

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