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Self-Publishing News: 1.11.2016

This week in the world of self-publishing:

Why Pay For An ISBN When You Can Get One For Free?

Corine la Font, in this January 10th article for the Jamaican Gleaner, writes that “it is wise and cost-effective to just obtain the free assigned ISBNs from the platform you are using”–since most platforms provide ISBNs automatically–instead of buying them directly. Since ISBNs are sold in batches of 10, you may end up with a whole lot more than you need, unless you use a third party service or hybrid publishing company. ISBNs, for those who aspire to self-publish but have yet to do so, are numeric codes of either 10 or 13 digits that publishing companies, booksellers, readers, and others will use to identify your book as well as the format in which your book is published. “Ideally,” says la Font, “each format should have its own ISBN, that is print, audio and Kindle/ebook, but what tends to happen is that Amazon, when publishing the ebook of the same title, assigns an ASIN (a topic for another article) to that specific format.” ISBNs are a key element of the publication process; for more information, visit la Font’s original article here!

Self-Publishing Platforms Reach Out to Spanish-Language Authors

Under the “Booklife Report” heading in this week’s Publisher’s Weekly roundup–published on January 10th–-you’ll find a link to an earlier 2016 article by Leylha Ahuile on the explosion of opportunities for self-publishing authors in the Spanish language market. While the article itself is only available to Publisher’s Weekly subscribers (leaving us with the tantalizing introductory sentence: “Self-publishing is a well-established part of the English-language book trade, but Spanish-language self-publishing is just starting to take off”), it reminds me of this 2013 article by Tina Folsom of the Indie Voice blog, titled “Exploring the Foreign Markets for Self-Publishing.” Ahuile’s article may claim that opportunities in Spanish language markets have some element of newness to them, but Folsom’s piece and many other articles besides have long been touting the possible benefits of looking beyond the tangible boundaries of geographical divides and the abstract boundaries of language. Whether you’re looking to self-publish in English and translate your book to Spanish, or publish directly in Spanish, don’t neglect to consider the fact there are more native Spanish speakers and Spanish-language readers in the world than there are native English speakers. And this doesn’t even touch the percentage of global citizens who speak and read other languages, like Mandarin Chinese! There has never been a better time to sell your book abroad.

Amazon has officially won the multibillion-dollar self-publishing market

“Penguin Random House, the largest book publisher in the world, is chopping off its self-publishing arm,” writes Amy Wang of the Quartz blog in this January 7th article: “The company said Tuesday (Jan. 5) that it has sold Author Solutions—the self-publishing author-tools platform that it bought in 2012.” Author Solutions has long been a mainstay of the self-publishing toolbox, but has struggled to emerge from its ownership transfer and other internal problems and to overcome significant obstacles to satisfying end-user demands. While a sale does not necessarily spell the utter end for Author Solutions, it does seem to indicate a continued slide towards irrelevance as other, better, and easier-to-use options reach a mainstream audience. Writes Wang, the sale is also an admission of defeat in the battle to stave off market dominance by Amazon, “which already churns out an estimated 85% of self-published titles via its various platforms.” That’s a tough number to beat. For more of Wang’s article, follow the link.

A manifesto for digital freedom in storytelling

“There’s too much grumbling among authors,” says Carol Buchman in this January 7th contribution to The Bookseller. But Buchman, a self-publishing author of Western fiction based out of Montana’s Flathead Valley, sees a lot of cause for hope: “some people seem to overlook the wonderful benefits of various publishing modes these days,” she says, citing the “freedom to publish and to read in the manner that suits [one] best,” the choice “among e-readers, audio devices, and paper—hardbound or paperback,” and the opportunity for authors to “publish their works in all three formats” as reasons not to despair for the world of words. “As a storyteller,” she writes, “I’m enthralled by the possibilities in technological development for storytelling.” She goes on to address “the innovative energy inherent in technology” as an empowering force, and to rally readers and authors alike to a more hopeful, optimistic outlook. Her full “five-minute manifesto” is available, courtesy of The Bookseller, here!

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.

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, kellyschuknecht.com.

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

Self-Publishing News: 1.4.2016

This week in the world of self-publishing:

10 Industry Predictions for 2016

In his first annual list of prescient insights for the year ahead, Tom Chalmers writes in this December 28th article for DigitalBookWorld.com that we’re likely to see both more of the same kinds of things we saw in 2015 and some new and key trends emerging. What makes the list? Here are a few of the more pertinent bullet points as pertaining to self-publishing authors:

Continued regrowth of print sales.
Amazon spending some time under the radar.
Book fair evolution and the emergence of the micro-fair.
Struggle for subscription but steady digital sales.

Chalmers, who touts his stellar inter-office record at predictions (“I regularly point out in the office that I predicted [trends] two or three years ago. Given that I’m generally met with bemused looks, I thought I would make an official record of some predictions for 2016.”) has plenty of industry experience and data to back up his predictions for the year ahead. For the complete list as well as lengthy descriptions of the points above, check out the original article!

Interview with Roxanne Bland, author of ‘The Moreva of Astoreth’

In this week’s highlighted interview, Dorothy Thompson interviews science fiction author Roxanne Bland in this January 1st article for the Examiner.com. Bland, who struck out on her own to start her own publishing house rather than abide by the constraints of traditional publishing, prefers to identify herself as part of the “indie” community (“short for independent author or publisher. It’s not quite such a mouthful as “self-published,” and it sounds way cooler”), but doesn’t hesitate to defend the choice to self-publish. “For one,” she says, “there are no deadlines imposed by others. I don’t do well under that kind of pressure—I freeze, and make stupid mistakes. There’s also the satisfaction of doing everything yourself. I don’t know, it’s exhausting, but the feeling I get is one that I’ve really accomplished something great.” And it’s true––whether you call yourself “indie” or “self-published,” one central fact remains the same: you’ve done something truly and magnificently grand by opting to maintain creative control of your own story. For more of Thompson’s interview with Bland, follow the link!

Kobo has created a new e-book section for Wattpad

Remember our primer guide to the benefits of merchandising through various obscure platforms? Wattpad made the list as one among several up-and-coming possibilities to watch out for. Well, in his December 28th post for GoodEreader.com, Michael Kozlowski writes that e-book retailer Kobo “has quietly unveiled a new section of their website where readers can purchase e-books published by Wattpad.” The e-books, which sell for anywhere from $1 to $12, aim to take advantage of Wattpad’s massive user base, which “currently attracts over 40 million users per month, growing at a rate of over 1 new user per second.” The decision may have been made entirely for pragmatic reasons, Kozlowski attests, but there’s a certain degree of circumstantial resonance to the partnership: both Kobo and Wattpad are based out of Toronto, Canada. How’s that for coincidence? For more information about it, check out Kozlowski’s full writeup.

Orphaned orangutan inspires book by Halifax educator

Closing out this week’s top headlines is a story we can all feel good about! In a December 28th article that made the Arts & Life section of the Halifax Herald, contributor Jennifer Taplin highlights the work of local author Joanne Light. Light, who “was teaching in Malaysia in 2003 when she decided to go for a hike near Poring Hot Springs in Sabah on the island of Borneo,” was so struck by her interactions with native orangutans in the wild that when she later “learned about the plight of the orangutans—killed, injured or run off by palm oil manufacturers,” she couldn’t help but want to transform her love for them into a children’s book. Light––an educator, artist, and writer––found herself an illustrator in Lindsay Alchorn and has since self-published her book, with all of the proceeds going to Orangutan Outreach and Rainforest Rescue. Says Light, “Self-publishing is a very viable way of publishing,” especially now with the rise of e-books. To read more about Light and her book, follow the link!

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:

From Adult Relaxation to Prole Erotica: Book Publishing Predictions for 2016

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.

Buying a house, funding a wedding in Vegas and giving up work: Meet the women who have made a fortune self-publishing best-selling books they wrote at home

“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!

Saturdays Are for Being an Author

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.

Local writers leverage tech and self-publish

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!

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

Self-Publishing News: 12/21/15

‘Twas the week before Christmas,

and all through the blog,

not a book was neglected,

not even the news …

[we just couldn’t help ourselves! – SPA]

This week in the world of self-publishing:

Do’s and Don’ts of Personal Branding Online

“Have you ever thought of yourself as a brand?” asks Anastasia Crosson in this December 18th article for the online journal, Business 2 Community. She advocates for anyone seeking influence in a public conversation to make personal branding a priority: “A brand can make all the difference in standing out in a crowded marketplace. A brand can make a lasting impression. A brand can grow your network and business.” She particularly emphasizes the value of self-publishing “through blogging, or whatever medium is the best fit” for a person or author to share “content that tells a story about your work and shares your unique insights. […] Becoming a contributor to a publication you trust and respect is another great way to amplify your personal brand.”

Says Crosson, we indie authors can’t forget the importance of authenticity: “You don’t have to take yourself too seriously, try to fit a mold, or fall into the imitation trap. Your personal brand should look and feel like the best representation of you.” There’s a lot to be said in defense of brand marketing, particularly when you’re an indie author looking for that breakout moment! To read more of Crosson’s excellent article, follow the link.

Interview with author Ally Nathaniel

In this week’s featured interview with an indie author, we’d like to point you to Meagan Meehan’s December 18th conversation with self-publishing groundbreaker, Ally Nathaniel, for The Examiner. In her prelude to the interview proper, Meehan writes that “Indie publishing is becoming more and more commonplace, in large part due to Amazon’s accessible and easy-to-use self-publishing platforms […] which have opened the door to many people who are turning their love of writing into a full-fledged, full-time business.”

And while Nathaniel is certainly a case study in proof of this statement, she is also as Meehan points out, a kind of pioneer and indie mastermind: “Ally has literally written the book on self-publishing, and built a business for herself,” writes Meehan, all while “guiding other authors through the process and helping them self-publish their books too. Ally has turned her business into a cottage industry.” The interview covers a number of topics ranging from Nathaniel’s inspiration and reasons for electing to self-publish to her ongoing and upcoming projects. Hint: they’re all interesting!

Authors.me Declaws the Publishing Process

Innovation in self-publishing doesn’t stop with words on a page, as Susan Lahey of Silicon HIlls fame reports in this December 17th article: indie authors and entrepreneurs continue to push the evolution of their own platform, as Monica Landers has done in co-founding Authors.me. Landers, a producer for ABC News, pitches her website as a “platform to connect writers to agents or publishers.”

According to Lahey, Authors.me “helps writers create a profile with all the information agents and publishers need, and can arrange the connection between, say a Young Adult Science Fiction/Fantasy writer and the companies that are looking for that kind of book. Since the site launched in July, they’ve facilitated 15 book deals.” Thankfully, it’s not all about a numbers game, as Lahey explains: “It’s about user experience.” Citing the traditional publishing process as a “soul crushing experience,” Landers (through Lahey) also touches on the difficulties inherent to reading and writing within the indie universe. Landers’ website, which “gives both parties a place to communicate without a hailstorm of emails,” serves as a discovery tool for both readers and publishers to filter through the maelstrom of self-published work out there in search of new material. And a new discovery tool is always good news!

Some good reads to give as gifts this year

It’s not every day self-publishing is mentioned in the Chicago Tribune, but in a December 17th article, contributor Sara Clarkson has proven herself a firm (if occasionally skeptical) advocate. Writes Clarkson, “The tired Scrooge in me has latched on to this quote from poet W.H. Auden: “Thank God for books as an alternative to conversation.” She goes on to explain that she is in the habit of giving books for Christmas gifts, and lists those she’s already purchased for the purpose. “Though my list this year is small,” she writes, there are still some books worth passing on. But how to discern “the worthwhile from the worthless?” Especially when it comes to the famously gatekeeper-free indie market?

“This is where our librarians step in,” says Clarkson, “especially those librarians who have an interest in the Soon to be Famous Illinois Author Project.” The project is accepting e-books through January 4th of 2016 from Illinois authors with self-published works in the adult fiction genre. The only requirements? The authors must be from Illinois, have already self-published a digital copy of their adult fiction work, and be willing to promote that work “at libraries and other locations throughout the state.” The books can be either purchased online or read for free at local public libraries. According to Clarkson, the Soon to be Famous competition serves an excellent starting point if you’re looking to break into the indie market as a reader or author–and we couldn’t ask for a better Christmas gift!

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News From the Self-Publishing World: 12/14/15

This week in the world of self-publishing:

Self-Publishing Stars of 2015

As the editors of Publisher’s Weekly explain in the introduction to this December 11th compendium, they set out to celebrate “the best of the best: the self-published books that received starred reviews in 2015. And [they] check in with some of the authors of these titles, asking them for writing advice and self-publishing tips for aspiring writers.” Those they touch base with include science fiction authors Mary Fan (Artificial Absolutes) and D.L. Orton (Crossing in Time), fantasy authors Terry Irving (Day of the Dragonking) and Mike Duran (The Ghost Box), fiction authors Barbara Valantin (False Start) and Elizabeth Buhman (Lay Death at Her Door), and the graphic novelist duo Damian Wassel and Nathan Gooden (The Gifted)––to name just a few. It’s never a bad idea to check in on what’s new and what’s recommended in the world of self-publishing, so if you’re looking for a good place to start you might consider checking out the full list of PW recommendations at the link!

Vermont farmers create ‘unicorn of self-published books’

Speaking of what’s new and recommended, a December 10th article by Wilson Ring of the Associated Press made it to the WTOP (Washington’s Top News) website detailing the advent of a magical addition to the self-publishing canon––and luckily for us, it’s a book we introduced you to just four weeks ago, John and Jennifer Churchman’s The Sheepover. And now for an update! It would be lovely to think something along the lines of we spotted it first! but let’s face it, when your self-published book starts a bidding war between the Big Five and leads to a three-book deal, a little attention from us here at Self Publishing Advisor isn’t quite prescient but rather very thoroughly earned! Store owner Elizabeth Bluemle, who first took note of the Churchman’s book and is at least partially responsible for the book’s success after publishing an article to a Publishers Weekly blog, says: “This is the unicorn of self-published books because you never find the trifecta of beautiful production, a lovely story and authors who understand what it takes to create a wonderful book that kids love.” We beg to differ on one crucial word: “never.” (You, dear readers, are proof that Bluemle’s “trifecta” may be less uncommon than she thinks.) There may not be any unicorns on the Churchman farm, but one will certainly find quite a lot of talent and, according to Wilson Ring, some sequels in the works.

What Should Authors Expect to Earn?

Brooke Warner, in this December 9th article for HuffPost Books, is out to readjust our definition of “good sales.” Says Warner, who started She Writes Press, “I used to ask the authors what kinds of sales they expected from their first book–generally a debut novel or memoir. I heard one number come up pretty often: 10,000 copies. That seemed to be a benchmark authors deemed to be possible, perhaps attainable.” And while it’s attainable for some, Warner goes on to say, it’s not common and it’s not a healthy indicator for success––especially for the self-publishing author. She digs into the statistics put out by websites like Author Earnings (a Hugh Howie venture), and points out that it’s “self-evident” (emphasis mine) “that self-published authors would make more money (hand-over-fist more, actually) than traditionally published authors on ebooks because they take home 70% of their earnings whereas traditionally published authors take home 25%, minus their agent’s commission.” But Warner’s article takes a turn away from statistics in its second half and delves instead into a discussion of what success might look like if untethered from unrealistic expectations. It’s well worth reading in its own right, not least for Warner’s reiteration of the foundational marketing precept: the best way to sell books is “to publish often and well.” She explains her reasoning in depth, but don’t take my word for it––check out the full article here!

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