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And now for the news!

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

• Lana Del Rey’s Poetry Can Be Yours for the Low, Low Price of $1

In news that will delight indie music lovers, SPIN contributor Maggie Serota is spreading the word about singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey ‘s latest venture: a poetry collection that the indie sensation is more or less giving away for (almost) free. Del Rey, whose online fans and followers are legion, is determined to boost the work of local indies by delivering boxes of her finished books personally. Writes Serota, “Del Rey fans who live outside of California can read Del Rey’s poetry for free on her Instagram page, but the hand-bound volume of her writing does seem like a nice collectors’ item.” We’ll be watching her progress closely to see how this musician, who has managed to build a platform in the most unlikeliest and yet most earnest and winsome of ways, lends the self-publishing and self-promotion process her personal touch.

• 3 Big Trends In 2019 Indie Books, According To Publishing Startup Reedsy’s CEO

In yet another stellar piece for Forbes, Adam Rowe writes to update the magazine’s loyal readers on what’s happening int he indie book scene … at least from the perspective of one person somewhat central to the movement: publishing startup Reedsy’s co-founder and CEO, Emmanuel Nataf. Rowe’s interview with Nataf is enlightening, with the Reedsy CEO unpacking three of what he considers to be the biggest trends to watch over the remainder of 2019: the rise of “escapist fiction” (in Nataf’s words; more colloquially these are referred to as works of speculative fiction, science fiction and fantasy, romance, and other popular or genre fictions); the continued ascent of young adult (or “YA”) fiction as a major force in the book market as the digital natives who make up a significant percentage of its readership settle into adulthood and a market force of their own; and the maturation of nonfiction and memoir as a category. We think these are some interesting premises, and are looking forward to seeing whether Nataf’s predictions come true.

• New Platform Connects Self-Published Authors With Readers

Last but not least, another update from Forbes, this time from contributor Elaine Pofeldt, who lasers in on more big news from Reedsy—the launch of another platform for book recommendations and discovery, aptly titled “Reedsy Discovery.” As with Goodreads and Amazon recommendations, as well as paid services such as Book Riot’s “TBR” (standing for “Tailored Book Recommendations”), Reedsy Discovery is aimed at boosting the visibility of books that might otherwise slip under the raider, including (and perhaps even especially) indie and self-published titles. We’ll continue to track the progress of Reedsy’s new offering to see how it manages to compete in a crowded marketplace.

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!

• This NYC bookstore can print a title for you in minutes

It has been a long time since we’ve written about the Espresso Book Machine (EBM) on this blog, but that doesn’t mean that they’re not still out there and making a big difference. And they’re still newsworthy! Last Fall, the iconic New York bookstore Shakespeare & Co. closed its doors on its original historic location and reopened them elsewhere in New York, with the added bonus of an Espresso Book Machine! For those not already read into the EBM and what it can do, Mackenzie Dawson breaks it down this way for readers of the New York Post: ‘If a title is not available on the shelves, the patented 3D printer Espresso Book Machine can print one “in the time it takes to brew an espresso.”‘ She quotes bookstore CEO Dane Neller, who went on to add:

“I felt that the future of bookstores was smaller stores, community-based and experiential. This technology is like bringing the warehouse into the store, allowing us to offer customers the selection of Amazon.”

And there, we very much agree. The EBM isn’t limited to Amazon selections, however; EBMs also allow customers to bring their own media for printing in a variety forms, including UB. For more on how the EBM works, check out their online brochure.

• Kim’s Take: Authors are making big bucks selling romance eBooks on Amazon

Romance is big business, as Kim Komando would be (and is) the first to tell you. On Valentine’s Day last week, Komando write that “More than half of the top 20 books on Amazon’s romance best-seller list are titles from its book-publishing arm or are from self-published authors.” And that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Komando’s words of wisdom; she also notes that while “Romance is serious business” indeed, “Some authors make six figures a month selling love stories. And to keep their books at the top of the charts, authors are known to spend upwards of $50,000 a month in advertising.” So even though “Love doesn’t always make sense,” as Komando would put it, “for eBook authors, it can make dollars.” And it costs dollars, too. Keep an eye on Komando’s website for more developments on this front; she knows the industry.

• The Case for Writing a Book Even If It Sells No Copies

One of this last week’s more interesting developments comes from an unexpected corner of the internet: Psychology Today, not exactly our usual go-to spot for news on publishing. But this week? This week they’re in our corner, and they’ve got our back. PT contributor Marty Nemko, PhD, unfolds his own self-publishing story:

I’ve written 11 books, most published by Wiley, Random House’s Ten Speed Press, etc. Yet perhaps surprisingly, I feel best about the few I self-published using Amazon’s CreateSpace and its Kindle Direct. And here’s the punchline: That’s true even though those self-published books have sold far worse than my commercially published ones.

Especially today, when most publishers will look only at agented submissions—and it’s hard to get a respected agent—I believe it’s usually wise to write for self-publication, even if you’ve previously written books that have sold well. Indeed, I made that choice with four of my five most recent books.

So why is he such an advocate for self-publishing?

It comes down to the process, writes Nemko, and he gets into the fascinating psychology of why, exactly, self-publishing might be of benefit to everyone. We cannot recommend this article enough!

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.