Self Publishing Advisor

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!

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!

• Fake book makes it onto Amazon’s bestseller list in UK prank

If you needed a laugh (that’s also, admittedly, kind of a groan), check out Kelly Burke’s article on 7News.com.au (an Australian news website), in which she covers the duplicitous exploits of “contrepreneur” and “demotivational speaker,” Mike Winnet. Winnet, who more or less makes his living (or earns his street cred) from similar pranks and social media efforts, set out to tackle Amazon’s self-publishing process this time around. His prank was simple: self-publish a book (titled How to get a #1 Amazon best-seller) that contains nothing but blank pages, and see what happens. In this case, the system, which is designed to pick up on fraudulent sales of this nature, missed the mark and Winnet’s book became listed on Amazon as a best-seller, even though it sold fewer than 50 copies. The book was only pulled from distribution after Winnet ‘fessed up on social media, which begs the question of how closely Amazon is actually watching its self-publishing platform, and what sorts of legitimately fraudulent activity may be taking place on the site. This may or may not impact authors’ decisions to publish or not publish through Amazon, but it’s worth keeping an eye on.

• Meet ‘Chula’ Author Amanda Alcántara: Self Empowered by Being Self-Published

To end this week’s news post on a positive note, cast your eyes toward author Amanda Alcántara, whose most recent book Chula inspired this article by Erica Nahmad of BeLatina.com. Writes Nahmad, Chula is “an autobiographical look at her childhood as a Latina in the Dominican Republic and later in the United States, is exactly as inspiring and entertaining as you might imagine.” What follows is a resoundingly positive and lengthy look at Alcántara’s background and the details of the book proper, as well as the author’s decision to self-publish. Says Nahmad, “Author Amanda Alcántara had a story to tell, a story that could not wait and that needed to be shared. And despite the typical obstacles in getting a book published, she took matters into her own hands and told the tale she was born to tell.” Later in the article, Nahmad includes a lengthy section titled “How Alcántara was Empowered by Self-Publishing Her Debut Book,” in which she details Alcántara’s experiences. Writes Nahmad:

“I didn’t want to wait one year to find an agent then one year to find a publisher. I didn’t want to wait three years to publish my book,” she told People En Español. “I didn’t want to compromise on the Spanish and English or the format.”

And that creative control allowed her to preserve the very personal tone and also ensure that she built a team that was connected to her vision and her experiences — the editorial team, cover illustrator and photographer are all of Dominican heritage.

How cool is that?

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.