Self Publishing Advisor

And now for the news!

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

• VIZ Originals is new self-publishing platform for manga

The Good E-Reader is back with more excellence, this time with a piece by contributor Michael Kozlowski on exciting developments in the world of manga—a visual art form most often described as the print version of anime—and the opening of a new self-publishing platform for that genre. As with any other new development in indie and self-publishing—whether or not it relates to a genre or field we personally read—the mere fact that more options are opening up for creators and readers in a genre and field parallel to our own is exciting, indeed. We’re excited to see what comes from VIZ Originals latest project!

• The Changing Face of Video Game Crowdfunding

Speaking of fascinating developments in the vein of “modes/genres/fields I didn’t know could take part in self-publishing but definitely are“, the latest news from Michael Futter of Variety relates to developments in the videogame industry, one which has long been the subject of conversation around alternate, indie, and self-published games—and how difficult it can be for a new studio or development company to “break in” against the kind of competition that churns out all of the PS3 and XBox games you may already be familiar with. Crowdfunding, which involves requesting many small promises of financial support from thousands of supporters before distribution can happen, may just be the way of the future. Crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter and GoFundMe have now been around for long enough that the mere act of crowdfunding has evolved since its early days—and Futter is here with the details in an engaging and delightfully voicy piece that updates us all on where things are now.

• Dialogue w Karl Keating Re “Official” & Self-Publishing

It’s something of an open secret that people are really, really good at policing each others’ definitions. Luckily, Dave Armstrong of Patheos manages to steer clear of many of the policing stumbling blocks one might fall over in attempting to understand the self-publishing experience in the context of its stigma—and comparisons to the traditional publishing model—by framing his piece through an interview with Karl Keating, another successful author. Speaking of “voicy” articles, Armstrong’s is a pleasure to read, rich with humor and also with the kind of spicy—and highly useful—details that may just provide a self-publishing author new to the market figure out some of the process, including how to price e-books and how to select a platform that works for you instead of restricting you from doing what you really want to do, and how to craft covers that you wouldn’t mind readers judging the book by. All in all, it’s a great little introduction to the act of self-publishing, and also includes details that may be of use to authors writing in the genre of religious and Christian literature. Be prepared to learn about Amazon sales rankings!

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!

• How Printers Can Capitalize on Book Publishing Trends in 2019

“As dramatic technology shifts continue, book publishers,” writes Barbara Pellow of Printing Impressions, “authors and printers need to adapt to benefit from new opportunities.” Reporting from a a recent Book Business Webinar, Pellow describes her experiences interviewing three key players in the indie book world: David Walter, Executive Director of Client Development at the NDP Group, Inc., Brian O’Leary, Executive Director for the Book Industry Study Group (BISG), and Angela Bole, CEO for the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA). They discussed current trends in books emerging in 2019, as well as some constructive decisions booksellers, authors, and industry experts can all make in order to take advantage—and thrive in an ever-more-complicated market. What’s the bottom line? Writes Pellow, “The challenge for the industry is to capitalize on new business models and to re-engineer processes and workflows for a digital business, even while supporting their traditional print business”: a lesson we can all learn from.

• After decades of writing, Dublin woman recently published her first novel, at age 95

We haven’t, overall, spent much time on the Columbus Dispatch website, but this week that all changed with the paper’s coverage of Delana Jensen Close’s forays into self-publishing. With a byline by Kevin Stankiewicz, the Dispatch unpacked Close’s story, beginning with two compelling opening lines:

In 1955, Delana Jensen Close began to write a book.

It’s finished now; it just took 63 years.

Close was 95 last year when she finished her first book, The Rock House, and her family set about publishing the 806-page tome through Amazon. The book, writes Stankiewicz, covers a lot of ground:

Set in the early 20th century, “The Rock House” follows the life of Abigail Langley, who is maligned in her tiny religious town after having a baby out of wedlock with the son of a wealthy, well-connected man. The son, Adam Townsend, heads east for medical school before Abigail can tell him she is pregnant.

The rest, as they say, is historical fiction of high caliber. And while the book itself sounds fascinating, we’re above all fascinated by the story of its 63-year development, as well as with the woman behind the book: 96-year-old Delana Jensen Close, an inspiration to us all.

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!

• 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.