Tag: Outskirts Press

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

Self-Publishing News: 5.7.2018 – The Company Files!

may month

And now for the news!

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

Here’s an interesting one. Why do we care about John Barber and IDW? Simply put, Barber got his start in self-publishing. IDW is a major powerhouse of the comics industry, putting out the official Star Wars and Star Trek (as well as many other franchise) comics, and more or less going toe-to-toe with Marvel and DC Comics for creative property in the world of comics. To see a comics titan like IDW opting to hire someone who got his start kicking everything about traditional comics to the curb, albeit back in the 1990s, is indicative of the ever-more-permeable boundaries between “indie” and “mainstream.” (Barber went on to work with Marvel before transitioning to IDW.) The movement of personnel back and forth between these sectors is an indicator to watch as that barrier continues to grow more and more blurred.

The level of snark in the opening to this 9News news spot is perhaps a tad overdone, but there’s nothing which touches how wonderful it is to hear something like “fifteen years” and “self-publishing” and “going strong” all in one short clip. The Denver Zine Library, for those of you not quite in the zine loop, was co-founded fifteen years ago by Kelly Costello, and celebrated its anniversary with this short spot on state and national broadcast networks affiliated with NBC. Zines are self-published magazines, both print and digital, and tend to be highly specific and low-distribution, but no less culturally impactful for that. (And it’s worth noting that in the 90s, some zines were very big indeed.) These days, zines provide widespread communities and networks to keep in touch about the things they love, and are often a step in the young self-publisher’s evolution.

One of our favorites of the month is simply this headline, courtesy of the PRWeb affiliate Cision, which hosts press releases galore. The press release in question? Well, we’d be a Outskirts-Press-Self-Publishingtad misleading if we didn’t say that $300 off of a high-quality self-publishing package wasn’t something that we weren’t keeping an eye on for personal reasons of our own. After all, life is sometimes entirely too busy to do it all and be everything we need to be in order to get that book off of our laptop and into the world in the form of actual, beautiful printed books. And as a disclaimer, many of our Self Publishing Advisor contributors have worked with Outskirts Press over the years, which means we hear a lot more about their sales than we might otherwise. Still, this is one worth putting on your radar, both because of the steep discount and the excellently worded press release!

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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brent sampson, Brent Speaks, Uncategorized

7 Tips to Highly-Successful Interviewing for Self-Publishing Book Promotion

share your story author interview

All self-publishing authors should be well-prepared to give interviews. Whether in writing (email/blog interviews), over the phone, or in-person in front of a microphone or camera, the ability to speak articulately about you and your book pays endless dividends. These tips will help.

  1. Anything you say during an interview can be recorded, so choose your words wisely. Off-color jokes may be entertaining in context, but taken out of context can shed a negative light on your image. Try to ensure nothing you say can be misinterpreted.
  2. There is no “off the record.” Even if the interviewer or journalist honors that particular disclaimer, things you say “off the record” still paint a particular “picture” for the interviewer, which will reveal itself within the slant of the piece or from other questions when the “record” is turned back on.
  3. Don’t use acronyms, confusing terminology, or jargon. Your book may be very complex or scientific, but that doesn’t mean you have to be. Demonstrate your intelligence and proficiency in your subject matter by “translating” those confusing terms and concepts so the lay-man can understand it, too.  If you absolutely must use a term that few people will understand, be sure to define/describe it.
  4. Identify three key points you want to convey during the course of the interview.  Prioritize them like this: The most important point falls at the end of the interview, the second most important point falls at the start of the interview, and the third most important point falls somewhere in the middle.
  5. A popular writing adage is “Show, don’t tell.”  Show the interviewer (and the subsequent audience) how your book will entertain/educate them through a personal story or analogy.  This is much more effective than telling them…
  6. Write down ten potential interview questions.  Make the questions a part of your media kit, your book club kit, your virtual book club kit.  Many interviewers may just ask your questions verbatim (less work for them), or may ask a slightly paraphrased version of them.  There’s nothing quite as comforting as answering an interview question you wrote yourself.
  7. Practice, practice, practice. Practice answering those ten questions in front of a mirror. And then practice answering those questions in front of a friend or family member. Try to avoid reading your answers. Have them memorized.  As Seneca said: “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.”

seneca luck quote

brent sampson
In 2002, Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Semi-Finalist Brent Sampson founded Outskirts Press, a custom book publishing solution that provides a cost-effective, fast, and powerful way to help authors publish, distribute, and market their books worldwide while leaving 100% of the rights and 100% of the profits with the author. Outskirts Press was incorporated in Colorado in October, 2003.
In his capacity as the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Marketing Officer, Brent is an expert in the field of book publishing and book marketing. He is also the author of several books on both subjects, including the bestseller Sell Your Book on Amazon, which debuted at #29 on Amazon’s bestseller list.
news from the self publishing world, self publishing news, Uncategorized

Self-Publishing News: 3.19.2018 – New Releases!

Word MARCH. Vector decorative unusual object

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 releases in the Outskirts Press Bookstore!

Today we’re focusing on new releases in Science Fiction, and the first new release we want to highlight is Tom Young’s latest book, Assimilation. This is the second in a series (the Emily Smith Trilogy) dealing with life on a post-environmental-collapse Earth, where the living is hard and friendships are vital. After all, who do you trust when you’re alone on a strange planet? That’s right, this series follows a sort of alien exchange program as Earth’s various governments put in place an agreement with the Andrians to secure peace and longevity on Earth. Jawane, Hanlee, and Persha have become the first Andrians to take part in this exchange, but their story doesn’t end there!

In this second installment, we meet Sara, whose unique brain chemistry places her at the heart of a powerful military industrial complex with the key to humanity’s future.

Next, we have Sue Westgate’s latest Science Fiction book, with a name which might twist your tongue and a story which will make you rethink language entirely. This collection of stories takes place over the course of several standard Galactic Years (GYs) and follows the work of Undercover Investigator Eeryda Daanin and her various companions, acquaintances, and cases as she delves into the crimes of this strange but delightful future. This is a future where nothing is simple, but everything is interesting. Well worth a look!

Last but not least, we have T. L. Howard’s latest book, The Final Choosing. In this heart-pounding novel of the present (with both heavy science fictional and heavy fantastical undertones), shopkeeper Mirah is suddenly catapulted to chosen ruler of the nation of Decera. But her greatest challenge is not one of governance–it is time itself. She must come to terms with–and hopefully master–an ancient prophecy brought to life by an old enemy who seems to outwit her at every turn. Buried in the prophecy is a terrifying and terrible truth: The gods are not what they seem, and everything which makes us human is in question. With time, her old enemy, running out, Mirah must parse the language of the dead and her own friends and fellow-travelers in order to understand the god to whom she has devoted her life, and the place her past and experience has in facing the future.

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.

selfpubicon1

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

Self-Publishing News: 2.19.2018 – New Releases!

February concept. stationery and notebook, business background

And now for the news!

presidents' day

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 releases in the Outskirts Press Bookstore!

Our first book for the day is Crystal H. Vo’s fantastic new memoir, Finding My Voice: A Journey of Hope. Vo, who had her start as a refugee from Vietnam, made her way to the United States by way of Indonesia while still a teenager. Her childhood was about as traumatic as you can imagine, and she spent years coming to terms with the various sources for the depression which (understandably) resulted. This memoir is a powerful, compelling look at what it means to fight with mental disorders like depression as well as a complicated backstory. A transplant to this country, Vo overcame many struggles to acquire her GED as well as her Associate’s and Bachelor’s degrees, all while acclimating to a new country and raising two children as a single mother. If you like poetry (this book includes several) as well as stories of loss and triumph, Finding My Voice: A Journey of Hope may just be the book to launch you into Spring!

 

Every now and then, there comes along a picture book for kids which has all of the right components: beautiful art, the perfect ratio of text-to-image for young readers, a story that catches the child’s mind, and a package which will entice parents and grandparents to invest in pulling out their wallets. The Ten Brave Squirrels of Bryson City is one of those books, and Rory Smith has given us an absolute gem of a picture book which will appeal to readers of all ages! The story follows the adventures of a group of squirrels living outside of Bryson City (North Carolina), in the Great Smokey Mountains National Park. These squirrels live a safe playful life … or they did, up until their food supply is put at risk by forces outside of their control. The squirrels are tasked with figuring out how to protect their acorns and stave off disaster, making for a spectacular adventure narrative as well as nurturing an interest in our National Parks system and the preservation of these special places.

Sometimes, we really need to hear the voices of those who’ve gone before, who’ve shattered glass ceilings and pushed past all obstacles to carve out successful narratives on their own terms–and that’s what the authors of The Black Pearls Club: A Woman’s Guide to Success in the Workplace have provided us here, with this book chronicling the high points and highlights of their careers as well as advice for readers looking to make their own way. These authors know their stuff, and they’ve seen it all: this book tackles heavy-hitting subjects, including common issues like sexism, racism, and ageism which often shape and limit women’s abilities to reach positions for which they are fully qualified. But this book is more than just an impassioned look at societal evils … it’s also a powerful encouragement, full of positivity and action points for the up-and-coming female worker. We can’t recommend taking a tour of the women’s workplace with these fantastic women authors by your side! Men, that goes for you, too: there’s a lot to learn on how you can be part of the solution and a support to the women in your lives.

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.

selfpubicon1

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!

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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