Tag: Self-Publishing

Kelly Speaks, Self-Publishing Week in Review

Self-Publishing Week in Review: 1/28/14

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 Tuesday to find out the hottest news.

Technology: Kindle turns self-publishing on its head

According to this article, Amazon.com reported, at the end of 2013, that nearly 25 percent of the top 100 Kindle e-books are from independent publishers. (This is great news for self-publishing authors!) This story talks about how technology is changing the publishing industry, including the self-publishing segment.

PW Select January 2014: A Look Ahead to Self-Publishing in 2014

This Publisher’s Weekly article discusses what authors can expect from the self-publishing market in 2014. It covers “what the future may hold, what new opportunities may be available in the new year, and what challenges to watch out for.” It is a must read.

NYT Best-Selling Author and Finance Expert Dave Ramsey on Self-Publishing

This is a fascinating interview with NYT Best-Selling Author and Finance Expert Dave Ramsey. It is part of a MediaBistro series titled Profit From Your Passion. Any one understanding self-publishing should check it out.

ABOUT KELLY SCHUKNECHT: Kelly Schuknecht is the 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 at http://kellyschuknecht.com.
Jodee Speaks, Uncategorized

How Your Cover Can Change Your Book Fair Experience

Book fairs give self-publishing authors the opportunity to expand their careers by making connections and promoting their books. These events are a great way to network with publishing professionals and learn about the industry. In addition to marketing your already published book, you can also do market research for future projects. But here’s the catch… if you want to be have a great book fair experience, you should make sure you have a great book cover to catch people’s attention.

Let’s face it. Everyone judges a book by its cover. The image on the front of your book is the first thing readers see, and if it isn’t professional and eye catching, there is a good chance they will never pick up your book. This is true even at book fairs. There will be many other authors an promoting their books there, so if you want to make a good impression, a great book cover is important.

For self-publishing authors, the key to a great book cover is choosing a custom design. While standard designs can look nice and professional, they don’t have the same pizazz as a custom design and they can’t capture the essence of your book in quite the same way. Check out the graphic below for excellent example of the difference between a standard cover and a custom cover.

Cover Comparison with Text (2)

Now that you understand the importance of a great book cover, it’s time to start displaying your book at book fairs. Here is a list of some of the most popular book fairs for self-publishing authors.

Book Fair, BEA

Book Fair, Beijing

Book Fair, Bologna Children’s

Book Fair, Frankfurt

Book Fair, London

Book Tour, Global

ABOUT JODEE THAYER: With over 25 years of experience in sales and management, Jodee Thayer works as the Director of Author Services for Outskirts Press. The Author Services Department is composed of knowledgeable customer service reps, publishing consultants and marketing professionals; together, they all focus on educating authors on the self-publishing process in order to help them publish the book of their dreams and on assisting authors with marketing and promoting their book once published. Whether you are a professional looking to take your career to the next level with platform-driven non-fiction or a novelist seeking fame, fortune, and/or personal fulfillment, Jodee Thayer can put you on the right path.
Kelly Speaks, Self-Publishing Week in Review

Self-Publishing Week in Review: 1/21/14

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 Tuesday to find out the hottest news.

Our Exclusionary Attitudes Toward Self-Publishing Must Change

This article comments on the controversy comments author John Green made about self-publishing during a speech to the Association of American Booksellers. This piece provides an honest look at both traditional and self-publishing and shares why self-publishing is a great option for some writers.

Authors who Publish with Outskirts Press in January Can Receive a Free Custom Cover

A book’s cover influences whether or not a reader decides to buy and read a book, so it is important for self-publishing authors to have a great cover. This month, Outskirts Press is offering a free custom cover to authors who self-publish in January.

How I Do It: Melissa Foster Shares Her Top Tips for Self-Publishing Success

In this article, author Melissa Foster shares her secrets to self-publishing success. She also talks about her creative process and her upcoming plans. This is an interesting read for all writers.

ABOUT KELLY SCHUKNECHT: Kelly Schuknecht is the 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 at http://kellyschuknecht.com.
Kelly Speaks, Self-Publishing Week in Review

Self-Publishing Week in Review: 1/14/14

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 Tuesday to find out the hottest news.

5 Key Trends in Self-Publishing for 2014

This article covers some of the top self-publishing news from 2013 that will continue to impact publishing in 2014. Trends include e-book subscription services, interior design templates, and more. This is a must read for self-publishing authors.

How Hybrid Publishers Innovate To Succeed

This Forbes article talks about the new player that has entered the publishing game over the last couple of years: hybrid publishers. This article explains how hybrid publishers compare to traditional and self-publishing companies. This is a must read for anyone publishing a book, since it is essential that writers are aware of all their publishing options.

Self-Publishing: It Takes a Village

This articles tells you what you need to know before self-publishing. It offers a look into the author’s self-publishing experience and shares tips for other authors. It is a must read for self-publishing authors.

ABOUT KELLY SCHUKNECHT: Kelly Schuknecht is the 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 at http://kellyschuknecht.com.
Book Design, Jodee Speaks

The Importance of a Custom Cover

You’ve heard the cliché “A picture is worth a thousand words.” This is especially true in the publishing industry. The cover is the first impression a reader gets of your book. Therefore, it needs to be appealing and professional, but it should also reflect the tone and style of your book. If you have a specific vision of your book’s cover, you are probably considering a custom cover. However, there are two different types of custom covers. Here are the basics.

Regular Custom Covers vs. Illustrated Custom Covers

Regular custom covers are created with photos from a photo image site. Illustrated custom covers are drawn by professional illustrators. If you take a trip to the bookstore or browse book covers online, you will see that covers with photos and covers with illustrations are two very different styles. Also, illustrated covers offer more unique designs. The type of custom cover you choose depends on your vision.

Choosing a Cover

When deciding whether to choose a regular custom cover or illustrated customer cover, consider these questions:

  • What do I want my finished book to look like?
  • What do other books in my genre look like?
  • What insight has my market research provided about cover art?
  • What is my budget for cover art?

I’d love to know, do you plan on using a regular custom cover or an illustrated custom cover?

ABOUT JODEE THAYER: With over 20 years of experience in sales and management, Jodee Thayer works as the Manager of Author Services for Outskirts Press. The Author Services Department is composed of knowledgeable customer service reps and publishing consultants; together, they all focus on educating authors on the self-publishing process in order to help them publish the book of their dreams. Whether you are a professional looking to take your career to the next level with platform-driven non-fiction or a novelist seeking fame, fortune, and/or personal fulfillment, Jodee Thayer can put you on the right path.