Tag: Self-Publishing

Kelly Speaks, Self-Publishing Week in Review

Self-Publishing Week in Review: 8/20/13

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.

Why is self-publishing still scorned by literary awards?

This reporter brings up a very interesting, and true, point: as an increasing number of self-publishing authors climb the bestseller lists, book prizes will have to rethink their entry criteria. Currently, most literary awards are closed to self-published books.

Self-Published Author Takes Two Spots in iBookstore Top 10

Supporting the point that self-publishing authors produce quality, in-demand books, this article talks about a self-published author who recently took two spots on a top 10 list. That is a major accomplishment for any author, self-published or not.

Cozy Mystery Rises on Self-Published Bestsellers List

Here is yet another self-publishing success story. This mystery author recently took three spots on MediaBistro’s Self-Published Bestsellers List. If you are planning to self-publish a book, you should frequently check out the list to stay up to date on industry trends. It is helpful to know which books readers are enjoying and what other authors are writing.

Self-published author wins $25,000 PEN prize

Sergio de la Pava’s self-published book “A Naked Singularity” recently won the PEN/Robert W Bingham award, winning the author $25,000. The Robert W Bingham prize is the most lucrative award given by PEN, and it is often awarded to writers published by small or unconventional presses that take risks on unfamiliar names.

If you have other big news to share, please comment below.

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.
Choosing a Publisher, Jodee Speaks, Uncategorized

Top Four Reasons to Self-Publish: Part 3 – Trade Discounts and Distribution

Last month, I did a series on the most popular questions self-publishing authors ask. The posts were such a hit, I’ve decided to do another series this month. Each week in August, I will discuss one of the top four reasons why you should self-publish your book.

This week, I’ll discuss trade discounts and distribution. Unlike traditional publishing, self-publishing allows authors to choose the type of distribution that is appropriate for their material and marketing goals.

When thinking about distribution, it is important for authors to understand how the process works. For starters, “trade discount” is an industry term for profit margin. This rate impacts who buys and sells your books as well as the profits you will make off of your book.

For instance, shelf space in a brick and mortar chain bookstore has very specific requirements: the books must have a very high trade discount (50% to 55%). Therefore, if you buy a book at one of these bookstores  for $14.95, 55% of the retail price ($8.22) is divided between the store and the wholesale distributor for their profit. When you subtract the $8.22 from the $14.95, you are left with $6.73. This remainder covers the cost of the actual book. The balance that is left after the price of the book is the author royalty. Typically, authors receive very low royalties in these scenarios.

In addition to needing a high trade discount, authors also need to provide the bookstore with a “Retail Returns Program.” This program allows the bookstores to return books to the wholesaler and get their money back if the books do not sell. You must provide this program to the retailers, but having it is no guarantee that they will agree to stock your book.

Conversely, authors that elect to focus on internet sales may select a much lower trade discount as the internet book sites do not require as large of a profit margin. So that same $14.95 retail priced book under a 25% trade discount would look like this mathematically: $14.95 – $3.74 (25% of the retail price) = $11.21 – the actual cost of your book = your royalty. Obviously, $11.21 is a larger number than $6.73. Therefore, your royalty will be greater if sold by an online distributor, assuming the cost of your book remains the same in each equation.

Freedom to choose your trade discount and distribution center is just one of the many perks of self-publishing. To learn more about trade discounts, check out Cheri’s post titled Trade Discounts 101. It provides a great overview of industry standards and questions to ask yourself before setting your discount.

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.
Kelly Speaks, Self-Publishing Week in Review

Self-Publishing Week in Review: 8/13/13

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 in self-publishing this week.

Linda Gillard on self-publishing: ‘I market myself, not a genre’

Successful self-published author Linda Gillard talks about her self-publishing experience, including pricing, marketing, and working with editors and designers. She also shares why she never plans on going back to traditional publishing.

Hoffman: Should a self-published book be your next business card?

This writer suggests that books are the next business card and are just as important as having a website and social media presence. Self-published books are a great way to build your credibility as a professional and to promote yourself. Self-publishing isn’t just for novelist. Many writers self-publish non-fiction books, and ghostwriters can provide assistance to those who need it.

Complimentary Kindle Edition for Authors Self-publishing With Outskirts Press in August

Authors who order Outskirts Press Diamond or Pearl book publishing package any time from August 1 through August 31 automatically qualify for the free Kindle Edition with the valid promotion code. Authors not only save hundreds on self-publishing services by bundling them with one of these two popular publishing packages, but receive a $199 Kindle Edition free.

If you have other big news to share, please comment below.

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.
Choosing a Publisher, Jodee Speaks, Uncategorized

Top Four Reasons to Self-Publish: Part 2 – Money

Last month, I did a series on the most popular questions self-publishing authors ask. The posts were such a hit, I’ve decided to do another series this month. Each week in August, I will discuss one of the top four reasons why you should self-publish your book.

This week, I’ll discuss one of the most popular reasons authors choose to self-publish: money. (Check out last week’s post on control.) There are two things that are unique about self-publishing in relation to money.

1) The author sets the price.

The price of your book influences the profit you make and how well your book sells. Different authors have different pricing strategies, and you need to give this decision a lot of thought. Rather than a publisher deciding the value of your book, you set the price based on your goals and personal situation.

2) The author earns100% royalties.

If you talk to authors who use traditional publishing firms, royalties are a hot topic. Many authors are unhappy with the royalty rate (which is often in the single digits). Self-publishing authors enjoy 100% royalties. Yes, 100%. Whatever you earn from your book is yours to keep. This reason alone is why many writers choose to self-publish their work.

I’d love to know, how has price and royalty influenced your publishing decisions?

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.
Kelly Speaks, Self-Publishing Week in Review

Self-Publishing Week in Review: 8/06/13

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 in self-publishing this week.

Six Self-Publishing Surprises

This writer shares six noteworthy self-published books with the goal of dispelling the myth that finding great self-published work is difficult to impossible. The review includes books in a variety of genres, including poetry, art, YA, and flash fiction. Interestingly, the writer discovered many of the featured authors on Twitter. It shows that social media truly is a powerful way to market your self-published book and to connect with others in the industry.

How Print-On-Demand Is Transforming Self-Publishing

This article talks about print-on-demand and the many benefits it offers as well as the impact it has on the publishing industry. The key points include more books and author control.

Bella Andre, Romance Author, Talks Self Publishing And Writing (VIDEO)

In this video, a self-publishing author shares parts of her new book, and she shares her self-publishing success story. One of the highlights is her comment that she now makes more per month than she did from an entire traditional publishing advance.

If you have other big news to share, please comment below.

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.