PUBLISHED NOVEMBER 2016 by Robin Cutler, Director, IngramSpark — I’ve been going to professional publishing conferences for nearly 35 years. When I think back on the hundreds of conferences I’ve attended, they all have a familiar structure. The conference model is comprised of two parts: providing education and bringing people with common interests together. Whether …

PUBLISHED NOVEMBER 2016 by Alexa Schlosser, IBPA Independent managing editor Below, five members of IBPA’s newly formed Editorial Advisory Committee share their thoughts on and stories about conventions and conferences. Elizabeth Turnball, Senior Editor, Light Messages Publishing Georgia McBride, Owner, Georgia McBride Media Group Peter Goodman, Publisher, Stone Bridge Press Jim Azevedo, Marketing Director, Smashwords …

PUBLISHED NOVEMBER 2016 by John Ingram, Chairman, Ingram Content Group Editor’s Note: John Ingram, chairman of Ingram Content Group and the company he’s led over the past 20-plus years, was recently honored by Book Industry Study Group (BISG) with its award of excellence. Below is his acceptance speech, reprinted here with permission. “It’s an honor to …

PUBLISHED OCTOBER 2016 by Lynn Rosen, IBPA Independent consulting editor I’ve enjoyed getting to know your vibrant indie publisher community in the past year while serving as the editor of this magazine. I admire your drive, your commitment, and your talent. In addition to being an editor, I co-own an independent bookstore, and it has …

PUBLISHED OCTOBER 2016 by Steve Gillen, Lawyer & Partner, Wood Herron & Evans You could be in the book publishing business for a very long time and never see one. But if by chance it one day appears, it will likely have come to you in the mail from the Office of the Register of …

PUBLISHED OCTOBER 2016 by Angela Bole, Chief Executive Officer, Independent Book Publishers Association When was the last time you called the IBPA office to talk to someone about your publishing plans and how we can help? In order for IBPA to fulfill its mission to lead and serve the independent publishing community through advocacy, education, …

PUBLISHED OCTOBER 2016 by Julie Barnes, Senior Art Director, Andrews McMeel Publishing Andrews McMeel Publishing’s senior art director talks about the company’s design ethic and philosophy, and her own approach to creating innovative book design. The Andrews McMeel Publishing Book Group publishes gift books, children’s books, cookbooks, general trade, cartoon, coloring books, and puzzles and …

PUBLISHED OCTOBER 2016 by Brooke Warner, Publisher, She Writes Press — Most independent publishers today get on the path to publishing by bringing their own book into the world. Then, having written and been published, they become an author, but something else too: an expert. There’s a beauty and a burden that comes with this …

PUBLISHED OCTOBER 2016 by Deb Vanasse, Staff Reporter, IBPA Independent Independent book publishers know that, despite the familiar expression, books are judged by their covers – as well as their interiors, and just about everything else. Author Kwame Alexander, recipient of the coveted John Newbery Medal, knows a thing or two about reaching an audience—he …

PUBLISHED OCTOBER 2016 by Author Atwell, co-founder & director, Fire and Lion I like to imagine that I’m a pharmaceutical rep who is selling a drug proven to dramatically enhance brain development in young children. It’s safe, easy, and quick to administer—in fact, children love it so much, they ask for it. Until now, only …

PUBLISHED OCTOBER 2016 by Shona Burns, Executive Director, Chronicle Books Alchemy, as defined by Merriam-Webster, is “a power or process that changes or transforms something in a mysterious or impressive way.” Whether you are designing for a book on pop culture, a cookbook, a children’s book, or stationery, there are two core elements that run …

PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 2016 by Angela Bole, CEO, Independent Book Publishers Association IBPA has served the independent publishing community since 1983. Today, as self-publishing, e-books, print on demand, hybrid publishing, and an ever-increasing number of other options make it possible for anyone to publish—or at least print—books, the precise definition of “independent publisher” seems to have …

PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 2016 by Jon P. Fine When authors and publishers talk about marketing, the predominant focus is finding an audience for their books. But marketing is not just relevant to sales; in an increasingly competitive environment, it is also essential to attracting authors. Technology-driven disruption has dramatically altered all areas of the business, but …

PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 2016 by Juli Saitz (Ankura Consulting Group) & Steve Gillen (Wood Herron & Evans) The relationship between publisher and author is an interdependent one. If the author doesn’t write well and on schedule, the publisher has nothing to develop, market, and sell. On the other hand, no matter how well an author writes, …

PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 2016 by Lynn Rosen, IBPA Independent consulting editor Three legal mavens give us a perspective on the important issues independent book publishers should be aware of. Jonathan Kirsch Founder and principal, Law Offices of Jonathan Kirsch, APC What are some of the important legal issues at play in the book publishing industry today? …

PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 2016 by Jonathan Lyons & Jesseca Salky, Founding Partners, Lyons & Salky Law LLP The US Copyright Act of 1976 presents authors and their statutory successors the opportunity to terminate previous grants copyrighted work rights. For evergreen titles, this can be a very lucrative opportunity; for publishers of such copyrighted titles, where these …

PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 2016 by Julia Schopick, Author and Book Promotion Consultant — You’ve just published a book with an important message—one you and your author hope will change the world. Now, it’s time to promote it. Of course, you’ll use a number of tried-and-true methods, some of which will succeed, and some of which will …

PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 2016 by Lynn Rosen, IBPA Independent consulting editor IBPA member Wendy Dingwall of Canterbury House Publishing asked: “What advice do you have related to hiring and training interns?” Below are several answers from fellow IBPA members. Do you have an answer? Send it to info@ibpa-online.org and we may add it the mix! Georgia …

PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 2016 by Deb Vanasse, IBPA Independent Staff Reporter Contracts, copyright, trademark, permissions—the legal challenges of publishing can seem overwhelming. But by taking a proactive stance and making the most of available resources, savvy publishers confront legal issues head-on. The Dotted Line At the heart of publishing is the author-publisher relationship. Clear, enforceable contracts …

PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 2016 by Oren J Teicher, CEO, American Booksellers Association (ABA) — Among the many players in the book business, I would argue that independent presses and independent bookstores are perhaps the most closely aligned in terms of their goals and mission. For both of us, working to make sure that readers and book …