PUBLISHED JAN/FEB 2020 by Rudy Shur, Founder, Square One Publishers — Article Synopsis: There are ways to ensure you’re thoroughly prepared before meeting with a large organization. Any group that is large, well-recognized in its field, and wishes to have a book serve as its voice on some level may be a potential client. As …

PUBLISHED JAN/FEB 2020 by Margot Carmichael Lester, Owner, The Word Factory — It’s easy to forget the pivotal role independent bookstores have in cutting through the noise and getting titles noticed. Article Synopsis: Independent bookstores play a pivotal role in cutting through the noise and getting authors and titles noticed.

PUBLISHED JAN/FEB 2020 by Melanie Votaw, Reporter, Author & Ghostwriter — As a ghostwriter, I’ve heard a lot of misconceptions about my profession. “What? You mean the person whose name is on the cover didn’t write the book?” Or: “Oh, I couldn’t possibly use a ghostwriter; then, it wouldn’t be my book.” I usually respond …

PUBLISHED JAN/FEB 2020 by Deb Vanasse, Reporter, IBPA Independent magazine — Opportunities abound for independent publishers to partner with libraries if they take the time to learn the process. Article Synopsis: While libraries differ in policies, budgets, and acquisition procedures, they all have shared interests with indie publishers. Publishers should find out which community goals …

PUBLISHED JAN/FEB 2020 by Bruce Brown, Author-Publisher — What is a joint venture or referral arrangement within book publishing, and how do they work? If you are an author, have a book publishing business, sell books, or do freelance editing, content writing, proofreading, ghostwriting, book coaching, or another related business, setting up a joint venture …

PUBLISHED NOV/DEC 2019 by Katrina Hatchett, Author-Publisher — Those who write passionately know that the possibility of creating a piece of work that will be read by millions is an absolute dream. Writing provokes thought and emotion; wordplay is a gift. However, there is more to being an author than writing—there is a degree of …

PUBLISHED NOV/DEC 2019 by Bruce Brown, Author-Publisher — A few weeks ago, I was talking with a Generation Z’er about Facebook and social media. She commented, “Facebook is for old people.” When the area is that of book writers, book readers, and book publishing, Facebook has potential value whatever your age and the believed (or …

PUBLISHED NOV/DEC 2019 by Marion Hill, Author-Publisher — If there is a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, you must be the one to write it.” —Toni Morrison This quote by the beloved, recently deceased author sums up my reason for wanting to enter the world of writing and …

PUBLISHED NOV/DEC 2019 by Stephanie Beard, Executive Editor, Turner Publishing — I was recently in a conversation with a colleague, and the discussion turned to whether or not the publishing industry has a common enough set of business practices—from royalties to release formats—for us to really refer to an “industry standard” when discussing these business …

PUBLISHED NOV/DEC 2019 by Elizabeth Turnbull, Senior Editor/Partner, Light Messages Publishing — If you give yourself the right tools early on, you’ll free up valuable time so you can focus on growth. Article Synopsis: There are a set of milestones that must be met for every book published and put on the market for sale. …

PUBLISHED NOV/DEC 2019 interview by Alexa Schlosser, Managing Editor, IBPA Independent magazine — The history of Smashwords—the world’s largest distributor of indie e-books—as told by the founder, as well as his thoughts on the future of e-book publishing. Mark Coker didn’t mean to get into e-book publishing. Prior to the founding of Smashwords in 2008, …

PUBLISHED NOV/DEC 2019 by Peter Trimarco, Co-Owner/Publisher, Notable Kids Publishing — Many independent publishers, and specifically author publishers, go independent because they have a strong vision and want full control over the editorial and design processes. This was how it was with me. I established Notable Kids Publishing in 2016 to publish children’s picture and …

PUBLISHED NOV/DEC 2019 by Deb Vanasse, Reporter, IBPA Independent magazine — Publishers need to make the most of recent innovations while keeping an eye on emerging technologies to remain competitive. Article Synopsis: Publishers may see an expansion of cloud-based, internet-ready authoring systems. E-book and audiobook technologies have not been fully tapped into and continue to …

PUBLISHED SEPT/OCT 2019 by Ron W. Mumford, Head of Marketing, 3rd Coast Books, LLC — As a passionate indie publisher and author, I can identify with author goals and dreams. The goal is universal: to have a bestselling, widely read book. Easier said than done. After two and a half years of depending on social …

PUBLISHED SEPT/OCT 2019 by Richard-Anthony Lena, President, Brattle Publishing Group — Educational publishing is a $1,350 billion market, and it’s ripe for indie publishers. But to get into this complex market, we first have to know its rules. What Is Educational Publishing? When we think about publishing, we tend to think about the titles on …

PUBLISHED SEPT/OCT 2019 by Deb Vanasse, Reporter, IBPA Independent magazine — Knowing what to expect from distribution and what to expect when making the switch improves both the experience and the bottom line. Even as the market consolidates, options for independent publishers are within reach. What Do Distributors Do? As it applies to publishing, this …

PUBLISHED SEPT/OCT 2019 by Adam Cushman, Owner, Film 14 — A case study on the cinematic book trailer for Secret Keeper. Book trailers remain a new and unique way to engage readers and build fan bases. Even though they’ve been around for a bit, a lot of people don’t know about them, which means there’s …

PUBLISHED SEPT/OCT 2019 by David Marlin, Co-Founder, MetaComet Systems — An abundance of digital sales platforms has given independent publishers exciting new routes to market—but with them have come new challenges around sales reporting and royalties. It is a headache familiar to many independent publishers handling their own digital distribution. You receive perhaps a dozen …

PUBLISHED JULY/AUGUST 2019 by Deb Vanasse, Reporter, IBPA Independent magazine — Increasingly, consumers recognize the climate threats posed by shrinking forests and ecologically destructive practices. By making environmentally friendly choices, publishers can help mitigate these problems while also building goodwill and protecting their supply chain. After all, print publishing depends on trees, so it only …

PUBLISHED JULY/AUGUST 2019 Compiled by Alexa Schlosser, Managing Editor, IBPA Independent magazine — Three IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award™ winners in various design categories discuss their process and strategies. The IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award program, which include fifty-six categories recognizing excellence in book editorial and design, are regarded as one of the highest national honors for …