PUBLISHED NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020 by Michele McAvoy, Publisher, Blue Bronco Books and The Little Press — Publisher Michele McAvoy explains how and why she started her own publishing company during a pandemic. I did it. I started a publishing company during a global pandemic. Am I a risk-taker? Well, I don’t jump out of airplanes, I …

PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 by Angela Bole, CEO, Independent Book Publishers Association — Here are IBPA’s 2020-2022 goals and strategies for leading and serving the independent publishing community. During a meeting held in August 2020, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) Board of Directors reviewed and reaffirmed the association’s Strategic Plan for the years 2020 through …

PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 Compiled by Alexa Schlosser, Managing Editor, IBPA Independent magazine — IBPA members delve into what they’ve done differently since the COVID-19 outbreak began. In what ways were you forced to pivot or adjust your business/publishing due to COVID-19? What did you learn from this? Ian Lamont (IL): I realized that my overreliance …

PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 interview by Alexa Schlosser, Managing Editor, IBPA Independent magazine — An overview of how independent bookstores dealt with the difficulties of 2020. Independent bookstores have had quite a year so far. When COVID-19 hit, most were forced to shut their physical locations. Many took this time to focus on their online sales. …

PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 by Paul Dixon, Co-founder, Matter of Africa America Time Corp. Selling books with Black lead characters has been a challenge, but representation matters, and the window of opportunity is open. My cousin, author Lehman Riley, and I have published eight books in our The Adventures of Papa Lemon’s Little Wanderers third-grade reading …

PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 by Abbe Rolnick, Author, Generations of Secrets series — Remodel the way you promote your books to have a further audience reach amidst COVID-19. When COVID-19 hit the United States in March, my well-planned book launch of Founding Stones disintegrated. I was scheduled to talk at Village Books in Bellingham, Washington, at …

PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 by Abe Ogden, Co-owner & Lead Strategiest, Paper Door — How an association can bring books to the market effectively and successfully, regardless of resources. Article Synopsis: Read Part 1 here. Assess if the best approach for your organization is acting as a publisher on your own or partnering with an existing …

PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 by David and Stephanie Miles, Founders, Bushel & Peck Books — At Bushel & Peck Books, we’ve long felt there was tremendous opportunity in direct-to-consumer sales, so when COVID-19 hit earlier this year, it only further highlighted the need for us to build that kind of program. Article Synopsis: To effectively sell …

PUBLISHED JULY/AUGUST 2020 by Abe Ogden, Co-owner & Lead Strategiest, Paper Door — The successes—and challenges—some mission-based publishers are having taking books to the trade. Article Synopsis: Read Part II here. Taking a title to the trade can help a mission-based publisher expand its brand. Having a new book tied to a charity or an …

PUBLISHED JULY/AUGUST 2020 by Deb Vanasse, Reporter, IBPA Independent magazine — Independent publishers cope, adjust, and hope for a better future during COVID-19. Article Synopsis: The pandemic forced the closure and cancellation of many events independent publishers and authors rely on. Independent publishers have the flexibility, resilience, and innovative spirit needed to weather a crisis. …