PUBLISHED MAY 2017 by LM Browning, Founder, Homebound Publications – At the age of 27, I was offered every writer’s dream: a book deal. And not just one book, but five. I enthusiastically signed and went from scribbler to author only to be quickly disillusioned by the entire process. The manuscript I had worked on …

PUBLISHED JANUARY 2017 by Ian Lamont, Founder, i30 Media — Online and mobile advertising has been a mixed bag for indie publishers. You may have tried platforms such as Google’s AdWords tool or Facebook Ads, which let publishers target audiences searching online or browsing their social media feeds. But there’s a relatively new player in …

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 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 JUNE 2016 by Ian Lamont, Founder, i30 Media – What do Stephen King, Arianna Huffington, Scott Adams, and Tim Ferriss have in common? All of them have used lean methods in the course of writing books or building their publishing businesses. You may have heard of the lean startup framework used by high-tech companies …

PUBLISHED APRIL 2016 by Angela Bole, CEO, Independent Book Publishers Association Over the past year, a team of IBPA board members, staff, and professional consultants have been working hard to refresh and reshape this magazine. Our goal has been to create an updated look for a valued member benefit without losing the thoughtful content and …

PUBLISHED MARCH 2016 by Shannon Okey, Founder, Cooperative Press – As an IBPA board member, I am fortunate to work alongside very talented publishing peers while advancing our industry’s causes. I like to believe that I pay close attention to what is happening in the rapidly shifting publishing industry, all the more so in the …

PUBLISHED JANUARY 2016 by Rana DiOrio, CEO, Little Pickle Press – I am currently raising growth capital for my seven-year-old company, Little Pickle Press (“Little Pickle”). One of the questions potential investors consistently ask is, “What are your competitive advantages?” I respond by explaining that, from inception, our most important competitive advantage was, and continues …

PUBLISHED October 2015 by Angela Bole, CEO, Independent Book Publishers Association In this month’s Director’s Desk, I’m going to pull the curtain on a recent IBPA board of directors meeting. IBPA’s board of directors is a 14-person leadership team—13 voting members plus the chair—tasked with setting the association’s strategic direction and managing its cash reserves. …

PUBLISHED AUGUST 2016 by Angela Bole, CEO, Independent Book Publishers Association This month’s “Director’s Desk” is special to me because in it I get to introduce you to a fantastic new member of IBPA’s office staff, Mimi Le. Mimi joined IBPA in May 2015 as our new project coordinator, member benefits specialist. Many of you …