PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021 interview by Alexa Schlosser, Managing Editor, IBPA Independent magazine — An interview with contemporary and fantasy author, writing coach, and YouTuber Hannah Lee Kidder. Hannah Lee Kidder is a contemporary and fantasy author, writing coach, and YouTuber. She’s published two short story collections, Little Birds and Starlight. Her hustle-minded approach to self-publishing …

PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021 Stephanie Carter, Founder & Publisher, Teleion Books– “Unprofessional … amateur-level work … below standards.” These are harsh words that no one wants to hear directed toward the quality of their work, yet many independent publishers risk inviting similar labels by failing to produce books that meet basic industry standards. I am the …

PUBLISHED JULY/AUGUST 2019 by Torrey Sharp, Principal, Faceout Studio — The right design process lays the appropriate foundation for designers to flourish and problems to be solved effectively. We all respond favorably to products and services that are well designed and deliver on their promises. We like products that work as advertised. We like it …

PUBLISHED MAY/JUNE 2019 by Ian Lamont, Founder, i30Media — How can ancillary products can create new revenue for your business? Take an inside look at expert tips for creating and marketing profitable supplemental materials for your books. Anyone who has been to the annual IBPA Publishing University knows what a special opportunity it is to …

PUBLISHED MAY/JUNE 2019 by Lisa Lepki, Head of Marketing, ProWritingAid — Writers, editors, and publishers need a little help sometimes. (This article is sponsored content brought to you by ProWritingAid.) Writers, editors, and publishers work with manuscripts for a living. Some manuscripts arrive on editors’ and publishers’ desks in excellent form, but others require some …

PUBLISHED MAY/JUNE 2019 by Karen Pavlicin-Fragnito, Publisher, Elva Resa Publishing — Overcoming content alterations, design/format constraints, a tight timeline, and a limited budget to meet the goals of a publishing partner. Elva Resa Publishing is a traditional indie publisher specializing in books for military families. While we participate in traditional distribution, more than 75 percent …

PUBLISHED MAY/JUNE 2019 by Deb Vanasse, Reporter, IBPA Independent magazine — Indies are well-positioned to evaluate potential acquisitions of licenses, out-of-print titles, and even entire companies. Speak with publishers about acquisitions, and they’ll tell you about the new authors they’ve signed. But why limit acquisitions to unpublished manuscripts? By acquiring licenses, out-of-print titles, and even …

PUBLISHED JULY/AUGUST 2018 by Cory Schulman, Owner, BestSellerPublications.com — Helpful tips for independent publishers about how to obtain focus groups and why they are so important A focus group can help authors understand how their manuscript is perceived from a reader’s perspective. Members of a focus group read manuscripts and provide objective feedback on the …

PUBLISHED MAY/JUNE 2018 by Manny Luftglass, Author/Publisher — Three misconceptions authors have, six tips for starting the process, and why it’s OK if you don’t make any money. Congratulations—if you’re reading this, you’ve probably successfully published your own book. Now that you have the experience, is it time to offer your services to others? Fortunately, …

PUBLISHED NOVEMBER 2016 by Deb Vanasse, IBPA Independent staff reporter As any publisher who has attended an industry gathering can attest, there’s indeed power in numbers. Those who seek to learn, network, and market their books at publisher meetings and conferences can choose from myriad options, each tailored to serve the industry in different ways. …