There are a number of prestigious book awards--and that number is exponentially dwarfed by the number of "fly by night" book awards that earn a profit off of the entry fees--that can do amazing things for increasing an author's credibility and a specific title's sales figures. The inherent promotion of the contest itself can increase a book's visibility, while the resulting … [Read more...] about Clock Is Ticking on Goodreads Choice Awards
Indie Author News
NaNoWriMo: One Week In…
Okay, don't panic... it hasn't been quite a full week since NaNoWriMo kicked off. You've still got plenty of time. National Novel Writing Month--NaNo, to the veteran participants and tweet-watchers--kicked off this past Tuesday with all the fanfare that only the great collective writing event could produce. But what does it really take to participate? Backing up, NaNoWriMo … [Read more...] about NaNoWriMo: One Week In…
The Indie-Library Relationship
As the worlds of publishing, digital publishing, and self-publishing continue to evolve, there are some unfortunate sources of stagnation. The education sector, for example, is still waiting for the long-promised digital textbook revolution that was going to not only dramatically reduce the costs associated with book purchasing, but also increase student engagement and success … [Read more...] about The Indie-Library Relationship
The Paradox of the Publishing Industry
We can't have it both ways, yet that's how some industry experts want to spin it. First, the statistical news: the overall sales figures recorded a 7% decrease in sales across all books, while ebook sales for traditional publishers were down 22% year-over-year in an AAP Statshot for its most recent numbers, April 2016. There were some modest numbers in specific formats or … [Read more...] about The Paradox of the Publishing Industry
Top 10 Best eBook Cover Resources for Indie Authors
There are hundreds of thousands of e-books available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Indie authors often find it challenging to stick out from their competition and often forgo proper design and do it themselves. I think cover artwork summons associations in the reader’s mind. It can influence whether or not the potential reader chooses to click on the "Look Inside” feature to … [Read more...] about Top 10 Best eBook Cover Resources for Indie Authors
Reedsy Learning is a series of online courses for indie authors
Reedsy launched two years ago and the company runs a marketplace where independent authors can connect with talented freelance editors, designers and publicists. In order to assist indie authors they have launched Reedsy Learning, which is a new learning platform that will enable millions of writers to learn about book publishing, in short 5-minute lessons each day. Reedsy … [Read more...] about Reedsy Learning is a series of online courses for indie authors
Indie Author eBook Sales Are in a State of Decline
Over the course of the past two years major publishers revenue has been in a state of decline, but indie author sales have been strong. I have written extensively about this and how indies are eventually going to reach a tipping point. Authors Earnings has now proclaimed that the indie eBook market share has shrunk significantly. During the five short months since May, it … [Read more...] about Indie Author eBook Sales Are in a State of Decline
Authors Guild Membership Now Available to Indie Authors
The Authors Guild is the oldest organization of its kind and they have finally opened up membership to indie authors. Emerging Writer is a new program where indies can get support and it costs $100 per year. “The Authors Guild exists to help working writers. But it’s hard to get established; we know that as well as anyone. With the new Emerging Writers membership, we’re now … [Read more...] about Authors Guild Membership Now Available to Indie Authors
Penguin Random House Finally Seeks Unheard Voices
When self-publishing first began to take off in a big way a few years ago, the very common favorable argument was that the publishing industry was based on a centuries-old model that failed its authors. The cringe-worthy royalty splits and little to no return for the author were bad enough, but the most profound argument was that authors were tired of executives in conference … [Read more...] about Penguin Random House Finally Seeks Unheard Voices
What Is KDP Print?
A number of authors have been delighted and/or perplexed to find a new designation next to their books' titles in their KDP dashboards, and that's the option to create a print version of their ebooks. With some authors taking to publishing forums to find out more, the consensus seems to be that Amazon may be shifting its print arm to this model rather than … [Read more...] about What Is KDP Print?