In the nearly ten years or so since the recent self-publishing revolution began, the most trying aspect is still discoverability. Whether or not we agree that the online retail shelves are filled with dreck isn't even the issue; the fact that those virtual shelves are filled to overflowing--even with great content and talented authors--is the problem. Two mainstays of the … [Read more...] about New Collaboration Brings Indie Authors Much-Needed Attention
Indie Author News
Thinking of Scamming Amazon? Think Again.
For years, the members of both the reading and writing public have been vehemently outspoken about abuse of the ebook sales and rankings systems, especially on Amazon. Claims of fake reviews, plots to buy your own book in bulk to manipulate the sales numbers, and an overgrowth of companies that sell guaranteed increases in rankings have basically spoiled the system for … [Read more...] about Thinking of Scamming Amazon? Think Again.
We Live in a Literary World of Terrible Self-Published Authors
There are a copious number of online self-publishing companies that promise aspiring authors the opportunity to distribute their ebook all over the world. Millions of authors publish with Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing, Draft2Digital, Kobo Writing Life, Nook Press and Smashwords. Most "authors" who self-publish an ebook never sell more than a handful and over 75% of all … [Read more...] about We Live in a Literary World of Terrible Self-Published Authors
Books and Scandal: Gaming the Bestseller System
Indie authors have had to get pretty creative over the years in order to put their books in front of an audience of readers. Some of the tactics are just smart business, and come recommended by experts at author branding and book promotion. Others, however, are just shy of fraud and should be avoided; even if the effort isn't illegal, it can still come back to haunt you in the … [Read more...] about Books and Scandal: Gaming the Bestseller System
HarperCollins Christian Publishing Launches New Self-Publishing Business
If you are a self-published author who writes Christian fiction there are no definitive outlets that specialize in promotion and marketing. HarperCollins Christian Publishing and Accurance have just launched a new digital imprint called Elm Hill. The imprint offers six tiers of packaged publishing services, such as sales, marketing, promotion, and distribution assistance … [Read more...] about HarperCollins Christian Publishing Launches New Self-Publishing Business
Barnes and Noble Nook Press is Purging Erotica Titles
Barnes and Noble Nook Press is a self-publishing solution for indie authors. The bookseller has changed their policy agreement and has begun to suspend accounts and purge all erotica titles from their system. 50,000 titles have been removed in the last 24 hours, some of them are written by best selling romance authors. The Nook Press Policy Agreement was recently amended to … [Read more...] about Barnes and Noble Nook Press is Purging Erotica Titles
Smashwords Announces New eBook Promotion Tool
In the ongoing debate about whether or not to list your indie book exclusively with one retailer, there are a few things that authors have to consider. Chief among the concerns usually falls back on sales: where are your books selling? If readers only come to your book via Amazon, for example, and you literally post zero sales on other platforms, it would make sense to then go … [Read more...] about Smashwords Announces New eBook Promotion Tool
Driving Down the Price of Publishing
Not too long ago, self-published authors were collectively admonished about the need to invest in their work. Hiring quality editors, proofreaders, cover designers, and formatters before attempting to sell a book was the constant mantra of industry experts. While some hapless writers continued to slap their Word docs up on Amazon and hope to snare a few readers, authors who … [Read more...] about Driving Down the Price of Publishing
Profanity in Books: Is It a Good Thing?
“Substitute ‘damn’ every time you’re inclined to write ‘very,’” Mark Twain famously said. “Your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be.” Well, damn. Yes, back in the day, your editor--often working under strict guidelines from the publisher--would slash a red pen through anything considered outside the acceptable standards for profanity (this … [Read more...] about Profanity in Books: Is It a Good Thing?
Bookselling 2017: What’s Amazon Up To?
Digital publishing and ebook retailing are still quite the numbers game, as ongoing reports on book sales can clearly demonstrate. But what is less obvious in this topsy-turvy industry is just how much of the game is being manipulated behind the scenes by artificial factors. Case in point: earlier this summer, author David Gaughran highlighted an ongoing scam in which … [Read more...] about Bookselling 2017: What’s Amazon Up To?