Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA): Recent Episodes
Christopher Locke
"Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA)" wants to make you a smarter publisher by giving you access to powerful ideas, strategies, and tools for success.
Our interview guests are independent publishers, author publishers, and hybrid publishers, as well as distributors, printers, reviewers, booksellers, marketers, visionaries, and opinion leaders from all sectors of the book publishing industry.
We are sponsored and supported by the Independent Book Publishers Association, the largest book publishing association in the U.S. serving independent publishers and author publishers. IBPA’s vision is a world where every independent publisher has the tools and knowledge needed to professionally engage in all aspects of the publishing industry.
Your host is IBPA Member Liaison Christopher Locke.
How can independent publishers achieve sustainable growth in an increasingly competitive marketplace?
In this episode of “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA),” AdventureKEEN Publisher and COO Molly Merkle shares advice about the power of niche publishing and the strategies publishers can use to build loyal readers, stronger sales, and resilient businesses.
You’ll learn practical tactics about:
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growing your backlist through publisher acquisitions and mergers
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revitalizing older titles through redesign and repackaging
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how to build strong relationships with specialty retailers and distribution partners
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and more!
Whether you're looking to grow your publishing company, strengthen your backlist, increase profitability, or better understand your target audience, this episode is packed with real-world insights and proven publishing strategies you can put into action right away.
GUEST BIO
Molly Merkle began her career in book publishing nearly 40 years ago as an intern during college, then moved to full-time work for Menasha Ridge Press, one of AdventureKEEN Publishing's now seven imprints. In early 2023, she was named AdventureKEEN’s publisher and continues to serve as its COO. Merkle has been key to executing the company’s vision for growth, including the acquisition and integration of several independent presses over the years. She’s also helped lead the company through hardship and challenges, which are a fact of life for entrepreneurial publishers.
Merkle serves on the board of The Publishers Cooperative, a group of established and emerging independent publishers committed to creating a strong, diverse, equitable, and inclusive publishing industry together.
Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Director of Membership & Member Services, Christopher Locke assists the 3,900 members as they travel along their publishing journeys. Major projects include managing the member benefits to curate the most advantageous services for independent publishers and author publishers; managing the Innovative Voices Program that supports publishers from marginalized communities; and hosting the IBPA podcast, “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA).” He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.
LINKS
Learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) here: https://www.ibpa-online.org/
Learn more about the AdventureKEEN at https://adventurewithkeen.com/
Follow IBPA on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/independent-book-publishers-association
Follow the AdventureKEEN on:
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/adventurekeen/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/adventurewithkeen/
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@adventurekeen
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/adventurekeen/
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@adventurekeen
Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/adventurekeen.bsky.social
Blog - https://adventurewithkeen.com/blog/
Learn more about The Publishers Cooperative at https://thepublisherscooperative.com/
Learn more about the Book Industry Charitable Foundation at https://bincfoundation.org/
This episode is presented by Total Printing Systems. Learn more at https://www.tps1.com/
Every standout book has one thing in common: a strong editorial process behind it.
In this episode of “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA),” the Editorial Freelancers Association’s Director of Professional Development Asher Rose Fox demystifies what it really takes for independent publishers, author-publishers, and authors to transform a manuscript into a market-ready book—covering every stage of editing, what you can expect to invest, and how to collaborate effectively with editors.
If you’re serious about publishing a book that readers—and reviewers—take seriously; this is an episode you can’t afford to miss.
PARTICIPANTS
Asher Rose Fox (they/them) has been an editor and activist for over 30 years. A longtime member of the Editorial Freelancers Association, Asher is proud to serve the freelance editing community as the EFA’s Director of Professional Development. They’ve held staff editorial roles at Publishers Weekly, About.com, PCMag, and The Annals of Improbable Research; freelanced for innumerable clients, including Strange Horizons, Popular Mechanics, nonsense nyc, Anesthesiology News, and many individual authors; and volunteered with 10%+, Common Cause, the League of Women Voters, Arisia, Readercon, and Kolot Chayeinu/Voices of Our Lives. Asher has also co-edited the groundbreaking and award-shortlisted anthology Long Hidden, delighted Twitter as GRAMMARHULK, and played a human aerodrome for paper airplanes at the Ig Nobel Awards. They make things better.
Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Director of Membership & Member Services, Christopher Locke assists the 4,000 members as they travel along their publishing journeys. Major projects include managing the member benefits to curate the most advantageous services for independent publishers and author publishers; managing the Innovative Voices Program that supports publishers from marginalized communities; and hosting the IBPA podcast, “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA).” He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.
LINKS
Learn more about the Editorial Freelancers Association at https://www.the-efa.org/
Follow the EFA on:
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/EFAFreelancers
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/efafreelancers/
Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/efafreelancers.bsky.social
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@efa1970/featured?themeRefresh=1
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/efafreelancers/
Follow IBPA on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/independent-book-publishers-association
This episode is presented by Friesens Corporation. Learn more at https://www.friesens.com/
Breaking into the education market can transform your publishing business—but many independent publishers and author-publishers don’t know where to start.
On today’s episode of “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA),” Teacher Created Materials Publisher, Trade Division Kyra Ostendorf pulls back the curtain on how books actually get into schools and classrooms, revealing the strategies, positioning, and industry know-how to turn your titles into trusted classroom resources.
If you’re ready to unlock a powerful new revenue stream and get your books directly into the hands of students, this episode shows you how.
PARTICIPANTS
Kyra Ostendorf is Publisher, Trade Division at Teacher Created Materials, where she leads Free Spirit Publishing, Shell Education, and Curiosity Unlocked Books. With leadership experience spanning educational publishing, curriculum development, and early childhood education, she previously served as Vice President of Education at Kaplan Early Learning Company and as Acquiring Editor at Redleaf Press, where she helped grow the publishing portfolio by more than 200 titles. Kyra holds an M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education from the University of Minnesota and a B.A. from Macalester College.
Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Director of Membership & Member Services, Christopher Locke assists the 4,000 members as they travel along their publishing journeys. Major projects include managing the member benefits to curate the most advantageous services for independent publishers and author publishers; managing the Innovative Voices Program that supports publishers from marginalized communities; and hosting the IBPA podcast, “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA).” He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.
LINKS
Learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) here: https://www.ibpa-online.org/
Follow IBPA on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
X – https://twitter.com/ibpa
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/
Learn more about Teacher Created Materials at https://www.teachercreatedmaterials.com/
Follow Teacher Created Materials on:
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/tcmpub
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/tcmpub/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/tcmpub/
X - https://x.com/tcmpub
This episode is presented by Marquis. Learn more at https://www.ibpa-online.org/page/marquis
Want to take your books beyond the U.S. and into global markets—but not sure where to start?
In this episode, Gryphon Publishing Consulting Owner Mary Jo Courchesne breaks down the entire process of selling international rights, so independent publishers can turn their books into opportunities around the world.
You’ll learn:
- how to determine whether your title is a good fit for international markets
- how to research genre trends in other countries
- how to connect with international publishers
- how major rights marketplaces like the Frankfurt Book Fair, London Book Fair, and more help publishers land deals
- and so much more!
If you want to expand your book’s reach—and revenue—beyond your home market, this conversation gives you a clear, practical roadmap for getting your books into readers’ hands across the globe.
This episode is presented by MetaComet Systems. Learn more at https://metacomet.com/?utm_source=ibpa&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=2026
PARTICIPANTS
Mary Jo (“MJ”) Courchesne is the founder of Gryphon Publishing Consulting, a permissions and licensing company serving independent publishers. She currently serves on the board of directors for the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), is a member of the Rights Committee of the Book Industry Study Group (BISG), the American Book Producers Association, and the Copyright Alliance. She also serves as secretary on the board of directors for The Big Easy in Buffalo. She resides in Buffalo, NY.
Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Director of Membership & Member Services, Christopher Locke assists the 3,900 members as they travel along their publishing journeys. Major projects include managing the member benefits to curate the most advantageous services for independent publishers and author publishers; managing the Innovative Voices Program that supports publishers from marginalized communities; and hosting the IBPA podcast, “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA).” He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.
LINKS
Learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) here: https://www.ibpa-online.org/
Learn more about IBPA Publishing University here: https://www.publishinguniversity.org/
Sell more books to the international market with IBPA’s Frankfurt Book Fair and DropCap book marketing programs here: https://www.ibpa-online.org/page/ListofBenefits#sellmorebooks
Follow IBPA on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
X – https://twitter.com/ibpa
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/
Check out Gryphon Publishing Consulting here: www.gryphonpublishing.co
In a crowded marketplace, a well-executed in-person event can do more than sell books—it can elevate a publisher’s brand, build lasting reader relationships, and open doors to new opportunities.
In this episode of “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA),” W. Brand Publishing Founder JuLee Brand will dive into practical, real-world advice for independent publishers who want to turn live events into powerful marketing and sales engines.
Topics Include:
- what materials you need to bring
- smart logistical planning that keeps your event running smoothly
- proven strategies for promoting your appearance and drawing a crowd
- and more!
If you’re ready to boost book sales and expand your publishing company’s visibility, this conversation is for you.
PARTICIPANTS
JuLee Brand is a graphic designer, art director, publisher, and storyteller with over 30 years of experience across music, television, and publishing. Founder of W. Brand Publishing and StorySessions™, she specializes in helping authors uncover clarity, meaning, and connection through guided conversation. Her work is rooted in a simple belief: words—and how they’re presented—matter.
Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Director of Membership & Member Services, Christopher Locke assists the 4,000 members as they travel along their publishing journeys. Major projects include managing the member benefits to curate the most advantageous services for independent publishers and author publishers; managing the Innovative Voices Program that supports publishers from marginalized communities; and hosting the IBPA podcast, “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA).” He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.
LINKS
Learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) here: https://www.ibpa-online.org/
Check out JuLee Brand’s books at https://www.wbrandpub.com/
Follow IBPA on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/independent-book-publishers-association
Follow W. Brand Publishing on:
Facebook & Instagram: @wbrandpub
Today's episode is presented by Gatekeeper Press — where authors are family. Gatekeeper Press empowers indie authors with expert publishing, editing, and global distribution services—providing full, white-glove concierge support every step of the way.
Retain 100% of your rights, royalties, and creative control at gatekeeperpress.com.
Running an independent press on a tight budget? You’re not alone — and you’re not out of options. This episode of Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA) explores funding opportunities many indie publishers miss.
Shero Comics founder Shequeta Smith shares practical advice on finding and securing grants, fellowships, paid creative opportunities, and other nontraditional funding sources to help sustain and grow your publishing program. She also discusses how Substack can boost visibility and become an additional revenue stream for your brand.
If you’re looking for smarter ways to fund your publishing goals, this episode is full of actionable ideas you can start using now.
PARTICIPANTS
Shequeta L. Smith is an award-winning writer, director, and the founder of Shero Comics, a Los Angeles–based multimedia company creating empowering comics, films, and games centered on women and girls of color. Since launching the company in 2016, she has independently sold more than 8,500 books worldwide and expanded the Shero universe into dolls, apparel, and branded merchandise. Smith is also the creator of SheroCon, a women-centered comic and creative tech convention, and recently made history as the first African-American comic creator featured at the Korea Manhwa Museum. In recognition of her work in comics and her impact on Los Angeles youth, she was named the 2025 Los Angeles Lakers & Comerica Bank Woman of Diversity.
Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Director of Membership & Member Services, Christopher Locke assists the 4,000 members as they travel along their publishing journeys. Major projects include managing the member benefits to curate the most advantageous services for independent publishers and author publishers; managing the Innovative Voices Program that supports publishers from marginalized communities; and hosting the IBPA podcast, “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA).” He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.
LINKS
Learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) here: https://www.ibpa-online.org/
Check out Shequeta Smith’s books at www.shequeta.com
Follow IBPA on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/independent-book-publishers-association
Follow Shero Comics on:
www.instagram.com/sherocomics
www.tiktok.com/@sherocomics
www.youtube.com/@sherocomics
Today's episode is presented by Gatekeeper Press — where authors are family. Gatekeeper Press empowers indie authors with expert publishing, editing, and global distribution services—providing full, white-glove concierge support every step of the way.
Retain 100% of your rights, royalties, and creative control at gatekeeperpress.com.
Every single day, there are news stories about artificial intelligence (AI)—most notably, controversies about unethical practices by companies that offer AI services—so independent publishers are trying to determine if using AI is the right fit for their businesses.
Author and Indie Author Magazine Co-Founder and Publisher Chelle Honiker joins “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA)” to share her expertise on the subject, including the ethical concerns about using AI, what the most effective AI platforms are for publishers, how AI can be used to help publishers run their businesses more efficiently, and much more.
PARTICIPANTS
Chelle Honiker is the co-founder and publisher of Indie Author Magazine, IndieAuthorTraining, Indie Author Tools, and Direct2Readers.com. Her team of more than 80 writers, editors, trainers, and support staff provides resources and insights that help authors navigate the complexities of self-publishing. Her role as the programming director for Author Nation, an annual conference in Las Vegas, further exemplifies her commitment to fostering a community where authors can grow and succeed.
With a career spanning over two decades in executive operations and leadership, Chelle has honed her skills in managing complex projects and delivering impactful training programs. Her experience as a speaker and TEDx Organizer has taken her to many countries, where she has shared her insights with diverse audiences.
Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Director of Membership & Member Services, Christopher Locke assists the 4,000 members as they travel along their publishing journeys. Major projects include managing the member benefits to curate the most advantageous services for independent publishers and author publishers; managing the Innovative Voices Program that supports publishers from marginalized communities; and hosting the IBPA podcast, “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA).” He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.
LINKS
Learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) here: https://www.ibpa-online.org/
Check out Chelle Honiker’s books at https://chellehoniker.com/
Also, learn more about Indie Author Magazine at https://indieauthormagazine.com/
Follow IBPA on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
X – https://twitter.com/ibpa
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/
Today's episode is presented by Gatekeeper Press — where authors are family. Gatekeeper Press empowers indie authors with expert publishing, editing, and global distribution services—providing full, white-glove concierge support every step of the way.
Retain 100% of your rights, royalties, and creative control at gatekeeperpress.com.
Audiobook sales have been on the rise for many years, and they show no signs of stopping; so many independent publishers are hoping to take advantage of this boom. But there are important factors to consider first. Will the return on investment be worth the cost of producing an audiobook? How do you produce a quality audiobook on a lean budget? What genres perform the best as audiobooks? Do you market your audiobook differently than your print and ebooks?
Podium Entertainment has had great success in the audiobook market, so Publisher Victoria Gerken joins the podcast today to answer those questions, as well as discuss their transition from being an audiobook-only publisher to now also publishing print and ebooks.
PARTICIPANTS
Victoria Gerken is the Publisher at Podium Entertainment. She has welcomed independent authors into the Podium family since 2016. She previously worked with authors in traditional publishing roles - at Random House and Alfred A. Knopf - where she was a publicist and sold subsidiary rights. Victoria got her first taste of entrepreneurship in publishing as the founder of the Random House Speakers Bureau.
Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Director of Membership & Member Services, Christopher Locke assists the 4,000 members as they travel along their publishing journeys. Major projects include managing the member benefits to curate the most advantageous services for independent publishers and author publishers; managing the Innovative Voices Program that supports publishers from marginalized communities; and hosting the IBPA podcast, “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA).” He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.
LINKS
Learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) here: https://www.ibpa-online.org/
Learn more about Podium Entertainment here: www.podiumentertainment.com
Follow IBPA on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
X – https://twitter.com/ibpa
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/
Follow Podium Entertainment on social media: @podiumentertainment
The question that IBPA staff probably gets asked the most by publishers is: How do I sell more books. We’re always happy to help, so IBPA’s Chief Content Officer Lee Wind joins “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA)” to share advice on the most effective and ineffective book marketing tactics, including how you can get your book vetted so bookstores, librarians, and consumers will be more likely to buy it; how you can make your books more discoverable to buyers; how you should successfully market your book pre-publication, during the launch, and post publication; and much more.
PARTICIPANTS
Lee Wind (he/him) is IBPA's Chief Content Officer, and is constantly iterating IBPA's book marketing programs to help our members' books achieve and succeed. A book blogger and author published by six different independent presses himself, Lee is passionate about empowering and amplifying independent voices. As an author, Lee writes stories to empower kids and teens to be their authentic selves and change the world—the same books that would have changed his life as a young gay, Jewish kid. Lee is also the co-founder of We Are Stronger Than Censorship, a nonprofit program that buys and donates two books to offset every one book challenge. You can visit Lee's author website at leewind.org
Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Director of Membership & Member Services, Christopher Locke assists the 3,900 members as they travel along their publishing journeys. Major projects include managing the member benefits to curate the most advantageous services for independent publishers and author publishers; managing the Innovative Voices Program that supports publishers from marginalized communities; and hosting the IBPA podcast, “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA).” He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.
LINKS
Learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) here: https://www.ibpa-online.org/
Sell more books with IBPA's book marketing programs: https://www.ibpa-online.org/page/ListofBenefits#sellmorebooks
Support independent publishers whose books have been banned through the We Are Stronger Than Censorship campaign: https://www.wearestrongerthancensorship.org/
Check out IBPA Chief Content Officer Lee Wind’s books here: https://www.leewind.org/
Follow IBPA on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
X – https://twitter.com/ibpa
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/
Follow Lee Wind here:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamleewind/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leewind
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/leewind.bsky.social
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/leewindauthor
Canadian publisher Page Two found their publishing niche early on, honed it to perfection, and have had great success since then. It’s always helpful to learn from other publisher’s stories to improve your own publishing business, so Page Two Co-Founder and Co-CEO Trena White joins the podcast today to share details about how their team discovered the best books for their business, how they build strong relationships with their authors, how they built their staff, and much more.
PARTICIPANTS
Trena White is co-founder and co-CEO of book publishing firm Page Two, which publishes non-fiction books by leading experts. Founded in 2013, the boutique hybrid publisher curates and publishes a thoughtful list of books, workbooks, and journals by authors who are leaders in their subjects, specializing in business and leadership, finance, self-help, relationships, health and wellness, and parenting. The company’s books are sold around the world and have been translated into dozens of languages. It has published category-defining books that have sold 1 million+ copies, including The Coaching Habit and Exactly What to Say. Trena was a finalist for the RBC Women of Influence Trailblazer Award. Before launching Page Two, she was publisher of Douglas & McIntyre and Greystone Books, Canada’s largest independent book publisher at the time; and an editor at McClelland & Stewart, now an imprint of Penguin Random House.
Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Director of Membership & Member Services, Christopher Locke assists the 3,900 members as they travel along their publishing journeys. Major projects include managing the member benefits to curate the most advantageous services for independent publishers and author publishers; managing the Innovative Voices Program that supports publishers from marginalized communities; and hosting the IBPA podcast, “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA).” He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.
LINKS
Learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) here: https://www.ibpa-online.org/
Learn more about Page Two here: https://pagetwo.com/
Follow IBPA on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
X – https://twitter.com/ibpa
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/
Follow Trena White here:
LinkedIn (Trena): https://ca.linkedin.com/in/trenawhite
LinkedIn (Page Two): https://ca.linkedin.com/company/page-two
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pagetwo_books/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pagetwo/
Twitter / X: https://twitter.com/PageTwoBooks
Do you have an organized, detailed, strategic marketing plan for every book that you publish? President and Founder of Media Kit Buzz Brian Feinblum joins “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA)” to share expert tips about the most important aspects of a book marketing plan pre-publication, during publication, and post-publication, including what your budget should be, best practices for marketing through email lists, social media, advertisements, and much more.
PARTICIPANTS
Brian Feinblum has been an award-winning book promoter and marketer for over three decades, working with thousands of authors and scores of book publishers to promote books of every genre, including children's books, poetry, fiction, and non-fiction. He worked for two independent publishers as their publicity director, and for 21 years was the chief marketing officer for the nation's largest book publicity firm. His own company, Media Kit Buzz Inc, celebrates five years of providing book marketing consulting and public relations services.
You may enjoy reading his award-winning blog of 14 years, which has generated over 4.7 million page views, BookMarketingBuzzBlog. BookBaby and FeedSpot each recognized this as one of the best book marketing blogs. It was also named by www.WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” He can be reached at brianfeinlbum@gmail.com
He has worked with indie presses, small presses, the Big 5, university presses, hybrids, and self-published authors, ranging from bestselling authors such as Dr. Ruth, Mark Victor Hansen, Neil Rackham, Harvey Mackay, Ken Blanchard, Stephen Covey, Warren Adler, Cindy Adams, Susan RoAne, Jeff Foxworthy, Seth Godin, and Henry Winkler, as well as many first-time, self-published, unknown authors -- and everything in between. His clients have been featured in the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal, as well as on nationally syndicated radio and television shows and major podcasts. He has spoken before many writer’s conferences and presented for several years at Book Expo America. He has been published numerous times in The Writer magazine and The Independent. He served as a judge for the IBPA Book Awards.
Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Director of Membership & Member Services, Christopher Locke assists the 3,900 members as they travel along their publishing journeys. Major projects include managing the member benefits to curate the most advantageous services for independent publishers and author publishers; managing the Innovative Voices Program that supports publishers from marginalized communities; and hosting the IBPA podcast, “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA).” He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.
LINKS
Learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) here: https://www.ibpa-online.org/
Learn more about Book Marketing Buzz Blog here: www.bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com
Sell more books with IBPA’s book marketing programs here: https://www.ibpa-online.org/page/ListofBenefits#sellmorebooks
Follow IBPA on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
X – https://twitter.com/ibpa
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/
Follow Brian Feinblum here:
LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum
Facebook -https://www.facebook.com/brian.feinblum
Should you set up your publishing company as a hybrid publisher? To help answer that question, Broad Book Group’s co-founder Dr. Jennifer Dorsey joins “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA)” to share details about how they formed their hybrid publishing business, including how they set up contracts with authors, how they handle book distribution, how they decided what types of marketing services to offer, and much more!
PARTICIPANTS
Dr. Jennifer Dorsey has worked in book publishing for over 25 years and is a founding partner of Broad Book Group and publisher of Broad Book Press. Specializing in nonfiction, she has worked for both small presses and large national publishers in the history, tech, lifestyle, self-help, business, and professional development categories. In addition to working in the business side of publishing, she has also co-authored, revised, and ghostwritten books in the medical, business, and personal growth categories. She is a graduate of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and earned her M.A. and Ph.D. in rhetoric and composition at Saint Louis University.
Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Director of Membership & Member Services, Christopher Locke assists the 3,900 members as they travel along their publishing journeys. Major projects include managing the member benefits to curate the most advantageous services for independent publishers and author publishers; managing the Innovative Voices Program that supports publishers from marginalized communities; and hosting the IBPA podcast, “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA).” He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.
LINKS
Learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) here: https://www.ibpa-online.org/
Learn more about Broad Book Group here: www.broadbookpress.com
Learn more about Dr. Jen Dorsey here: www.drjendorsey.com
Check out Dr. Dorsey’s book, From Pitch to Print: A Nonfiction Writer's 10-Step Plan to Getting Published here: https://www.drjendorsey.com/get-my-book
Check out the IBPA Hybrid Publisher Criteria here: https://www.ibpa-online.org/page/hybridpublisher
Follow IBPA on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
X – https://twitter.com/ibpa
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/
Follow Broad Book Group and Dr. Jen Dorsey here:
@broadbookgroup
@drjenniferdorsey
Advertising on Google, Facebook, Instagram, and various social media sites can be exceptional exposure for your books and possibly lead to more sales, but which platforms are better for garnering sales as compared to visibility, and what types of images and copy work best for each site? Also, how long is the ideal time to run an ad? Ingram Content Group’s Senior Manager, Consumer Products & Services Development Erin Cox visits “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA)” to answer these questions and more!
PARTICIPANTS
Erin Cox has almost two decades of marketing and development experience, primarily in the book industry. She previously worked with Simon & Schuster and Macmillan, was the director of development for World Book Night U.S., and has a master's degree in publishing from New York University. When Erin relocated to Nashville a few years ago, she experienced the other end of the marketing process while working at Parnassus Books. Since then, she's joined Ingram Content Group to help launch a consumer marketing services program for publishers.
Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Director of Membership & Member Services, Christopher Locke assists the 3,900 members as they travel along their publishing journeys. Major projects include managing the member benefits to curate the most advantageous services for independent publishers and author publishers; managing the Innovative Voices Program that supports publishers from marginalized communities; and hosting the IBPA podcast, “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA).” He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.
LINKS
Learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) here: https://www.ibpa-online.org/
Learn more about how to get a discount on Google, Facebook, and Instagram advertising through the Ingram ID IBPA member benefit at https://www.ibpa-online.org/page/ingramid
Follow IBPA on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
X – https://twitter.com/ibpa
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/
Understanding reader habits can help independent publishers and author-publishers improve their book marketing strategies, hopefully boosting book sales. With over 550,000 readers on the popular digital review copy platform NetGalley, their team has collected invaluable data about reader’s preferences, so NetGalley’s Customer Success Manager Katie Versluis and Social Media Manager Hallie Fields join “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA)” to discuss where readers say they discover books, the social media platforms that readers tend to share their book recommendations on the most, tips for how publishers can garner reviews, and much more.
PARTICIPANTS
Katie Versluis is a customer success manager at NetGalley. She works closely with authors and publishers of all shapes and sizes, helping their books reach the hands of passionate book advocates and industry professionals. She is a graduate of Brock University and Humber College's Creative Book Publishing Program.
Hallie Fields is the Social Media Manager at NetGalley, a service that helps publishers and authors promote digital review copies to book advocates and industry professionals. Hallie specializes in fostering community and connecting with NetGalley members, including reviewers, booksellers, librarians, educators, media/journalists, and other book trade professionals. She is a former librarian and a graduate of UNC-Greensboro's Library and Information Science MLIS program.
Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Director of Membership & Member Services, Christopher Locke assists the 3,600 members as they travel along their publishing journeys. Major projects include managing the member benefits to curate the most advantageous services for independent publishers and author publishers; managing the Innovative Voices Program that supports publishers from marginalized communities; and hosting the IBPA podcast, “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA).” He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.
LINKS
Learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) here: https://www.ibpa-online.org/
Learn more about the IBPA NetGalley Program at https://www.ibpa-online.org/page/netgalley
Follow IBPA on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
X – https://twitter.com/ibpa
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/
The more independent publishers and their authors work together on their book marketing efforts, the better chance they have of selling more books. One of the main focuses of independent publisher Wordeee is figuring out how to leverage the relationships that their authors already have to maximize the reach of their book marketing efforts. Wordeee CEO Marva Allen and COO Patrice Samara join “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA)” to share the interesting book marketing tactics they employ with their authors, partnerships they’ve created for the film and audiobook rights of their books, and more.
PARTICIPANTS
MARVA ALLEN, CEO WORDEEE
Ms. Allen was president and co-owner of USI, a multi-million-dollar technology firm that was thrice nominated for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneurship Award. She is the recipient of numerous business awards, including the IBM & Kodak Excellence Awards, and was named a Crain's 40 Under 40 Awardee for significantly achieving in business before her 40th birthday. Allen was a nominee for the Top 100 Most Influential Women in Michigan. She holds a BSN from SGI in England; a B.S in Biology from the University of Michigan; and an M.S. in Health & Business Administration. As a noted book subject matter expert, Allen has been the 'go to‘ person for books for NPR, NBC, and was the on-air book contributor and commentator for Arise TV. She has been featured in the New York Times, NYSE Diversity Magazine (she rang the closing bell for Wall Street), Time Out, and various other magazines and periodicals. She spearheaded the First Literary Festival in Anguilla and hosted major events for Toni Morrison, President Bill Clinton, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and Maya Angelou, among many others. She consults with celebrities and high-profile authors who want out-of-the-box thinking on marketing, promoting, and selling their books.
Ms. Allen is also the author of several books, including If I should Die Tonight; Camouflage; Protégée; and The Pianist and Min Jade under the nom de plume, C.C. Avram
PATRICE SAMARA, COO
A veteran entrepreneur in the communications, media and entertainment industries, Emmy, Parent’s Choice, and Cine Golden-Eagle-winner Samara brings global business skills and relationships that play heavily into Wordeee’s marketing and growth. An author and publisher, she has keen insight into the day-to-day operations of a myriad of successful public, private, and non-profit organizations in her forty-year career.
Ms. Samara has worked in over fifty countries, has twice been an NGO Representative to the United Nations, and was the Senior Media Advisor to the 61st President of the UN General Assembly.
A cross-cultural specialist, she is the author of seven Alphabet Kids children’s books, a multicultural series celebrating the similarities and applauding the differences in all of us.
She is also the co-author with Marva Allen of North Star, North Star, an aspirational children’s book fostering community and inspiring children to be the best they can be.
Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Director of Membership & Member Services, Christopher Locke assists the 3,600 members as they travel along their publishing journeys. Major projects include managing the member benefits to curate the most advantageous services for independent publishers and author publishers; managing the Innovative Voices Program that supports publishers from marginalized communities; and hosting the IBPA podcast, “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA).” He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.
LINKS
Learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) here: https://www.ibpa-online.org/page/membership
Learn more about Wordeee at https://www.wordeee.com/
Follow IBPA on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
X – https://twitter.com/ibpa
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/
To set your books and audiobooks up for the best chance at success, you need to make your titles available to purchase in as many retail outlets as possible. Author and book publishing consultant Erin Wright joins “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA)” to share her expertise about the most effective methods to distribute books and audiobooks to as many retail sites as possible, including details about how to best use IngramSpark, Draft2Digital, PublishDrive, Author’s Republic, Bookvault, and more for your publishing goals.
PARTICIPANTS
Erin Wright is a full-time contemporary western romance author, but unless you're a fan of sexy cowboys, you've probably heard of her instead because of her work in the Wide for the Win Facebook group. She conned Suzie O'Connell (close writing friend and fellow cowboy romance author) into co-founding the Facebook group back in March of 2019, and has been avoiding writing books by posting in the group ever since. If you're thinking about going Wide, or if you're already Wide and just want to connect with other Widelings, be sure to come join Erin in the largest group on the internet for Wide authors. She'd be thrilled to have you!
Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Director of Membership & Member Services, Christopher Locke assists the 3,600 members as they travel along their publishing journeys. Major projects include managing the member benefits to curate the most advantageous services for independent publishers and author publishers; managing the Innovative Voices Program that supports publishers from marginalized communities; and hosting the IBPA podcast, “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA).” He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.
LINKS
Learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) here: https://www.ibpa-online.org/page/membership
Make sure to connect with Erin for her consulting at work https://erinwright.net/consulting and https://erinwright.net/authors, as well as in the Wide for the Win Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/wideforthewin
Follow IBPA on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
X – https://twitter.com/ibpa
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/
Follow Erin on:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@erinwrightLV
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pg/AuthorErinWright
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/erinwrightbooks
Twitter: https://twitter.com/erinwrightlv
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/erin-wright
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorerinwright
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/erinwright
Amazon is still the world’s largest bookseller, so naturally, many independent publishers and author publishers want to know how they can succeed on the platform. IBPA is always working to help indie publishers take their businesses to the next level, so we invited Firebrand Technologies’ Director of Sales and Education Joshua Tallent as a guest on “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA)” to share his expertise. He discusses how the Amazon search algorithms work to garner more exposure for your books, how Amazon sales ranks are calculated, smart strategies for Amazon advertising, and more.
PARTICIPANTS
Joshua Tallent is the Director of Sales and Education at Firebrand Technologies, where his focus is on helping publishers of all sizes find solutions to their workflow and metadata problems. Joshua’s background is deeply rooted in ebook development, metadata, and other publishing technologies, and he is an acclaimed teacher and guide on the role of data in publishing. He serves as the Chair of the BISG Board of Directors and is the host of the BookSmarts Podcast, which features practical discussions and interviews about publishing data and technologies. In his spare time, Joshua enjoys teaching Bible studies, playing complex board games, and fiddling with his home automation system.
Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Director of Membership & Member Services, Christopher Locke assists the 3,600 members as they travel along their publishing journeys. Major projects include managing the member benefits to curate the most advantageous services for independent publishers and author publishers; managing the Innovative Voices Program that supports publishers from marginalized communities; and hosting the IBPA podcast, “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA).” He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.
LINKS
Learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) here: https://www.ibpa-online.org/page/membership
Make sure to check out Firebrand Technologies at:https://firebrandtech.com
Also, check out the BookSmarts Podcast at: https://booksmartspodcast.com/
Follow IBPA on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
X – https://twitter.com/ibpa
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/
Publishing books is the main focus and source of revenue for independent publishers, but there are many alternative revenue streams that can be lucrative. President and Publisher for Gibbs Smith Books & Gift Suzanne Taylor joins “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA)” to share tips about the sidelines they create, including how they decide what products to make, which are the most popular, where they sell them, how they’re manufactured, and much more.
PARTICIPANTS
Suzanne Gibbs Taylor brings more than 35 years of publishing and retail experience to her role as President and Publisher for Gibbs Smith Book & Gift, where she leads all business development from idea to fulfillment. She has created, acquired, and developed multiple million-dollar brands, including the New York Times best-selling 101 Things® cookbook series (more than 15 million LTD revenue) and BabyLit® children’s series (more than 13 million LTD revenue), which was featured on the front page of the Sunday print edition of The New York Times. Her leadership on the company’s management team and board of directors contributed to transitioning to employee ownership and B Corp status. She currently volunteers on the PubWest Design Awards Committee and is a member of B Lab, the Independent Publishers Guild, Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and Print Production Professionals. She holds a BA in Journalism, English, and Secondary Education.
Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Director of Membership & Member Services, Christopher Locke assists the 3,600 members as they travel along their publishing journeys. Major projects include managing the member benefits to curate the most advantageous services for independent publishers and author publishers; managing the Innovative Voices Program that supports publishers from marginalized communities; and hosting the IBPA podcast, “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA).” He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.
LINKS
Learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) here: https://www.ibpa-online.org/page/membership
Make sure to check out the Gibbs Smith Book & Gift sidelines at: https://www.gibbssmithcovers.com/gift/index.html
Also, check out their Spring 2025 catalog at: https://www.gibbssmithcovers.com/GS-Spring-Catalog.pdf
Follow IBPA on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
X – https://twitter.com/ibpa
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/
Follow Gibbs Smith Book & Gift on:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/@GibbsSmithBooks
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gibbssmithbooks/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gibbssmithbooks
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gibbs-smith
To garner as much attention for your books as possible, it’s important for independent publishers and author publishers to connect with audiences outside their network. Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi) Campaigns Manager Matty Dalrymple joins “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA)” to share expert advice about how to land interviews on podcasts, blog sites, and with reviewers, including whether to pitch yourself or hire a publicist, how to best craft your pitch, how to promote the interview to get the most out of it, and much more!
PARTICIPANTS
Matty Dalrymple is the author of the Lizzy Ballard Thrillers, beginning with ROCK PAPER SCISSORS; the Ann Kinnear Suspense Novels, beginning with THE SENSE OF DEATH; and the Ann Kinnear Suspense Shorts, including CLOSE THESE EYES. She is a member of International Thriller Writers and Sisters in Crime.
Matty also podcasts, writes, speaks, and consults on the writing craft and the publishing voyage as The Indy Author. She has written books on the business of short fiction, podcasting for authors, and how to succeed as an author speaker, and her articles have appeared in Writer’s Digest magazine. She serves as the Campaigns Manager for the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi).
She lives with her husband, Wade Walton, and their dogs in Chester County, Pennsylvania, and enjoys vacationing on Mount Desert Island, Maine, and in Sedona, Arizona, and these locations serve as the settings for her novels.
Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Director of Membership & Member Services, Christopher Locke assists the 3,600 members as they travel along their publishing journeys. Major projects include managing the member benefits to curate the most advantageous services for independent publishers and author publishers; managing the Innovative Voices Program that supports publishers from marginalized communities; and hosting the IBPA podcast, “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA).” He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.
LINKS
Learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) here: https://www.ibpa-online.org/page/membership
Make sure to check out Matty’s books at https://www.mattydalrymple.com/about
You'll find more information on her non-fiction platform at https://www.theindyauthor.com/
Also, check out ALLi at:
https://selfpublishingadvice.org/author-awards-contests-rated-reviewed/
https://selfpublishingadvice.org/best-self-publishing-services/
Follow IBPA on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
X – https://twitter.com/ibpa
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/
Ambika Sambasivan and Suhani Parikh each had their own successful independent publishing company, Yali Books and Modern Marigold Books, but when they met in 2022, they realized that their companies had similar missions and that they could be even more successful if they combined their businesses.
Ambika and Suhani join “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA)” to share details about the challenges and positive experiences that they ran into during the process of merging to create their new publishing company Sambasivan & Parikh. They discuss the legal issues that had to be decided; how they updated their distribution systems; how they combined their different backend systems; and much more.
PARTICIPANTS
Ambika Sambasivan and Suhani Parikh are co-publishers at Sambasivan & Parikh, a community-centered children’s press working to foster a more equitable and just future through the power of storytelling. They bring together their independently founded presses, Yali Books and Modern Marigold Books, to create a platform for underrepresented voices in children’s literature, built on empathy and respect.
Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Director of Membership & Member Services, Christopher Locke assists the 3,600 members as they travel along their publishing journeys. Major projects include managing the member benefits to curate the most advantageous services for independent publishers and author publishers; managing the Innovative Voices Program that supports publishers from marginalized communities; and hosting the IBPA podcast, “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA).” He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.
LINKS
Learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) here: https://www.ibpa-online.org/page/membership
Make sure to check out the Sambasivan & Parikh website at https://www.sambasivanandparikh.com/
Follow IBPA on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
X – https://twitter.com/ibpa
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/
One of the most important relationships independent publishers have is with their authors, so how can publishers ensure that it's a productive working relationship? American Academy of Pediatrics Senior Editor Kathryn Sparks joins “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA)” to share advice about how publishers can successfully work with their authors based on her two decades in the industry.
She’ll share tips about setting reasonable deadlines and how to stick to them; the best ways to work with an author through the writing and editing process; and more. She’ll also share insights into how the independent publishing industry is doing at the moment, and what improvements could be made.
PARTICIPANTS
Kathryn Sparks is senior editor for the parent consumer line at the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Prior to the AAP, she worked as the assistant to the publisher at Sourcebooks, Inc. Past industry experience also includes part-time literary assistant at the Chicago-based Tina Purcell Agency, and part-time assistant to best-selling author Claudia Gray. Her MG Novel, Reality Natalie, was published by Firedrake Books, Inc. She has served on the IBPA Editorial Advisory Committee, IBPA Advocacy Committee, and is currently on the IBPA Executive Committee and is co-chair of the IBPA Membership Committee.
Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Director of Membership & Member Services, Christopher Locke assists the 3,600 members as they travel along their publishing journeys. Major projects include managing the member benefits to curate the most advantageous services for independent publishers and author publishers; managing the Innovative Voices Program that supports publishers from marginalized communities; and hosting the IBPA podcast, “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA).” He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.
LINKS
Learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) here: https://www.ibpa-online.org/page/membership
Make sure to check out the American Academy of Pediatrics’ books at https://www.aap.org/en/shopaap/shop-by-product/parenting-resources/
Also, check out https://www.healthychildren.org/English/Pages/default.aspx
Follow IBPA on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
X – https://twitter.com/ibpa
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/
One of the most effective methods for independent publishers and author publishers to sell books is through direct-to-consumer sales. Motina Books Publishing Owner Diane Windsor joins "Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA)” to share tactics that have worked best for her, including selling books directly through her publisher website, in-person events, and more.
PARTICIPANTS
Diane Windsor is the owner of Motina Books Publishing, which focuses on helping mothers and women bring their work to the world. She's passionate about helping her authors brainstorm creative marketing efforts for their books.
Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Director of Membership & Member Services, Christopher Locke assists the 3,600 members as they travel along their publishing journeys. Major projects include managing the member benefits to curate the most advantageous services for independent publishers and author publishers; managing the Innovative Voices Program that supports publishers from marginalized communities; and hosting the IBPA podcast, “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA).” He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.
LINKS
Learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) here: https://www.ibpa-online.org/page/membership
Learn more about Motina Books here: www.MotinaBooks.com
Follow IBPA on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
X – https://twitter.com/ibpa
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/
Follow Motina Books on:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/motinabooks
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/motina_books/
One of the most consequential topics among independent publishers is how they can get their books into libraries. IBPA is always looking for ways to set indie publishers up for success, so we invited Becky Spratford on the podcast who has been working with the library market in multiple capacities for over two decades. Becky shares expert tips about how to collaborate with your local libraries to interest them in your books, how librarians make buying decisions, the best ways to approach a library about carrying your books, and more.
PARTICIPANTS
Becky Spratford [MLIS] is a Readers' Advisor in Illinois specializing in serving patrons ages 13 and up. She trains library staff all over the world on how to match books with readers through the local public library. She runs the critically acclaimed RA training blog RA for All. She is under contract to provide content for EBSCO’s NoveList database and writes reviews for Booklist and a horror review column for Library Journal. Becky is a 23-year locally elected Library Trustee [still serving], a former Board member for the Reaching Across Illinois Library System, and currently on the Executive Board of the Illinois Library Association. Known for her work with horror readers, Becky is the author of The Reader’s Advisory Guide to Horror, Third Edition [ALA Editions, 2021] and the forthcoming Why I Love Horror and You Should Too [Saga Press, Sept 2025]. She is on the Shirley Jackson Award Advisory Board and is a proud member of the Horror Writers Association, currently serving as the Association’s Secretary and Co-Chair of their Library Committee.
Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Director of Membership & Member Services, Christopher Locke assists the 3,600 members as they travel along their publishing journeys. Major projects include managing the member benefits to curate the most advantageous services for independent publishers and author publishers; managing the Innovative Voices Program that supports publishers from marginalized communities; and hosting the IBPA podcast, “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA).” He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.
LINKS
Learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association here: https://www.ibpa-online.org/page/membership
Learn more about the RA for All training blog here: http://raforall.blogspot.com
Follow IBPA on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
X – https://twitter.com/ibpa
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/
Follow Becky Spratford on:
X: @RAforAll
Bluesky: @raforall.bsky.social
Bookselling profit margins can be tight for independent publishers, but with some ingenuity, publishers can create additional revenue streams. Agate Publishing President Doug Seibold has had great success with his publishing company, as well as various endeavors related to publishing, so he joins “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA)” to discuss package trade publishing and his newest venture, Agate Publishing Academy. Doug also shares invaluable advice about how to successfully run a publishing business based on his decades of experience, including fostering a line of credit with your bank, improving your backlist revenue, and more!
PARTICIPANTS
Doug Seibold has been a writer, editor, and publisher for 40 years. In 2002 he founded Agate Publishing, based in Evanston, Illinois, which today comprises four trade imprints, an educational content development division, and a career development and training program for publishing launched in late 2023.
Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Director of Membership & Member Services, Christopher Locke assists the 3,600 members as they travel along their publishing journeys. Major projects include managing the member benefits to curate the most advantageous services for independent publishers and author publishers; managing the Innovative Voices Program that supports publishers from marginalized communities; and hosting the IBPA podcast, “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA).” He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.
LINKS
Learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association here: https://www.ibpa-online.org/page/membership
Learn more about Agate Publishing at https://www.agatepublishing.com/
Learn more about Agate Publishing Academy at https://agatepublishingacademy.com/
Follow IBPA on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
X – https://twitter.com/ibpa
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/
In a saturated book market where the Big 5 publishers carry a lot of weight, independent publishers have come up with some clever tactics to garner attention for their books. One such publisher is Muse Incorporated. Founder and CEO Leah Hernandez joins "Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA)” to share details about how she’s created strategic partnerships to grow book sales; how she’s gotten her books into the education market; helpful ways she’s raised funds for her publishing endeavors; and more.
PARTICIPANTS
Leah Hernandez is the Founder and CEO of Muse Inc., an award-winning publishing company known for its commitment to promoting diverse voices in adult fiction and nonfiction. Muse Inc. encompasses various imprints, including the esteemed Young Authors Publishing, which serves as the flagship imprint under the Muse brand.
Leah's journey began with a degree in Business Administration with a Marketing concentration from Clark Atlanta University, providing her with the foundation for her entrepreneurial pursuits. Her leadership and contributions to the industry were recognized in 2021 when she was named one of Publisher's Weekly "Star Watch Nominees."
Beyond her role at Muse Inc., Leah actively engages in initiatives aimed at fostering diversity and inclusion within the publishing world. She sits on the board of PubWest, an association of small to mid-sized publishers, as well as Portland State University's Masters Publishing Program to create more opportunities for people of color in the field. Under Leah's guidance, Muse Inc. has published over 40 books across all its imprints, amplifying the voices of marginalized communities and expanding the literary landscape.
Additionally, Muse Inc. proudly distributes works from two black-owned publishers, Through Us Books and POPOUT zine, furthering its commitment to supporting underrepresented voices in the industry. With a steadfast dedication to impacting the lives of others by providing a platform for storytelling, Leah continues to drive Muse Inc. towards its mission of inclusivity and empowerment in publishing.
Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Director of Membership & Member Services, Christopher Locke assists the 3,600 members as they travel along their publishing journeys. Major projects include managing the member benefits to curate the most advantageous services for independent publishers and author publishers; managing the Innovative Voices Program that supports publishers from marginalized communities; and hosting the IBPA podcast, “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA).” He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.
LINKS
Learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association here: https://www.ibpa-online.org/page/membership
Learn more about Muse Incorporated here: https://www.museinc.net/
Check out these new titles:
Kinfolk Meditations - https://www.museinc.net/product/kinfolk-meditation-deck
Not Too Anything - https://www.museinc.net/product/not-too-anything
Tempted To Taste It - https://www.museinc.net/product/tempted-to-taste-it
Follow IBPA on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
X – https://twitter.com/ibpa
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/
Follow Muse Incorporated on:
Facebook● Instagram ●Twitter● Vimeo
Distribution continues to be one of the most consequential pain points for independent publishers, and with fewer and fewer distributors from which publishers can choose, it seems like major changes need to occur to fix the system. Microcosm Publishing’s Founder and CEO Joe Biel joins "Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA)” to chat about ideas for how distribution can be improved for indie publishers; the repercussions of the recent closure of Small Press Distribution; why so many independent distributors have shut down; and much more.
PARTICIPANTS
Joe Biel is a self-made autistic publisher and filmmaker who draws origins, inspiration, and methods from punk rock. Biel is the founder and CEO of Microcosm Publishing, Publishers Weekly's#1 fastest-growing publisher of 2022 and #3 in 2023. Biel has been featured in Time Magazine, Esquire, Art of Autism, Reading Glasses, Bulletproof Radio, Spectator (Japan), G33K (Korea),and Maximum Rocknroll, as well as on NPR and PBS.Biel is the author of A People's Guide to Publishing: Building a Successful, Sustainable, Meaningful Book Business, Good Trouble: Building a Successful Life & Business with Autism, and dozens more. Biel is the director of five feature films and hundreds of short films, includingAftermass: Bicycling in a Post-Critical Mass Portland, $100 & a T-Shirt, and theGroundswell film series. Biel lives in Portland, OR.
Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Director of Membership & Member Services, Christopher Locke assists the 3,600 members as they travel along their publishing journeys. Major projects include managing the member benefits to curate the most advantageous services for independent publishers and author publishers; managing the Innovative Voices Program that supports publishers from marginalized communities; and hosting the IBPA podcast, “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA).” He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.
LINKS
Learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association here: https://www.ibpa-online.org/page/membership
Learn more about Microcosm and Joe Biel here: https://microcosmpublishing.com/catalog/artist/joe-biel
Check out Biel’s A People's Guide to Publishingbook and podcast!
Follow IBPA on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
X – https://twitter.com/ibpa
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/
Follow Microcosm on most platforms at: microcosm_pub
Between traditionally published and self-published books, there are over 3 million books published per year, so in order for a book to stand out, sometimes independent publishers have to think outside the box.
Independent publisher Holloway has a unique system with their publishing strategy in terms of discoverability and direct-to-consumer sales, which has been quite successful for them, so COO Andrew Savikas joins “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA)” to share details about Holloway’s savvy publishing model; how they’ve developed their website for search engine optimization; and how other independent publishers can apply some of the same techniques to their own businesses.
PARTICIPANTS
Andrew Savikas is the COO at Holloway, publisher of some of the most respected resources available anywhere on teamwork, creative work, startups, technology, venture capital, and career development. He has previously held executive roles at Safari Books Online, getAbstract, and O'Reilly Media, where he organized the Tools of Change for Publishing conference. Andrew has also served on the boards of the Book Industry Study Group and the International Digital Publishing Forum.
Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Director of Membership & Member Services, Christopher Locke assists the 3,600 members as they travel along their publishing journeys. Major projects include managing the member benefits to curate the most advantageous services for independent publishers and author publishers; managing the Innovative Voices Program that supports publishers from marginalized communities; and hosting the IBPA podcast, “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA).” He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.
LINKS
Learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association here: https://www.ibpa-online.org/page/membership
Learn more about Holloway here: https://holloway.com
Learn more about Andrew Savikas here: https://andrewsavikas.com/
Follow IBPA on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
X – https://twitter.com/ibpa
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/
Follow Holloway on:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/holloway-1/
X: https://twitter.com/holloway
Follow Andrew Savikas on:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewsavikas/
There is a huge market for books outside the United States, so how can U.S. publishers break into the international market, and how do publishers know which markets are a good fit for their titles? Co-Founder and Managing Editor of Red Hen Press Dr. Kate Gale joins “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA)” to share details about how her publishing company succeeded with international sales, as well as the challenges and opportunities publishers face based on the city where they set up their business; tips on book distribution; and much more.
PARTICIPANTS
Dr. Kate Gale is Co-Founder and Publisher of Red Hen Press, a woman and queer-led publishing press in Los Angeles, and the Editor of the Los Angeles Review. She is the author of seven books of poetry, including The Loneliest Girl, The Goldilocks Zone, and Echo Light. Her debut novel, Under a Neon Sky, will be released with Three Rooms Press this April. Kate has also written six librettos, including Rio de Sangre, a libretto for an opera with composer Don Davis, which had its world premiere in October 2010 at the Florentine Opera in Milwaukee, WI. She teaches Poetry at Chapman University and speaks on independent publishing around the U.S. at schools like USC, Columbia, and Oxford University.
Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Director of Membership & Member Services, Christopher Locke assists the 3,600 members as they travel along their publishing journeys. Major projects include managing the member benefits to curate the most advantageous services for independent publishers and author publishers; managing the Innovative Voices Program that supports publishers from marginalized communities; and hosting the IBPA podcast, “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA).” He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.
LINKS
Learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association here: https://www.ibpa-online.org/page/membership
Learn more about Red Hen Press and Dr. Kate Gale here:
Website: https://kategale.com/home-1
Follow IBPA on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
X – https://twitter.com/ibpa
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/
Follow Dr. Kate Gale on:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drkategale/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drkategale/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authorkategale
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/kate_gale?lang=en
No matter where you are in your publishing journey—whether you're just starting out or you’ve been publishing books for decades—you're always hoping to level up your business.Fruition Publishing Concierge Services Founder and CEO Alesha Brown joins “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA)” to share advice about the best artificial intelligence (AI) publishing technology and the ones to avoid; paying author royalties; whether it’s worth hiring someone to do your social media; and much more!
PARTICIPANTS
Alesha Brown is the Founder & CEO of Fruition Publishing Concierge Services™, a hybrid publisher devoted to helping authors find their voice, monetize their expertise, and create profitable author platforms. Alesha’s work led to her receiving the 2019 Inside Business’ Entrepreneurial Excellence award. Her expertise has been featured in Publishers Weekly, Authority Magazine, Huffington Post, Thrive Global, and iHeartRadio, just to name a few. Alesha is a renowned speaker at numerous author forums and publishing conferences in addition to being a best-selling author, copywriter, and magazine editor-in-chief.
Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Director of Membership & Member Services, Christopher Locke assists the 3,600 members as they travel along their publishing journeys. Major projects include managing the member benefits to curate the most advantageous services for independent publishers and author publishers; managing the Innovative Voices Program that supports publishers from marginalized communities; and hosting the IBPA podcast, “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA).” He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.
LINKS
Learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association here: https://www.ibpa-online.org/page/membership
Learn more about Fruition Concierge Publishing Services here: https://fruitionpublishing.com/
Follow IBPA on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
X – https://twitter.com/ibpa
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/
With a new year comes all kinds of new possibilities for publishers to thrive! IBPA’s mission is to set up independent publishers and author publishers for publishing success, so CEO Andrea Fleck-Nisbet joins "Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA)” to discuss the major issues that publishers are sure to face in 2024, and ways that publishers can overcome them. She discusses distribution challenges; creative ways that publishers can find funding; solutions to market access obstacles; difficulties with running a publishing business and ways to tackle them; and so much more.
PARTICIPANTS
Andrea Fleck-Nisbet is CEO of the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), where she began her tenure in November 2022. Prior to that she was the founding vice-president and publisher of HarperCollin’s lifestyle imprint, Harper Horizon. Andrea spent fifteen years in sales, digital media and business operations at Workman Publishing and was Director of Content Acquisition at Ingram Content Group. She sits on the board of the Book Industry Study Group.
Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Director of Membership & Member Services, Christopher Locke assists the 4,000 members as they travel along their publishing journeys. Major projects include managing the member benefits to curate the most advantageous services for independent publishers and author publishers; managing the Innovative Voices Program that supports publishers from marginalized communities; and hosting the IBPA podcast, “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA).” He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.
LINKS
Learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association here: https://www.ibpa-online.org/page/membership
Follow IBPA on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
X – https://twitter.com/ibpa
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/
In the last few years, TOKYOPOP has had incredible success, leading Publishers Weekly to declare them one of the fastest growing independent publishers of 2023. It’s always helpful for indie publishers to learn from each other, so TOKYOPOP’s COO and Publisher Marc Visnick joins “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA)” to discuss the achievements and challenges they’ve had since the company began in 1997, including how they were able to bounce back so successfully after some difficulties in 2010 when, among other things, a major partner of theirs, Borders, went bankrupt.
PARTICIPANTS
Marc Visnick is the current COO and Publisher of TOKYOPOP. Founded in 1997, TOKYOPOP brings Asian pop culture to Hollywood and beyond. TOKYOPOP established the market for manga in North America, introducing the term to the English language in the process, and expanding the market in Germany, publishing thousands of books in both languages, distributing anime and Asian films on home video and television, licensing merchandise to consumer goods and companies, and creating graphic novels of both original content and major IP adaptations. TOKYOPOP’s core values focus on multiculturalism and diversity; aestheticism and artistic integrity; and passionate and positive storytelling.
Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Director of Membership & Member Services, Christopher Locke assists the 4,000 members as they travel along their publishing journeys. Major projects include managing the member benefits to curate the most advantageous services for independent publishers and author publishers; managing the Innovative Voices Program that supports publishers from marginalized communities; and hosting the IBPA podcast, “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA).” He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.
LINKS
Learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association here: https://www.ibpa-online.org/page/membership
Learn more about TOKYOPOP here: https://www.tokyopop.com/
Follow IBPA on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
X – https://twitter.com/ibpa
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/
Follow TOKYOPOP On:
TOKYOPOP on Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/TOKYOPOP
TOKYOPOP on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokyopop
TOKYOPOP on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TOKYOPOP
TOKYOPOP Official Website: https://www.tokyopop.com/
TOKYOPOP on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tokyopop
Independent publishers run into many of the same challenges with publishing, so the best way to figure out how to overcome those challenges is to learn from other publishers’ achievements and missteps. Taevo Publishing Founder and CEO Tamara Mayo joins “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA)” to discuss the best methods she’s learned about how to work with her authors; how to solve accounting issues; how to find funding; how to balance running a publishing business while also maintaining a full-time job; and much more!
PARTICIPANTS
Tamara Mayo is the founder and CEO of Taevo Publishing, a traditional publishing house geared toward promoting the works of underserved BIPOC women writers. She was raised in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia, where her love of reading sprouted into a hunger to play an active role in spreading diversity, equity, and inclusion in the publishing industry. Her publishing expertise incorporates 15+ years of experience in digital publishing, online instruction, and more.
Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Director of Membership & Member Services, Christopher Locke assists the 4,000 members as they travel along their publishing journeys. Major projects include managing the member benefits to curate the most advantageous services for independent publishers and author publishers; managing the Innovative Voices Program that supports publishers from marginalized communities; and hosting the IBPA podcast, “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA).” He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.
LINKS
Learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association here: https://www.ibpa-online.org/page/membership
Learn more about Taevo Publishing here: https://www.taevopublishing.com/
Follow IBPA on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
X – https://twitter.com/ibpa
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/
Many independent publishers feel a great divide between them and the Big 5 publishers. One of the biggest issues is access to various sales markets, such as bookstores, retail stores, and more. The good news is that there are new ways that these major publishers and indies can work together to the betterment of both.
One such way is through distribution. It can be quite difficult for independent publishers to land traditional distribution, but some indie publishers have found a path through Simon & Schuster. Simon & Schuster Vice President of Publisher Services Keith Parent joins “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA)” to share details about how to apply.
PARTICIPANTS
Keith Parent is Vice President of Publisher Services at Simon & Schuster. Keith originally joined S&S as a Sales Manager in the International Sales department in 2014 and returned to S&S in 2017 as an Account Executive in the Distribution Division. In 2022 Keith was promoted to Vice President of Publisher Services. In his role as Vice President, Keith manages the team tasked with supporting and maintaining all distribution client partnerships; providing sales, marketing, and publishing related strategic guidance to all independent publishers distributed by Simon & Schuster U.S. Prior to joining S&S, Keith held sales and business development roles with academic publishers such as Wiley, Sage Publications, and Congressional Quarterly Press. Keith is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore Maryland and a proud resident of Jackson Heights, Queens.
Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Director of Membership & Member Services, Christopher Locke assists the 4,000 members as they travel along their publishing journeys. Major projects include managing the member benefits to curate the most advantageous services for independent publishers and author publishers; managing the Innovative Voices Program that supports publishers from marginalized communities; and hosting the IBPA podcast, “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA).” He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.
LINKS
Learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association here: https://www.ibpa-online.org/page/membership
Learn more about applying for traditional distribution through Simon & Schuster here: https://www.simonandschusterpublishing.com/sns-distribution/
Follow IBPA on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
X – https://twitter.com/ibpa
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/
Follow Keith Parent on:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-parent-34548523/
Independent publishers and author publishers are always seeking effective ways to promote their books, and one great way to do so is through LibraryReads. The Executive Director, Rebecca Vnuk, joins "Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA)” to explain how LibraryReads creates a widely read list of must-read, new books based on library staff recommendations and how indie publishers can get their books on that list. Rebecca also used to be a librarian, so she shares tips about how publishers can get libraries to carry their books.
PARTICIPANTS
Rebecca Vnuk is the Executive Director of LibraryReads. She has an MLIS from Dominican University and worked as a public librarian for a decade before becoming the editor for Collection Management and Library Outreach at Booklist magazine. Rebecca is the author of three reference books on the topic of Women’s Fiction, as well as a best-selling book on weeding library collections. She lives in the Chicago suburbs with her husband and sons (and is thankful that the tween still loves to read, at least!).
Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Director of Membership & Member Services, Christopher Lockeassists the 4,000 members as they travel along their publishing journeys. Major projects include managing the member benefits to curate the most advantageous services for independent publishers and author publishers; managing the Innovative Voices Program that supports publishers from marginalized communities; and hosting the IBPA podcast, “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA).” He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.
LINKS
Learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association here https://www.ibpa-online.org/page/membership
Learn more about LibraryReads here www.libraryreads.org
Learn more about how publishers can get their books included in the LibraryReads top 10 lists here https://libraryreads.org/for-publishers
Follow IBPA on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
X – https://twitter.com/ibpa
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/
Follow LibraryReads on:
Facebook and Instagram - @libraryreads
X - @libraryreads99
Are you hoping to sell your books to libraries? If so, trade reviews are a vital component to enticing libraries to buy your books, and librarians especially value Booklistreviews—the official trade publication of the American Library Association. So IBPA invited Booklist Editor and Publisher George Kendall as a guest on “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA)” to discuss how publishers can land a Booklist review; how they can best leverage their review; and much more.
PARTICIPANTS
George Kendall began as Booklist’s Editor & Publisher in 2019 and is now continuing in that role as well as serving as Interim Director of Publishing & Media at the American Library Association (ALA). When not overseeing Booklist business and editorial matters and managing ALA publishing, George might be reading the latest dark but enthralling apocalyptic or dystopian nail-biter, or, on a brighter side, he might be found hanging out with his young daughter, or enjoying his local library, perusing books, toys, and Playaways, or attending story time or “messy art” and “little learners” programs. George received his MA in Literary Studies from the University of Cape Town in South Africa and studied with J.M. Coetzee, who later when on to win the Nobel Prize in Literature (2003). George began his publishing career in scientific, technical, and medical publishing before moving on to his current role. Prior to publishing, George was a professional classical musician. He will sometimes, though very rarely, dust off his French horn and play a few notes.
Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Director of Membership & Member Services, Christopher Locke helps guide the 4,000+ members as they travel along their publishing journeys. As one of his major projects, he oversees the IBPA NetGalley program, which generates buzz and garners reviews for indie publishers’ titles. He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.
LINKS
To learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association, visit here https://www.ibpa-online.org/page/membership
Learn how you can submit a book to be reviewed by “Booklist” here: https://www.booklistonline.com/get-reviewed
Follow IBPA on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
Twitter – https://twitter.com/ibpa
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/
Landing traditional distribution can be a major help in garnering exposure and sales for books in important markets such as Amazon, Kindle, bookstores, retail stores, and more. National Accounts Manager in Sales at Publishers Group West and Ingram Publisher Services David Dahl joins “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA)” to explain the behind the scenes of how distribution sales teams promote books to these lucrative markets, and gives tips for how independent publishers can set their books up for success with distributors.
PARTICIPANTS
David Dahl is National Accounts Manager in Sales at Publishers Group West and Ingram Publisher Services, where he has represented independent publishers to the book trade for more than thirty years; to amazon since 1998, and to Kindle and Apple Books since the inception of those platforms. David is a graduate of Reed College and received an M.A. from the University of California at Berkeley. David works daily towards the association's primary goals of advocating for and educating independent publishers.
Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Director of Membership & Member Services, Christopher Locke helps guide the 4,000+ members as they travel along their publishing journeys. As one of his major projects, he oversees the IBPA NetGalley program, which generates buzz and garners reviews for indie publishers’ titles. He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.
LINKS
To learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association, visit here https://www.ibpa-online.org/page/membership
Learn more about Publishers Group West at pgw.com and Ingram Publisher Services at ingramcontent.com.
Follow IBPA on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
Twitter – https://twitter.com/ibpa
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/
Book marketing isn’t just about selling books, it’s about building a reputation and an audience of loyal readers. An author may be focused on their writing so much that they don’t quite know what their brand is, but that’s where a publisher comes in. Publishers can, and should, help their authors pinpoint a professional and memorable author brand in order to engage fans and sell books. On this episode of “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA),” personal branding expert and internet marketing strategist Jeniffer Thompson shares practical tools for creating a sustainable author brand as well as easy-to-implement steps to highlight the brand story, elevate the author’s visibility, and ensure a consistent visual presence.
PARTICIPANTS
Jeniffer Thompsonis a personal branding coach, book marketing strategist, and publishing consultant. She co-founded Monkey C Media in 2004, an award-winning book cover and author website design house. She is also the host of The Premise podcast, co-founder of the San Diego Writers Festival, and serves on the International Memoir Writers Association board. VisitMonkeyCMedia.com to learn more, subscribe to her author marketing tips atJenifferThompson.comand listen to her podcast atThePremisePod.com
Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Director of Membership & Member Services, Christopher Locke helps guide the 4,000+ members as they travel along their publishing journeys. As one of his major projects, he oversees the IBPA NetGalley program, which generates buzz and garners reviews for indie publishers’ titles. He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.
LINKS
To learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association, visit here https://www.ibpa-online.org/page/membership
Check out the IBPA member benefit for Monkey C Media, which garners members 20% off design services: https://www.ibpa-online.org/page/monkeycmedia
Follow IBPA on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
Twitter – https://twitter.com/ibpa
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/
Social media can be an excellent tool for publishers to build brand awareness and garner exposure for their books, but it’s also complicated to properly navigate. One advantageous social media tactic is to hire an influencer, but how do you go about hiring the right one for your books? What types of campaigns work the best? What are some challenges to hiring an influencer and how do you overcome them? CEO & Founder of Branch & Bramble Emily Lyman joins “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA)” to share her expertise on all things related to social media influencers!
PARTICIPANTS
Emily Lyman has worked with publishing companies for more than a decade to help them achieve tangible marketing results. As CEO & Founder of Branch & Bramble, she’s built a digital marketing agency focused on helping authors and lifestyle brands craft new messaging and positioning rooted in values-based marketing that attracts life-long audiences.
Branch & Bramble has been named as one of the “Top US Digital Marketing & Digital Agencies” on Yahoo! Finance, as well as one of the “Top Digital Marketing Agencies in New York.” Lyman has been featured on Digiday, CO- by U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and Authority Magazine.
Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Director of Membership & Member Services, Christopher Locke helps guide the 4,000+ members as they travel along their publishing journeys. As one of his major projects, he oversees the IBPA NetGalley program, which generates buzz and garners reviews for indie publishers’ titles. He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.
LINKS
To learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association, visit here https://www.ibpa-online.org/page/membership
To learn more about Branch & Bramble, visit:https://www.branchandbramble.com/
Also, check out Branch & Bramble’s free book influencer marketing guide here: https://www.branchandbramble.com/book-influencers
Follow IBPA on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
Twitter – https://twitter.com/ibpa
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/
Follow Branch & Bramble on:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/branchbramble
Twitter - https://twitter.com/BranchBramble
Follow Emily Lyman on:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilylyman/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/emilylyman
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/elyman/
There are thousands and thousands of schools in the United States, so getting your books into the education market can be quite lucrative and rewarding, knowing that you’re inspiring the next generation of readers. So what is the process of getting your books into schools? What kinds of books are marketable to schools? How do you set up school author visits? Author, educator, and speaker Jane Wood joins “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA)” to answer these questions and many more!
PARTICIPANTS
Jane R. Wood is the author of a series of five juvenile fiction books where she weaves history and science into stories filled with mystery, adventure, and humor for young readers ages 8-14. Her sixth juvenile fiction book, Finding Family Treasure, was released in January 2022 and was co-authored with genealogist and author K. I. Knight. She has also written a book, Schools: A Niche Market forAuthors, to help other authors and publishers market and sell their books to the school market.
Wood is a former teacher, newspaper reporter, and television producer. She has a BA from the University of Florida and an MEd from the University of North Florida. Wood serves as the past-president of the Florida Authors and Publishers Association and often speaks at schools, libraries, book festivals, publishing events, and education conferences. To learn more about her and her books, please visit her website at janewoodbooks.com.
Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Director of Membership & Member Services, Christopher Locke helps guide the 4,000+ members as they travel along their publishing journeys. As one of his major projects, he oversees the IBPA NetGalley program, which generates buzz and garners reviews for indie publishers’ titles. He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.
LINKS
To learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association, visit here https://www.ibpa-online.org/page/membership
Follow IBPA on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
Twitter – https://twitter.com/ibpa
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/
Garnering a trade review can provide multiple benefits for a book, but how can you make the most out of the reviews you receive? Should you get a paid trade review? Is there anything positive you can get out of a negative review? BlueInk Review Co-Founder Patti Thorn will answer these questions and many more on this episode of “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA)!”
PARTICIPANTS
Patti Thorn is co-founder of BlueInk Review, a book review service that has provided nearly 10,000 reviews to authors since its inception in 2010. She was a 28-year veteran writer and editor at theRocky Mountain News, which had a daily circulation of 300,000 at the time of its closing in February, 2009, serving the last 12 years of her tenure as chief book critic and editor of the book review pages. The section earned acclaim for its incisive and timely reviews, as well as for Thorn’s weekly column about books and the publishing industry. In addition, she is the co-author ofFun Places to Go with Children in Colorado, published by Chronicle Books and has served as an independent editor for both fiction and nonfiction.
Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Director of Membership & Member Services, Christopher Locke helps guide the 4,000+ members as they travel along their publishing journeys. As one of his major projects, he oversees the IBPA NetGalley program, which generates buzz and garners reviews for indie publishers’ titles. He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.
LINKS
To learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association, visit here https://www.ibpa-online.org/page/membership
Follow IBPA on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
Twitter – https://twitter.com/ibpa
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/
Follow BlueInk Review on social media at @blueinkreivew
Check out the IBPA member benefit for $75 off a review from BlueInk Reviews: https://www.ibpa-online.org/page/blueinkreview
Visit BlueInk Reviews at: www.blueinkreview.com
Hiring a book publicist can lead to excellent exposure for your titles, but there are techniques that independent publishers and author publishers can do to best maximize that experience and things that they can do that will actually hinder that experience. Smith Publicity Book Publicist and Marketing Associate Olivia McCoy is joining us today to share tips from her many years in the industry to ensure publishers have a beneficial experience during this process.
PARTICIPANTS
Olivia McCoycomes from a background in book marketing and independent publishing and her knowledge of the publishing industry and book promotion allows her to educate and consult her clients throughout their campaigns. Her clients have received national media placements in outlets such as The New York Times, Fast Company,HuffPost, and HOLA!. She has two BAs in English Poetics and French from the University of Georgia, a Master’s Certificate in Publishing from the University of Denver Publishing Institute, and an MS in Leadership for Creative Enterprises from Northwestern University. When she’s not at work, she is at home in Philadelphia with her dog, Rudy. You can learn more about Smith Publicity atsmithpublicity.com and connect with Olivia onLinkedInand Instagram @oliviathepublicist.
Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Director of Membership & Member Services, Christopher Locke helps guide the 4,000+ members as they travel along their publishing journeys. As one of his major projects, he oversees the IBPA NetGalley program, which generates buzz and garners reviews for indie publishers’ titles. He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.
LINKS
To learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association, visit here https://www.ibpa-online.org/page/membership
To learn more about Smith Publicity, visit SmithPublicity.com.
They can also be reached at info@smithpublicity.com
Follow IBPA on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
Twitter – https://twitter.com/ibpa
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/
Follow Smith Publicity on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/SmithPublicity
Twitter – https://twitter.com/SmithPublicity
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/smithpublicity/
2023 is upon us, so in this episode of “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA),” IBPA CEO Andrea Fleck-Nisbet looks back at the hot button issues that hit the publishing industry in 2022 and how they affected (and will continue to affect) indie publishers. Andrea also shares advice about what publishers can do to prepare for the major issues they’ll be facing in the new year, including Amazon changes, inflation woes, and more. Plus, she explains how IBPA plans to help independent publishers and author publishers tackle the aforementioned issues successfully.
PARTICIPANTS
Andrea Fleck-Nisbet joined IBPA as its CEO in November 2022. She comes to IBPA with an extensive and diverse background in publishing. Most recently, she was the founding vice president and publisher at Harper Horizon, an imprint of HarperCollins. Prior to that, she was the director of content acquisition for Ingram Content Group, where she developed initiatives that supported independent publishers of all sizes, using print-on-demand services to produce and distribute content. Fleck-Nisbet spent her first 15 years in the publishing industry at independent publisher Workman Publishing, leading teams in special markets, sales, and digital marketing, including three years as executive director of digital strategy and operations.
Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Director of Membership & Member Services, Christopher Locke helps guide the 4,000+ members as they travel along their publishing journeys. As one of his major projects, he oversees the IBPA NetGalley program, which generates buzz and garners reviews for indie publishers’ titles. He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.
LINKS
To learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association, visit here https://www.ibpa-online.org/page/membership
Follow IBPA on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
Twitter – https://twitter.com/ibpa
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/
Now that 2022 has come to a close, it’s a great time for independent publishers and author publishers to look back on the past year to analyze what worked and didn’t work for their businesses so that they can make informed decisions about how to set themselves up for a more successful year in 2023. Joining us on the podcast today is founding publisher of Publish Your Gift Tieshena Davis to share her expertise on how to maximize the potential of your business, including integrating a SWOT analysis and the “5-why analysis.”
PARTICIPANTS
Tieshena Davis is founding publisher of Publish Your Gift®. Within the past decade, Tieshena's work and contribution to the publishing industry has led her to being awarded the 2017 Medical Moguls Academy “Faculty of the Year” award, honored as Prince George’s County Maryland Top Forty Under 40, and recognized by Examiner.com in its "2015 Best of the Best in Publishing." Tieshena’s advice has been featured in The Huffington Post, Black Enterprise, Rolling Out, Entrepreneur, Forbes.com and numerous other media outlets. She is a graduate of Yale University’s Book Publishing Executive Program and an active Forbes Coaches Council member.
Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Director of Membership & Member Services, Christopher Locke helps guide the 4,000+ members as they travel along their publishing journeys. As one of his major projects, he oversees the IBPA NetGalley program, which generates buzz and garners reviews for indie publishers’ titles. He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.
LINKS
To learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association, visit here https://www.ibpa-online.org/general/register_member_type.asp?
Learn more about Publish Your Gift here: https://publishyourgift.com/
And learn more about Tieshena’s consulting opportunities here: https://asktiedavis.com/
Follow IBPA on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
Twitter – https://twitter.com/ibpa
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/
IBPA’s CEO Angela Bole is moving on to a new opportunity after Nov. 30, 2022 as the CEO of Firebrand Technologies. So Angela joins “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA)” to discuss the highlights of her time at IBPA; comment on some of the biggest challenges facing independent publishers right now, including working with Amazon and trying to land traditional distribution; and share tips about how to successfully run a company. Also, host Christopher Locke extends a heartfelt thank you to Angela for her many contributions to IBPA and indie publishing.
PARTICIPANTS
As chief executive officer of the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) for the past nine years, Angela Bole worked to support the growing independent publishing community through advocacy, education, and tools for success. She holds a Master of Science degree in Book Publishing from New York University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in English with a minor in Gender Studies from Indiana University Bloomington. In 2018, she was awarded the Book Industry Study Group’s Community Builder Award, given to an individual in recognition of significant work done to engage a representative set of book industry stakeholders. In 2019, she was named a Publishers Weekly notable person of the year.
In February 2023, Angela will become CEO of Firebrand Group.
Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Director of Membership & Member Services, Christopher Locke helps guide the 4,000+ members as they travel along their publishing journeys. As one of his major projects, he oversees the IBPA NetGalley program, which generates buzz and garners reviews for indie publishers’ titles. He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.
LINKS
To learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association, visit here https://www.ibpa-online.org/general/register_member_type.asp?
You can learn more about Firebrand Group here: https://firebrandtech.com/
Follow IBPA on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
Twitter – https://twitter.com/ibpa
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/
Social media platforms can be a great way to build your independent publishing brand and garner exposure for your books, but how do you turn all those followers on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and so on into lifelong fans of your books? Also, which are the most effective platforms for indie publishers to use? Lulu’s VP of Marketing Matt Briel visits “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA)” to share tips about how independent publishers can get the most out of social media, as well as advice about how to improve your newsletter.
PARTICIPANTS
Matt Briel is the VP of Marketing at Lulu.com. After more than 15 years leading Sales and Marketing teams in the Media & Publishing space, he’s developed a unique passion for helping creators and solopreneurs become more successful by leveraging books as a catalyst for opportunities and sustainable revenue.
Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Director of Membership & Member Services, Christopher Locke helps guide the 4,100+ members as they travel along their publishing journeys. As one of his major projects, he oversees the IBPA NetGalley program, which generates buzz and garners reviews for indie publishers’ titles. He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.
LINKS
To learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association, visit here https://www.ibpa-online.org/general/register_member_type.asp?
You can learn more about Lulu.com here: https://www.lulu.com/
Follow IBPA on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
Twitter – https://twitter.com/ibpa
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/
Click on the following links to learn more about the social media services that Matt referenced:
Influencer Marketing - Shoutcart
Email Marketing - ConvertKit
Email Marketing - Send In Blue
Email Marketing - Klaviyo
Artificial intelligence has created many helpful improvements to book publishing, such as improving discoverability of books and finding copyediting errors in manuscripts, and there are many more to come as technology advances, but is there also a downside to some of these advancements? For example, will these advancements cost people jobs? Authors A.I. and BingeBooks co-founder and CEO Alessandra Torre joins “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA)” to discuss these issues, as well as some helpful AI programs currently available for publishers and new exciting ones on the horizon.
PARTICIPANTS
Alessandra Torre is the Co-founder and CEO of Authors A.I. and BingeBooks, as well as an award-winning New York Times bestselling author of twenty-five novels. Alessandra found her greatest success with self-publishing, hitting the New York Times list seven times with self-published novels. Alessandra is a popular public speaker and presents frequently to universities, conventions, and author groups. She has online classes, an annual conference and has built a community of over 40,000 aspiring and published authors.
Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Director of Membership & Member Services, Christopher Locke helps guide the 4,100+ members as they travel along their publishing journeys. As one of his major projects, he oversees the IBPA NetGalley program, which generates buzz and garners reviews for indie publishers’ titles. He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.
LINKS
To learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association, visit here https://www.ibpa-online.org/general/register_member_type.asp?
You can learn more about the IBPA member benefit for Marlowe Pro here: https://www.ibpa-online.org/page/marlowepro
Follow IBPA on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
Twitter – https://twitter.com/ibpa
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/
Follow Alessandra Torre on:
www.authors.ai << Authors A.I. website
www.alessandratorre.com << Alessandra’s author site
facebook.com/alessandratorre0
instagram.com/alessandratorre4
twitter.com/readalessandra
There are many considerations for independent publishers wanting to sell books in the government, education, and healthcare markets. How is selling into these markets different from the retail trade? How do you get started? What are some reasons independent publishers may or may not want to pursue these markets? What are some tips for doing this well? IBPA Board Chair Karen Pavlicin, publisher of Elva Resa Publishing and owner of Military Family Books, shares tips and insights from her 25+ years of navigating bulk sales, niche markets, and community advocacy programs as a primary business model.
PARTICIPANTS
Karen Pavlicin is the founder and publisher at Elva Resa Publishing, a traditional publisher specializing in resources for and about military families. She also owns and operates Military Family Books, an independent bookstore and wholesale distributor specializing in bulk sales to the military, education, and healthcare markets. She served four years on the IBPA Board of Directors and is the current board chair.
Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Director of Membership & Member Services, Christopher Locke helps guide the 4,100+ members as they travel along their publishing journeys. As one of his major projects, he oversees the IBPA NetGalley program, which generates buzz and garners reviews for indie publishers’ titles. He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.
LINKS
To learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association, visit here https://www.ibpa-online.org/general/register_member_type.asp?
Follow IBPA on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
Twitter – https://twitter.com/ibpa
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/
Follow Elva Rese Publishing on:
Websites: ElvaResa.com, MilitaryFamilyBooks.com
Social accounts:
Facebook: @ElvaResaPublishing @KarenPavlicin @MilitaryFamilyBooks.com
https://fb.com/ElvaResaPublishing
https://fb.com/KarenPavlicin (public page)
https://fb.com/MilitaryFamilyBooks
Twitter: @ElvaResa @Pavlicin @MilFamBooks
https://twitter.com/ElvaResa
https://twitter.com/pavlicin
https://twitter.com/MilFamBooks
IG: @ElvaResaPublishing @KarenPavlicin @MilitaryFamilyBooks
https://instagram.com/ElvaResaPublishing
https://instagram.com/KarenPavlicin
https://instagram.com/MilitaryFamilyBooks
LI: @ElvaResaPublishing, @Pavlicin
https://www.linkedin.com/company/elvaresapublishing/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/pavlicin/
YouTube: @ElvaResa
https://www.youtube.com/user/elvaresa
If independent publishers and author publishers optimize their books properly for Amazon, it could lead to excellent sales, but likewise, if they don’t, it could hurt a book’s chances of succeeding. Also, advertising on Amazon can be a powerful tool, but it can be a complicated process. Don’t fret, on this episode of “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA),” we invited Greenleaf Book Group’s Marketing Manager Chelsea Richards to share her expertise with Amazon optimization and ads!
PARTICIPANTS
As Marketing Manager at Greenleaf, Chelsea Richards works with authors to create strategic marketing campaigns, build their author brands, and increase visibility and exposure for their books. She helps authors establish their authority as experts through developing their online presence, harnessing the power of their existing networks, and targeted advertising to both the trade and consumers. Chelsea holds an MA in Creative Writing from the University of Exeter in England, a BA in English and communications from Southwestern University and completed New York University’s Summer Publishing Institute. A passionate reader and writer herself, Chelsea delights in helping authors reach readers. Prior to her role at Greenleaf, she worked in magazine and book publishing in San Francisco and London. Chelsea is a bibliophile and an Anglophile, and in her spare time she enjoys gardening, traveling, yoga, and baking.
Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Director of Membership & Member Services, Christopher Locke helps guide the 4,100+ members as they travel along their publishing journeys. As one of his major projects, he oversees the IBPA NetGalley program, which generates buzz and garners reviews for indie publishers’ titles. He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.
LINKS
To learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association, visit here https://www.ibpa-online.org/general/register_member_type.asp?
Follow IBPA on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
Twitter – https://twitter.com/ibpa
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/
Follow Chelsea Richards:
LinkedIn, Greenleaf Twitter, Greenleaf Facebook
IBPA is always looking for ways to set up independent publishers and author publishers for success, so we partnered with PubWest and Portland State University’s Graduate Program in Book Publishing to research five key issues facing publishing distribution today. Portland State University’s Director of Book Publishing and Assistant Professor in English Dr. Rachel Noorda and Rachel Done, who is one of the talented students who worked on this project and a freelance publishing professional, visit “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA)” to discuss the findings of the project, which include ways for indie publishers to make their distribution more profitable, sustainable, and eco-friendly!
PARTICIPANTS
Dr. Rachel Noorda is Director of Book Publishing and Assistant Professor in English. She researches twenty-first century book topics such as entrepreneurship, marketing, small business, national identity, and international publishing. Her book Entrepreneurship Identity in U.S. Book Publishing in the Twenty-First Century was published last year by Cambridge University Press. She loves guiding students and collaborating with her colleague Kathi Inman Berens on media behavior and piracy.
Rachel Done Cubillas is currently a freelancing publishing professional, with focuses on writing, design, marketing, and project management. Basically a little bit of everything. She is set to graduate with her MA in Book Publishing and Comics Studies Certificate from PSU this coming June. She loves exploring new topics and skills, as well as spending time with her menagerie of a family.
Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Director of Membership & Member Services, Christopher Locke helps guide the 4,100+ members as they travel along their publishing journeys. As one of his major projects, he oversees the IBPA NetGalley program, which generates buzz and garners reviews for indie publishers’ titles. He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.
LINKS
To learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association, visit here https://www.ibpa-online.org/general/register_member_type.asp?
View the full distribution report here: https://www.ibpa-online.org/news/601797/IBPA-PubWest-and-Portland-State-University-Publish-Students-Research-on-Distribution-Practices.htm
Follow IBPA on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
Twitter – https://twitter.com/ibpa
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/
Follow Dr. Rachel Noorda:
Twitter - @rachellynchase
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-noorda-4273623b
Follow Rachel Done:
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/rachel.doneGR/
Twitter - @RachelDC06
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-done-97510b186/
Website: https://racheldonecubillas.com/portfolio/
It’s a major goal of many independent publishers and author publishers to get their books carried in a bookstore, but as many have found, it can be a difficult market to break into. “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA)” invites Village Books & Paper Dreams Co-Owner and Steward Paul Hanson and Publishing Coordinator Chloe Hovind to share expert tips about how indie publishers can get bookstores to stock their books, and the reasoning behind why it’s so difficult to get their books carried in the first place.
PARTICIPANTS
Paul Hanson is one of three co-owners of Village Books in Bellingham and Lynden, Washington. He produces workshops and classes through the Chuckanut Writers Program in partnership with Whatcom Community College and has been a coordinator for the Chuckanut Writers Conference. Before arriving in Bellingham in 2011, Paul was the long-time manager of Eagle Harbor Book Company on Bainbridge Island. He is a writer and publisher, former President of the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association, and past core team member of Fields End, a writers' community on Bainbridge Island. He's passionate about building communities for writers, helping them from inspiration to publication, and connecting them with readers.
Chloe Hovind is a Pacific Northwest native whose enthusiasm for books found her a home at Village Books & Paper Dreams. As a librarian-trained bookseller, Chloe enjoys working one on one with local authors to help bring their stories to life through Village Book's self-publishing program and loves helping the community discover the local talent that resides on the shelves of their local bookstores.
Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Member Liaison, Christopher Locke helps guide the 4,100+ members as they travel along their publishing journeys. As one of his major projects, he oversees the IBPA NetGalley program, which generates buzz and garners reviews for indie publishers’ titles. He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.
LINKS
To learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association, visit here https://www.ibpa-online.org/general/register_member_type.asp?
To learn more about the IBPA Bookstore Catalog, which helps publishers reach the bookstore market, visit: https://www.ibpa-online.org/store/ListProducts.aspx?catid=568428
IBPA has many marketing, advertising, and promotional plans to help get the word out about your books, so check them out: https://www.ibpa-online.org/store/
To learn more about the IBPA’s Industry Standards Checklist for a Professionally Published Book, visit https://www.ibpa-online.org/page/standardschecklist
Follow IBPA on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
Twitter – https://twitter.com/ibpa
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/
To learn more about Village Books & Paper Dreams, visit: https://www.villagebooks.com/
Marketing books can be overwhelming and discouraging, and to make matters more difficult, there are a lot of dependable strategies out there that wield excellent exposure for books but that does not necessarily mean that they lead directly to book sales. Book Launchers Founder Julie Broad joins us on “Inside Independent Publishing” today to go over some of the best book marketing tactics available and to explain the results publishers can expect from those tactics.
PARTICIPANTS
Julie Broad is the founder of self-publishing services firm Book Launchers and an Amazon Overall #1 Best Selling Author. Her popular YouTube channel BookLaunchers.TV teaches nonfiction authors how to write and market books people will want to read. An expert on writing with marketing in mind, Julie been speaking on stages across Canada and the US since 2009, providing the best approaches to get results, make an impact, and ultimately, make more money.
Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Member Liaison, Christopher Locke helps guide the 4,100+ members as they travel along their publishing journeys. As one of his major projects, he oversees the IBPA NetGalley program, which generates buzz and garners reviews for indie publishers’ titles. He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.
LINKS
To learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association, visit here https://www.ibpa-online.org/general/register_member_type.asp?
Follow IBPA on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
Twitter – https://twitter.com/ibpa
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/
To learn more about Book Launchers, visit:
www.BookLaunchers.com/gameplan
IBPA has many marketing, advertising, and promotional plans to help get the word out about your books, so check them out: https://www.ibpa-online.org/store/
The U.S. has thousands of libraries, so if an independent publisher can get their books carried in the library market, it can be great exposure for their books and a lucrative endeavor. But, how does an indie publisher get libraries to carry their books? On this episode of “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA),” we invited Founder and Former CEO at BiblioLabs and Senior Manager of the BiblioLabs Division at LYRASIS Mitchell Davis to share tips for how independent publishers and author publishers can get their books into libraries!
PARTICIPANTS
Mitchell Davis is a digital publishing and media entrepreneur with over twenty five years experience in the book publishing industry. He was the founder in 2000 of BookSurge, an indie publishing and print-on-demand technology platform which successfully exited in an acquisition to Amazon.com in 2005. BookSurge later became CreateSpace and Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP). After spending two years in senior management at Amazon he founded BiblioLabs which successfully exited in a merger with the global library nonprofit LYRASIS in 2021. BiblioLabs is a digital community engagement platform focused on helping libraries excel at local content. It has borne a number of innovative projects such as Indie Author Projectand the Creator local publishing tools for public libraries. Mitchell is also a partner in Creative Media, a print-on-demand book distributor working in the open content space and Rare Bird Farm a newly launched "tiny festival" music venue and artist platform. When not working he is an avid reader (currently reading any and everything by Kurt Vonnegut), music lover (plays in a Widespread Panic tribute band), futbol fan (Tottenham Hotspurs), and outdoor sports enthusiast.
Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Member Liaison, Christopher Locke helps guide the 3,700+ members as they travel along their publishing journeys. As one of his major projects, he oversees the IBPA NetGalley program, which generates buzz and garners reviews for indie publishers’ titles. He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.
LINKS
To learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association, visit here https://www.ibpa-online.org/general/register_member_type.asp?
Follow IBPA on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
Twitter – https://twitter.com/ibpa
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/
To learn more about Mitchell Davis’ work, visit:
www.indieauthorproject.com
www.biblioboard.com
www.createsharediscover.com
To learn more about how IBPA can help you get your books into the library market, check out IBPA’s American Library Association Conference program: https://www.ibpa-online.org/store/ListProducts.aspx?catid=568479
And check out IBPA’s Library Market eBlast program: https://www.ibpa-online.org/store/ListProducts.aspx?catid=569788&ftr=
To learn more about IBPA’s IngramSpark member benefit visit: https://www.ibpa-online.org/page/ingramspark
Social media provides independent publishers with many incredible opportunities to promote their books, but it feels like new platforms pop up every day, which can make it overwhelming to figure out which platforms are the best. Today, Founder and CEO of Write|Publish|Sell Alexa Bigwarfe joins “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA)” to give you the inside scoop on some of the most buzzworthy options available, including BookTok, Bookstagram, and BookTube!
PARTICIPANTS
Alexa Bigwarfe is a USA Today best-selling author and the founder and CEO of Write|Publish|Sell, a company dedicated to helping authors and small publishers professionally self-publish and market their books. Her courses and training focus on author platform growth and creative ways to market books, especially for those who know nothing about marketing. She is also the founder and host of the Women in Publishing Summit and owns two hybrid publishing houses, Kat Biggie Press and Purple Butterfly Press. Learn more at writepublishsell.com.
Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Member Liaison, Christopher Locke helps guide the 3,700+ members as they travel along their publishing journeys. As one of his major projects, he oversees the IBPA NetGalley program, which generates buzz and garners reviews for indie publishers’ titles. He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.
LINKS
To learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association, visit here https://www.ibpa-online.org/general/register_member_type.asp?
Follow IBPA on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
Twitter – https://twitter.com/ibpa
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/
To learn more about the Women in Publishing Summit, visit https://womeninpublishingsummit.com/
Check out the Write|Publish|Sell Instagram page at https://www.instagram.com/writepublishsell/
Check out the membership program where they guide authors and publishers through marketing strategy and using social media to enhance their marketing efforts: https://writepublishsell.com/wip-school
One of the topics that independent publishers and author publishers always ask IBPA about is Amazon. Amazon is a juggernaut in the publishing industry and publishers want to know how to succeed in that marketplace. Amazon has a feature called A+ Content, which, if used properly, can be a helpful tool for publishers. So Amazon expert and i30 Media Corporation founder Ian Lamont visits “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA)” to share advantageous tips. Ian also gives updates on other Amazon topics, including: whether Amazon Advantage will ever reopen registration; issues with third-party sellers winning the “buy” button over publishers; and more!
PARTICIPANTS
Ian Lamont is the founder of i30 Media Corporation. His media career has spanned more than 20 years across three continents, including a stint in the British music industry and a six-year residence in Taipei, where he learned Mandarin and worked for a local TV network and newspaper. Returning to the Boston area, he shifted into digital media, building websites for Harvard University, developing online services for technology publisher IDG, and serving as managing editor of The Industry Standard blog platform and prediction market. Later, Ian founded two ventures, including a mobile software company and i30 Media, which publishes In 30 Minutes guides (in30minutes.com). The guides help people understand mildly complex subjects, including business, software, and medicine.
Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Member Liaison, Christopher Locke helps guide the 3,700+ members as they travel along their publishing journeys. As one of his major projects, he oversees the IBPA NetGalley program, which generates buzz and garners reviews for indie publishers’ titles. He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.
LINKS
To learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association, visit here https://www.ibpa-online.org/general/register_member_type.asp?
Follow IBPA on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
Twitter – https://twitter.com/ibpa
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/
To learn more about i30 Media Corporation, click here.
To learn more about the In 30 Minutes guides, click here.
Selling the film or TV rights to a book can be a lucrative endeavor, but how does an independent publisher or author publisher sell their film and TV rights? Will Dreamly Arts Publisher Andreas John visits “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA)” to share expertise from his own experience selling the TV rights to a book series by one of this authors. Andreas shares tips about how to land a deal; how to attach the right people for the project; and more!
PARTICIPANTS
Over 25 years ago, Andreas John launched his career in the magazine publishing world previously as the GM of CdA Magazine and the North Idaho Business Journal. In 2014, Andreas started the regional lifestyle magazine Nspire Magazine and shortly after became the publisher of Will Dreamly Arts Publishing. Past board chair of the CdA Arts & Culture Alliance and current board president of the CdA Men in Business Network, and is a winner of the Top 30 under 40 Award in 2013.
Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Member Liaison, Christopher Locke helps guide the 3,700+ members as they travel along their publishing journeys. As one of his major projects, he oversees the IBPA NetGalley program, which generates buzz and garners reviews for indie publishers’ titles. He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.
LINKS
To learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association, visit here https://www.ibpa-online.org/general/register_member_type.asp?
Follow IBPA on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
Twitter – https://twitter.com/ibpa
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/
To learn more about Will Dreamly Arts, visit www.willdreamlyarts.com
To learn more about The Newirth Trilogy, visit www.newirth.tv
Independent publisher Puppy Dogs & Ice Cream has had incredible success acquiring book sales through digital marketing, so founder Jason Kutasi visits “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA)” to share some of their most effective strategies. Jason shares which platforms have been most profitable to advertise on; why his indie publishing company rarely conducts promotions on Amazon; and much more!
PARTICIPANTS
Jason Kutasi is the CEO of Puppy Dogs & Ice Cream – a children’s book publisher focused on the direct to consumer channel.
Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Member Liaison, Christopher Locke helps guide the 3,700+ members as they travel along their publishing journeys. As one of his major projects, he oversees the IBPA NetGalley program, which generates buzz and garners reviews for indie publishers’ titles. He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.
LINKS
To learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association, visit here https://www.ibpa-online.org/general/register_member_type.asp?
Follow IBPA on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
Twitter – https://twitter.com/ibpa
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/
Learn more about Puppy Dogs & Ice Cream on:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pdicbooks/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PDICBook/
Website: https://shop.puppydogsandicecream.com/
Many authors would prefer to just write books and leave the marketing to someone else, but if a book is going to be successful, it is imperative that authors take an active role in marketing their books. Since a lot of authors feel uncomfortable with this, it’s helpful if independent publishers work with their authors as partners on this issue. On this episode of “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA),” founder of independent publisher Motina Books Diane Windsor shares tips about how indie publishers can guide their authors to market their books successfully.
PARTICIPANTS
Diane Windsor is the founder of the traditional publishing company, Motina Books. Her mission is to publish books by and for mothers, giving women the chance to release their stories into the world. Diane works hard to create a partnership with her authors. Throughout the publishing process, Diane works closely with the author every step of the way – editing, formatting, cover design, distribution, and marketing.
Marketing, of course, is the most important aspect of publishing your book. You could write the best book in the world, but it doesn’t matter how good it is if no one knows about it. There is no easy solution for marketing your books. It takes just as much work as writing that first draft. And, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. You have to think about your specific target audience, and come up with out-of-the-box ideas for reaching them.
Upcoming Books:
Descent Into Ulthoa by Gordon Bonnet (my sole Motina Man) - October 19 - A sci fi thriller about a man searching for his twin brother who disappeared ten years earlier.
In 2022, Motina Books has several books that will be released:
- Two non-fiction books on grief and loss.
- A historical fiction novel based on the true events of the Bath House Riot in El Paso, in 1917
- Two domestic thrillers
- One picture book to raise limb-loss awareness and another that contains 20 biographies of people with disabilities
- A memoir by a dancer who became a pilates instructor
- Several children's chapter books
Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Member Liaison, Christopher Locke helps guide the 3,700+ members as they travel along their publishing journeys. As one of his major projects, he oversees the IBPA NetGalley program, which generates buzz and garners reviews for indie publishers’ titles. He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.
LINKS
For email marketing services, learn more about the IBPA member benefit with Constant Contact here: https://www.ibpa-online.org/page/constantcontact
To learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association, visit here https://www.ibpa-online.org/general/register_member_type.asp?
Follow IBPA on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
Twitter – https://twitter.com/ibpa
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/
Follow or contact Diane Windsor on:
www.MotinaBooks.com
Diane@MotinaBooks.com
facebook.com\motinabooks
Instagram - @motina_books
Want to learn how to get the most out of IngramSpark (Ingram Content Group’s publish-on-demand platform)? IBPA invited IngramSpark’s Business Development Manager Josh Floyd to "Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA)" to answer some of the most common questions publishers have about the popular platform, such as: When posting books onto the platform, should publishers make their books returnable or non-returnable? How does IngramSpark give publishers access to bookstores and libraries? Get answers to these questions and much more on this podcast episode!
PARTICIPANTS
Josh Floyd promotes the growth, sales, and brand of the IngramSpark platform to independent authors and publishers along with providing education to the industry about how best to utilize Ingram’s Publish-On-Demand services for bringing a new book to market or for breathing life into an out-of-print title. Josh received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering Technology and Industrial Studies and a minor in Business Administration from Middle Tennessee State University.
Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Member Liaison, Christopher Locke helps guide the 3,700+ members as they travel along their publishing journeys. As one of his major projects, he oversees the IBPA NetGalley program, which generates buzz and garners reviews for indie publishers’ titles. He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.
LINKS
Learn more about the IBPA member benefit with IngramSpark here: https://www.ibpa-online.org/page/ingramspark
To learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association, visit here https://www.ibpa-online.org/general/register_member_type.asp?
Follow IBPA on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
Twitter – https://twitter.com/ibpa
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/
A lot of independent publishers and author publishers focus a great deal of time and energy trying to get their books sold in bookstores, but there are many other places to sell books that could be a perfect fit for various target audiences. In this episode of "Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA)," publisher and founder of The Collective Book Studio Angela Engel discusses the success she's achieved getting her authors’ books into the retail market.
PARTICIPANTS
When Angela Engel launched The Collective Book Studio she wanted to build a different kind of publishing business, one that adhered to the author’s vision every step of the way. Her experience in traditional publishing allows her to introduce beautiful books into the world, and she brings her passion for reading and sharing new ideas into every new project she undertakes.
Angela grew up in Minneapolis, MN, and now calls Oakland, CA, home. For many years she worked in sales and marketing for nationally known category leaders in publishing, including Chronicle Books, Ten Speed Press, Cameron + Company, Dwell Studio, and Moleskine. She has sold to key national and international retailers such as Amazon, Costco, Nordstrom, and Target, and became a sought-after expert in the industry. Now, with The Collective Book Studio, she has the opportunity to provide authors the support they need to get a book out into the world, from start to finish.
During the quarantine, Angela established a fund to create and distribute 10,000 PPE face shields nationwide and has raised more than $35,000. In her (very little) spare time she loves running and cooking. She lives with her three wonderful daughters and her equally wonderful husband, Dan.
Website
Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Member Liaison, Christopher Locke helps guide the 3,700+ members as they travel along their publishing journeys. As one of his major projects, he oversees the IBPA NetGalley program, which generates buzz and garners reviews for indie publishers’ titles. He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.
LINKS
To learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association, visit here https://www.ibpa-online.org/general/register_member_type.asp?
Follow IBPA on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
Twitter – https://twitter.com/ibpa
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/
In order for retailers to order your book, they normally require that your book have national distribution. Learn more about the IBPA member benefit with IngramSpark here: https://www.ibpa-online.org/page/ingramspark
What encourages people to buy a book? How do people discover books? Knowing book consumer buying habits can be a huge help in creating successful book marketing campaigns, so IBPA co-sponsored a research project to get an advantageous look at the answers to these questions and more! Portland State University Director of Publishing Dr. Rachel Noorda co-authored the report, so she visits the podcast to give independent publishers and author publishers all the details.
PARTICIPANTS
Dr. Rachel Noorda is Director of Publishing and Assistant Professor of English at Portland State University. Dr. Noorda holds a PhD degree in Publishing Studies from the University of Stirling and has published peer-reviewed research on various book publishing projects including book subscription boxes, independent publisher mission statements, the Portland Book Festival, and online book blurbs. She is currently writing a book (contracted with Cambridge University Press) about entrepreneurship in twenty-first century US book publishing. She has been very involved with the industry, including analyzing data and writing industry reports for PubWest, the Independent Book Publishers Association, the Book Industry Study Group, Literary Arts, and Publishing Scotland.
Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Member Liaison, Christopher Locke helps guide the 3,600+ members as they travel along their publishing journeys. As one of his major projects, he oversees the IBPA NetGalley program, which generates buzz and garners reviews for indie publishers’ titles. He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.
LINKS
You can read the full Immersive Media & Books 2020 Consumer Survey through a link on this page!
As discussed, if you’re interested in reaching the library market, IBPA has two excellent marketing programs that can help:
- Library Market eBlasts
- ALA Annual Conference
To learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association, visit here https://www.ibpa-online.org/general/register_member_type.asp?
Follow IBPA on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
Twitter – https://twitter.com/ibpa
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/
Marketing books is one of the most important (and difficult!) tasks for independent publishers and author publishers, so IBPA invited book publicity expert FSB Associates Founder and President Fauzia Burke on the podcast to share expert advice about how to land media opportunities to sell books, including television interviews, podcast interviews, and print/online articles!
PARTICIPANTS
Fauzia Burke, author of Online Marketing for Busy Authors, is the founder and president of FSB Associates, an online book publicity firm, co-founder of Pub Site, a platform for building author websites, and a consultant and coach for authors who need help navigating the book marketing and publicity landscape. Before starting FSB, she worked for book publishers, Henry Holt and John Wiley. Fauzia has promoted books by authors such as Alan Alda, Arianna Huffington, Deepak Chopra, Melissa Francis, S. C. Gwynne, Mika Brzezinski, Charles Spencer and many more. She is based in San Diego, California.
Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Member Liaison, Christopher Locke helps guide the 3,600+ members as they travel along their publishing journeys. As one of his major projects, he oversees the IBPA NetGalley program, which generates buzz and garners reviews for indie publishers’ titles. He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.
LINKS
If you’re looking to promote your books or audiobooks to the media, check out the IBPA Media Outreach Program!
To learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association, visit here https://www.ibpa-online.org/general/register_member_type.asp?
Follow IBPA on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
Twitter – https://twitter.com/ibpa
Instagram -
https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/
There is a lot of buzz about how booming the audiobook market is, so should independent publishers make audiobooks an essential part of their business model? What types of books have a better chance succeeding as audiobooks? What are helpful tips to market audiobooks? Audiobook industry expert, Michele Cobb (Partner at Forté Business Consulting and Executive Director for the Audio Publishers Association) gives advantageous insight to answer these questions and more!
PARTICIPANTS
Michele Cobb is a recognized expert in the audio industry and a Partner at Forté Business Consulting. Formerly Vice President of Sales & Marketing for the British Broadcasting Corporation audiobooks division, she has served on the Audio Publishers Association (APA) board since 2001 as a director, an officer, and as the current Executive Director. A sought-after consultant in the audio industry regarding PR, sales, marketing, and business development through Forté, she often works with strategic partner Tavia Gilbert to support the analysis and increased reach of a variety of audiobook and podcast clients.
(12) Michele Cobb (@mleecobb) / Twitter
Michele Cobb (@mleecobb) • Instagram photos and videos
(20+) Michele Cobb | Facebook
Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Member Liaison, Christopher Locke helps guide the 3,600+ members as they travel along their publishing journeys. As one of his major projects, he oversees the IBPA NetGalley program, which generates buzz and garners reviews for indie publishers’ titles. He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.
LINKS
If you’re looking to market your audiobook(s), check out the IBPA NetGalley Program Audiobook Listing here https://www.ibpa-online.org/page/netgalley
To learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association, visit here https://www.ibpa-online.org/general/register_member_type.asp?
Follow IBPA on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
Twitter – https://twitter.com/ibpa
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/
Landing traditional distribution can be one of the most difficult things for independent publishers and author publishers to achieve, so Independent Publishers Group’s Vice President of Publisher Development Richard T. Williams shares invaluable advice about how indie publishers can increase their chances of being accepted, explains reasons why they would be rejected, and much more. If you’re interested in landing traditional distribution, you don’t want to miss this episode!
PARTICIPANTS
Richard T. Williams is the vice president, publisher development at the distribution company Independent Publishers Group (IPG), where he reviews publisher submissions, pursues new publisher business, and manages a team of experts to help existing clients plan and develop their lists. He is a former sales rep at IPG and was the director of IPG’s Small Press United program from its inception in 2009. Also a former operations manager at an independent publisher, Richard is uniquely positioned to understand the needs of publishers in today’s industry and utilizes his knowledge and experience to help expand IPG’s suite of services to fit such needs.
Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Member Liaison, Christopher Locke helps guide the 3,600+ members as they travel along their publishing journeys. As one of his major projects, he oversees the IBPA NetGalley program, which generates buzz and garners reviews for indie publishers’ titles. He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.
LINKS
Click here to learn more about IBPA’s Industry Standards Checklist for a Professionally Published Book!
Richard did a great webinar with IBPA called “Let’s Get Read About National Distribution.” It’s in the free webinar archive for IBPA members, so we recommend checking that out!
To learn more about how you can attend IBPA Publishing University (the premier educational event for independent book publishers), visit https://www.publishinguniversity.org/
There's a special 15% discount on IBPA Publishing University registration for podcast listeners, but you have to listen to this episode for details!
To learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association, visit here https://www.ibpa-online.org/general/register_member_type.asp?
Follow IBPA on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
Twitter – https://twitter.com/ibpa
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/
SCBWI’s Chief Equity & Inclusion Officer April Powers joins host Christopher Locke for a candid conversation about actions independent publishers can take to bring about real change for marginalized communities, and actions that are unhelpful. Plus, what does April have to say about people who complain that companies shouldn’t get “political” by supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and antiracism? Also, what can independent publishers learn from the American Dirt controversy?
PARTICIPANTS
April Powers is the chief equity & inclusion officer for the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators, SCBWI.org. A highly-rated trainer for Fortune 50, government and non-profit organizations, she is also the Managing Director of First Impression Rx, a full service consulting firm that helps companies manage differences through training and diversity and inclusion strategy.
Her client work includes LGBTQI+ bench-marking through the Human Rights Campaign, project managing a cultural dexterity roll-out and delivering certified training in the areas of Generational Diversity, Intersectionality, Unconscious Bias, Communication, Emotional Intelligence, LBGTQI+ Understanding, Empathy, Customer Service, Effective Teams, Effective Communication, Positive Workplace, Climate Reality, Difficult Conversations and Cultural Competence.
After graduating from UC Berkeley, April began her recruiting career with Ryan, Miller & Associates; launched Manifest Search; then became the Manager of Diversity and Recruiting for Nestlé USA as well as an Inclusion Trainer & Consultant at Amgen. Most recently, she was offered her dream job impacting young readers all over the world. She has lived in the US, South America and Europe. She is bilingual and, thus brings a global perspective with local understanding to her clients' goals in the inclusion space.
Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Member Liaison, Christopher Locke helps guide the 3,600+ members as they travel along their publishing journeys. As one of his major projects, he oversees the IBPA NetGalley program, which generates buzz and garners reviews for indie publishers’ titles. He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.
LINKS
To learn more about #OwnVoices and the creator of the term, Corinne Duyvis, read this interview here https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-authors/article/84336-q-a-with-corinne-duyvis.html
To learn more about how you can attend IBPA Publishing University (the premier educational event for independent book publishers), visit https://www.publishinguniversity.org/
There's a special 15% discount on IBPA Publishing University registration for podcast listeners, but you have to listen to this episode for details!
To learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association, visit here https://www.ibpa-online.org/general/register_member_type.asp?
"If the World Were a Village of 100 People (2019)"
Follow IBPA on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
Twitter – https://twitter.com/ibpa
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/
What are some of the ethical conundrums that hybrid publishers fall victim to, and how can they overcome them? Why do some publishers think it’s controversial for hybrid publishers to be considered publishers? Hybrid publisher Wonderwell CEO Maggie Langrick shares her expert insight on these issues; why she loves hybrid publishing, and more.
PARTICIPANTS
Maggie Langrick is the founder and publisher of Wonderwell, a hybrid publisher of nonfiction books that help, heal and inspire. Since the company's launch (then known as LifeTree Media) in 2013, the company's books have won numerous peer-reviewed awards, placed on national bestseller lists, and been translated into more than seven languages. Maggie is an IBPA Board Director, and a member of the Advocacy Committee that developed IBPA's criteria for hybrid publishers. Having worked as an editor for more than 20 years, Maggie brings a strong editorial focus to her role as a publisher and was shortlisted for Editors Canada's Tom Fairley Award for Editorial Excellence in 2017. She lives in Los Angeles.
Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Member Liaison, Christopher Locke helps guide the 3,600+ members as they travel along their publishing journeys. As one of his major projects, he oversees the IBPA NetGalley program, which generates buzz and garners reviews for indie publishers’ titles. He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.
LINKS
To learn more about IBPA’s Hybrid Publisher Criteria, visit https://www.ibpa-online.org/page/hybridpublisher
To learn more about how you can attend IBPA Publishing University (the premier educational event for independent book publishers), visit https://www.publishinguniversity.org/
There's a special 15% discount on IBPA Publishing University registration for podcast listeners, but you have to listen to this episode for details!
To learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association, visit here https://www.ibpa-online.org/general/register_member_type.asp?
Follow IBPA on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
Twitter – https://twitter.com/ibpa
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/
A new season of “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA)” starts Thursday, January 28! In this short intro, find out what new host IBPA Member Liaison Christopher Locke has in store for upcoming episodes of the podcast. Will this new season make you the most successful independent publisher the world has ever known? You’ll have to tune in to find out!
Check out the YouTube video version of this intro here:
New episodes are posted the last Thursday of every month everywhere you download podcasts and on YouTube. Learn more about IBPA at https://www.ibpa-online.org/
PARTICIPANTS
Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Member Liaison, Christopher Locke helps guide the 3,600+ members as they travel along their publishing journeys. As one of his major projects, he oversees the IBPA NetGalley program, which generates buzz and garners reviews for indie publishers’ titles. He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.
Topics CoveredFor Peter Goodman's final episode as host, new host Christopher Locke asks Peter about his experience as an editor and publisher. From working in Japan and the UK for ten years to running his own publishing company for over thirty years, Peter has seen a lot of technologies and trends come and go. But some things are still fundamental, and among them is the motto Peter learned in Japan: "Let's have publishing fun!"
Christopher Locke will be reintroducing Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA) in a new format starting monthly in January 2021. Stay tuned!
Thanks to all the guests for sharing their wisdom and expertise!
LinksIBPA
https://www.ibpa-online.org/
Stone Bridge Press
https://www.stonebridge.com
ParticipantsChristopher Locke is the Member Liaison for IBPA, ibpa-online.org. He will be assuming host duties of the podcast in January 2021.
Peter Goodman* (host) is publisher of Stone Bridge Press in Berkeley, California. He began his publishing career in Tokyo, Japan, in 1976. A longtime member of IBPA, he has served on the IBPA board and as IBPA board chair.
For more information, go to IBPA at https://www.ibpa-online.org/.
The Frankfurt Book Fair was a completely virtual event this year. Licensing and permissions expert MaryJo ("MJ") Courchesne of Gryphon Publishing Consulting reports on her experience, and also discusses the CASE Act, fair use, and piracy.
Topics Covered
- Frankfurt Book Fair roundup, physical vs. virtual
- When to start prepping for next year's Frankfurt
- Do you need a rights and permissions manager?
- How is the rights business these days?
- Update on the CASE Act, a small-claims court for settle rights-infringement disputes
- The scourge of book piracy
- The IBPA Advocacy Committee
- Some thoughts on fair use and permissions, and why you need to make informed decisions
Links
CASE Act (summary with IBPA links)
https://www.ibpa-online.org/news/518209/A-CASE-Act-Call-to-Action-for-IBPA-Members.htm
Fair Use
https://www.copyright.gov/fair-use/more-info.html
DMCA notice and takedown
https://www.uspto.gov/sites/default/files/documents/DMCA_Good_Bad_and_Situational_Practices_Document-FINAL.pdf
Free 30 min consultation for IBPA members: https://calendly.com/gryphonpubcons/ibpa-30-minute-consult
Participants
Mary Jo (“MJ”) Courchesne is the owner and principal rights consultant of Gryphon Publishing Consulting, LLC (www.gryphonpublishingconsulting.net). A publishing veteran with experience in trade, academic and direct-response publishing, she has spent nearly 2 decades specializing in licensing, subsidiary rights, and permissions.
She is a frequent and polished presenter on licensing and copyright. She firmly believes that everyone from authors to publishers to corporations should “know their rights” when it comes to intellectual property. To that end, she instructed in The George Washington University’s Masters in Publishing program for 13 years, first for 11 years as Adjunct Professor for a course entitled Editorial Content, Rights and Permissions, and subsequently as Lecturer in a course on copyright.
She is a member of the Copyright Alliance, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), and the Society of Children’s Books Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). She has also held memberships with other organizations such as the American Society of Picture Professionals and Washington Publishers.
She currently serves on the Advocacy Committee for IBPA, as the copyright expert within the board of experts of the National Association of Independent Writers and Editors (NAIWE), and is Secretary and board member for The Big Easy in Buffalo.
Twitter: @GryphPub
Facebook: www.facebook.com/gryphonpublishingconsulting
Peter Goodman (host) is publisher of Stone Bridge Press (www.stonebridge.com) in Berkeley, California. He began his publishing career in Tokyo, Japan, in 1976. A longtime member of IBPA, he has served on the IBPA board and as IBPA board chair.
For more information, go to IBPA at https://www.ibpa-online.org/.
Every book has to earn its place in Amazon’s discoverability queue. Does yours? Penny Sansevieri of Author Marketing Experts tells you how to optimize your book’s visibility and relevance using keywords, your author page, and more.
Topics Covered• Amazon, a force for good or for evil?
• How to make Amazon work for your book
• Remember, at its heart, Amazon is just a giant search engine
• Why you should avoid long preorders
• Amazon advertising and keywords: keywords strings vs. single words, which is better?
• The Amazon book page, crucial but how do you make it work to your benefit?
• If you have Author Seller Central . . . controlling the back end
• The super-secret and barely understood Amazon Relevancy Score: what is it? how do you boost it?
• ads: is a call to action enough or do you need more?
• work the Kindle side, not the pbook side
LinksAuthor Marketing Experts
http://www.amarketingexpert.com/
Penny on Twitter: @bookgal
Penny on Instagram: therealbookgal
How to Sell Books by the Truckload on Amazon - 2020 Updated Edition: Learn how to turn Amazon into your 24/7 sales machine!
https://tinyurl.com/y6bpsxao
Ian Lamont's videos on YouTube about Amazon
https://tinyurl.com/y5mhlslm
ParticipantsPenny C Sansevieri, Founder and CEO of Author Marketing Experts, Inc., is a bestselling author and internationally recognized book marketing and media relations expert. She is an Adjunct Professor teaching Self-Publishing for NYU.
She was named one of the top influencers of 2019 by New York Metropolitan Magazine.
Her company is one of the leaders in the publishing industry and has developed some of the most innovative Amazon Optimization programs as well as Social Media/Internet book marketing campaigns. She is the author of 18 books, including "How to Sell Your Books by the Truckload on Amazon," "Revise and Re-Release Your Book", "5-Minute Book Marketing,' and "Red Hot Internet Publicity," which has been called the "leading guide to everything Internet."
AME has had dozens of books on top bestseller lists, including those of the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal.
Peter Goodman (host) is publisher of Stone Bridge Press in Berkeley, California. He began his publishing career in Tokyo, Japan, in 1976. A longtime member of IBPA, he has served on the IBPA board and as IBPA board chair.
For more information, go to IBPA at https://www.ibpa-online.org/.
Topics include* how the publishing world has changed * the explosion of virtual events * a hybrid approach to trade shows * Pub-U online! * a new focus on diversity * indie publishers: adventurers and innovators * why interns need to get paid better * the emergence of bookshop.org * how long can brick and mortar bookstores hold on? * difficulties faced by publishers without distribution * are author publishers still blocked by traditional media gatekeepers? * the continuing importance of long lead times
LinksIndependent Book Publishers Association
https://www.ibpa-online.org
Publishing University 2021 (a fully virtual online event): April 7-10, 2021
https://www.publishinguniversity.org/
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: A BISG Town Hall
https://bisg.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=1415616&group=
Participants
Angela Bole is chief executive officer of the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), the largest book publishing association in the U.S. serving independent publishers and self-published authors.
Prior to joining IBPA, Angela served two years as deputy executive director of the Book Industry Study Group (BISG), an organization that fosters conversation and consensus across all sectors of the book business. Before that, she served two years as BISG’s associate director and two years as its marketing and communications manager.
Angela holds a Masters of Science in Book Publishing from New York University and currently serves on the board of directors for the Book Industry Study Group. In 2017, she was awarded the Book Industry Study Group’s Industry Champion Award, given to an individual whose efforts have gone beyond the requirements of his or her position to advance the book industry.
Peter Goodman (host) is publisher of Stone Bridge Press (www.stonebridge.com) in Berkeley, California. He began his publishing career in Tokyo, Japan, in 1976. A longtime member of IBPA, he has served on the IBPA board and as IBPA board chair.
For more information, go to IBPA at https://www.ibpa-online.org/.
Topics Covered* What is IngramSpark? * Templates to make layout easier and books look more professional * The importance of a unique cover design * On-demand books for retail and wholesale markets * How has publishing changed in the past 10 years and what trends will continue? * POD manufacture lets anyone be a publisher * Power of Amazon * Ease of bringing books to market * Is distribution getting too consolidated? * The rise of Bookshop.org * Benefits to working with established publishers as partners
LinksIngramSpark
https://www.ingramspark.com/
ParticipantsRobin Cutler has led the development of IngramSpark as an Ingram Content Group service for indie authors and publishers since 2013. During her career, she has published over 1,000 books as Assistant Director at USC Press, and CEO and founder of her own trade imprint, Summerhouse Press. Robin most recently worked for Amazon/CreateSpace. She has broad knowledge of indie, academic and trade publishing and is an expert in content creation, distribution, on-demand models, and author strategies. Follow Robin on Twitter @rcutlerbookpub and after she retires from Ingram in November 2020, contact her at robin@howtopublishbooks.com.
Peter Goodman (host) is publisher of Stone Bridge Press in Berkeley, California. He began his publishing career in Tokyo, Japan, in 1976. A longtime member of IBPA, he has served on the IBPA board and as IBPA board chair.
For more information, go to IBPA at https://www.ibpa-online.org/.
Links
2019 Readers’ Advisory Activities Survey
https://www.panoramaproject.org/2019-readers-advisory-activities-survey
Public Library Events and Book Sales Survey
https://www.panoramaproject.org/news/2019/12/9/public-libraries-book-events-panorama-project-survey
Immersive Media & Reading 2020
https://www.panoramaproject.org/immersive-media-reading-2020
Participants
Guy LeCharles Gonzalez is project lead for the Panorama Project and chief strategist for Free Verse Media. Previously, he was publisher & marketing director for Writer’s Digest; director, content strategy & audience development for Library Journal & School Library Journal; and founding director of programming & business development for Digital Book World.
The Panorama Project is focused on promoting data-informed conversations about public libraries and their impact on book discovery, author recognition, and consumer sales.
Peter Goodman (host) is publisher of Stone Bridge Press in Berkeley, California. He began his publishing career in Tokyo, Japan, in 1976. A longtime member of IBPA, he has served on the IBPA board and as IBPA board chair.
For more information, go to IBPA at https://www.ibpa-online.org/.
Diversity in book publishing begins with young readers finding books that speak to who they are and a diverse population of young professionals finding jobs in every aspect of the industry. Nicole Johnson, executive director of We Need Diverse Books, talks about programs and philosophies that are changing, literally, the face of book publishing in America today.
Topics Covered
• How We Need Diverse Books got its start
• Where does the real work in achieving a diverse industry have to be done?
• Advocating for diversity in publishing is nothing new
• The WNDB internship program
• What small indie publishers can do
• Resources for small presses and authors
• Creating stories that reflect a diversity of readers
• The importance of diversity in children’s books
o In education
o Leading the way in multiculturalism
o Creating a market for YA and adult books as they get older
• Getting representation right
Links
We Need Diverse Books media links
www.diversebooks.org
http://www.twitter.com/diversebooks
https://www.facebook.com/diversebooks
https://www.instagram.com/weneeddiversebooks
Resources for Writers
https://diversebooks.org/resources/resources-for-writers/
Participants
Nicole A. Johnson has over twenty years of experience in nonprofit leadership, program development, and resource development. Prior to joining WNDB, she launched Extraordinary Changes, an organizational development consulting firm, and she also served as Senior Director for Elev8 Baltimore, a full-service community schools initiative. In that role, she successfully planned a strategy to integrate learning, health, and family support services into the operations of four schools in East Baltimore. Over a seven-year period, she transitioned the initiative from start-up to sustainability, drawing upon her skills as a facilitator, strategic planner, grant writer, and youth worker.
Nicole has also worked as a director of after-school and summer programs across the country, including the Children’s Defense Fund Freedom School. These programs became a platform for her to promote diverse books and literacy to children of color in cities like Oakland, San Francisco, and Baltimore. She is also the founder of Baltimore Read Aloud, a local campaign to introduce diverse books to Baltimore City children and youth.
Peter Goodman (host) is publisher of Stone Bridge Press (www.stonebridge.com) in Berkeley, California. He began his publishing career in Tokyo, Japan, in 1976. A longtime member of IBPA, he has served on the IBPA board and as IBPA board chair.
For more information, go to IBPA at https://www.ibpa-online.org/.
Some books lend themselves to creative collaborations and multimedia treatments. Lindy Ryan of Black Spot Books and Vesuvian Media Group outlines the key issues facing publishers today and talks about what makes some stories suitable for dramatic performance and other nonprint media.
Topics Covered* Top issues for publishing today + Connecting books and readers while still supporting local indie booksellers + Opportunities in digital publishing and other technologies + Embracing and developing diversity in all areas of publishing * New media and ways of getting storytelling content to readers * How do stories break into new media? * What makes a book suitable for adaptation into different media? + Literary and visual quality + A fresh and unique voice * Enhanced ebook experiences * Growth of the ebook and audiobook markets * The challenge: making these expensive projects profitable * Why smaller is better: innovation and vision * Advocacy on the IBPA Board
LinksVesuvian Media
https://vesuvianmedia.com/
ParticipantsLindy Ryan is an entrepreneur, award-winning professor, and an experienced publishing professional. In 2011, Ryan was part of the executive leadership team that founded Radiant Advisors, a data and business intelligence research and advisory firm, where Ryan developed and launched the company's editorial and research divisions, and later its data visualization practice, for clients that included household names in entertainment and media (21st Century Fox Films, Fox Networks, Warner Bros., Disney).
In 2016, Ryan took her industry experience into academia, where she served as an active member of the New Jersey Big Data Alliance. She was previously an active researcher at the Rutgers Discovery Informatics Institute where she leads a team studying digital literacy.
Ryan is an award-winning professor of data analysis and business communication at Rutgers University. She is a prolific speaker at conferences worldwide and the author of numerous papers and two textbooks, “The Visual Imperative: Creating a Culture of Visual Discovery" (Elsevier) and "Visual Data Storytelling with Tableau" (Pearson).
In 2017, Ryan launched Black Spot Books, a traditional small press focused in speculative fiction. The company was acquired in 2019 as an imprint of multimedia corporation Vesuvian Media Group. In 2020, Ryan was named Chief Content Officer of Rosewind Books, Vesuvian’s clean romance division.
Ryan currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA). Ryan holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration: Entrepreneurship and Strategy, and a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership and a Doctorate in Education, Organizational Leadership.
Peter Goodman (host) is publisher of Stone Bridge Press (www.stonebridge.com) in Berkeley, California. He began his publishing career in Tokyo, Japan, in 1976. A longtime member of IBPA, he has served on the IBPA board and as IBPA board chair.
For more information, go to IBPA at https://www.ibpa-online.org/.
Victoria Sutherland, founder/publisher of Foreword Reviews magazine and a new member of the IBPA Board of Directors, looks at indie publishing, virtual trade shows, reviewing, libraries, and diversity.
Topics Covered* Coping with COVID * How the pandemic may change publishing * The future of trade shows (hint: it’s going virtual) * Can the face-to-face meeting be replicated online? * The continuing importance of book reviews * Fee-based reviews for indie publishers * Are author-publishers still stigmatized? * Improving standards of indie publishers * Why traditional publishers aren’t going away * How are libraries holding up? * The increased emphasis on digital at libraries * Is digital-only viable? * The importance of mastering social media * A commitment to diversity: in the content and in the staffing
LinksForeword Reviews magazine
www.forewordreviews.com
IBPA’s COVID-19 Resource Center
https://www.ibpa-online.org/page/ibpa-covid-19-resource-center
The IBPA Industry Standards Checklist
https://www.ibpa-online.org/page/standardschecklist
ParticipantsVictoria Sutherland co-founded Foreword Reviews 22 years ago with two other women who went on to explore their own writing talents. Since 1998, we've been celebrating indie presses only in our magazine, online, through our awards program, and at international rights events. I have a BA in communications from Michigan State University, and publishing certifications from Stanford, Yale, and NYU. Besides reading, in my spare time I like to rehab older buildings/homes and re-finish furniture. We live across the street from a national park in northwestern Michigan where I spend a lot of time running in the woods. Our lives changed dramatically for the better with the recent birth of our first grandchild, Rosemary Pauline.
Peter Goodman (host) is publisher of Stone Bridge Press in Berkeley, California. He began his publishing career in Tokyo, Japan, in 1976. A longtime member of IBPA, he has served on the IBPA board and as IBPA board chair.
For more information, go to IBPA at https://www.ibpa-online.org/.
The COVID-19 pandemic is changing publishing around the world. Bridget Shine of the Independent Publishers Guild talks about issues, partnerships, and the role of indies and author-publishers in the UK.
Topics Covered* What is the Independent Publishers Guild? * How are publishers coping with COVID and the changing retail and distribution landscape? * Audiobooks and ebooks in the UK * Difficulties of access and perception faced by small publishers and author publishers * Partnerships between larger and smaller publishers * the role of Amazon in the UK
Linkhttp://www.independentpublishersguild.com/
ParticipantsBridget Shine is chief executive of the Independent Publishers Guild (IPG), a flourishing trade association with more than 650 members from all areas of publishing, including trade, children’s, education, academic, professional and specialist sectors. Members range in size from one-person start-ups to long-established international companies and have a combined annual publishing turnover of more than £1bn.
The IPG provides resources and events to help its members become better businesses and publishers. Since joining in 2004, Bridget has led a doubling of the IPG’s membership and numerous initiatives including the launch of a Skills Hub of training and professional development resources, the annual Independent Publishing Awards, a mentoring programme and new Special Interest Groups. Before joining the IPG, Bridget worked for both large and small publishers, as well as in literary agenting and at the Welsh Books Council.
Peter Goodman (host) is publisher of Stone Bridge Press in Berkeley, California. He began his publishing career in Tokyo, Japan, in 1976. A longtime member of IBPA, he has served on the IBPA board and as IBPA board chair.
For more information, go to IBPA at https://www.ibpa-online.org/.
Topics Covered* The Internet Archive and why its position is wrong * The Open Library * What is fair use? * Update on the Case Act
LinksFrom the Authors GuildAppeal to readers and librarians from the victims of Controlled Digital Lending (CDL).
https://www.authorsguild.org/industry-advocacy/cdl-appeal-to-readers-and-librarians/
“Controlled Digital Lending Is Neither Controlled nor Legal”
https://www.authorsguild.org/industry-advocacy/controlled-digital-lending-is-neither-controlled-nor-legal/
“Internet Archive’s National Emergency Library Harms Authors”
https://www.authorsguild.org/industry-advocacy/internet-archives-uncontrolled-digital-lending/
Open letter demanding “National Emergency Library” be shut down
https://www.authorsguild.org/industry-advocacy/ag-sends-open-letter-demanding-national-emergency-library-shutdown/
For ReferenceFact sheet from ControlledDigitalLending.org
https://controlleddigitallending.org/faq
Internet Archive Blog on the closing of National Emergency Library
https://blog.archive.org/2020/06/10/temporary-national-emergency-library-to-close-2-weeks-early-returning-to-traditional-controlled-digital-lending/
ParticipantsMary Rasenberger is the Executive Director of the Authors Guild and Authors Guild Foundation. Prior to joining the Guild in November 2014, Mary practiced law for over 25 years in roles that spanned private practice, the government and corporate sector, as a recognized expert in copyright and media law. She is a frequent speaker, lecturer and writer on copyright law and authors’ rights.
Peter Goodman (host) is publisher of Stone Bridge Press in Berkeley, California. He began his publishing career in Tokyo, Japan, in 1976. A longtime member of IBPA, he has served on the IBPA board and as IBPA board chair.
For more information, go to IBPA at https://www.ibpa-online.org/.
The IBPA Advocacy Committee is making plans for this coming year to lobby, write, and campaign for better awareness and fairness for independent publishers. Committee member Mel Corrigan discusses some of these initiatives, from distribution to piracy to copyrights.
Topics Covered* mission of the Advocacy Committee * initiatives * piracy * access to distribution * content protection * the CASE Act, Internet Archive, Audible Captions * advocation for indie publishers in broader terms, such as inclusiveness and diversity * changing perceptions of indie publishers by review media * how to join the committee
LinksScribe Publishing Company
https://scribe-publishing.com
Mel’s' profile on Scribe Publishing Company's website
https://scribe-publishing.com/mel
About the Internet Archive
https://controlleddigitallending.org/whitepaper
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/01/books/internet-archive-emergency-library-coronavirus.html
About the CASE Act
https://www.ibpa-online.org/news/479123/IBPA-Members-Encouraged-to-Join-CASE-Act-Social-Media-Campaign-Nov-25-30-2019.htm
About Audible Captions
https://www.ibpa-online.org/news/467194/Updated-News-Related-to-Audible-Captions-Program.htm
https://www.ibpa-online.org/news/462153/IBPA-Statement-on-Audibles-Caption-Program.htm?fbclid=IwAR2zBPA62X4mLtCWRJacLb3qJRwWqvEuQViAORlttZXZNIMvKm4s5ay6o4s
IBPA's response to Amazon cutting book orders in preparation for Black Friday (November 2019)
https://www.ibpa-online.org/news/478273/IBPA-Response-to-Amazon-Cutting-Book-Orders-to-Publishers.htm
IBPA's: Amazon's third party buy button policy hurts publishers (May 2017)
https://www.ibpa-online.org/news/344366/Amazons-Buy-Button-Policy-Change-Hurts-Publishers-and-Authors.htm
IBPA's call to action regarding the Amazon buy button policy (June 2017)
https://www.ibpa-online.org/news/news.asp?id=349854
Update on the Amazon buy button policy (Fall 2017 update)
https://www.ibpa-online.org/news/368798/IBPAs-Fall-2017-Update-on-the-Amazon-Buy-Button-Policy-Change.htm
ParticipantsMel Corrigan is a member of the IBPA Advocacy Committee and the Business & Marketing Manager at Scribe Publishing Company in Royal Oak, Michigan. She joined the team in 2012 during the launch of the company’s first novel as project manager and editorial assistant and established an in-house royalty tracking system as well as other business and finance reporting.
To see what she’s currently reading, follow her on Goodreads. You can read more at scribe-publishing.com/Mel or find her on watch her interview with Indie Reads TV.
Peter Goodman (host) is publisher of Stone Bridge Press in Berkeley, California. He began his publishing career in Tokyo, Japan, in 1976. A longtime member of IBPA, he has served on the IBPA board and as IBPA board chair.
For more information, go to IBPA at https://www.ibpa-online.org/.
All the conventions of book publishing have been disrupted in just a few months as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. How many of these changes are permanent, and how is indie publishing likely to evolve as a result? Podcast host and book publisher Peter Goodman takes a pause in his regular interview format to speculate on our emerging future.
TOPICS COVERED* New Reality #1 Greater adoption of ebooks by readers * New Reality #2 Fewer indie booksellers * New Reality #3 Corollary to #2: Increased influence of wholesalers and online vendors * New Reality #4 Second corollary to #2: More competition for Amazon * New Reality #5 A vast new world of virtual book marketing and promotion * New Reality #6 A proliferation of author publishers * New Reality #7 The domination of print on demand
PARTICIPANTSPeter Goodman (host) is publisher of Stone Bridge Press (www.stonebridge.com) in Berkeley, California. He began his publishing career in Tokyo, Japan, in 1976. A longtime member of IBPA, he has served on the IBPA board and as IBPA board chair.
For more information, go to IBPA at https://www.ibpa-online.org/.
What kind of virtual author events are successful in getting the word out, supporting booksellers, and developing enthusiastic online communities? Maria Dismondy of children’s book publisher Cardinal Rule Press has had recent success and discusses strategies and goals.
Topics Covered* online book launches and book “tours” * partnering with bookstores * sign-up events vs public streaming on Facebook and other platforms * advance sales before the event * sponsored and partnered events with giveaways as a way of developing and sharing contacts * how to find partners for a virtual event: be sure to match the audience to the mission * keeping pitch letters effective and succinct * how the pandemic crisis may be creating new and permanent opportunities for new kinds of book promotion * advice: pick 1 platform and be consistent with your message and timing * be sure to spend more time “giving” than “selling”; you may not have a direct ROI but you will be building community * how far in advance should you contact sponsors? participants? * the growing importance of bookshop.org * why traditional media are still important * good advice: “do one thing every day!”
LinksCardinalRulePress.com
www.cardinalrulepress.com
Maria Dismondy
www.mariadismondy.com
Sample a reader's guide: Evie's Field Day by Claire Noland
https://cardinalrulepress.com/uploads/pdf/Evies%20Field%20Day%20FINAL.%5B1%5D.pdf
ParticipantsAuthor and founder of the publishing company, Cardinal Rule Press, Maria Dismondy inspires and educates others in the book industry.
Her background in early education and research enables her to touch lives the world over while touring as a public speaker in schools, community forums, and at national conferences. When Maria isn’t working, she can be found embarking on adventures throughout southeast Michigan and beyond, where she lives with her husband and three book-loving children.
Peter Goodman (host) is publisher of Stone Bridge Press in Berkeley, California. He began his publishing career in Tokyo, Japan, in 1976. A longtime member of IBPA, he has served on the IBPA board and as IBPA board chair.
For more information, go to IBPA at https://www.ibpa-online.org/.
The city of Portland, Oregon, is one of the centers of Pacific Northwest publishing. Laura Stanfill of Forest Avenue Press discusses her own journey and describes how the special bond among Portland publishers, readers, and booksellers leads to the small victories that can get us through these tough times.
Topics Covered* the story of Forest Avenue Press * NAB (Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association) * engaging with local booksellers for advice, events, advance orders and buzz * focusing on regional authors * the role of Powell’s bookstore as a sales powerhouse and community gathering space * the Espresso Book Machine (no longer but a great tool for local events and galleys!) * the challenge of launching books when no bookstores are open or ordering books * getting by with online orders and curbside delivery * are books an “essential” business? * publishers connecting with readers * the story of The Royal Abduls and its online launch (the virus hit just when the book was headed for an important pre-release launch!) * will NY publishers win all the eyeballs with their big money and big noisemakers? * now is the time for publishers, booksellers, and readers to all rally together! * refocus on truly good, truly essential titles that can cut through the noise and garner attention * savor even the small victories: they’re why we do what we do!
LinksForest Avenue Press
http://www.forestavenuepress.com/
NW Book Lovers Reviews campaign for The Royal Abduls by Ramiza Shamoun
https://nwbooklovers.org/2020/03/10/face-out-extravaganza-the-royal-abduls-by-ramiza-shamoun-koya/
Radio interview with Forest Avenue author Julia Stoops on KBOO
https://shar.es/aHtwuG
Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association (PNBA)
http://www.pnba.org/
ParticipantsLaura Stanfill is the publisher of Forest Avenue Press, which she founded in 2012. She earned a certificate from the Yale Publishing Course in 2018 thanks to an IBPA scholarship. She believes in indie bookstores and wishes on them like stars.
Peter Goodman (host) is publisher of Stone Bridge Press (www.stonebridge.com) in Berkeley, California. He began his publishing career in Tokyo, Japan, in 1976. A longtime member of IBPA, he has served on the IBPA board and as IBPA board chair.
For more information, go to IBPA at https://www.ibpa-online.org/.
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed American life overnight. How are booksellers faring, what kinds of issues do they face, and what measures are they taking to survive? John Mutter of industry newsletter Shelf Awareness makes some initial observations.
Topics Covered* The plight of booksellers and their employees * Is relief in sight? * Do stores already doing online selling have an advantage? * The logistical challenge: you can sell, but can you ship? * Resources at hand: the ABA, BINC * How can authors and booksellers support each other? * Virtual author tours and events and other strategies for staying afloat * Is bookselling an “essential” business? * Ingram’s major role in sales and fulfillment
Linkshttps://www.shelf-awareness.com/
Shelf Awareness newsletter
https://www.bincfoundation.org/
Book Industry Charitable Foundation
https://www.bookweb.org/
American Booksellers Association
https://www.ingramcontent.com/retailers/direct-to-home
Ingram Direct to Home shipping service
https://www.aer.io/
Sell your books online with Ingram fulfillment
https://lunch.publishersmarketplace.com/2020/03/reference-supporting-booksellers-in-these-dark-times/
Publishers Lunch guide to supporting booksellers
https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/bookselling/article/82823-bookstores-seek-essential-exemptions.html
US booksellers fight against closures and develop new ways of serving customers
ParticipantsJohn Mutter is the co-founder and editor-in-chief of the book industry and reader newsletter Shelf Awareness. Before that he was the longtime executive editor of bookselling at Publishers Weekly and executive editor of the former PW Daily for Booksellers. John is a former Board member of IBPA.
Peter Goodman (host) is publisher of Stone Bridge Press in Berkeley, California. He began his publishing career in Tokyo, Japan, in 1976. A longtime member of IBPA, he has served on the IBPA board and as IBPA board chair.
For more information, go to IBPA at https://www.ibpa-online.org/.
Getting the look and content of your book right is priority 1. But looming changes at Amazon may be beyond your control. What to do? This is part 2 of our interview with Ian Lamont of i30 Media.
Topics Covered* 3 keys to success: a great cover, powerful keywords and metadata, solid content * Using social media to drive traffic to Amazon * How Amazon is changing: increasing costs of advertising and, surprise, Amazon may no longer consider books very important to its business model * Any other competitors on the horizon? (um, not really) * But, you can use other platforms to sell books: Shopify, Ingram Spark, Aerio among others
LinksLean Media
http://leanmedia.org/
Lean Media YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsYGJf9h3mJHS9KP6H5ldYQ/videos
Amazon Deep Dive
http://deepdive.leanmedia.org/
IBPA Publishing University: Using Metadata and Amazon to Expand Your Business, Thursday, April 2, 8:30 am - 12:30 pm (Redondo Beach, CA )
https://sched.co/YAAX
Ingram Spark
https://www.ingramspark.com/
Aerio
https://www.aer.io/
Shopify
https://www.shopify.com/
ParticipantsIan Lamont is the founder of i30 Media Corporation and the creator of the Lean Media framework. He started his publishing business in 2012 with a single how-to guide on Amazon KDP. The company has since expanded to a complete line of utility nonfiction (the IN 30 MINUTES series) as well as several ancillary product lines. Ian uses a range of Amazon programs, including Amazon Advantage, Amazon Advertising, Seller Central, and the Amazon Brand Registry to develop and market new products, and is a frequent speaker at publishing events on Amazon-related topics. He lives in the Boston area with his family. Ian is a former Board member of IBPA.
Peter Goodman (host) is publisher of Stone Bridge Press in Berkeley, California. He began his publishing career in Tokyo, Japan, in 1976. A longtime member of IBPA, he has served on the IBPA board and as IBPA board chair.
For more information, go to IBPA at https://www.ibpa-online.org/.
Amazon advertising can be a great way to boost discoverability, but you have to know what it costs and how to manage Amazon issues that arise from time to time. This is part 1 of our interview with Ian Lamont of i30 Media.
Topics Covered* Amazon Advertising * Customer support * Keeping an eye on costs * Discoverability * Amazon as a test laboratory * KDP, Audible, and other programs * Is Amazon Advantage being phased out? * Seller Central * Problems with Amazon customer service
LinksLean Media
http://leanmedia.org/
Lean Media YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsYGJf9h3mJHS9KP6H5ldYQ/videos
Amazon Deep Dive
http://deepdive.leanmedia.org/
IBPA Publishing University: Using Metadata and Amazon to Expand Your Business: Thursday, April 2, 8:30 am - 12:30 pm (Redondo Beach, CA)
https://sched.co/YAAX
ParticipantsIan Lamont is the founder of i30 Media Corporation and the creator of the Lean Media framework. He started his publishing business in 2012 with a single how-to guide on Amazon KDP. The company has since expanded to a complete line of utility nonfiction (the IN 30 MINUTES series) as well as several ancillary product lines. Ian uses a range of Amazon programs, including Amazon Advantage, Amazon Advertising, Seller Central, and the Amazon Brand Registry to develop and market new products, and is a frequent speaker at publishing events on Amazon-related topics. He lives in the Boston area with his family. Ian is a former Board member of IBPA.
Peter Goodman (host) is publisher of Stone Bridge Press in Berkeley, California. He began his publishing career in Tokyo, Japan, in 1976. A longtime member of IBPA, he has served on the IBPA board and as IBPA board chair.
For more information, go to IBPA at https://www.ibpa-online.org/.
CEO Angela Bole of IBPA summarizes some of the key issues facing book publishers and authors in the coming year—hint: there are challenges, but lots of opportunities (and lots of great books!)
- important issues, some old, some new
- AB5 (the gig economy law)
- windowing ebooks to libraries (the Macimillan controversy)
- the CASE Act, on the way to passage?
- tariffs: not here yet, but not off the table either
- a continuing challenge: diversity in the publishing workspace and content
- Barnes and Noble: a new owner, but will it make the company more responsive to its community and local publishers?
- the challenge of reaching independent booksellers without a distributor
- achieving profitability by publishing more!
LinksIBPA Comments on proposed tariffs on printed books
https://www.ibpa-online.org/news/456983/Updated-IBPA-Comments-on-Section-301-Investigation--Proposed-Tariff-on-Printed-Books.htm
IBPA’s own source of news and updates on the Audible lawsuit
https://www.ibpa-online.org/news/467194/Updated-News-Related-to-Audible-Captions-Program.htm
Mike Shatzkin’s thoughts on changes in publishing as the decade begins
https://www.idealog.com/blog/2020-zero-year-thoughts-about-the-changes-in-book-publishing/
ParticipantsAngela Bole is chief executive officer of the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), the largest book publishing association in the U.S. serving independent publishers and self-published authors.
Prior to joining IBPA, Angela served two years as deputy executive director of the Book Industry Study Group (BISG), an organization that fosters conversation and consensus across all sectors of the book business. Before that, she served two years as BISG’s associate director and two years as its marketing and communications manager.
Angela holds a Masters of Science in Book Publishing from New York University and currently serves on the board of directors for the Book Industry Study Group. In 2017, she was awarded the Book Industry Study Group’s Industry Champion Award, given to an individual whose efforts have gone beyond the requirements of his or her position to advance the book industry.
Peter Goodman (host) is publisher of Stone Bridge Press in Berkeley, California. He began his publishing career in Tokyo, Japan, in 1976. A longtime member of IBPA, he has served on the IBPA board and as IBPA board chair.
For more information, go to IBPA at https://www.ibpa-online.org/.
Topics covered include:
- Marketing into the US from overseas: conforming with schedules and promotion
- Using Ingram Spark to serve world markets
- Brexit: what happens next? Customs and VAT
- UK rules and regulations, loosening libel laws
- Complying with EU privacy standards
Linkshttps://camphorpress.com
https://twitter.com/camphorpress
ParticipantsMichael Cannings is one of the three founders of Camphor Press, an independent publisher focusing on East Asia. Now back in his native England after eleven years living in Taiwan, Michael has a background in marketing and design which has proven invaluable in getting Camphor Press off the ground, though he still describes himself as a publishing amateur. Outside work he will invariably be reading; sometimes alone but nowadays more often with his two children. Michael is keenly interested in Taiwanese history, and also follows the not-so-mighty Torquay United football club.
Peter Goodman (host) is publisher of Stone Bridge Press in Berkeley, California. He began his publishing career in Tokyo, Japan, in 1976. A longtime member of IBPA, he has served on the IBPA board and as IBPA board chair.
LinksWikipedia on California Assembly Bill 5
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California\Assembly\_Bill\_5\(2019)
Text of California Assembly Bill 5 (see tabs for history, amendments, voting, analysis)
https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill\_id=201920200AB5
Publishers Weekly news article on AB5
https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/81992-publishers-brace-for-california-labor-law-changes.html
December 17 news article on California freelancers filing suit against AB5
https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2019/12/17/ab5-california-freelance-journalists-lawsuit/
ParticipantsJonathan Kirsch is a publishing and intellectual property attorney based in Los Angeles, an expert witness in publishing industry disputes, an Adjunct Professor on the Faculty of New York University’s Professional Publishing Institute, and a lecturer and consultant on publishing matters. He has long served as general counsel to IBPA, which presented him with its Benjamin Franklin Award for special achievement in publishing. He is the author of 13 books, including Kirsch’s Handbook of Publishing Law and Kirsch’s Guide to the Book Contract.
Peter Goodman (host) is publisher of Stone Bridge Press in Berkeley, California. He began his publishing career in Tokyo, Japan, in 1976. A longtime member of IBPA, he has served on the IBPA board and as IBPA board chair.
Topics covered include:
- What is the Frankfurt Book Fair? 302,000 visitors!
- Does it make sense for a small indie press or author publisher to attend?
- How the fair has changed over the years
- What IBPA offers at FBF: display, introducing books to buyers, a wealth of contacts and experience
- What publishers can do to get the most out of FBF
- Travel tips: start planning early!
- How does FBF compare to London Book Fair and other international book fairs?
- The indie book scene in Europe
Links2019 Frankfurt Book Fair Report
https://www.ibpa-online.org/news/478456/IBPA-Report-from-the-2019-Frankfurt-Book-Fair.htm
Sign up for Frankfurt 2020
https://www.ibpa-online.org/store/ListProducts.aspx?catid=568496
Frankfurt Book Fair main site
https://www.buchmesse.de/en
History of the Frankfurt Book Fair
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankfurt\_Book\_Fair
Year 2020 List of Book Fairs Around the World
http://2seasagency.com/international-book-fair-calendar/
ParticipantsTerry Nathan has held many positions at IBPA and is now the chief operations officer. He began in the world of book publishing and with IBPA (then PMA) at Publishing University in 1992. At the time, the association had reached a plateau with 900 members and the world of indie publishing was just beginning to explode. Terry has played an integral part in helping the association grow to more than 3,000 members. Under Terry’s leadership, IBPA continues to offer cutting edge educational programs, cost-saving benefits, and marketing programs. Terry also advocates for the rights of independent publishers to level the playing field for small and mid-sized publishers.
Peter Goodman (host) is publisher of Stone Bridge Press in Berkeley, California. He began his publishing career in Tokyo, Japan, in 1976. A longtime member of IBPA, he has served on the IBPA board and as IBPA board chair.
For more information, go to IBPA at https://www.ibpa-online.org/.
Topics include:* The big picture of IP for authors and publishers: the hub of a wheel with many spokes * Published authors are already part of an ecosystem and can create their own editions, audiobooks, and translations * Your first step: make sure the primary edition is launched successfully! * The need for clear contracts to make sure you have all the rights you think you do * How the foreign rights market is changing * How audio books are becoming an entertainment medium, divorced from the original print book * Finding a good rights partner you can trust * Royalty Reminder: a new IP management tool
LinksArticle: "Intellectual Property: The Big Picture for Authors"
https://www.janefriedman.com/intellectual-property-authors/
Royalty Reminder
https://www.royaltyreminder.com/
The Ethan Ellenberg Literary Agency
https://ethanellenberg.com/
ParticipantsEthan Ellenberg opened his literary agency in late 1984 after holding jobs at both Bantam and Berkley/Jove. At Berkley/Jove he was manager of the Contracts Department. At Bantam he was Associate Contracts Manager. He represents a wide range of book authors, though his specialty is commercial fiction. He is very active in Romance publishing with a number of New York Times Bestselling authors represented. He also does some non-fiction and has a strong children’s list including the Caldecott winner Eric Rohmann.
He is an acknowledged expert on the practical aspects of publishing including the publishing agreement and royalty accounting, and a long time industry observer and author advocate. His opinion and educational pieces have appeared in the newsletter of Novelists, Inc., the Romance Writer’s Report, and a number of F&W guides to publishing.
Peter Goodman (host) is publisher of Stone Bridge Press in Berkeley, California. He began his publishing career in Tokyo, Japan, in 1976. A longtime member of IBPA, he has served on the IBPA board and as IBPA board chair.
For more information, go to IBPA at https://www.ibpa-online.org/.
Topics include:* What is the CASE Act and why is it important? * How does it work? * A voluntary process where each side needs to opt in or out * How big is piracy? A problem of international scope that demands a multiprong strategy * The of the US Government in enforcement * Should ISPs and host platforms be responsible for the sometimes libelous or infringing content on their websites? * What is the possible impact of CASE on Fair Use? * Is their protection against frivolous lawsuits?
LinksIBPA statement on passage of the CASE Act (with graphic)
https://www.ibpa-online.org/news/news.asp?id=475423
The CASE Act explained
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CASE\_Act
Senate draft of the CASE Act
https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/1273/text
The Authors Guild
https://www.authorsguild.org/
RECOMMENDED READINGS FROM THE AUTHORS GUILD
https://www.authorsguild.org/industry-advocacy/the-case-act-your-questions-answered/
https://www.authorsguild.org/industry-advocacy/victory-in-the-house-for-the-case-act/
https://www.authorsguild.org/industry-advocacy/the-authors-guild-supports-a-copyright-small-claims-court/
https://www.authorsguild.org/industry-advocacy/authors-guild-survey-shows-drastic-42-percent-decline-in-authors-earnings-in-last-decade/
https://www.authorsguild.org/industry-advocacy/six-takeaways-from-the-authors-guild-2018-authors-income-survey/
ParticipantsMary Rasenberger is the Executive Director of the Authors Guild and Authors Guild Foundation. Prior to joining the Guild in November 2014, Mary practiced law for over 25 years in roles that spanned private practice, the government and corporate sector, as a recognized expert in copyright and media law. She is a frequent speaker, lecturer and writer on copyright law and authors’ rights.
Cheryl L. Davis is General Counsel of the Author's Guild, where she oversees the organization’s legal affairs, including its in-house corporate affairs, its government relations and policy initiatives, and its legal services program. In addition, she is responsible for developing a wide variety of the organization’s written positions, policies, statements, submissions to government agencies, and legal briefs, as well as participating in domestic and international public speaking engagements and conferences.
Peter Goodman (host) is publisher of Stone Bridge Press in Berkeley, California. He began his publishing career in Tokyo, Japan, in 1976. A longtime member of IBPA, he has served on the IBPA board and as IBPA board chair.
For more information, go to IBPA at https://www.ibpa-online.org/.
Topics include:* should you use Wordpress? (hint: probably not, unless you’re good at fixing things) * why every author needs a website * what is the purpose of your website? * the importance of having a professional look to design and organization * how much content? a lot is fine . . . but it needs to be well organized! * provide a short bio and a long bio, a short book description and a long book description; let visitors to your site check out your content on the home page and then drill down using menus to discover more * how to use the website to drive sales: having great content is key to making people want to buy, so that is the first step * most authors will choose to direct sales to online retailers, since handling your own sales can be complicated and time-consuming; plus, having a sales presence on Amazon can improve your rating and get reviews for your book * the website should be about you, the author, to allow for it to expand if you publish more books in the future * avoid doing too much fancy stuff and using trendy effects: they get old and tired quickly; minimal design is best * all websites must be responsive, that is, they must work on smartphones as well as desktops (and Google will delist you from search results if your site is not up to snuff!) * IMPORTANT! always register your domain under your name so that you have control of it; never let the people you hire as developers register your domain on your behalf
LinksPub Site: a website-building service
https://pub-site.com/
FSB Associates: a full-service marketing and publicity firm
https://fsbassociates.com/
ParticipantsJohn Burke is the co-founder of Pub Site, an easy-to-use website building platform designed specifically for authors and books, and is the COO of FSB Associates, a publicity firm specializing in promoting books and authors on the web.
Burke worked for several publishers including Crown, McGraw-Hill, Addison Wesley, and John Wiley, as well as in bookstores, before joining FSB Associates to launch its website development efforts. Their first website — one of the first ever author sites on the web — was for Sue Grafton.
Since then, John has developed over two hundred author websites, ranging from one book to over eighty. He is based in San Diego, California.
Peter Goodman (host) is publisher of Stone Bridge Press in Berkeley, California. He began his publishing career in Tokyo, Japan, in 1976. A longtime member of IBPA, he has served on the IBPA board and as IBPA board chair.
For more information, go to IBPA at https://www.ibpa-online.org/.
Audible has announced its intention to “subtitle” its audiobooks, but publishers are calling it a rights violation. What’s going on? CEO Angela Bole explains what steps IBPA is taking to protect its membership.
- Angela Bole and host Peter Goodman discuss the latest turn in the injunction against Audible initiated by some of the country’s largest publishers.
- Why should publishers be concerned?
- What’s happening in the court case?
- How did this all get started?
- What’s been the IBPA response?
LinksPublishing Perspectives detailed article on the lawsuit, the IBPA letter, and the publishers requesting exclusion from the Captions program.
https://publishingperspectives.com/2019/09/ibpa-backs-us-publishers-association-in-objections-to-audible-captions/
IBPA’s own source of news and updates on the Audible lawsuit.
https://www.ibpa-online.org/news/467194/Updated-IBPA-Seeks-Information-from-Members-Interested-in-Exclusion-from-Audible-Captions.htm
ParticipantsAngela Bole is chief executive officer of the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), the largest book publishing association in the U.S. serving independent publishers and self-published authors.
Prior to joining IBPA, Angela served two years as deputy executive director of the Book Industry Study Group (BISG), an organization that fosters conversation and consensus across all sectors of the book business. Before that, she served two years as BISG’s associate director and two years as its marketing and communications manager.
Angela holds a Masters of Science in Book Publishing from New York University and currently serves on the board of directors for the Book Industry Study Group. In 2017, she was awarded the Book Industry Study Group’s Industry Champion Award, given to an individual whose efforts have gone beyond the requirements of his or her position to advance the book industry.
Peter Goodman (host) is publisher of Stone Bridge Press in Berkeley, California. He began his publishing career in Tokyo, Japan, in 1976. A longtime member of IBPA, he has served on the IBPA board and as IBPA board chair.
For more information, go to IBPA at https://www.ibpa-online.org/.
How can indie publishers make it today? Is there room on bookstore shelves for their books? Industry veteran and big-picture thinker Melissa Serdinsky speculates on survival, community, and industry trends.
Topics include: * publishers vs. retailers * industry consolidation * the role of digital print in smart publishing * can bookstores change with the future, or will they be left behind? * narrowing the gap between indie booksellers and indie publishers * how can indie publishers survive today? * the surprising generation gap: how we think kids think of books is not how kids think of books at all! * how to get books into the hands of our kids * “locavore” publishing: a concept in cooperation * creating communities through partnership
Links Thin Air Collective
https://thinaircollective.net/
Host Peter Goodman’s article in The (IBPA) Independent on “The Bookstore of the Future”
http://articles.ibpa-online.org/article/indie-books-for-indie-bookshops/
Participants Melissa Serdinsky is an experienced, hands-on, forward thinking executive with a proven ability to implement change, drive growth, and improve process in the publishing industry. She currently operates Thin Air Collective, a consultant and publisher based in Boulder, CO.
Melissa has over 30 years experience in bookselling and publishing. She is skilled in print manufacturing, digital publishing, content creation, metadata enhancement, public speaking, project management, infrastructure planning, and information management.
She was Vice President, ICG Services at Ingram Content Group, and Vice President, Digital Operations and Manufacturing, Perseus Books Group. She has also worked for Sterling Publishing and Stewart, Tabori and Chang.
Thin Air Perspectives provides valuable insights and efficiencies to publishers who want to spend more time on the creative bits and less on the nuts and bolts. Thin Air Publishing features subjects and authors that our family, friends and communities will want to add to their reading list.
Peter Goodman (host) is publisher of Stone Bridge Press in Berkeley, California. He began his publishing career in Tokyo, Japan, in 1976. A longtime member of IBPA, he has served on the IBPA board and as IBPA board chair.
For more information, go to IBPA at https://www.ibpa-online.org/.
Topics include: * The role of a managing editor. * The mission of Foreword Reviews. * How the decision to review a book is made: quality, pub date, topic, availability (and even cover design). * The importance of reviews to publishers. * Things that publishers do wrong that makes it hard for them to get their book reviewed. (Hint: check your pub date!) * Trends in indie publishing. * Paid (Clarion) vs. unpaid reviews: what’s the difference? * Other Foreword activities: rights fairs and trade shows, including ALA, Bologna, China. * Foreword themes this year: LGBTQ, Cooking, Crafting, University Press, Diversity, Climate Change.
Links
Foreword Reviews
https://www.forewordreviews.com/
A Publishers Weekly article on the pros and cons of paid reviews
https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/authors/pw-select/article/64718-the-indie-author-s-guide-to-paid-reviews.html
Participants Michelle Anne Schingler is the managing editor at Foreword Reviews. Her responsibilities include previewing thousands of books each quarter for the magazine's audience of librarians and booksellers. She came to Foreword after her master's work at the University of Georgia and Harvard Divinity School, as well as a period working in public libraries. She likes books that surprise her by making her laugh out loud, that make her feel new and widening feelings, and that brim with quirkiness, and she still cannot resist the magic of a free book.
Peter Goodman (host) is publisher of Stone Bridge Press in Berkeley, California. He began his publishing career in Tokyo, Japan, in 1976. A longtime member of IBPA, he has served on the IBPA board and as IBPA board chair.
Giving talks about your book at associations, clubs, schools, and luncheons is a great way to connect with readers, develop sales, and establish your credibility as an expert in your field. Industry veteran Cheryl Callighan goes over the basics.
Topics include: * Why are speaking engagements good for authors?
(1) They establish your credibility and act as a calling card.
(2) They help spread your mission.
(3) They can generate additional income. * Finding speaking gigs and associations using Google and other online resources. * When to start setting things up: 6 months to 1 year in advance! * The speaker’s contract. * Content: usually based on the book. * The importance of reviews and testimonials to build your reputation as a speaker. * Join Toastmasters to polish your speaking skills. * Managing back of the room sales: don’t forget sales tax! Hint: get an assistant! * Stay focused and know your audience
Links The Author’s Assistants
https://www.theauthorsassistants.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pg/TheAuthorsAssistants
Find a Toastmasters Club near you!
https://www.toastmasters.org/find-a-club
Participants Cheryl Callighan is a Master Virtual Assistant and Professional Author's Assistant with over 35 years of executive administration/project management.
Peter Goodman (host) is publisher of Stone Bridge Press in Berkeley, California. He began his publishing career in Tokyo, Japan, in 1976. A longtime member of IBPA, he has served on the IBPA board and as IBPA board chair.
Topics include * What is IngramSpark and how can it help author-publishers publish their books and reach worldwide markets? * Quality of POD vs offset: just as good? * Use of POD for market testing, correcting, and enhancing content through multiple printruns * POD enables books to be printed for overseas markets for instant delivery and no shipping! * The pricing challenge: POD unit costs are higher, but these are offset by reduced inventory and lower fulfillment costs, as well as use of “short” discounts * Emergence of POD coincides with the author-publisher revolution * There is still benefit to authors if they can sign a deal with a publisher willing to invest in them * POD puts power in the hands of authors, but authors still need to work to create professional books in terms of editing and design and marketing * Do booksellers order POD books? Yes, but author publishers need to offer competitive terms and discounts – and make their books returnable * The IngramSpark podcast, Go Publish Yourself
Links IngramSpark
https://www.ingramspark.com
Go Publish Yourself podcast
https://www.ingramspark.com/podcast
Participants Robin Cutler is committed to helping independent publishers easily get their content into the hands of readers around the globe. To help make this happen, Robin leads the development of IngramSpark and continues to support and refine the platform to better serve independent publishers around the world. Robin has broad knowledge of indie, academic and trade publishing and is an expert in content creation and distribution, on-demand models, marketing and author strategies. Robin is a leader in the independent publishing space, and when not developing new programs and services for IngramSpark, she can often be found sharing her expertise at industry events around the world.
Peter Goodman (host) is publisher of Stone Bridge Press in Berkeley, California. He began his publishing career in Tokyo, Japan, in 1976. A longtime member of IBPA, he has served on the IBPA board and as IBPA board chair.
Topics include: * A brief history of Patagonia Books * How does Patagonia decide what books to publish: developed in-house or via submissions? * The mission is important, but the book has to stand up as a book, offering quality and value to its readers * How books can work effectively to extend the message and fulfill the mission * A new mission statement: “We are in business to save the home planet” * For mission publishing, success is not measured in sales alone or in recouping time spent in creating the book; success may instead come from generating awareness that produces donations and engagement in other areas * IBPA affiliates: what do they do and whom are they for? * Affiliates are not writing groups but help turn writers into publishers; they are “incubators” where members can gain confidence and learn industry standards * More and more indie booksellers are working with local authors and publishers; what are some ways indie retailers and publishers can work together?
Links Patagonia Books
https://www.facebook.com/patagoniabooks/
https://www.patagonia.com/shop/books
Let My People Go Surfing by Yvon Chouinard
https://www.patagonia.com/product/let-my-people-go-surfing-revised-paperback-book/BK067.html
Yosemite In The Sixties by Glen Denny
https://www.patagonia.com/product/yosemite-in-the-sixties-hardcover-book/BK330.html
BookStudio
www.bookstudiobooks.com.
PublishersWriters.org (San Diego)
http://publisherswriters.org/
PublisherWritersOrangeCounty.org
http://publisherswritersorangecounty.org/
Read Local San Diego
http://readlocal.org/
List of IBPA Affiliates
https://www.ibpa-online.org/page/affiliates
Participants Karla Olson is the Director of Patagonia Books, which publishes books as a mission outreach for Patagonia, the clothing company. She is the president of IBPA affiliates Publishers and Writers of San Diego and Publishers and Writers of Orange County, and founder of Read Local, a marketing coalition for authors. She has been in the publishing industry for over 30 years and is the owner of BookStudio, a publishing consultancy.
Peter Goodman (host) is publisher of Stone Bridge Press in Berkeley, California. He began his publishing career in Tokyo, Japan, in 1976. A longtime member of IBPA, he has served on the IBPA board and as IBPA board chair.
New developments in privacy law in Europe, and fair use, piracy, and widespread infringement by high-tech players remain big challenges for publishers. Publishing attorney Jonathan Kirsch analyzes a changing landscape.
Topics include:
- How the European Union’s GDPR privacy laws are tightening up data collection and possibly placing even US-based publishers in legal jeopardy
- Understanding Fair Use: there are no formulas, only criteria
- Piracy: even legitimate corporations are trying to use your copyrighted material without permission. Can they? In some cases, legally, they can!
- But there is always recourse to the DMCA takedown notice, which is surprisingly effective (most of the time)
- A Hot News Flash: when can you legally file a claim of copyright violation with the court? (hint: you’re not going to like the answer)
- And an exclusive Kirsch prediction: Euro-style privacy laws are coming to the USA as even Americans demand the “right to be forgotten”
Jonathan Kirsch’s website with links to his books and services: http://www.jonathankirsch.com/
IBPA’s model contract for translation and publishing rights, for reference (IBPA members only):
https://www.ibpa-online.org/page/rightsagreement
Information on DMCA takedown notices: https://www.dmca.com/faq/What-is-a-DMCA-Takedown
DMCA takedown notice template: https://support.scribd.com/hc/en-us/articles/210128926-DMCA-copyright-infringement-takedown-notification-email-template
Note: nothing in this podcast or the links provided should be construed as legal advice and is provided for informational purposes only.
PARTICIPANTS Jonathan Kirsch is a publishing and intellectual property attorney based in Los Angeles, an expert witness in publishing industry disputes, an Adjunct Professor on the Faculty of New York University’s Professional Publishing Institute, and a lecturer and consultant on publishing matters. He has long served as general counsel to IBPA, which presented him with its Benjamin Franklin Award for special achievement in publishing. He is the author of 13 books, including Kirsch’s Handbook of Publishing Law and Kirsch’s Guide to the Book Contract, which are now in revision for a new and updated single-volume edition.
Peter Goodman (host) is publisher of Stone Bridge Press in Berkeley, California. He began his publishing career in Tokyo, Japan, in 1976. A longtime member of IBPA, he has served on the IBPA board and as IBPA board chair.
Topics include: * What is a distributor?
- What is the current distribution landscape and how has it evolved?
- The increasing importance of print on demand (POD)
- The Amazon effect: changing the rules; more sales but less service to the publisher
- Can a small publisher get into IPG? Does it need to? Is there demand? Is the book discoverable? Does it look right? Is it “shelfworthy”?
- Books are evaluated on market, not on how good your pitch is. Passing the first evaluation hurdle: quality, cover, testimonials, promotion plans, having a platform and following
- The biggest changes coming in the future: How people consume books, digital readership, bifurcation of the market (traditional vs new digestion models)
- How retail booksellers are serving an older demographic while newer delivery models are serving a younger generation of readers: you need to take both into account.
- The publishing “season”: on the way out or here to stay? Do drop-in titles ever make sense?
Check out the IPG website at https://ipgbook.com/
For measuring your book against industry standards, use the IBPA checklist: https://www.ibpa-online.org/general/custom.asp?page=standardschecklist
Participants Richard T. Williams is the Vice President, Publisher Development, at IPG, where he reviews publisher submissions, pursues new publisher business, and manages a team of experts to help existing clients plan and develop their lists. He is a former sales rep at IPG and was the director of IPG’s Small Press United program from its inception in 2009. Also a former operations manager at an independent publisher, Richard is uniquely positioned to understand the needs of publishers in today’s industry and utilizes his knowledge and experience to help expand IPG’s suite of services to fit such needs.
Peter Goodman (host) is publisher of Stone Bridge Press in Berkeley, California. He began his publishing career in Tokyo, Japan, in 1976. A longtime member of IBPA, he has served on the IBPA board and as IBPA board chair.
A book sales rep becomes an author and learns first-hand how to get bookstores and associations interested in his book -- and which social media platform was the most effective may surprise you.
Topics include:
- How to get booksellers interested in your book
- How far in advance to begin promotion
- Smart use of social media, especially Instagram and LinkedIn
- How to sell and not sound like a salesperson
- Using social media to create sales opportunities
- If you have a publisher, do you coordinate with them or work on your own?
- Pitching to indie booksellers
- Following up on LinkedIn using groups and DMs
PARTICIPANTS
Andy Weiner is a longtime publishing professional. He has worked for Penguin USA, Random House, Chronicle Books, rightscenter.com, and for Abrams Books. He is also the co-publisher of Close Enough for the Angels by Paul Madonna, and is the author of the children’s book Down By the River, a book that Jensen Fly Fishing says: “blends family cohesion (mom and grandpa both take time telling stories and helping teach Art to fly fish), subtle contexts of fly fishing, and a gentle message of conservation.”
Andy’s website for his book:
http://www.downbytheriverbook.com/
For more information on the book Getting There; A Book of Mentors by Gillian Zoe Segal, mentioned in the podcast, see https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781419715709.
Peter Goodman (host) is publisher of Stone Bridge Press in Berkeley, California. He began his publishing career in Tokyo, Japan, in 1976. A longtime member of IBPA, he has served on the IBPA board and as IBPA board chair.
Topics include:
- 5 great things about being an indie publisher today
- 5 horrible things about being an indie publisher today
- and a few further thoughts and comments
PARTICIPANTS
Peter Goodman (host) is publisher of Stone Bridge Press in Berkeley, California. He began his publishing career in Tokyo, Japan, in 1976. A longtime member of IBPA, he has served on the IBPA board and as IBPA board chair.
Has publishing changed much in the past decades? A lot, but in many ways not at all. Influential blogger and opinion leader Joel Friedlander tells us what’s still important for all publishers to know . . . and do.
Topics include:
- First rule: authors still have to understand their market.
- Hard copy printing, despite what we hear about ebooks, is still the most popular way of manufacturing, and most of that is offset.
- Can author-publishers get into bookstores? (One thought: consignment is not the way to go except in one specific instance.)
- So who gets mainstream distribution?
- What ever happened to ebooks?
- Humans have an endless need for stories, which is why we’ll always have books.
- The future of publishing: interactivity, special editions, crowdfunding.
- Bottom line: quality is still the most important thing a publisher can bring to a book.
Participants Joel Friedlander is an award-winning book designer, blogger (since 2009!), and writer. He speaks regularly at industry events and is the author of A Self-Publisher’s Companion and The Book Blueprint. The blogger behind TheBookDesigner, Joel is a columnist for Publishers Weekly, and was named by Writer's Digest as one of the 10 people to follow in book publishing. He also operates several websites that provide design, marketing, and project planning resources for indie publishers and authors.
Joel Friedlander’s blog and websites
- The Book Designer: http://www.thebookdesigner.com/
- BookDesignTemplates.com: https://www.bookdesigntemplates.com/
- AuthorToolkits.com: http://authortoolkits.com/
- BookPlanner.com: http://bookplanner.com/
Books by Joel Friedlander
- The Book Blueprint: https://www.amazon.com/Book-Blueprint-Expert-Creating-Industry-Standard-ebook/dp/B07D5NRYW3/
- A Self-Publisher’s Companion: http://www.amazon.com/Self-Publishers-Companion-Joel-Friedlander/dp/0936385111/
IBPA Industry Standards Checklist: https://www.ibpa-online.org/general/custom.asp?page=standardschecklist
Peter Goodman (host) is publisher of Stone Bridge Press in Berkeley, California. He began his publishing career in Tokyo, Japan, in 1976. A longtime member of IBPA, he has served on the IBPA board and as IBPA board chair.
Part 2 of a wide-ranging interview with Ian Lamont of i30 Media about selling, promoting, and advertising your books on Amazon, plus tips for getting reviews and understanding Amazon’s Terms of Service.
Highlights of part 2 include:
- Amazon Terms of Service
- Who matters more to Amazon, you the publisher or the customer? Three guesses!
- the “buy box” controversy
- how to avoid getting kicked off Amazon: understanding Terms of Service
- getting reviews and managing giveaways
- can anyone compete with Amazon?
Ian Lamont’s blog is at http://leanmedia.org/blog/.
Participants Ian Lamont is an award-winning technology journalist, author, and publisher, and the founder of i30 Media Corp. and IN 30 MINUTES Guides (in30minutes.com). He is also a director and treasurer of the Independent Book Publishers Association, and serves on IBPA's Executive Committee. His books include Twitter In 30 Minutes and Lean Media: How to focus creativity, streamline production, and create media that audiences love. A graduate of Boston University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he lives in the Boston area with his family. Follow him on Twitter at @ilamont and read his blog about the publishing industry at http://leanmedia.org/blog.
Peter Goodman (host) is publisher of Stone Bridge Press in Berkeley, California. He began his publishing career in Tokyo, Japan, in 1976. A longtime member of IBPA, he has served on the IBPA board and as IBPA board chair.
Working with Amazon, part 1: Keywords, Categories, and Advertising, with guest Ian Lamont
Part 1 of a wide-ranging interview with Ian Lamont of i30 Media about selling, promoting, and advertising your books on Amazon, plus tips for getting reviews and understanding Amazon’s Terms of Service.
Highlights include:
- CreateSpace and the not-so-smooth conversion to KDP
- using and choosing keywords and categories for your book
- placing ads on Amazon and understanding ACOS to know if you’re making a profit or not
- art there alternative to Amazon?
Ian Lamont’s blog is at http://leanmedia.org/blog/.
Participants Ian Lamont is an award-winning technology journalist, author, and publisher, and the founder of i30 Media Corp. and IN 30 MINUTES Guides (in30minutes.com). He is also a director and treasurer of the Independent Book Publishers Association, and serves on IBPA's Executive Committee. His books include Twitter In 30 Minutes and Lean Media: How to focus creativity, streamline production, and create media that audiences love. A graduate of Boston University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he lives in the Boston area with his family. Follow him on Twitter at @ilamont and read his blog about the publishing industry at leanmedia.org/blog.
Peter Goodman (host) is publisher of Stone Bridge Press in Berkeley, California. He began his publishing career in Tokyo, Japan, in 1976. A longtime member of IBPA, he has served on the IBPA board and as IBPA board chair.
Matt Kurtis, VP of Sales & Marketing for Ware-Pak LLC, explains how book-fulfillment services (pick, pack, ship) can help publishers manage new logistical challenges, save money, and become more efficient.
Highlights include:
- How is a fulfillment service different from a distributor, from a wholesaler?
- What does the term “3PL” refer to?
- What kind of publisher benefits the most from a fulfillment service?
- At what stage of your company’s growth should you contact a fulfillment company?
- What kinds of benefits does a fulfillment company offer?
- How are publishers charged for services?
- The very important difference between activity-based and percentage-based chargebacks
- Transitioning from in-house to outsource fulfillment, and why it might make sense (key point: you transfer your fixed costs to variable costs)
- How do you know if you should choose fulfillment vs full-service distribution (i.e., a distributor that offers sales and marketing support)
- does digitalization threaten the future of physical shipments (not hardly)
Listeners to this podcast with shipping needs are encouraged to contact Ware-Pak for a quote to see if Ware-Pak's services make sense.
Ware-Pak, LLC: Warehousing, Distribution & Fulfillment Services for Publishers & Associations
Located in University Park, Illinois
https://www.ware-pak.com
Participants Matthew Kurtis is Ware-Pak's Vice President of Sales and Marketing and oversees all new client relations, contract management, outreach, and move-in logistics for Ware-Pak clients. He has a B.S. in Business Administration with over 17 years experience in sales and project management, which has granted him the knowledge required to assist businesses to grow their revenue by analyzing each area of opportunity and developing an effective implementation plan. He realizes the value of grassroots relationship-building and aims to support businesses of all sizes in strategic decision-making. Matt is also a remarkable leader and provides guidance daily to the Ware-Pak team with his expertise in the areas of sales, marketing, and customer service. He can even be found working in the warehouse when there is need for additional labor! When he is not in the office or the warehouse, Matt enjoys traveling with his wife Emily and engaging in hands-on projects at home.
Peter Goodman (host) is publisher of Stone Bridge Press in Berkeley, California. He began his publishing career in Tokyo, Japan, in 1976. A longtime member of IBPA, he has served on the IBPA board and as IBPA board chair.
Why the hybrid model makes sense for authors and publishers, with guest Brooke Warner
Brooke Warner, publisher of She Writes Press and SparkPress, talks about independent publishing and how the hybrid model is helping authors thrive by creating opportunity and diversifying the marketplace.
Highlights include:
- What is hybrid publishing?
- What is the hybrid business model?
- Who pays, and what does it cost?
- What benefits does hybrid give the author? The publisher?
- How hybrid democratizes the list: all books get attention, not just the “lead titles”
- What points do authors need to pay attention to in hybrid contracts?
- Why do hybrid publishers still meet resistance from some reviewers, contests, and associations?
- What’s the future of indie publishing? (Hint: it’s bright!)
- Challenges ahead: costs of paper, book pricing, Amazon dominance
- IBPA’s role in promoting standards
- Key point: we need to rethink the way we do things and update our idea of what a book is: the current model may not be sustainable
Here are two essential IBPA checklists related to this podcast:
“Hybrid Publisher Criteria”
https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.ibpa-online.org/resource/resmgr/docs/IBPA-Hybrid-Publisher-Criter.pdf
“Industry Standards Checklist for a Professionally Published Book”
https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.ibpa-online.org/resource/resmgr/docs/IBPA-checklist-FINAL.pdf
Participants Brooke Warner is publisher of She Writes Press and SparkPress, president of Warner Coaching Inc., and author of the forthcoming Write On, Sisters! Voice, Courage, and Claiming Your Place at the Table, as well as five other books on publishing and memoir. Brooke is a TEDx speaker, weekly podcaster (“Write-minded” with co-host Grant Faulkner of NaNoWriMo), and the former Executive Editor of Seal Press. She’s the Board Chair of the Independent Book Publishers Association and writes a monthly column for Publishers Weekly.
Tweet: @SheWritesDotCom
Listen to Brooke’s TEDx talk "Green-Light Revolution: Your Creative Life on Your Terms"
https://youtu.be/5a0w4KgWyP8
Peter Goodman (host) is publisher of Stone Bridge Press in Berkeley, California. He began his publishing career in Tokyo, Japan, in 1976. A longtime member of IBPA, he has served on the IBPA board and as IBPA board chair.
Deltina Hay from Elearning Delta, and past Board Chair of IBPA, talks about the benefits and methods of extending your book’s content and repurposing it onto elearning platforms.
This podcast is for anyone with instructional materials of any kind: crafts, marketing, cooking, sales—just about any field where you’ve got information to deliver in a structured learning format.
Subjects discussed include:
- what kinds of books lend themselves to elearning?
- do publishers generally start with a book to adapt, or an idea they want to get across?
- elearning as a calling card to demonstrate your credentials as an expert
- what kinds of skills do you need for DIY; can “ordinary” folks master the tools?
- when should you hire a professional, and why should you?
- the cheap route: YouTube, Instagram
- hallmarks of a professional package: quality, certification, assessments, worksheets
- elearning beyond the book: you have to provide more than what’s already in print
- finding the best elearning system for your content
- marketing and monetizing
- sell it on your own or in a marketplace?
- publicizing your elearning program through blogging and social media
- what does it cost to make a 1-hour elearning program?
- what should your charge for your elearning course (beware of cheap competition!)
- how long did it take Deltina to produce a 10-minute video (you may not believe the answer!)
- study the marketplace to figure out what your competitors are up to
- is there still a need for books?
Elearning tools and websites mentioned in the podcast are:
- Articulate Storyline: https://articulate.com/360/storyline
- Adobe Captivate: https://www.adobe.com/products/captivate.html
- Camtasia: https://www.techsmith.com/video-editor.html
- Udemy Online Courses: https://www.udemy.com/
- DeltinaU: https://deltinau.com/
==
Participants
Deltina Hay is the Director of Technology and Elearning Development at Elearning Delta. She is a programmer, web developer, software aficionado, writer, teacher, digital strategist, and instructional designer.
For nearly 30 years, Deltina has helped businesses of all sizes with their custom programming, database management, web development, search optimization, and social media marketing. Some of her past clients include Real Simple Magazine, Nestle Toll House, Victoria’s Secret, H-E-B, Kraft, Hachette Books, RaceWorldTV, and the University of Missouri.
Deltina is the author of three books on social media, the mobile web, and search optimization. Her first book, The Social Media Survival Guide, is used as a textbook in colleges and universities all over the world.
For the past five years, Deltina has applied her diverse skill set to the education industry. She developed and taught the graduate-level social media certificate program for Drury University, and has designed and developed social media, digital marketing, mobile marketing, and search optimization certification programs for several online colleges and training sites, including 360Training, Meditec, and WorldEducation.
Deltina’s elearning development company, DeltinaU, produces and publishes courses in digital and mobile marketing, search optimization, and web development. There are more than 20 courses to choose from and successful students are awarded a “Certificate in Digital Marketing”.
You can reach Deltina at Elearning Delta:
- http://elearningdelta.com/
- support@elearningdelta.com
Peter Goodman (host) is publisher of Stone Bridge Press in Berkeley, California. He began his publishing career in Tokyo, Japan, in 1976. A longtime member of IBPA, he has served on the IBPA board and as IBPA board chair.
Professional booksellers talk about consignment, events, terms and other aspects of working with independent publishers.
A store manager, restock buyer, and event coordinator at Books Inc., a leading independent bookseller in Berkeley, California, discuss ways they evaluate books from independent publishers and things publishers can do to make it easier to hold events at and get books into their store.
This is a very meaty interview with lots of practical advice. Highlights of this podcast include:
- how books are evaluated when submitted
- the ins and outs of consignment: fees, support for nonlocal authors, term
- the importance of returnability and discounts offered
- what makes a successful event? (hint: authors need to help with attendance!)
- store outreach via Instagram, newsletter, Facebook: do authors need to help offset costs? (answer: not always, it depends)
- the book buyer is “curating a gallery of books”
- priming the pump: offering a marketing plan, reviews, publicity, showing you are putting effort into developing an audience
- booksellers look for diversity in subject matter, so indie books are especially welcome!
- Ingram Spark: a reliable and dependable match for an indie publisher looking for a POD solution that offers distribution (hint: booksellers do NOT like to order from Amazon!)
- authors need to learn the biz: bookselling costs money too; educate yourself about what’s expected and about professional standards of book publishing
- is the quality of indie publishing improving over the years?
Books, Inc. can be reached at https://www.booksinc.net/
and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/books_inc/.
Ingram Spark is at https://www.ingramspark.com/.
The IBPA industry standards checklist is at https://www.ibpa-online.org/page/standardschecklist.
==
Participants
Schyler Baker is the manager of Books Inc in Berkeley. He holds a BA in English from California State University Sacramento. He started bookselling in 2005 and has hosted hundreds of author events over the years.
Sara Vander Zwaag is the restock buyer at Books Inc. Berkeley. She received her MFA in poetry from Saint Mary’s College of California. She loves animals, especially her black cat Timo; space; poetry; vegan treats; hiking; swimming; and, of course, reading!
Annie Keig is the Event Coordinator for Books Inc Berkeley in Northern California. She received her BA in Environmental Studies and Creative writing at Saint Mary’s College of California. A long time reader and aspiring writer, she strives to bring readers closer to the books and authors they love with her work at Books Inc.
Peter Goodman (host) is publisher of Stone Bridge Press in Berkeley, California. He began his publishing career in Tokyo, Japan, in 1976. A longtime member of IBPA, he has served on the IBPA board and as IBPA board chair.
Mike Mansel is a Certified Insurance Counselor, and here he shares his decades of experience working with publishers large and small on sorting out their insurance needs.
Highlights of this podcast include:
- types of liability insurance
- the role of Intellectual Property attorneys in defending claims
- do insurance companies just settle or do they go to bat for their customers?
- why to avoid jury trials
- do all publishers need insurance?
- what does publishers liability insurance cost, and do costs depend on the kinds of books you publish?
- is having general business liability insurance enough?
- “claims made” vs “occurrence” based policies: know the difference!
- is it an advantage to be an LLC vs a C-corp vs a sole proprietorship?
- what is the leading source of claims against publishers?
- what’s a “hammer” clause and why is it important that you know?
Here’s a link to the BookBaby Blog article by Scott McCormick, on using song lyrics in your book:
http://blog.bookbaby.com/2018/11/lyrics-in-books-your-questions-answered/
==
Participants
Mike Mansel is a Certified Insurance Counselor with Aegis Insurance Markets. He is a highly experienced and respected insurance and risk management professional who has been involved in providing expertise to commercial and business clients since 1977. Among his areas of expertise are Patent Insurance, Litigation Reimbursement Insurance, Representations & Warranties, Climate & Weather insurance, Claim Denial insurance and more.
Mike is well-known Nationally as a media authority. He serves as an expert witness and speaks nationally on insurance and media matters and exposures. He is a Practicing Law Institute faculty member for Intellectual Property Insurance.
Mike holds the Society of Certified Insurance Counselors (CIC) designation. He is the Educational Consultant for The National Alliance for Education & Research of Austin, Texas, and is a National faculty member for Workers’ Compensation, Time Element, Business Automobile, Commercial Inland Marine, Legal & Ethical, Intellectual Property, and Aviation Exposures for the Society of Certified Insurance Counselors.
You can reach Mike at
- mike@aegisins.com
- https://aegisinsurancemarkets.com
- 925-899-5845
Peter Goodman (host) is publisher of Stone Bridge Press in Berkeley, California. He began his publishing career in Tokyo, Japan, in 1976. A longtime member of IBPA, he has served on the IBPA board and as IBPA board chair.
Ebook production expert Laura Brady suggests ways you need to think about ebook design and creation to produce reliable and good-looking results
This podcast is for anyone who is thinking of creating ebooks or hiring an ebook designer, or who has seen the ads for “ebooks made easy!” and is thinking, well, how hard could it be? Topics include:
- problems of ebook conversion (especially if you are using Word)
- there are lots of cheap ebook creators out there; are they safe?
- how do I plan my pbook design knowing that it will become an ebook (hint: consider avoiding drop caps!)
- what kinds of fonts work with ebooks? do I need to license them?
- what are the big issues that ebook creators are discussing these days: Kindle, design, and the future of the spec
- why spend a lot of time “designing” an ebook when users can just change your font and typography at the push of a button?
- will the ebook market continue to grow?
- if ebooks win do print books lose? and vice versa
- are better dedicated ebook readers on the way?
Links mentioned in the podcast
https://twitter.com/hashtag/eprdctn: a very active Twitter group where you can find professionals and experts in ebook production
https://github.com/FriendsOfEpub/Blitz: for the technically competent, ebook formatting solutions
https://fonts.google.com/: Google’s webfont repository
https://www.monotype.com/: the Monotype font foundy
https://reedsy.com/: “A full ecosystem for authors and publishing professionals”
Sorry for some of the audio quality in the early minutes of the interview!
Participants Laura Brady is the manager of Cross-Media for the House of Anansi Press in Toronto. Until recently she ran a conversion house working with a broad range of small- and medium-sized publishers to manage their digital publishing. Laura is also on the steering committee of ebookcraft – a major conference devoted to ebook production -- and the editor-in-chief of EPUB Secrets—the world’s best resource for all things EPUB. Her Twitter handle is @LauraB7.
Peter Goodman (host) is publisher of Stone Bridge Press in Berkeley, California. He began his publishing career in Tokyo, Japan, in 1976. A longtime member of IBPA, he has served on the IBPA board and as IBPA board chair.
Andy Ross of the Andy Ross Agency discusses how agents evaluate manuscripts and how agents operate in today’s book publishing climate.
Andy Ross has been active in the publishing world for 40 years, first as a bookseller and now as an agent. In this podcast conversation, he shares his thoughts on agenting and when and how an agent can work with a small independent publisher. Highlights include:
- Is there life after bookselling?
- What does an agent do?
- What are the real advantages of working with an agent, besides contract negotiation?
- Why agents need to be more than just dealmakers.
- How do you find a good agent, or how do you know if a particular agent is good for you?
- Why is it so hard to get published these days?
- Will agents work with small indie presses?
- Why the agent’s first obligation is always to the author.
- Is it true that agents can turn small indie books into big commercial hits?
- The age-old question: is Amazon good or bad for publishing and publishers?
- How does an agent decide if he/she likes a book and wants to take it on (hint, you have 45 seconds, maybe less!).
- Thrilling moments in the life of an agent.
- What kinds of books are selling these days?
Participants Andy Ross is principal at the Andy Ross Agency, based in Oakland, California. Andy started his agency in 2008, and before that was the owner of Cody's Books in Berkeley for 30 years.
Cody’s was one of the best-known and best-loved bookstores in its day. It was at the epicenter of the antiwar movement in the sixties, and over the years hosted thousands of writers including: Norman Mailer, Gary Snyder, Alan Ginsberg, Kurt Vonnegut, Salman Rushdie, Joseph Heller, and Alice Walker. It also hosted events for major public and cultural figures such as: Bill Clinton, Jimmy Carter, Mohammed Ali, Mickey Mantle, Gloria Steinem, and Buckminster Fuller.
A changing economy and buying habits forced Cody’s to close its doors in 2008, and since then Andy has transitioned into matchmaker, helping authors and publishers find each other. He focuses on authors who write books in a wide range of subjects including narrative non-fiction, science, journalism, history, current affairs, contemporary culture, religion, children's books and commercial and literary fiction. But like many agents these days, he wears multiple hats, and sometimes needs to function as editor and diplomat, too.
You can reach Andy Ross at http://www.andyrossagency.com/.
Andy's blog is Ask the Agent: Night Thoughts about Books and Publishing.
And here you can order Andy’s book, The Literary Agent’s Guide to Writing a Non-Fiction Book Proposal.
Peter Goodman (host) is publisher of Stone Bridge Press in Berkeley, California. He began his publishing career in Tokyo, Japan, in 1976. A longtime member of IBPA, he has served on the IBPA board and as IBPA board chair.
George Dick, president of Four-Colour Print Group, talks about all the reasons you might want to print your next book in Asia, especially if it’s in color or for kids
Many publishers of full-color books—coffee-table books, art books, cookbooks, children’s books – choose to print in Asia because printing costs less there. But cost may not be the only consideration.
Topics include
- the future of printing in Asia (hint: pretty good)
- the shrinking of the Asian cost advantage vs North American printers
- is it freight from China that’s getting more expensive? how about other factors, like new equipment, higher wages, and environmental regulations
- is Chinese printing less “green”?
- will Chinese printers accept material that is “objectionable” in terms of politics or sex? how about Korean printers?
- how much longer will it take to get your book from Asia than if your print in North America?
- printing in Asia is cheaper, but if you use a print broker do you lose some of that savings?
- what are the advantages of working with a print broker?
- what about port delays for customs inspections?
- floating books is still cheap, it’s the trucking costs that are getting expensive
even as labor costs are going up, automation is keeping prices in line * will President Trump’s trade war impact book printing in Asia and imports? (maybe not on books, but what about all those digital presses that US printers are buying these days?) * how paper availability makes it less likely that printing opportunities will emerge in other countries to provide an alternative to Asia
To reach Four-Colour Print Group, go to https://fourcolour.com/.
Participants
George Dick is the President and CEO of Four-Colour Print Group in Louisville, KY, a print broker and the exclusive USA representative of Everbest Printing Co. in China. George began his printing career in 1980, and has since visited printing plants in a dozen different countries in Asia, Europe, Central and South America. He's always searching for new business partners, new technology, and new ideas to help manage the relationships between customers, sales/service personnel, and manufacturers. He's had articles published in trade magazines, and spoken at industry conferences.
Peter Goodman (host) is publisher of Stone Bridge Press in Berkeley, California. He began his publishing career in Tokyo, Japan, in 1976. A longtime member of IBPA, he has served on the IBPA board and as IBPA board chair.
Tami Dever, co-owner and founder of TLC Book Design, discusses key elements of book design that signal professionalism, readability, excellence, and permanence
What are the elements a book designer needs to consider when designing an interior? A cover? Tami Dever discusses how she works with clients and notes the factors that make a book look good against the competition.
Topics include
- things to keep in mind when designing a book: audience, competition, tone, readability
- the importance of interior design in sealing the deal and drawing customers to the cash register
- favoring longevity over trendiness
- using Word to prepare text for a designer (hint: avoid overformatting!)
-
key elements of cover design that must work together (and it’s not easy!):
- size of elements
- typography
- color
- images
- use of space and margins
- avoiding Photoshop gimmickry
Typefaces mentioned in this podcast:
- Esprit
- Berkeley
To reach TLC Book Design, go to http://www.tlcbookdesign.com/.
Notes to the Q&A segment
The article in the IBPA Independent on Authors.me can be found at http://articles.ibpa-online.org/article/finding-real-creativity-with-artificial-intelligence/.
Participants
Tami Dever is the co-owner and founder of TLC Book Design in Austin, Texas. The business has grown from a design studio to a complete publishing development firm, with a wonderful reputation for providing outstanding design and caring customer service.
Peter Goodman (host) is publisher of Stone Bridge Press in Berkeley, California. He began his publishing career in Tokyo, Japan, in 1976. A longtime member of IBPA, he has served on the IBPA board and as IBPA board chair.
Cynthia Frank, publisher of Cypress House, shares some of the hard-won insights from more than 30 years as an independent publisher
Listening to this wide-ranging interview you get a sense of what issues come up and what life is like as an independent publisher in a small town on the northern coast of California. Cynthia Frank has been publishing for as many years as there has been an IBPA and before that PMA, and has seen technology go from a phone and fax to high-speed internet and the digital revolution. Lots of things have changed, but much is still the same, like Cynthia’s belief that the publisher must emphasize editorial content and quality of expression more than anything else.
And she’s also outspoken on subjects like, is it worth going to BEA? Can you publish successfully without Amazon? Why has there been a resurgence in indie bookstores (hint: Amazon’s success may ironically have had something to do with it!)? Do special sales pay off?
Mentioned in the podcast are:
- Hudson News: http://www.hudsongroup.com/home
- The News Group: https://www.thenewsgroup.com/
- Trofie: http://trofie.com/
Cypress House is at https://www.cypresshouse.com/.
Phone 800-773-7782.
Email: cynthia [at] cypresshouse.com.
Participants
Cynthia Frank is publisher of Cypress House, QED Press, and Lost Coast Press in Fort Bragg, northern California. In addition to being a royalty house that has won national and international awards and grants, Cypress House is a full-service book production and promotion company. It provides manuscript evaluation, editorial services, typesetting, cover design, forms filing, marketing and promotion, subsidiary rights assistance, e-book account setup and liaison, and comprehensive consultation services. It specializes in helping new publishers launch their own companies and in helping authors find the right publisher.
Peter Goodman (host) is publisher of Stone Bridge Press in Berkeley, California. He began his publishing career in Tokyo, Japan, in 1976. A longtime member of IBPA, he has served on the IBPA board and as IBPA board chair.
Lisa London, CPA, author, and publisher, discusses many of the specialized points of accounting that every publisher needs to know
This podcast looks at many of the things publishers need to know when setting up and using accounting packages to manage revenue, expenses, and taxes. Among the subjects mentioned are:
- keep it simple!
- automate everything you can
- is Quickbooks a good package for publishers? are there others?
- how to manage royalties
- the importance of understanding the contracts you sign and their related costs
- aligning items to your accounting needs and to proper categories
- the need to be consistent
- the need to document
- using attachments in Quickbooks
- working with e-commerce sites that feed into your accounting package, and vice versa
- putting money aside to pay your taxes
- capitalization rules changes ahead
- thoughts on use tax: does it apply to your business?
Some of the goods and services mentioned in the podcast include:
- Xero accounting package: https://www.xero.com/
- Sage accounting package: https://www.sage.com/en-us/
- Quickbooks accounting package: https://quickbooks.intuit.com/
- Zapier.com utility: https://zapier.com/
Lisa’s book Banish Your Bookkeeping Nightmares is here: https://goo.gl/LWSGHa
Lisa’s publishing company Deep River Press is here: https://deepriver.press/
Follow Lisa on Twitter at @LisaLondon3
or on Facebook at AccountantBesideYou
and also see http://AccountantBesideYou.com
Notes on the Q&A segment
Here is a list of attorneys IBPA has worked with in the past. They all know the world of publishing. This list is not an endorsement but is provided for informational purposes only.
- Jonathan Kirsch, jk@jonathankirsch.com, 310-785-1200
- Lloyd Jassin, copylaw@aol.com, 212-354-4442
- Steve Gillen, Wood, Herron & Evans, LLP, sgillen@whetpatent.com, 513-241-2324
- Jon Tandler, Sherman & Howard, jtandler@shermanhoward.com, 303-299-8142
- Lloyd Rich, Law Office of Lloyd Rich, rich@publishingattorney.com, 303-388-0291
Participants
Lisa London is a CPA and the primary author of The Accountant Beside You series. Her experience as an auditor, a director of finance of a Fortune 500 company, and a consultant for small businesses and nonprofits has given her the skills to explain complex items in an easy-to-understand manner. She also recently released her first work of historical fiction, Darker the Night. Follow Lisa at https://accountantbesideyou.com/
Peter Goodman (host) is publisher of Stone Bridge Press in Berkeley, California. He began his publishing career in Tokyo, Japan, in 1976. A longtime member of IBPA, he has served on the IBPA board and as IBPA board chair.
Daniel Lerner, inspirational speaker and teacher at NYU, discusses how publishers can invigorate their work with passion and find happiness by serving themselves in a way that serves others
Following his enthusiastically received keynote at IBPA’s Publishing University 2018, Daniel agreed to this interview to further reflect on what makes people happy. So many accomplished people—doctors, lawyers, even publishers-- are stressed out, despite making lots of money and leading a “comfortable” life. What are they missing or not understanding?
There’s no easy answer to human satisfaction. But there are some things we can all do that can alleviate our stress levels and connect us better to what we’re doing and to other people. We need to relax, for one thing. To not obsess so much over our jobs. To find additional outlets for our energies. And above all, we need to work in areas that both satisfy us and enable us to serve others, whether it’s making time for our family or our larger communities.
Humans are not so distant from a time when our prime motives were strong emotions like fear, disgust, and anger. These were essential to our survival. But our world is safer now, and we have to work hard to evolve to the next stage, to discover that friendships with others are more than just safety in numbers but enormously satisfying to our own sense of well-being.
Publishers, this is a great message to reflect upon. Are you working with passion? Does your work serve the world?
To learn more about Daniel Lerner, go to http://daniellerner.com/.
Participants
Daniel Lerner is the author of U Thrive: How to Succeed in College (and Life). He is a clinical instructor at NYU, and he serves on the instructional staff at the University of Pennsylvania.
Transformative, forward-thinking and always striving to help others realize their full potential, Dan Lerner has become known for his exploration of how positive psychology can affect the pursuit of world-class development, particularly how to leverage the advantage that a healthy psychological state can bring to performance excellence both at work and at home.
Employing cutting-edge research into positive psychology and peak performance, Dan works with students, established and high-potential performing artists, athletes and numerous Fortune 500 companies and executives around the world helping them manage stress and anxiety, achieve well-being, uncover their core strengths and define and realize their own brand of success.
Peter Goodman (host) is publisher of Stone Bridge Press in Berkeley, California. He began his publishing career in Tokyo, Japan, in 1976. A longtime member of IBPA, he has served on the IBPA board and as IBPA board chair.
Judy Baker of Book Marketing Mentor discusses how branding your book can help you grow your readership and establish yourself as an expert in your field
This podcast looks at branding your book and the benefits it brings. Books, especially nonfiction, are where experts can showcase their expertise. The book becomes a starting place for building a business, and can lead to follow-up series, workshops, podcasts, and other related activities.
By engaging your readers you build your community and become familiar to them, and this enhances your credibility as an author and makes your books even more desirable.
Judy is also active in BAIPA, the Bay Area Independent Publishers Association, based in Marin County north of San Francisco. Judy talks about how BAIPA has grown and what is offered at its monthly meetings. BAIPA is also an IBPA affiliate: Judy notes the many benefits that affiliate publishing associations get from IBPA, such as discounts, speakers, and access to information and expertise.
Find out more about Book Marketing Mentor at https://bookmarketingmentor.com/.
Find out more about BAIPA at https://www.baipa.org.
Notes on the Q&A segment
For information on song lyrics and fair use in general, see
- https://www.janefriedman.com/permissions-and-fair-use
- https://www.thebookdesigner.com/2015/03/how-to-use-lyrics-without-paying-a-fortune-or-a-lawyer
Participants
Judy Baker, with Judy Reyes, operates Book Marketing Mentor, whose mission “combines strategic marketing, branding and admin expertise into a unique service offering.”
Judy is a native Californian who makes her home in Sonoma. She serves on the board of the Bay Area Independent Publishers Association (she is past President of BAIPA); is on the Board of the Bay Area Consultants Network (BACN); is a co-chair of the 2017 Redwood Writers Academy (Redwood Writers); and is working on her book and course about building connections.
Judy specializes in branding and marketing. Her expertise as a graphic designer, book designer, marketing strategist, performer, and being a profoundly curious individual is why authors love working with her.
You can reach Judy at https://bookmarketingmentor.com/.
Peter Goodman (host) is publisher of Stone Bridge Press in Berkeley, California. He began his publishing career in Tokyo, Japan, in 1976. A longtime member of IBPA, he has served on the IBPA board and as IBPA board chair.
Jonnie A Bryant, Executive Director of Sales/Marketing at book printer McNaughton & Gunn, talks paper, cost, and schedules, and offers her take on challenges facing the industry
If you are wondering what’s happening in the world of book manufacturing, and how that might impact your ability to produce a book economically and on time, you’ll definitely want to listen to what Jonnie Bryant of McNaughton & Gunn has to say.
Topics include
- changes in paper availability producing price rises and longer schedules
- allocation of paper from the mills to printers for the first time in years
- how the demand for diapers and teabags is making it harder for you to produce your book!
- how new trucking safety regulations mean you may not be able to get the paper when you need it
- why you may find it harder to procure alternative groundwood sheets in the future: is this the end of the cheap lightweight option?
- the development of color inkjet printing that marries high quality with low cost, making all sorts of new projects possible
- will new print technologies better enable publishers to go direct to consumer?
- will the decline of printrun size lead to such large unit-cost increases that the nature of publishing and intellectual life is forever changed?
And more!
To reach McNaughton & Gunn, go to http://www.mcnaughton-gunn.com/
Participants
Jonnie A. Bryant is Executive Director of Sales/Marketing, McNaughton & Gunn. She serves on the M&G Leadership Team, providing direction and support at the woman-owned book manufacturer’s headquarters and production facility in Saline, MI. In 2015, M&G proudly celebrated 40 years of creating books and making history for its customers.
Peter Goodman (host) is publisher of Stone Bridge Press in Berkeley, California. He began his publishing career in Tokyo, Japan, in 1976. A longtime member of IBPA, he has served on the IBPA board and as IBPA board chair.
Board Member Elizabeth Turnbull discusses quality standards, hybrid publishing, diversity, and other target areas for IBPA's Advocacy Committee
Subjects covered include:
- how to achieve a level playing field for indie books
- the IBPA publishing standards checklist
- the IBPA hybrid publishing checklist
- removing the stigma from indie publishing once and for all
- expanding diversity in publishing
- future advocacy projects for IBPA
- working with indie booksellers
Participants
Elizabeth Turnbull was born and raised in Haiti where she grew up surrounded by the people and landscapes of her latest book, Say to These Mountains.
After graduating from Quisqueya Christian School, in Port-au-Prince, Elizabeth went on to study Spanish and Journalism at Wake Forest University and received her MA in Latin American and Caribbean Studies from Florida International University. Today, she is the Senior Editor for Light Messages Publishing where she is immensely grateful to immerse herself in new stories every day. Elizabeth is also the author of two children’s books: Janjak and Freda Go to the Iron Market and Bonnwit Kabrit.
Elizabeth lives on a budding farm in Hillsborough, NC, with her husband Roberto and a handful of critters. She currently sits on the IBPA board.
Find out more about Elizabeth at https://www.lightmessages.com/.
Peter Goodman (host) is publisher of Stone Bridge Press in Berkeley, California. He began his publishing career in Tokyo, Japan, in 1976. A longtime member of IBPA, he has served on the IBPA board and as IBPA board chair.
Editorial Director Jim Milliot talks about how leading trade magazine Publishers Weekly views book publishing today and the rise of the indie publisher.
In a wide-ranging interview, Jim Milliot looks at how book publishing has changed in the last decade and how Publishers Weekly has adopted strategies to adjust, such as developing digital outlets for news and advertising in the face of declining print sales. As a result, today PW reaches a huge audience, surprisingly made up mostly of consumers looking for reviews and opinions to guide their buying choices.
Jim also talks about different ways PW serves the publishing industry, not just the BIg 5 but smaller presses. He suggests different ways indies can get coverage, and he emphasizes that PW plays an important advocacy role when it comes to creating a level playing field for publishers of all sizes.
At the end, Jim has a rather surprising take on the overall health of the American book publishing industry.
To visit Publishers Weekly online, go to https://www.publishersweekly.com/
Participants
Jim Milliot, editorial director, has been with Publishers Weekly for 23 years. Jim edits news on mergers, acquisitions, and financial performance for the weekly magazine and for the PW Daily online Newsletter. His reporting and insights into the changing publishing industry are often quoted in the media, and he regularly appears on book industry panels. Jim is also a member of the IBPA board.
Peter Goodman (host) is publisher of Stone Bridge Press in Berkeley, California. He began his publishing career in Tokyo, Japan, in 1976. A longtime member of IBPA, he has served on the IBPA board and as IBPA board chair.
Robby Price, in his last term as IBPA board chair, talks about the association, how it has changed, and how it is helping transform and strengthen indie publishing today.
Robby explains how he got his start in publishing, evolving from a 1-page printout to a full traditional printer and then, more recently, a successful author services provider. He then reflects on how IBPA has changed during his time on the board and then as board chair.
He points especially to the increasing strength exhibited by author publishers. It is no coincidence that as author publishers gain ground, hybrid publishers have emerged to lend them support with curation and expertise.
Robby also discusses his own business, Gatekeeper Press, a service provider to author publishers and small indie presses.
Gatekeeper press is at https://gatekeeperpress.com/.
Participants
Robby Price is chairperson of the IBPA board of directors and the president of Gatekeeper Press with 200,000 books sold as a self-published author. Gatekeeper Press works with publishers and authors looking to self-publish who earn 100 percent of their net proceeds, retain 100 percent of their rights, and reach readers all over the world.
Peter Goodman (host) is publisher of Stone Bridge Press in Berkeley, California. He began his publishing career in Tokyo, Japan, in 1976. A longtime member of IBPA, he has served on the IBPA board and as IBPA board chair.
Robin Cutler, Director of IngramSpark, discusses ways that publishers can use print-on-demand technology to launch their business and achieve distribution quickly.
Topics include:
- how IngramSpark can help the small publisher manufacture and sell
- using IngramSpark and CreateSpace
- printing internationally
- indies vs the Big 5
- full-service options for advanced indies
- the state of the ebook market
- is print dead?
- short-run color printing
- what's in Ingram's future?
To find out more about IngramSpark, go to http://www.ingramspark.com/
Participants
As the Director of IngramSpark at Ingram Content Group, Robin Cutler is committed to helping independent publishers easily get their content into the hands of readers around the globe. To help make this happen, she leads the development of IngramSpark and continues to support and refine the platform to better serve independent publishers around the world. She is a leader in the independent publishing space, and when not developing new programs and services for IngramSpark, she can often be found sharing her expertise at industry events around the world.
Peter Goodman (host) is publisher of Stone Bridge Press in Berkeley, California. He began his publishing career in Tokyo, Japan, in 1976. A longtime member of IBPA, he has served on the IBPA board and as IBPA board chair.
Angela Bole, CEO of the Independent Book Publishers Association, gives an overview of IBPA and how its mission can help publishers become more successful in an ever-changing publishing landscape.
Topics covered include:
- what is IBPA?
- who is IBPA for?
- how is publishing changing in America, and is it changing too slowly?
- why the era of stigmatizing self-publishers – or, author-publishers – is OVER!
- new models for creative publishing
- promotional opportunities and benefits at IBPA
For more on IBPA, go to http://www.ibpa-online.org.
Also, your questions on how to submit books to magazines, and is it legal to use characters from movies in fan fiction?
Participants
Angela Bole is chief executive officer of the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), the largest book publishing association in the U.S. serving independent publishers and self-published authors.
Prior to joining IBPA, Angela served two years as deputy executive director of the Book Industry Study Group (BISG), an organization that fosters conversation and consensus across all sectors of the book business. Before that, she served two years as BISG’s associate director and two years as its marketing and communications manager.
Angela holds a Masters of Science in Book Publishing from New York University and currently serves on the board of directors for the Book Industry Study Group. In 2017, she was awarded the Book Industry Study Group’s Industry Champion Award, given to an individual whose efforts have gone beyond the requirements of his or her position to advance the book industry.
Peter Goodman (host) is publisher of Stone Bridge Press in Berkeley, California. He began his publishing career in Tokyo, Japan, in 1976. A longtime member of IBPA, he has served on the IBPA board and as IBPA board chair.
Anne-Marie Concepción of Seneca Design & Training presents the case for using InDesign as a p-book and e-book creation tool.
Topics covered include:
- can Microsoft Word be used for book publishing? (the short answer: please don’t.)
- the importance of styles in InDesign
- learning InDesign
- using InDesign to create e-books
- creating Kindle books and using the Kindle Previewer
- designing for print vs designing for ebooks
- finding a designer
Also, your questions on paying royalties to foreign publishers, learning more about printing and production.
Sites and resources mentioned in the podcast include:
- Seneca Design & Training: https://senecadesign.com/
- Lynda.com (search for “eBook fundamentals”)
- iBooks Author from Apple: https://www.apple.com/ibooks-author/
- Kindle Previewer from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&docId=1000765261
- Upwork (was Elance): https://www.upwork.com/
- check out #eprdctn on Twitter
- InDesign Magazine issue on book design: https://indesignsecrets.com/issues/issue-105-designing-books
- Industry Standards Checklist from IBPA: http://www.ibpa-online.org/page/standardschecklist
- “Levels of Quality in Printing” by Steven Waxman: http://printindustry.com/Newsletters/Newsletter-189.aspx
Participants
Anne-Marie Concepción is the founder and president of Seneca Design & Training, which provides cross-media consulting, training, design, and publishing services for a variety of organizations across the United States. She is widely known as one of a very few digital publishing gurus, having worked and taught in this field for twenty-five years, since the early days of PageMaker and QuarkXPress.
Anne-Marie is now one of the nation’s premiere independent Adobe Certified Instructors, teaching hands-on classes at client sites around the world and helping publishers make smooth transitions to the latest software and workflows. As an industry expert, Anne-Marie enjoys sharing her real-world expertise via books, articles, and seminars. She’s the co-host of the InDesignSecrets.com blog and podcast with David Blatner, with whom she also co-authored Adobe InDesign CS/CS2 Breakthroughs (Peachpit Press, 2005).
Visit Seneca Design & Training at https://senecadesign.com/.
Peter Goodman (host) is publisher of Stone Bridge Press in Berkeley, California. He began his publishing career in Tokyo, Japan, in 1976. A longtime member of IBPA, he has served on the IBPA board and as IBPA board chair.
Tom Doherty of Cardinal Publishers Group presents need-to-know pointers for independent publishers seeking distribution for their books.
He covers:
- the different types of distributor
- typical working arrangements, including exclusivity, house accounts, chargebacks, and services
- what you need to provide to find a distributor (such as a solid marketing plan!)
- the importance of keeping the lines of communication open
- discoverability
- working with online retailers
Also: your questions on Digital Review Copies and royalties.
Participants
Tom Doherty has been president of Cardinal Publishers Group since 2000 and publisher of Blue River Press since 2004. Prior to Cardinal Publishers Group Tom worked in publishing for nearly twenty years including eight years in book distribution with Time-Warner and The Hearst Corporation. During his time at Cardinal Publishers Group, a full-service distributor, Tom has launched more than a hundred new imprints. As publisher of Blue River Press he published notable New York Times bestselling authors James Alexander Thom and Jack D. Hunter as well as category non-fiction and regional best sellers. You can check out his site at cardinalpub.com.
Peter Goodman (host) is publisher of Stone Bridge Press in Berkeley, California. He began his publishing career in Tokyo, Japan, in 1976. A longtime member of IBPA, he has served on the IBPA board and as IBPA board chair.
Ian Lamont of i30 Media discusses strategies for using Amazon Marketing Services to make your book pop to the top in Amazon searches.
Covered here are key concepts like bidding and budgeting, and a real-world assessment of what works and what doesn't when working with Amazon (or with Facebook and Google ads).
Here’s the YouTube how-to video Ian mentions in the podcast:
“How to Make Amazon Marketing Services Product Display Ads”: https://youtu.be/oQvAsSQ3tV4
Mentioned in the members’ question portion of the podcast are new classes in Copyediting and Developmental Editing at UCLA Extension. For information, go to https://www.uclaextension.edu/.
Participants
Ian Lamont is an award-winning technology journalist, author, and publisher, and the founder of i30 Media Corp. and IN 30 MINUTES Guides. He is also a director and treasurer of the Independent Book Publishers Association and serves on IBPA's Executive Committee. His books include Twitter In 30 Minutes and Lean Media: How to Focus Creativity, Streamline Production, and Create Media That Audiences Love. A graduate of Boston University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he lives in the Boston area with his family. Visit https://in30minutes.com.
Peter Goodman (host) is publisher of Stone Bridge Press in Berkeley, California. He began his publishing career in Tokyo, Japan, in 1976. A longtime member of IBPA, he has served on the IBPA board and as IBPA board chair.