Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA)

Topics Covered The Internet Archive and why its position is wrong The Open Library What is fair use? Update on the Case Act Links From the Authors Guild Appeal 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.au...

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...

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 eboo...

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...

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 Associati...

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 logis...

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, sur...

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...

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 eit...

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 Links https://camphorpress.com https://twitter.com/camphorpress Participants Michael Cannings is one of the three founders of Camph...

Links Wikipedia 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/art...

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 Lon...

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 mark...

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...

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 descript...

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’...

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 g...

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...

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 mi...

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 t...

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 mi...

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:...

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...

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 salesperso...

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.