Self-Publishers

Self-Publishing is something that has always interested me. There are so many ways to put your work out for people to read besides going through a publishing house. It almost seems like it is a rebellion against traditional publishing.

A few things I do know about self-publishing is that it is all on you, hence the term Self-Publishing. Editing the book is all on you. The designing of the cover is all on you. The marketing is all on you. Printing copies and mailing them that is all on you. No one has said it would be easy, but I think the outcome can be rewarding.

When it comes to self-publishing, my book is going to be an e-book. According to an article I read for indie authors, self-publishers usually use Amazon, but Amazon does not make it easy for most authors with KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing). KDP allows E-books to be sold to readers. However, readers only pay for the total pages read. If a person does not complete the book then less money is earned.

A challenge that most self-publishers have is getting their books on shelves in book stores. The revenue drop with e-books has taken a toll on authors. Now they are looking to a print format again because that is what readers prefer. You will most likely find self-published books through an e-book/online source.

Something that I found in an article is how many of the self-publishers could possibly get a TV deal. For example, Universal Cable Productions has a deal with Wattpad. If they read a story they like, they can produce a movie for people to stream. Wattpad is an interesting platform for writers as they can post their stories and make money through ads. It sounds to me that Wattpad is a good deal.

The article continued showing how self-publishers list their multiple positions on their business cards because they wear the hats of a consultant, publisher, and marketer. They truly do it all.

Publishers Weekly is my article of reference. It is filled with useful information for author hopefuls. I learned about a site called Book Life. The site is for indie authors looking to put their book out in the world. The site is basically a one stop shop for self-publishing. They will even help you through some parts of the process.

When it comes to marketing a book, you do not have to do it alone.You can hire someone. Not an agent, but there are self-publishing services out there at any writers disposal. This article suggests focusing on the bigger picture. Some steps including:

1. Reaching out to the desired audience.

If you have social media, already have a target market and you know who should be interested in your book then you are ready. Letters and posts about your book will help build your audience.

2. Write, write, and write some more.

The number of books you have out matters. If you are a first-time self-published author, you have work to do for marketing. If you have multiple books released, then you more than likely have an audience that will want to know what you are writing. Your marketing work is already half way done.

3. Use multiple mediums and channels.

If you can put your book on more platforms than just e-book it will help even if it is just posts on Wattpad. Audio, print, YouTube. Anything will help get your book noticed.

4. Know people

When you know someone with connections it always helps. Try and meet people that can help put your book in the hands of readers. If you do not have that kind of pull, then think of others who can help you. Organizations are a good place to start.

5. Use good timing

It is important to publish your book at the right time and price. For example, people give books at Christmas. Spend time thinking about your readers and how you want to reach them. You have to think about the big picture for your readers.

Some additional tips I learned for a want to be self-published author include:

• Patience- it is really important that you do not impulsively publish your first piece of work.
• Persistence- rejection is normal in this industry so be prepared and don’t let it get you down. Listen to constructive criticism make your book the best you can.
• Prayer- you always need some help from above.

 

 

 

 

 

Sources:

• http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/authors/pw-select/article/72560-self-publishing-in-2017-the-year-in-preview.html
• http://booklife.com/
• http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/authors/pw-select/article/72063-want-to-succeed-at-self-publishing-don-t-be-discouraged-tips-from-an-indie-author.html
• http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/authors/pw-select/article/69158-five-marketing-models-for-self-publishing-success.html

HarperCollins Publishers

Type of Publisher: The publisher I chose for this blog post is HarperCollins Publishers. They are a trade book company with numerous publishing houses beneath their name. Under their general branch are Broad Side Books and Avon Books. Harlequin Books is their line for teens. HarperCollins Publishers as a whole are diverse so they can appeal to a broad audience. If you love reading christian fiction, they have Faith Gateway. For children, there is Greenwillow, HarperCollins Audio, and Amistad. The genres go from historical fiction to business. If you have a love for books you are sure to find something at HarperCollins.

HarperCollins produces approximately 10,000 books annually in 17 different languages. They have a print and digital catalog with over 200,000 titles. Many publications have won awards such as the National Book Award, Newbery, and Caldecott. Notable authors include, J.R.R Tolken, and C.S Lewis.

HarperCollins has career opportunities all over the world specifically in the United States. They employ book editors, financial analysis, publicist, and publicity managers. I could not locate the exact number of people they hire but did noticed their website says they welcome employees with open arms. For students interested in a future publishing career, they have an internship program.

Market: HarperCollins has a diverse market. They cater to a multitude of people. Children to adults are sure to find something of interest. One of the ways they market their titles is through social media. I follow them on Twitter and Instagram and encourage other book lovers to do the same. They post information recently published titles, or just give an update of what is going on in the office. HarperCollins is very open with their customers.

Funding: Traditional publishers like HarperCollins earn their funding through the sale of books to consumers. HarperCollins sells numerous books per year, but the specific total could not be located. All indications are that HarperCollins is a financially sound company.

Success: For me, HarperCollins has many success stories as a book publisher. Two notable book series that got their start with HarperCollins are The Cornicles of Narnia, and The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. When they were first released, people could not get enough of them. Both series turned into movie and are still popular today meaning they are producing revenue for the company. HarperCollins is currently considered the second largest book publisher in the world.

Challenges: HarperCollins must move in the direction set by the consumers of books. If demand of e-books dominates the market, then HarperCollins must respond. If consumers shift back to print or to some yet to be invented form, then HarperCollins needs to accommodate to continue to be profitable. Other challenges include finding and publishing the next New York Times bestseller as well as the Newbery and Caldecott medal winners.

James and John Harper founded this company in 1817 as publishers of religious and scholarly books. As the second largest publishers today, they have faced and conquered many challenges.

Source: http://corporate.harpercollins.com/about-us/company-profile

https://www.harpercollins.com/

 

Pickle Juice Diamonds and Football

Susan Schade

For my first blog post, I decided to review the book Pickle Juice Diamonds and Football by Feather Lynn. It is a book that caught my eye, and I love.

• Who is the audience? How does the design appeal to the audience?

The audience for this book is young adult although I know people that surpass that age range will enjoy reading and love this book, too. It will also appeal to sports lovers. The cover has a white backdrop with a typical diamond shape baseball home plate in the middle along with a jar of pickles in the upper left corner of the plate and football in the lower right corner. The font on the cover is unique in that every word has a different color and font style. It draws attention with all the contrast.

• How does the layout aid readability and understanding?

The inside is the usual black and white and not meant for skimmers. On some pages to help break up the wording, it has a page break of three diamonds in a horizontal position. The page breaks in the book help it to not be so overwhelming with words.

The font used inside the book is Times New Roman a standard font. The book divides the story into chapters with chapter names to clue the reader. Thoughts that the characters have are italicized. When there is dialogue, it is in quotation marks. The layout caters to readability and understanding very well.

• How do images clarify and enhances the text?

This is a chapter book with no illustrations inside. The cover’s images will give the reader a sense of what the story is about or spark some curiosity. I will say they all correlate to the book. The title is not misleading.

• What mood does the design evoke? How do the design elements work together to create that mood?

The mood is very sporty and food oriented by looking at the cover. The design elements work together through the color of a word matching the pictured item. For example, the word pickle juice is in green. The football is brown, and baseball home plate is cream colored.

Overall this is an appealing cover to me. The story will be enjoyable to any young adult or up in age. I still pick up Pickle Juice Diamonds and Football from time to time and reread this delightful tale.