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old genres and new ones

Everything old is new again! We talked last week about the Bowker.com report on self-published genres. Since 2010 the number of ISBNs issued to indie authors has risen by a whopping 375%. In the year 2015, self-publishing has grown 21.24% over 2014 numbers.

We know that more and more books are being published, but what does it  mean to you and me as indie authors? The world is becoming more crowded and more competitive. Now is the time to begin some serious work on a marketing plan. You know, the one you meant to develop last year, or the year before. As I have said at hundreds of seminars in the past, “You are not in competition with a fellow author, you are in competition with obscurity!” There are many ways to increase the probability that your book will get noticed. We will talk about some of those on our next podcast: How to Market Your Book on the Internet with Cheri Powell.

The hallmark of 2017-2018 should be marketing, marketing, marketing. Now, like never before, you should be working on a solid book marketing plan.  Its time to develop those social media chops and create content.

TRENDS in the INDUSTRY

TRENDING

Bowker says, “more writers are taking advantage of traditional publishing houses AND self-publishing.” I have long maintained that indie authors need a mix of traditional publishing credits (articles, books, or editorials) and indie titles. Even a few published pieces in literary journals seems to quiet the naysayers. Though they are far fewer today than when I started in 2008, I can still hear the words, “You can’t be a REAL writer if you have self-published your book.” My philosophy on indie publishing hasn’t changed much since then. “All writers should have at least one to show (a traditionally published book) and several to go (indie titles).” That way you can have your cake (the prestige of a traditional publishing deal) and eat it (self-publish the rest to maximize your profits and make a living.

Bowker says, “Libraries and booksellers are seeking opportunities to offer MORE self-published content.” This is a great thing, but I do see one troubling trend. Here in Louisville, the library has put out a call for indie authors to make their books a part of the libraries’ catalog. Great. The catch is, they don’t want to pay the indie author for his or her e-book. It is handled as a “donation” to the library. Contrast this with the libraries purchase of traditionally published e-books where they pay $50-$100 dollars for an e-copy of an electronic book which is good for six to eight “borrows.”

It’s not all doom and gloom. There are several statistics that seem to show that books read in the library do translate into sales. You also gain name and cover recognition. It seems the double standard that applied to indie authors in the early years is alive and well in the library matrix.  I don’t believe that an indie author is less entitled to be enriched than a traditional author.

Bowker says, “The number of self-published authors on bestseller lists IS ON THE RISE.” For several years, between 25% and 35% of the books on the New York Times bestseller lists have been self-published. Indie authors have been award winning, best-selling authors for years, but only now are they being recognized by the “industry.”

 

Peggy DeKay,  Speaker, Author, Book Coach 

www.PeggyDeKay.com

Peggy@tbowt.com

Peggy DeKay Peggy DeKay Peggy DeKay Peggy DeKay Peggy DeKay Peggy DeKay Peggy DeKay LinkedIn.com/in/peggydekay

 

 

 

 

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What INDIE AUTHORS are writing and what GENRES are TRENDING

June 2, 2017

Is your genre a best seller?    Print Book ISBNs Issued to Self-Published Authors  Bowker.com, the ISBN issuing agency in the United States, has just released a multi-year report of print book ISBNs issued to self-published authors between the years 2002-2012. The report also includes projections for 2013. The numbers, broken down by genre, are […]

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The New York Times bestseller list … doable or not?

May 30, 2017

Can You be a New York Times Bestselling Author?    It’s not about how many books you sell—it’s about how quickly you sell them. —Peggy DeKay   It started out as the Bookman list in 1895. On April 9, 1942 it officially became the New York Times Review and was published as a Sunday supplement. By the 50s the Times list had garnered […]

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Top 7 Mistakes Indie Authors Make

May 23, 2017

Top 7 Mistakes Indie Authors   If you are a new author, there are things that can help and things that can hurt your book sales. Here are seven of the most common “mistakes” that I have seen authors make. Remember, making a mistake is not the end of the world; it is a lesson, […]

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Gedian Waegn: Indie Authors Know ALL About This

May 16, 2017

Gedian Waegn: Indie Authors Know All about This Gedian Waegn is an Old English word, which roughly translated means “to have faced adversity and not only survive, but thrive.” Based on the thousands of independent authors I have met, Gedian Waegn is the mantra that most applies. This week I attended a writing workshop. There […]

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Are Authors and Writers Soon to Become an Endangered Species?

March 2, 2015

If you believe the conspiracy theorists then the technology that “they” share with us today was developed twenty or thirty years ago and has advanced accordingly in those intervening years. Let’s hope this isn’t the case with the latest innovation in the arena of “writing and publishing.” Robot writing has quietly risen from the alleys […]

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INDIE AUTHORS: ARE YOUR TITLES APPEARING IN BOOKS IN PRINT?

November 7, 2014

INDIE AUTHORS: ARE YOUR TITLES APPEARING IN BOOKS IN PRINT®? If you are an indie author and self-publish your books, you know that all print books and most e-books have (or should have) an Industry Standard Book Number (ISBN). Some authors who publish e-books don’t use an ISBN (Read about ISBN basics HERE) because they […]

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Decision Making—another Key Step to Success as an Author

July 8, 2014

 “Long engagements give people the opportunity of finding out each other’s character before marriage, which is never advisable.”    ~Oscar Wilde Last week I talked about the “Three Perpetual Keys to Success as an Author.” Another important key to success as an author and one I didn’t mention last week is to refrain from over-thinking. How […]

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Three Perpetual Keys to Success as a Writer

June 30, 2014

For years, the business world touted Kaizen, a Japanese word that means “good change.” In the eighties style -business-guru books Kaizen was not just a word, but a philosophy. The philosophy of continuous improvement.  Sadly, the word kaizen has no such philosophical basis that I could find. (The Sino-Japanese word “kaizen” simply means “good change”, with no […]

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Why I Believe in Self-Publishing

July 16, 2012

There has never been, in the history of the world…a better time to be an author. Why do I say that? Because I believe it. I work with and talk to writers everyday in seminars, coaching sessions, meetings, conferences, and in classrooms and lecture halls. Too often, it seems to me, that  the creator of […]

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WRITING CONTESTS – The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly–7 Tips on Choosing and Winning Writing Contests

May 23, 2012

7 Tips on Choosing and Winning Writing Contests If you are looking for publication credits, more exposure, and the title of “award winning author,” then entering writing contests may be a worthy pursuit. Winning a writing contest can build your confidence as a writer but it can do much more. Winning a contest can: Grow […]

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All about ISBNs

May 9, 2012

Why do I need an ISBN? Why every time I do a radio interview, or guest post I get this question; do I need an ISBN for my print book, e-book, or audio book? The short and sweet answer to that question is yes! Before we talk about why you need one, let’s talk about […]

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Building Your Author Platform—One Library at a Time

April 30, 2012

7 Steps to a Winning Library Presentation For most of us the local library is a place to go and relax, take a class, or spend a quiet afternoon. But something else is going on at your local library—book promotion! As a new author, the first thing I had to do was begin building my […]

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Why Self-Publish? The TMC Factor

April 21, 2012

Why self-publish?  Why are so many authors electing to self publish? It’s the MTC Factor. What’s that you ask? Money Time Creative Control Let’s talk about money first. For many traditionally published authors a royalty payment may be less than ten percent of the list price of the book. That means that if your book sells for […]

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The Six Essential Traits of a Great POD Printer

February 11, 2012

Are all print-on-demand printers created equal? NO.  Of the five top traits of a great print-on-demand printer listed below, which one is a must have for any self-published author? You can’t afford not to read this article if you are evaluating POD printers.  Don’t give up. There are excellent POD printers out there—you just need to know […]

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