Inside Independent Publishing (with Ibpa)

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!PARTICIPANTSAlexa 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.Indepen

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!PARTICIPANTSIan 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 we

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!PARTICIPANTSOver 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 f

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!PARTICIPANTSJason 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, havin

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.PARTICIPANTSDiane 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 th

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!PARTICIPANTSJosh 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 Midd

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.PARTICIPANTSWhen 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

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.PARTICIPANTSDr. 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.

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! PARTICIPANTSFauzia 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 Associat

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! PARTICIPANTSMichele 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

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!PARTICIPANTSRichard 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 publisher

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?PARTICIPANTSApril 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 r

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.PARTICIPANTSMaggie 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 Excellen

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/PARTICIPANTSIndependent 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 h

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!LinksIBPAhttps://www.ibpa-online.org/Stone Bridge Presshttps://www.stonebridge.comParticipantsChristopher 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

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 CoveredFrankfurt Book Fair roundup, physical vs. virtualWhen to start prepping for next year's FrankfurtDo 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 disputesThe scourge of book piracyThe IBPA Advocacy CommitteeSome thoughts on fair use and permissions, and why you need to make informed decisionsLinksCASE Act (summary with IBPA links)https://www.ibpa-online.org/news/518209/A-CASE-Act-Call-to-Action-for-IBPA-Members.htmFair Usehttps://www.copyright.gov/fair-use/more-info.htmlDMCA notice and takedownhttps://www.uspto.gov/sites/default/files/documents/DMCA_Good_Bad_and_Situational_Practices_Document-FINAL.pdfFree 30 min consultation for IBPA members: https://ca

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 sideLinksAuthor Marketing Expertshttp://www.amarketingexpert.com/Penny on Twitter: @bookgalPenny on Instagram: therealbookgalHow to Sell Books by the Truckload on Amazon - 2020 Updated

Topics includehow the publishing world has changedthe explosion of virtual eventsa hybrid approach to trade showsPub-U online!a new focus on diversityindie publishers: adventurers and innovatorswhy interns need to get paid betterthe emergence of bookshop.orghow long can brick and mortar bookstores hold on?difficulties faced by publishers without distributionare author publishers still blocked by traditional media gatekeepers?the continuing importance of long lead timesLinksIndependent Book Publishers Associationhttps://www.ibpa-online.orgPublishing University 2021 (a fully virtual online event): April 7-10, 2021https://www.publishinguniversity.org/Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: A BISG Town Hallhttps://bisg.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=1415616&group=### 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

Topics CoveredWhat is IngramSpark?Templates to make layout easier and books look more professionalThe importance of a unique cover designOn-demand books for retail and wholesale marketsHow has publishing changed in the past 10 years and what trends will continue? POD manufacture lets anyone be a publisherPower of AmazonEase of bringing books to marketIs distribution getting too consolidated?The rise of Bookshop.orgBenefits to working with established publishers as partnersLinksIngramSparkhttps://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 strategi

### Links2019 Readers’ Advisory Activities Surveyhttps://www.panoramaproject.org/2019-readers-advisory-activities-surveyPublic Library Events and Book Sales Surveyhttps://www.panoramaproject.org/news/2019/12/9/public-libraries-book-events-panorama-project-surveyImmersive Media & Reading 2020https://www.panoramaproject.org/immersive-media-reading-2020 ParticipantsGuy 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