Inside Independent Publishing (with Ibpa)

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 bookso In educationo Leading the way in multiculturalismo Creating a market for YA and adult books as they get older• Getting representation rightLinksWe Need Diverse Books media linkswww.diversebooks.orghttp://www.twitter.com/diversebookshttps://www.facebook.com/diverse

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 CoveredTop issues for publishing todayConnecting books and readers while still supporting local indie booksellersOpportunities in digital publishing and other technologiesEmbracing and developing diversity in all areas of publishingNew media and ways of getting storytelling content to readersHow do stories break into new media?What makes a book suitable for adaptation into different media?Literary and visual qualityA fresh and unique voiceEnhanced ebook experiencesGrowth of the ebook and audiobook marketsThe challenge: making these expensive projects profitableWhy smaller is better: innovation and visionAdvocacy on the IBPA BoardLinksVesuvian Mediahttps://vesuvianmedia.com/ParticipantsLindy Ryan is an entrepreneur, award-wi

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 CoveredCoping with COVIDHow the pandemic may change publishingThe future of trade shows (hint: it’s going virtual)Can the face-to-face meeting be replicated online?The continuing importance of book reviewsFee-based reviews for indie publishersAre author-publishers still stigmatized?Improving standards of indie publishersWhy traditional publishers aren’t going awayHow are libraries holding up?The increased emphasis on digital at librariesIs digital-only viable?The importance of mastering social mediaA commitment to diversity: in the content and in the staffingLinksForeword Reviews magazinewww.forewordreviews.comIBPA’s COVID-19 Resource Centerhttps://www.ibpa-online.org/page/ibpa-covid-19-resource-centerThe IBPA Industry Standards Checklisthttps://www.ibpa-online.org/page/standardschecklistParticipantsVicto

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 CoveredWhat is the Independent Publishers Guild?How are publishers coping with COVID and the changing retail and distribution landscape?Audiobooks and ebooks in the UKDifficulties of access and perception faced by small publishers and author publishersPartnerships between larger and smaller publishersthe role of Amazon in the UKLinkhttp://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 r

Topics CoveredThe Internet Archive and why its position is wrongThe Open LibraryWhat is fair use?Update on the Case ActLinksFrom 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 downhttps://www.authorsguild.org/industry-advocacy/ag-sends-open-letter-demanding-national-emergency-library-shutdown/For ReferenceFact sheet from ControlledDigitalLending.orghttps://controlleddigitallending.org/faqInternet Archive Blog on the closing of National Emergency Libraryhttps://blog.archive.org/2020/06/10/temporary-n

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 Coveredmission of the Advocacy Committeeinitiativespiracyaccess to distributioncontent protectionthe CASE Act, Internet Archive, Audible Captionsadvocation for indie publishers in broader terms, such as inclusiveness and diversitychanging perceptions of indie publishers by review mediahow to join the committeeLinksScribe Publishing Company https://scribe-publishing.comMel’s' profile on Scribe Publishing Company's website https://scribe-publishing.com/melAbout the Internet Archivehttps://controlleddigitallending.org/whitepaper https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/01/books/internet-archive-emergency-library-coronavirus.htmlAbout the CASE Acthttps://www.ibpa-online.org/news/479123/IBPA-Members-Encouraged-to-Join-CASE-Act-Social-Media-Campaign-Nov-25

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 COVEREDNew Reality #1 Greater adoption of ebooks by readersNew Reality #2 Fewer indie booksellersNew Reality #3 Corollary to #2: Increased influence of wholesalers and online vendorsNew Reality #4 Second corollary to #2: More competition for AmazonNew Reality #5 A vast new world of virtual book marketing and promotionNew Reality #6 A proliferation of author publishersNew Reality #7 The domination of print on demandPARTICIPANTSPeter 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

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 Coveredonline book launches and book “tours”partnering with bookstoressign-up events vs public streaming on Facebook and other platformsadvance sales before the eventsponsored and partnered events with giveaways as a way of developing and sharing contactshow to find partners for a virtual event: be sure to match the audience to the missionkeeping pitch letters effective and succincthow the pandemic crisis may be creating new and permanent opportunities for new kinds of book promotionadvice: pick 1 platform and be consistent with your message and timingbe sure to spend more time “giving” than “selling”; you may not have a direct ROI but you will be building communityhow far in advance should you contact sponsors? participants?the growing i

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 Coveredthe story of Forest Avenue PressNAB (Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association)engaging with local booksellers for advice, events, advance orders and buzzfocusing on regional authorsthe role of Powell’s bookstore as a sales powerhouse and community gathering spacethe 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 booksgetting by with online orders and curbside deliveryare 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

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 CoveredThe plight of booksellers and their employeesIs 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, BINCHow can authors and booksellers support each other?Virtual author tours and events and other strategies for staying afloatIs bookselling an “essential” business?Ingram’s major role in sales and fulfillmentLinkshttps://www.shelf-awareness.com/Shelf Awareness newsletterhttps://www.bincfoundation.org/Book Industry Charitable Foundationhttps://www.bookweb.org/American Booksellers Associationhttps://www.ingramcontent.com/retailers/direct-to-homeIngram Direct to Home shipping servicehttps://www.aer.io/Sell your books online with Ingram fulfillmentht

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 Covered3 keys to success: a great cover, powerful keywords and metadata, solid contentUsing social media to drive traffic to AmazonHow Amazon is changing: increasing costs of advertising and, surprise, Amazon may no longer consider books very important to its business modelAny other competitors on the horizon? (um, not really)But, you can use other platforms to sell books: Shopify, Ingram Spark, Aerio among othersLinksLean Mediahttp://leanmedia.org/Lean Media YouTube Channelhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsYGJf9h3mJHS9KP6H5ldYQ/videosAmazon Deep Divehttp://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/YAAXIngram Sparkhttps://www.ingramspark.com/Aeriohttps://www.aer.io/Shopifyhttps

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 CoveredAmazon AdvertisingCustomer supportKeeping an eye on costsDiscoverabilityAmazon as a test laboratoryKDP, Audible, and other programsIs Amazon Advantage being phased out?Seller CentralProblems with Amazon customer serviceLinksLean Mediahttp://leanmedia.org/Lean Media YouTube Channelhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsYGJf9h3mJHS9KP6H5ldYQ/videosAmazon Deep Divehttp://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/YAAXParticipantsIan 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 li

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 newAB5 (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 eithera continuing challenge: diversity in the publishing workspace and contentBarnes 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 distributorachieving profitability by publishing more!LinksIBPA Comments on proposed tariffs on printed bookshttps://www.ibpa-online.org/news/456983/Updated-IBPA-Comments-on-Section-301-Investigation--Proposed-Tariff-on-Printed-Books.htmIBPA’s own source of news and updates on the Audible lawsuithttps://www.ibpa-online.org/news/467194/Updated-News-Related-to-Audible-Captions-P

Topics covered include:Marketing into the US from overseas: conforming with schedules and promotionUsing Ingram Spark to serve world marketsBrexit: what happens next? Customs and VATUK rules and regulations, loosening libel lawsComplying with EU privacy standardsLinkshttps://camphorpress.comhttps://twitter.com/camphorpressParticipantsMichael 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 care

LinksWikipedia on California Assembly Bill 5https://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=201920200AB5Publishers Weekly news article on AB5https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/81992-publishers-brace-for-california-labor-law-changes.htmlDecember 17 news article on California freelancers filing suit against AB5https://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

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 yearsWhat IBPA offers at FBF: display, introducing books to buyers, a wealth of contacts and experienceWhat publishers can do to get the most out of FBFTravel tips: start planning early!How does FBF compare to London Book Fair and other international book fairs?The indie book scene in EuropeLinks2019 Frankfurt Book Fair Reporthttps://www.ibpa-online.org/news/478456/IBPA-Report-from-the-2019-Frankfurt-Book-Fair.htmSign up for Frankfurt 2020https://www.ibpa-online.org/store/ListProducts.aspx?catid=568496Frankfurt Book Fair main sitehttps://www.buchmesse.de/enHistory of the Frankfurt Book Fairhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankfurt\_Book\_FairYear 2020 List of Book Fairs Around the Worldhttp://2seasagency.com/international-book-fair-calendar/ParticipantsTerry Nathan has held many positions at IBPA and is now the chief operations office

Topics include:The big picture of IP for authors and publishers: the hub of a wheel with many spokesPublished authors are already part of an ecosystem and can create their own editions, audiobooks, and translationsYour 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 doHow the foreign rights market is changingHow audio books are becoming an entertainment medium, divorced from the original print bookFinding a good rights partner you can trustRoyalty Reminder: a new IP management toolLinksArticle: "Intellectual Property: The Big Picture for Authors"https://www.janefriedman.com/intellectual-property-authors/Royalty Reminderhttps://www.royaltyreminder.com/The Ethan Ellenberg Literary Agencyhttps://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 Associa

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 outHow big is piracy? A problem of international scope that demands a multiprong strategyThe of the US Government in enforcementShould 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=475423The CASE Act explainedhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CASE\_ActSenate draft of the CASE Acthttps://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/1273/textThe Authors Guildhttps://www.authorsguild.org/RECOMMENDED READINGS FROM THE AUTHORS GUILDhttps://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/in

Topics include:should you use Wordpress? (hint: probably not, unless you’re good at fixing things)why every author needs a websitewhat is the purpose of your website?the importance of having a professional look to design and organizationhow 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 morehow to use the website to drive sales: having great content is key to making people want to buy, so that is the first stepmost 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 bookthe website should be about you, the author, to allow for it to expand if you publish more books in the futureavoid doing too much fancy stuff and using trendy effec

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.htmParticipantsAngela Bole is chief executive officer of the Independent Book Publishers