It was December 2020 and I had just hit publish on my first book using the Amazon KDP marketplace. My book went live on Amazon and a week later I was holding a paperback copy of the book in my hands. This was a very special moment, finally getting to hold a very personal project…
5 Things to Ensure Before Hiring a Book Cover Designer for Your Next Self-Published Book in 2021 – Raina Jordan | Guest Post
Isn’t it great? The feeling of completing the first draft of your own book! You have finally completed what you started, and that in itself is an applause-worthy achievement. But what is the next step now? As a self-publishing writer, you have to take care of everything for your book, including the writing part (which…
Publishing Service Index: November 2018 [with notes]
This is the last PUBLISHING SERVICE INDEX for 2018. Our previous one was released earlier this year in April and I am switching to releasing it just twice a year (generally, Spring and Winter). The index continues to reflect closures of publishing service providers and our latest release sees the departure of one of the stalwarts of the self-publishing…
Radio Espial: Publishing, Self-Publishing and Technology with Jeremy Thompson (Troubador and Matador) [VIDEO]
Jeremy Thompson of Troubador and Matador Publishing joined presenter Mick Rooney on Radio Espial to discuss all things publishing, self-publishing, digital publishing and technology.
Publishing Service Index: April 2018 [With Notes]
This is the first PUBLISHING SERVICE INDEX for 2018. Our last one was released in December 2017. The index continues to reflect closures of publishing service providers and our latest release sees the departure of another two companies, though they were very small players in the service field. I now intend to compiled the index three to four times across the calendar year, so we can monitor seasonal…
Publishing Service Index: December 2017 [with notes]
This is the PUBLISHING SERVICE INDEX for December 2017. Our last index was released in September 2017. The index continues to shrink and the latest index sees the final departure of five companies. Frankly, they were bottom of the pile service providers. So, I shed no tears. Originally I compiled the index, month-to-month, but I found…
Publishing Service Index: September 2017 (Notes Included)
This is the PUBLISHING SERVICE INDEX for September 2017. Our last index was released in May 2017. Originally I compiled the index, month-to-month, but I found the work involved to update almost 90 companies and service providers (now 82) was not being compensated by enough changes on the index over a short period of weeks. Indeed, some months…
Publishing Service Index: May 2016
This is the PUBLISHING SERVICE INDEX for May 2016. IngramSpark holds the number one position at the top of the index, marginally increasing the gap on CreateSpace. Matador moves ahead of Smashwords into fourth place and Lightning Source slips below Silverwood Books to ninth place. Please be aware that service provider Original Writing based in Ireland has gone out…
15 Things Traditional Publishers Might Say To Each Other About Self-Publishing Service Providers
1. “Look, we’ve nothing to worry about. They’re all just glorified printers and author mills. We’re the real cultivators and promoters of literature.” 2. “I mean, it’s easy to make money if you just sell services to authors and not their books.” 3. “Martha, it’s like I said about e-books years ago. Those service…
FastPencil – Reviewed
FastPencil is a California-based publishing service and writing community for authors and publishers. The company was founded by Steve Wilson and Michael Ashley in 2007 and it was purchased in 2013 by the Courier Corporation, an innovative US book manufacturer and content management provider. (Update, May 2015 – Wilson bought the company back off Courier.)…