by Richard Smith
Bowker | Wed Sep 7, 2016
If you’re an author and want to stay on top of the important issues in the world of publishing—issues that affect you—you need The Hot Sheet.
With all the chatter out there, it will help you sort through the noise with stories that focus on relevant topics from across the publishing spectrum. From author success stories to key industry statistics, you’ll find what you need to know in The Hot Sheet. Click here to Subscribe to The Hot Sheet!
by Stella Griffiths
Bowker | Wed Aug 31, 2016
You’re close to crafting that final sentence, you want to start thinking about cover designs and marketing and you’re wondering whether you also need to get one of those odd-looking 13-digit numbers and bar codes you’ve seen on the back of books. Is it just some weird code for people in the know? Such a small thing, can it really be so important?
Those 13-digits may look insignificant but think of an International Standard Book Number (ISBN) as being instrumental in helping you to reach the widest possible audience. ISBN is an international standard first published under the auspices of ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) in 1970.
by Richard Smith
Bowker | Wed Aug 24, 2016
If you’re an author and want to stay on top of the important issues in the world of publishing—issues that affect you—you need The Hot Sheet.
With all the chatter out there, it will help you sort through the noise with stories that focus on relevant topics from across the publishing spectrum. From author success stories to key industry statistics, you’ll find what you need to know in The Hot Sheet. Click here to Subscribe to The Hot Sheet!
by Richard Smith
Bowker | Wed Aug 10, 2016
If you’re an author and want to stay on top of the important issues in the world of publishing—issues that affect you—you need The Hot Sheet.
With all the chatter out there, it will help you sort through the noise with stories that focus on relevant topics from across the publishing spectrum. From author success stories to key industry statistics, you’ll find what you need to know in The Hot Sheet. Click here to Subscribe to The Hot Sheet!
by Frances Caballo
Bowker | Wed Aug 3, 2016
Do you have a favorite blog or two? You know, a blog that consistently teaches you something new or provides information on topics that self-publishers need to know to succeed in today’s competitive indie market?
I subscribe to quite a few blogs, but the ones below are those that I couldn’t do without.
TheBookDesigner.com Joel Friedlander
Who doesn’t look forward to learning what’s new on this blog? Joel continues to write his own posts once a week and host a monthly Carnival of the Indies and a book cover contest, which he judges. A team of contributing writers fills out the rest of the month with information on publishing, editing, ebooks, and marketing. Writer’s Digest consistently names TheBookDesigner.com among the 101 best websites for writers. It also received an award from the Alliance of Independent Authors as a top website for self-publishers.
by Porter Anderson
Bowker | Wed Jun 15, 2016
The Hot Sheet
Get a special price at Bowker on a Hot Sheet subscription now.
Jane Friedman and I have been observing the experiences of authors in the contemporary marketplace as it has developed over many years.
The impact of the digital dynamic, after all, hasn’t just rocked publishing. Like a good, stiff earthquake, it also has rearranged the landscape for writers—opening up new pathways to publication…and several pretty little trails that will lead your career right over a cliff.
But you’d think that at a time when free blog sites about writing are on every corner of the Web, the last thing you’d need to do is pay for a private subscription newsletter for authors. Right? Wrong.
by Laura Dawson
Bowker | Wed Nov 19, 2014
Saturday, November 15, Bowker was pleased to be among those sponsoring the Self-Publishing Book Expo, which took place at the Roosevelt Hotel in midtown Manhattan. As Publishers Weekly put it,
Among the highlights of the show were panels providing indie authors with information, tips, and best practices on publicity, marketing, teambuilding, and websites. Among the exhibitors at the show were Lulu, Bowker, Smashwords, BiblioCrunch, BookLife, Author Connections, and Nook Press.
This is the sixth year of the conference, which is quite an indication of the growth in self-publishing since 2008. One other anniversary of note: today is the 7th anniversary of the Kindle. Coincidence?
by Laura Dawson
Bowker | Wed Nov 5, 2014
On Wednesday, November 12, at 1 p.m. Eastern, DCL and Bowker present "The Distribution Landscape: What You Need To Know", a webinar directed at self-published authors. Laura Dawson of Bowker will conduct a Q&A session with Mark Coker, CEO of Smashwords. Topics that we’ll cover include:
- Overall market conditions
- Retailer health
- New distribution models
- Pros and cons of exclusivity
- Amazon vs Hachette – what does this mean for authors?
- Distribution tools that work well for authors
- Direct or distributor?
You can find more information about the webinar, and register for it, here.
by Laura Dawson
Bowker | Wed Oct 8, 2014
A new analysis of U.S. ISBN data by ProQuest affiliate Bowker reveals that the number of self-published titles in 2013 increased to more than 458,564, up 17 percent over 2012 and 437 percent over 2008. Print titles were up a very strong 29 percent over 2012, indicating the format’s continuing relevance to self-publishers. While self-publishing continues to grow, the pace appears to be normalizing after several explosive years.
Read Bowker’s report on self-publishing here: http://bit.ly/selfpub13
“Our general conclusion is that self-publishing is beginning to mature. While it continues to be a force to reckon with, it is evolving from a frantic, wild-west style space to a more serious business,” said Beat Barblan, Bowker Director of Identifier Services. “The market is stabilizing as the trend of self-publisher as business-owner, rather than writer only, continues.”
The analysis also shows:
by Brian Jud
Bowker | Tue Aug 12, 2014
In a recent discussion, I was asked, “How many authors are up to the task of selling 1000 books?” My immediate (unpublished) response was, “If you can’t sell 1000 books, why bother publishing?” But upon more thought, that flip response would have been a great disservice to those who really want to sell 1000 books, but do not know how. The word “TASK” struck me as a perfect acronym representing four areas that I believe need attention in order to be successful as an author. Each requires much greater description than below, but this may give foundering authors food for thought. Two of these characteristics are internal (TA), while two can be acquired (SK). Attend to each and I believe your ability to sell 1000 or more books will be greatly enhanced.
