As the number of scams targeting author businesses have grown more elaborate and harder to spot in recent years, authors have become understandably wary about the safety of the tools and platforms they use in their businesses. And when one author raises those concerns in an online publishing group, it can create a ripple effect of confusion and uncertainty about what authors can do to protect themselves.
Recent worries about IngramSpark may reflect exactly that. After some authors found their books for sale on Temu and similar sites earlier this week, they turned to the author community with the fear that an IngramSpark data breach may have led to the listings. Soon after, however, a sales representative at IngramSpark reassured authors that no data breach had occurred, and copies listed on Temu were likely the result of third-party sellers redistributing copies of their books. You can read her post on Threads and listen to a more in-depth explanation on her Instagram.
Just last week, the Alliance of Independent Authors shared resources and strategies authors can use to spot and stop scams targeting their publishing businesses. Those tips included advice on what authors can do if they find a pirated version of their book online. You can read that article in ALLi’s regular column with IAM at the link below.
The Alliance of Independent Authors
We're also planning a deeper dive into IngramSpark in a future article, and we want to hear from you. What do you want to know about the platform and how it works with authors, and what questions do you have about using it in your business? Let us know at feedback@indieauthormagazine.com.
A final note: Have you signed up for Indie Author Training's Wide for the Win Summit yet? The two-day event takes place virtually October 9 and 10 and will include a mix of free and paid opportunities for authors. Day 1 will be free to attend and focus on the foundations of wide publishing, including what the strategy looks like today and insights from industry leaders on making wide work for your business. Day 2 will include paid workshops and resources to help you set up the strategy for yourself, with hands-on help and guidance from experts. You can learn more and register at https://summits.indieauthortraining.com/wide-for-the-win-summit. We’d love to see you there!
This Week’s Indie Author Magazine Articles
Since Lulu launched its self-publishing platform in 2002, the company has focused on helping authors build the businesses they want to create. Through its print-on-demand and fulfillment services, Lulu helps authors produce custom books in a variety of styles and formats, but it also offers authors as much creative control over their books’ distribution as they have for their production. Following the launch of the Direct Buy Button earlier this month, Lulu’s Senior Marketing Manager Paul Hobday explored four ways authors using the platform can use Lulu to sell their books directly. In his guest article, learn more about the sales channels Lulu offers and how those interested can set up those channels for themselves.
Indie Author Magazine
Marketing your book ahead of its release is essential to a strong launch, but the work doesn’t stop once it’s out in the world. As you grow your business, you'll face decisions between paid and organic advertising, what goals are realistic for your business, and how to balance the work of selling your first book while writing the next. "Marketing is not a launch-day sprint,” writes Author Inklings columnist Susan Odev. "It’s a career-long marathon.” This week, she offers advice on building a marketing plan that will keep you in the race for the long term.
Susan Odev
Teachings from Indie Author Training
Webinar: “Write-To-Market Essentials: Using Amazon Data To Sell More Books”
Like it or not, we live in a data-driven world. Data is everywhere. But what is the use of data if you cannot extract any insights from it, nor turn it into valuable actions? If you ever struggled with this, this webinar is for you. Amazon offers a whole wealth of data that can help improve your author business right now and set it up for long-term success. No matter whether you love or hate the marketing aspects of the publishing business, this webinar will be a fun learning experience.
By the end of the webinar you will have learned:
- what write-to-market is and how to make it work for you,
- what data Amazon offers to inform your writing and marketing decisions,
- how AI has changed the game and what to do about it,
- where sales and profits accumulate on Amazon, and
- big traps to avoid.
On top, we will share some of the latest genre trends and spend time with everyone in an open Q&A.
Watch the replay here: https://webinars.indieauthortraining.com/talks/writetomarket-essentials-using-amazon-data-to-sell-more-books.
Upcoming Webinars
September 9, 12 p.m. EST: “From Blurb to Launch Day: Build Your Book's Entire Visual Package in an Hour” with Pablo Yáñez of BeYourCover: Sign up at https://webinars.indieauthortraining.com/talks/from-blurb-to-launch-day-build-your-books-entire-visual-package-in-an-hour.
Indie Author Tools Directory
Have you visited Indie Author Tools lately? Our tools and services directory rounds up essential resources for indie authors at every stage of the publication process, from outlining to marketing and everything in between. Check out our listings in the following categories, or let us know which tools we’re missing at https://www.indieauthortools.com.
- Cover artists: https://indieauthortools.com/cover-artists
- Editors, from developmental through proofreading: https://indieauthortools.com/editors
- Marketing tools: https://indieauthortools.com/marketing-tools
- Audiobook production and narration: https://indieauthortools.com/sound-audio-books
More Indie Publishing News
Here’s a look beyond our pages at the latest headlines and happenings in the publishing world.
- Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing has extended the window in which authors can set up preorders for new releases from twelve months to eighteen months in advance, according to an announcement on the KDP dashboard earlier this week. In addition, authors can now postpone their preorder twice without penalty, for a total of up to six months beyond your original release date, according to the announcement. Read more about KDP’s ebook preorder features here: https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G201499380.
- Bookshop.org, the bookseller that donates portions of its sales to local, independent bookstores, has officially surpassed $50 million in donations to indie bookstores, according to an announcement shared by the platform last week. “$50 million sent to independent bookstores means rent is paid, new books are stocked, and payroll is a little easier at more than 3,100 local bookstores,” writes Bookshop.org CEO Andy Hunter. “It’s part of an incredible turnaround for local bookselling, which is booming after two decades of decline—the result of millions of readers deciding that local bookstores are too precious to lose, and that where they buy books matters. It's been a joy to be part of this story.”
Hunter writes that Bookshop.org’s success has also helped strengthen the relationship between indie authors and independent booksellers. "One of the trends we're seeing is stronger relationships between indie authors and indie bookstores. More local stores are carrying ebooks and physical copies from indie authors, and more indie authors are telling their fans to shop local. Bookshop.org is committed to making that as easy as possible."
Anything we’ve missed that you think we should cover? Any topics or questions you’d like our team to explore? Let us know at feedback@indieauthormagazine.com. Your suggestion may just make it into an upcoming article.
