Beventi is a popular platform for indie authors to facilitate direct sales through events (see my profile from July 2024), while INKfluence helps indie authors produce special editions and merchandise for direct sales. The partnership between the two companies, announced just in time for Author Nation this week, allows authors to configure their premium print features (foil, embossing, sprayed/printed edges, ribbons, reversible dust jackets, slipcases) in real time, see pricing instantly, and secure production through INKfluence’s global network. It’s meant to take the guesswork and endless quoting out of special editions. Learn more about it and see a demo at Beventi’s site.
I spoke with Beventi co-founder John Smythe and INKfluence founder Dana Ross about the partnership last week. Here are the key takeaways:
- The collaboration merges Beventi’s user-friendly site and service with INKfluence’s production expertise—especially in special-edition printing and merchandising. Authors can design, price, and order special editions, book boxes, and other materials directly via Beventi. INKfluence targets common author struggles: how to begin a print run, handle overseas printing, or manage fulfillment efficiently. They offer both partial and full-service support, including design, printing, quality control, and optional fulfillment through their partner, Laguna Studios.
- INKfluence guarantees stable quotes (valid for 30 days) once a project enters production and covers unexpected cost increases, helping authors avoid surprises in volatile freight and tariff environments. Ross said, “We’re the missing piece to getting that lower price so that you have the higher margin.”
- The partnership will eventually let authors create entire book boxes—selecting items like pins, bookmarks, and tattoos—directly through Beventi’s interface.
The new system launched only a week ago. At the time of our conversation, 15 authors had already submitted projects for quotes. Additional features and lower print-run minimums are planned for upcoming updates.
Long term, Beventi aims to help authors sell directly to readers without needing separate platforms like Shopify, making Beventi a one-stop shop for event, direct, and print sales. Currently, authors handle their own shipping or event fulfillment for direct sales when using Beventi, but Beventi plans to streamline logistics through integration with shipping services.
I find it a meaningful partnership between two companies that serve the indie author community and share the same values. Ross said, “We’re very transparent. … Everything is about making sure that the customer is very happy and satisfied and they feel comforted.” Authors who’ve felt that producing a special edition has been outside their time and ability to manage may want to check out the Beventi-INKfluence quoting tool.
Jane Friedman has spent her entire career working in the publishing industry, with a focus on business reporting and author education. Established in 2015, her newsletter The Bottom Line provides nuanced market intelligence to thousands of authors and industry professionals; in 2023, she was named Publishing Commentator of the Year by Digital Book World.
Jane’s expertise regularly features in major media outlets such as The New York Times, The Atlantic, NPR, The Today Show, Wired, The Guardian, Fox News, and BBC. Her book, The Business of Being a Writer, Second Edition (The University of Chicago Press), is used as a classroom text by many writing and publishing degree programs. She reaches thousands through speaking engagements and workshops at diverse venues worldwide, including NYU’s Advanced Publishing Institute, Frankfurt Book Fair, and numerous MFA programs.
