On the List: The Housemaid by Freida McFadden
Before The Housemaid, Freida McFadden self-published 14 other novels and edited one anthology, with many Amazon bestsellers among them.
BookBub Advertising: Principles for Success
Testing and targeting can make or break your BookBub ad.
IMHO: The New Era of AI-Generated Junk
What we all could have predicted would happen is now happening.
Book sales update: March 1, 2023
According to NPD BookScan, US print sales are down 2 percent versus last year but still ahead of 2019. Romance remains the strongest driver.
Barnes & Noble membership program increases price
When it first started many years ago, the membership program cost $25 per year. The cost is now $40 and comes with new perks.
Bowker reports increase in ISBNs issued for self-published titles
In 2021, the number of new self-published titles that have both ISBNs and BISAC codes was 53% higher than those registered in 2018.
Bookshop will start selling ebooks, plus start publishing new books
Bookshop, launched in 2020 as a virtuous alternative to Amazon, has until now sold primarily print editions.
Roald Dahl’s work revised by UK publisher, leading to criticism
Last month, the Telegraph reported it had found hundreds of changes in the latest UK editions of Dahl’s children’s books.
Always Read the Acknowledgments Page
Acknowledgment pages allow us to peer into authors’ lives, and reveal the fascinating web of the publishing world.
The Nuts and Bolts of Becoming an Independent Editor
There is no formalized career path for freelance editors. From the hosts of the Independent Editor Podcast, here are tips on what to expect.
How to Minimize Hurt Feelings When Writing Your Memoir
Memoirists can take steps throughout the writing and publishing process to minimize fallout and family strife.
How Authors Can Build Relationships with Independent Bookstores
Marketing your book to bookstores—like marketing your book anywhere else—requires research and shoe leather.
Authors Who’ve Launched Their Careers on TikTok
Here’s how two self-published authors have been successful in their marketing and promotion efforts on TikTok.
Links of Interest: February 15, 2023
The latest in traditional publishing, self-publishing, culture & politics, AI, TikTok, Amazon, and audio.
Foreword Reviews announces a new industry event
Industry review outlet Foreword Reviews is launching Library Insights Summit (LIS), a day-long event for librarians and publishers.
Skyhorse launches Peakpoint Press
The new Skyhorse imprint will publish “quick-to-market, personal and professional improvement titles.”
Tor launches a romance imprint
Tor’s Bramble will be a romance imprint for “exceptional love stories of all kinds.”
Zibby opens a bookstore in California
Zibby Owens, a podcaster and influencer who launched her own publishing company, has now opened up a bookstore in Santa Monica.
New agent at Felicity Bryan Associates (UK)
Alice Caprio will join on April 3 as a literary agent, representing children’s/YA and commercial adult fiction.
New agent at Triada US
Ashley Reisinger has joined as an assistant literary agent; she represents primarily romance, young adult, and middle grade.
New agent at The CAT Agency
Aliza R. Hoover has joined as associate agent after serving as art coordinator associate at Candlewick Press.
New agent at Gardner Literary
A former editor at Penguin Random House, Ashley Hong has joined Gardner Literary as an agent.
Pandemic-Era Booksellers: Doing Well a Year Later
Owners of bookstores that opened during pandemic precautions can now focus on personal connections with customers and community building.
Trend Watch: MSWL and BookTok
It’s the 10-year anniversary of MSWL, and agents seek twisty thrills in fiction.
The Problem with Auctions
The right editor and marketing plan is more important than a big advance, according to some editors and agents.