An overview of self-publishing/indie publishing and what it means for libraries. Understand different types of publishing, support patrons who would like to self-publish, and understand the issues involved in selecting and purchasing self-published books.

1. Self-Publishing and Libraries
Why should libraries pay attention to self-
publishing?
Some popular authors have moved away from
traditional publishing but are still in demand
While traditional publishers struggle to adapt to
the disruption caused by ebooks, self-publishers
are succeeding with low cost ebooks.
Patrons are interested in self-publishing, and the
library can advise or even partner with them
Libraries risk being left out of an Amazon-centric
developing “indie” book culture

2. Types of Publishing
Traditional publishing
Author sells rights to work, gets advance on
royalties (i.e. profit minus book design, editing,
production, publicity costs, and agent and
bookseller percentage (agent gets 15%,
booksellers get 30-40%). Publisher provides
guidance, publicity, and gets books into good
positions in brick and mortar stores. Publisher has
distribution deals to get books to
wholesalers/retailers. Large print runs are more
cost-effective, which means warehousing and
returns of unsold books. Realistically, today an
author must do a lot of extra publicity on her
own.

3. Types of Publishing
Self-Publishing/”Indie” publishing
Author keeps rights and gets profit minus
design, editing, production, publicity costs,
and bookseller percentage--depending on
how the book is sold, perhaps also shipping or
transportation costs, distribution costs. Author
must provide her own editing, design, and
marketing, and will have limited access to
shelf space in brick and mortar stores. If not
using print on demand, author must deal with
warehousing/returns. With POD, this is not an
issue. For ebooks, production/distribution
costs are almost nil.

4. Types of Publishing
Vanity/”Subsidy publishing”
Author sells some/all rights AND pays up front for
production costs--often more than they're worth.
Some vanity publishers do some distribution work.
Assisted Self-Publishing
Author keeps (most) rights and pays up front for
production costs. Service provider offers editing,
design, distribution, and marketing services as
packages or a la carte. Authors must take care to
make sure that prices are fair.
Hybrid Publishing
Author publishes some titles herself and some with a
traditional publisher, or uses a traditional publisher for
print vs. ebooks.

5. The Self-Publishing Revolution?
Reasons for the rise of self-publishing:
The “death of the midlist”
The rise of ebooks
Ebook dominance in genre fiction (Read
Courtney Milan’s blog post about her print sales
with Harlequin vs. her self-pub ebook sales)
Print on demand technology

6. The Self-Publishing Revolution?
Some authors who have gone from traditional
publishing to self/hybird (follow the links to see their
reasons why):
Bella Andre, Courtney Milan, Eileen Goudge,
Claire Cook, Guy Kawasaki, Holly Lisle
Authors who got their start self-publishing and later
got traditional publishing deals or went “hybrid”:
Lisa Genova, Christopher Paolini, Amanda
Hocking, Richard Paul Evans, Hugh Howey (a top
proponent of self-publishing), Richard Bolles
(What Color is Your Parachute?), Ken Blanchard
(The One Minute Manager)

7. Who Succeeds in Self-
Publishing?
Mike Shatzkin: “Comparing self-publishing to being published
is tricky and most of the data you need to do it right is not
available”
Authors who are experts on a niche topic and have a built-
in audience at talks, seminars, etc.
Authors with an existing audience from traditionally
published titles
Authors in genres like romance and science fiction where
readers prefer ebooks, it’s difficult to get shelf space in
brick and mortar stores, and readers don’t rely on reviews
from mainstream media sources
Authors with a strong social media/web presence
Authors who are entrepreneurs and have some
legal/technical knowledge

8. Self-Publishing Service Providers
Suggested ebook: Choosing a Self-Publishing
Service Provider 2014: The Alliance of Independent
Authors Guide
More from ALLi:
http://www.selfpublishingadvice.org/
Major players:
Amazon Kindle Direct, CreateSpace
Smashwords (ebooks only)
Lightning Source, Ingram Spark

9. Avoiding Predatory Service Providers
Writer Beware
Predators and Editors
Absolute Write Water Cooler
The worst offenders:
Publish America/America Star Books
Author Solutions (iUniverse, Xlibris, Author House,
many more) (More info here)
The line between vanity presses and assisted self-publishing service
providers can be hard to define. Companies like Outskirts Press offer
some valid services a la carte, but also offer overly expensive services that
do not deliver. Author Solutions is particularly aggressive about selling
customers on services they could get themselves for much less. For
example: Author House charges around $3000 to get you reviews in three
paid services, including Kirkus. Those same reviews purchased directly
cost $1300.

10. Self-Published Books in Libraries
Josh Hadro, What’s the Problem With Self-Publishing?
Library Journal, April 11 2013
Most self-publishing service providers offer a listing
with Ingram or other wholesalers. Many providers use
Ingram’s own POD service, Lightning Source
Smashwords and Author Solutions titles in Overdrive
(in a separate section of Overdrive Marketplace).
Smashwords titles appear to be available only in
Overdrive Read format (not downloadable). Authors
with more than 10 titles may apply directly to
Overdrive for inclusion with trad. Published books.
Other companies exist that will manage your ebook
distribution to Overdrive.
Biblioboard/SELF-e

11. Collection Development
Reviews of self-published books:
Kirkus (costs $400-$600 for a review, authors
have option to keep negative reviews from
publication)
PW Select/BookLife (PW Select charges $149 for
a listing and a chance to be reviewed. Recently
launched BookLife is free; it’s unclear how this
affects PW Select)
Library Journal E-Originals (for ebook romance
only)
Blogs (more on this)
Reader reviews (Amazon, Goodreads, Shelfari)