How to reach your readers
12 December 2019
Last month, we cleared your marketing schedule of all the tasks that waste your time. This month, I am going to show you how to perform effective outreach that will...
Save $30 on a BookLife review of your book—published in Publishers Weekly
12 December 2019
Leading US book trade publication Publishers Weekly (PW) has launched BookLife Reviews, a paid reviews service for self-published authors. BookLife Reviews are thorough, professional assessments of your work—with expert marketing...
Darwin bookseller Sean Guy on stocking self-published books, and handselling ‘The Firebringer’
12 December 2019
Sean Guy is a bookseller at The Bookshop Darwin, and the author of 14 novels. He spoke to Australian Self-Publisher about his experience selling his own titles at The Bookshop, shared...
Smashwords launches presales option
12 December 2019
In the US, Smashwords has developed a new tool for indie authors to create, manage and merchandise ebook sales, reports Publishers Weekly. Smashwords Presales will allow authors and publishers to...
US self-publishing stats rise
12 December 2019
In the US, self-publishing grew at a rate of 40% in 2018, with more than one million books self-published for the second year in a row, according to a report...
Indie Publishing Conference: ‘Fundamentals’ program wrap-up
12 December 2019
The Small Press Network’s (SPN) annual Independent Publishing Conference was held at the Wheeler Centre, Melbourne, on 26–28 November. As part of the conference, the ‘Fundamentals’ program on Saturday is...
Finding what works (and doesn’t work) in your marketing plan
28 October 2019
Cultivating an active, long-term fan base for your work is key to becoming a successful independent publisher. However, building a substantial body of work is also critical, so you need...
Know your metadata, and other tips on modern marketing
28 October 2019
When asked to nominate the biggest challenge facing marketers today, publishing consultant Rachael McDiarmid says her answer often surprises: ‘My tip for all marketers is to know your metadata—it’s all...
‘Dinner Detectives’ books to be developed for TV
28 October 2019
Melbourne-based production studio BES Animation has acquired world broadcast and digital content rights to self-published picture book series ‘Dinner Detectives’, with plans to develop the books into a multi-platform TV...
Full program announced for SPN conference 2019
28 October 2019
The Small Press Network (SPN) has announced the full program for its 2019 Independent Publishing Conference, which will run at the Wheeler Centre in Melbourne from 21–23 November. It will...
IngramSpark launches brand new website
28 October 2019
For the past few months, IngramSpark has been hard at work laying out an entirely new online experience for indie authors. Now, they’re sharing it with the world. Check it...
Self-published books in the US grew by 40% in 2018
28 October 2019
Self-publishing in the US grew by 40% in 2018, according to a report published by Bowker. In total 1.68 million print and ebooks were self-published in 2018, up from 1.19 million...
Your number-one book marketing tool
12 September 2019
Authors often struggle with book marketing or get frustrated with poor returns despite spending more time marketing than writing. Of all the lousy advice a budding author can find online,...
Tenielle Stoltenkamp on securing stockists and reaching schools
12 September 2019
In June, Readings Kids assistant manager Dani Solomon named My Family Doesn’t Look Like Your Family by Tenielle Stoltenkamp as ‘hands down, the most popular’ self-published title stocked at their store. Stoltenkamp...
Build your social media strategy with IngramSpark’s free online course
12 September 2019
Learn how to create a social media marketing plan that promotes your book and author platform—in less than an hour! Read more here.
Awards wrap-up
12 September 2019
Journalist Hamish McDonald’s self-published book Reasonable Doubt: Spies, police and the Croatian Six was nominated for two awards in August: the Bad Sydney Crime Writers Festival’s Danger Prize (which was...
Wattpad introduces new monetised program; reports rise in user base
12 September 2019
Self-publishing platform Wattpad has announced a new monetisation program amid a 23% rise in its user base, reports Publishing Perspectives. In July, over 130 authors were participating in the Paid...
Mike Nicholson on ‘This Imaginary Feeling of Being Australian’
10 September 2019
This month, author Michael Nicholson spoke with Australian Self-Publisher about This Imaginary Feeling of Being Australian—a political satire that imagines Australia as a naval superpower. Describe your book in under 50 words: A typographical...
Save on advertising in PW’s Frankfurt editions
22 August 2019
Publishers Weekly’s title showcase is a way for publishers, agents and self-publishers to affordably advertise in PW’s Frankfurt issues, including its three Show Dailies, which are distributed at the fair. PW is...
How the self-publishing industry has changed
8 August 2019
Nigel George is an educator and author of five books on technology and self-publishing. In his first piece for Australian Self Publisher, he surveys the past five years of the...
In the August issue
8 August 2019
Changes are afoot at Australian Self-Publisher. This month we welcome a new contributor, NSW-based author and educator Nigel George. Nigel is a computer whiz who managed to quit his job...
Offset printing with Ellie Marney
8 August 2019
While print on demand (POD) is the most heavily promoted model of book printing for self-publishers who need physical copies of their books, it’s not the only choice out there....
‘Snapchat in book form’: Celeste Morgan on ‘My Little Friends in the Mirror’
8 August 2019
Last month, Readings Kids manager Dani Solomon named Celeste Morgan’s My Little Friends in the Mirror as one of the store’s most popular self-published titles. The book, which began its...
Awards wrap-up
8 August 2019
In the US, a number of self-published authors were winners at the Romance Writers of America’s (RWA) annual RITA Awards, which recognise excellence in romance novels and novellas. Among the...
Build your social media strategy with IngramSpark’s free online course
8 August 2019
Learn how to create a social media marketing plan that promotes your book and author platform—in less than an hour! Read more.
Self-publishing scam targets local authors
8 August 2019
The Australian Society of Authors (ASA) is warning local authors about an email campaign from self-publishing company EC Publishing, which offers to exhibit the recipients' titles at the 2019 Miami...
Self-publishing essentials with Ellie Marney: Promo, marketing and all that jazz (part five)
9 July 2019
Advertising Welcome back! In the last article, we started talking about promoting in concrete ways—you can catch up with that article (and the three before it) right here. Now we’re...
Angela Ball on ‘ABC the ACT’
9 July 2019
This month, author Angela Ball spoke with Australian Self-Publisher about ABC the ACT—which explores 'the wonders of the Australian Capital Territory’. Describe your book in under 50 words. ABC the...
Selling indie authors in bricks-and-mortar stores
9 July 2019
Recently, Readings Kids bookstore in the Melbourne suburb of Carlton ran a self-published children’s books promotion. The two-month-long initiative included a feature window and an in-store display. Australian Self-Publisher spoke...
Excerpt: ‘So You Want to be a Writer’
9 July 2019
In June, the Australian Writers' Centre (AWC) published So You Want to be a Writer, by AWC CEO Valerie Khoo and bestselling author Allison Tait. Sharing the name of the...