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...
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...
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...
Amazon self-published authors suspended ‘without sufficient explanation of wrongdoing’
30 April 2019
In the US, self-published authors have claimed Amazon removed their ebooks from sale without sufficient explanation of wrongdoing, reports Yahoo Finance. Amazon has reportedly been cracking down on authors who...
DC Public Library to add self-published authors’ ebooks to their collection
30 April 2019
In the US, the District of Columbia (DC) Public Library is looking to add ebooks written by local authors to its online collection, reports NBC News. Electronic resources librarian April...
Self-publishing marketplace Reedsy launches new marketing platform for authors
26 March 2019
In the UK, self-publishing marketplace Reedsy has launched a new marketing platform for authors, Reedsy Discovery, reports Forbes. The book review portal will alert readers to new books its expert...
More than 1000 authors earned over US$100K in 2018 says Amazon
1 March 2019
Amazon has reported that authors earned more than US$260 million (A$359m) from the Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) Select Global Fund in 2018, totalling more than US$840m (A$1.16bn) since the launch of Kindle Unlimited. Amazon...
EU agrees on copyright directive
1 March 2019
The European Parliament, the Council of the EU and the European Commission have made an agreement on the Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market, which modernises copyright law for the first...
New pricing model at PublishDrive
29 November 2018
PublishDrive, a global ebook distribution platform for authors and independent publishers, has introduced a new subscription pricing option, reports Publishers Weekly. Under the new plan, authors will pay a flat...
EU council allows VAT-free status for ebooks and audio books
30 October 2018
The European Union’s (EU) Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN) has agreed to allow all member states to give ebooks and audiobooks the same value-added tax (VAT) status as printed books, reports...
Over one million books self-published in the US in 2017
30 October 2018
In the US, more than one million books were self-published in 2017, breaking the record for the the total number of titles self-published in a year, according to a report published...
ALLi launches new self-publishing campaign
30 October 2018
The Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi), a UK-based non-profit independent author organisation, has launched a new campaign called Self-publishing 3.0, according to a press release about their forthcoming white paper on the concept....
Longlisting of self-published title for major prize angers French booksellers
26 September 2018
French booksellers have lashed out at of one of the country’s most prestigious literary prizes for longlisting a self-published novel that's only available on Amazon, reports The Guardian. French-Israeli author Marco...
UK awards organisation builds digital hub for emerging writers
31 August 2018
In the UK, the Young Writer of the Year Award (YWYA) has launched a free online hub for emerging and aspiring writers, reports the Bookseller. YWYA is hosting free content on...
Shut down Oceanofpdf piracy website returns
31 August 2018
US-hosted ebook piracy website Oceanofpdf, which was recently shut down, has returned under a .net domain, reports the Bookseller. The Bookseller reported on 22 August that the website was offering free copies of books by...
US sales declined slightly in 2017; 5.4% rise in adult nonfiction sales
30 July 2018
US publishers’ total industry sales fell slightly in 2017 to US$26.23 billion (A$35.5bn), down from US$26.27 billion (A$35.6bn) in 2016, according to results released by the Association of American Publishers...
Amazon criticised for removing online book reviews from website
29 June 2018
Amazon has drawn criticism from authors, bloggers and publishers for removing reviews from its online book listings, reports the Bookseller. According to reports, some Amazon customers have had all their reviews removed or...
UK audiobook sales double over past five years; men drive growth
24 April 2018
Audiobook sales in the UK have doubled over the last five years, reports the Bookseller. While book purchases across all formats in the UK last year fell by three percent compared to...
Barnes & Noble announces large cuts to store positions
22 February 2018
US book retailer Barnes & Noble has announced large cuts to store positions as part of a ‘new labour model’ after reporting disappointing holiday sales results in early January. ‘The new...
Adult sales up, kids sales down in US
22 February 2018
In the US, estimates from the AAP’s StatShot program show that sales of adult trade books increased slightly (0.4%) in the first nine months of 2017 compared to the same...
Amazon Createspace to close author services division; 58 jobs cut
24 January 2018
Amazon's self-publishing service in the US, Createspace, is cutting 58 jobs and closing its author services division this year, according to the Post and Courier. 'After a thorough review of...
Self-publishing podcast ‘Go Publish Yourself’ launched
24 January 2018
IngramSpark has launched the first season of its self-publishing podcast Go Publish Yourself. The podcast was launched earlier this month to provide self-publishing information in an alternative format, with four episodes...
New Goodreads giveaways program in 2018
18 December 2017
Goodreads has introduced a new US giveaways program which will replace the current giveaways program on 9 January 2018. Under the new program, giveaway entries are only open to US...
US self-publisher ISBNs up 8% in 2016
9 November 2017
In the US, ISBNs for self-published books have grown eight percent from 2015-2016, according to a new report from ProQuest affiliate Bowker. In total, 786,935 ISBNs were assigned to self-published...
