Readers have loved mystery novels for centuries, but what exactly makes for a compulsively readable mystery? What is it that makes someone want to finish “just one more chapter,” no matter what time it is? There are many aspects of a mystery that draw readers in, but a well-planned, slow-roll reveal of clues and evidence will keep readers guessing until the very end.

What is an antihero? Many iconic antiheroes have left a lasting impact on literature and popular culture. Characters such as Walter White from Breaking Bad, Tony Soprano from The Sopranos, and Lisbeth Salander from The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo represent the antihero archetype.

By and large, the romantasy genre has been booming for some time, and it doesn't look to be slowing down any time soon. The genre offers a mix of magical escapism and romantic relationships that readers are drawn to, and it's attracting fans of both fantasy and romance in droves.

Not only has romance readership itself developed into a full-scale fandom as the landscape begins to look more and more like ComicCon (The Washington Post), but #romantasy videos have more than 800 million views on TikTok. In 2024 alone, one out of every four bestsellers was romantasy. (Bloomberg) 

As autumn approaches and the air turns crisp, it's time to rake leaves, carve pumpkins, and indulge in all things pumpkin-flavored. It's also time to cozy up with a good book. Though it's not the only time of year that readers want to dig into a gripping horror novel, many find themselves yearning for a chilling read that perfectly complements the season's eerie charm.

Comics have been around for about 100 years in some form or another and have gained enduring popularity among particular markets. Reading and collecting comic books may be a niche hobby, but those who are into it are truly devoted. Many people aren’t aware of this, but you can self-publish comic books just like you can with novels, children’s books, and almost every other form of the printed word.

The year's not over yet, and there are still plenty of fall festivals and events ahead! While book festivals do require an investment of time and resources, they can be invaluable for self-published authors looking to expand their readership, network with industry professionals, and gain valuable insights into the publishing world.

If you want people to read your book, you have to write for a particular group of people,  as it's not realistic that everyone will like your book. Knowing who your audience is before you start writing is an advantage—you won't have to work that out after you've already finished a product you’re trying to promote. To be honest, that's not how most writers start out, but whether you’ve already published your book, or you’ve only written the first chapter, taking a deep dive into who you're writing for is a must if you’re doing your own marketing.

Part Four of a Blog Series

This fourth and final installment of the complete guide to creating an author website will delve into monitoring the users that visit, what happens during those visits, and what that can tell you about how well your website is performing. 

Part Three of a Series

Part Two of a Blog Series

Ideally, your domain name should be yourname.com. If you have multiple books, this should be a no-brainer. Obviously, you wouldn’t get a domain name for just one of your books if you have an author website with multiple books. What if you already have a website using the domain name of one of your books? Now might be the time to consolidate under one website using your name. Your name is generally more searchable, and by putting all of your books on one site, you allow readers looking for one book, in particular, to naturally discover your other works. Even if you are a first-time author with one book, it should still be yourname.com. 

While we often talk about authors as a collective whole, the truth is that the advice we give to nonfiction writers often doesn’t apply to those who write fiction—precisely because each set of authors is involved in such a different process (and product).

Influencer marketing has become a powerful tool for businesses of all sizes, but navigating the landscape can be tricky. Whether you're an author promoting your latest novel or a publisher promoting your backlist titles, understanding how to leverage influencer partnerships effectively is key.

There's nothing wrong with book reviews, but there are so many other options to consider when you choose to market your book! No matter how great your book is or which influencers you work with, you need to be creative with the type of content you're using for your influencer marketing campaigns. Ensuring the content is delivered in a fun, relatable, and engaging way will help you stand out in a crowded marketplace and capture the attention of your audience. 

Influencer marketing can be used in a wide range of industries, including books and publishing. Spaces such as #BookTok help authors and publishers get noticed, which can lead to a wider audience and stronger sales. To have success with this kind of marketing, though, you need effective collaboration. Here are some of the biggest things to consider.

Knowing your audience is an idea you’re probably familiar with as it’s frequently mentioned in every writing community and on every writing-related website. It is a foundational concept, for sure, but when it comes to marketing your book, it’s only the very first step. You’ve got to not only recognize your target audience, but also segment that audience to get the most bang for your marketing buck. Read on to discover why the importance of audience segmentation for self-published authors cannot be overstated. 

We’re well into 2024 already, but it’s never too late to stay on top of marketing your book! Trends are constantly changing, and there are so many effective ways to get your book in front of potential new readers these days. Here are some of the top trends that have been gaining momentum this year, and there’s no indication that they'll be going away anytime soon.

Want to get your book shelved at your local library? It takes some leg work, but you can make it happen. I’ve had my independently published books included in library circulations across the United States. You can do it too by following the steps in this article.

A common struggle many self-published authors face is creating files that are usable by printers such as IngramSpark. With the right files, uploading to IngramSpark is relatively simple, but when anything is wrong with the files, the process can quickly become a nightmare.

When working with an influencer to promote your books, in order to have the highest chance of success, you'll want to make sure you're choosing the right person for the job. That involves doing your research before reaching out to make contact, including using  influencer discovery platforms and tools to find the best people for your needs.

“Success” is a funny concept in the realm of indie publishing. Many authors choose to publish independently precisely because they are uninterested in mainstream success—eye-watering advances, NYT book reviews, etc.—preferring to retain more control over the publishing process and potentially stronger relationships with their readers.

Self-publishing your book is quite an accomplishment, but unless you printed something deeply personal that’s just for you or a gift for someone close, you want everyone to buy and read your book. As an indie author, marketing is a huge part of your job, and IngramSpark has many resources to make that easier. One of our newest opportunities is Title Discovery Promotion.

Influencer marketing is a technique that uses the influence of popular social media personalities to bring a brand or product to the public's attention. It's used for everything from health and beauty products to clothing to books.

Authors today are living out the glory days for connectivity. Mere decades ago, readers were writing fan mail to authors’ agents, and authors in turn were responding with handwritten letters expressing their appreciation for reading their books.

Born from a 1970 New York City march honoring the Stonewall Uprising, Pride Month has become a global celebration. It's a time to champion self-acceptance, equality, and the richness of diversity. Recognizing the contributions of LGBTQ+ individuals to history and culture, IngramSpark is proud to spotlight indie authors and publishers who bring the LGBTQ+ experience to life.

TikTok is for more than just the latest dance craze or viral challenge. There’s a community for almost everything people are interested in, and this is especially true for book lovers. #BookTok is a large, thriving community. Even brick-and-mortar stores often have a section devoted to books recommended on #BookTok. It’s the perfect place to promote your self-published book.

The excitement and sense of accomplishment from publishing your book and seeing it for sale in retail stores and online is fantastic. It’s even more exciting to see the money come in. But if those sales are slowing, or even if they remain steady, it might be time to look beyond your current horizons and into selling in international markets.

The market for books in the U.S. is huge, but the 2023 global book market was valued at $132.4 billion. For authors and publishers willing to invest, selling their books globally can pay off substantially in terms of greater impact, revenue, and career opportunities. Don't limit your book’s potential by just staying in your comfort zone.

In a previous post, we discussed the many reasons why you should sell your book globally and how Global Connect makes it easy to get into international markets. The next question you’re probably asking yourself is how to go about promoting your book in those markets. Here, we'll share some things to consider when stepping into the international scene.

Self-publishing with IngramSpark gets you access to one of the largest wholesale book distributors in the world, which means thousands of retailers and libraries can easily order your book. However, these places are concentrated in English-speaking countries or where English is often learned as a second language. With the Global Connect Program (GCP), you can achieve a truly global reach that will get your book in the hands of people who otherwise might never hear of it. 

Your book has the potential to reach audiences around the world with IngramSpark’s extensive distribution channels. For optimized global discoverability of your book,  regardless of the content language, use the metadata guidelines and suggestions below.

You may not have even considered creating author merchandise as a promotional tool, as merchandising is still a relatively new concept in the world of self-publishing. However, think about the power of merchandise in promoting all of your favorite brands, tv shows, or movies. Per Indie Wire, Star Wars retains its 2012 Guinness World Record title as history’s most successful film merchandising franchise. It amassed an unfathomable $32 billion from lucrative merchandise.

So you’ve self-published your book, and it’s available to order online, in bookstores, and even libraries. It’s a fantastic feeling to see your hard work pay off, but if the sales aren’t coming in as quickly as you hoped, it's time to look at other places to sell your book. Schools offer a variety of opportunities, including volume sales, if you have the cash flow and patience to make it past the initial hurdle.

If you want to write something truly unique that will also serve to grow your brand as an author consider writing a memoir. No one has the same story as you or will be able to tell it in your style. Your fans want to get to know you, and you can go much deeper in a memoir than in blog articles or social media posts. As an independent author, your brand is you. 

Dickinson, Frost, Angelou, Hughes, Whitman . . . the names alone conjure up a rush of "the feels." These names inspire. They are worthy of remembrance, but that's not enough. National Poetry Month is a call to not only remember these inspirational artists, but also to think about and share how their work and the art form it embodies has endured to influence millions of lives. Poetry extends across cultures and generations and you have a role to play in that.

The term “self-publishing” is often associated with the vision of an author struggling to do everything—from editing to marketing—on their own. It’s true that self-publishers wear many hats, but that doesn’t mean they’re doomed to do everything without help.

Choosing Thema Subject and Qualifier Codes are a powerful way to make your book more discoverable in the Global Market. More super-charged than BISAC Subject Codes, Themas were designed to help your book find both its broad, and very specific, audience around the world.  

Most independent authors don’t consider copyrighting until they're in the process of self-publishing, and that’s okay since it doesn’t have to be done before you publish. It can be a little complicated though, and it's often the last thing writers want to think about during the excitement of self-publishing their work. Getting a firm grasp on what copyrighting means, and the steps you’ll have to take, is essential, and you can do it at any point in your journey.

If you’ve already found success selling your self-published book and are looking for a wider market, you may want to think about translating your book so that as many readers as possible can enjoy it. Less than 20% of the world speaks English, so by translating your work into another language, you can potentially reach hundreds of thousands of new readers. 

When it comes time to print and distribute your book, it may seem as if many options are open to you. On the surface, this is true. However, a little-known secret in the self-publishing industry is that most of the “publishers” that purport to print and distribute your book for you go through IngramSpark. 

Almost all writers realize the value of feedback and editing from others. While a few may write only for themselves, most want others to see, and enjoy, their work and to know how their work is received. For authors preparing to publish their book, the process often involves others such as friends, family, beta readers, editors, and maybe a mentor. This group should also include other writers, especially those who have published before. Don’t miss out on the value of peer input.

Most people think of writing, self-publishing, and selling their books as a solitary endeavor. Though it can be, it doesn’t have to be. Usually, you’ll find great success by working with others, especially in the realm of marketing and promotion. There are many benefits to working with other authors. Here, we’ll share some of those benefits and expand on how you can find collaborators and get them to work with you.

Have you dreamed about your book being discussed by a book club, bringing a community of readers closer, and inspiring lively conversations? Authors don’t write just to have their book sitting on a dusty shelf, and book clubs are a great way to get your work out there. Keep reading to learn how to market your book to book clubs.

So, you’ve published your book with IngramSpark, and it’s available online, in stores, and around the world. Maybe you’ve thought about offering a discounted price or a special run of your title just for your friends and family, or for your followers on social media. Did you know you can now sell your book directly to readers from your author website, social media profile, and more with shareable purchase links?

Undoubtedly, you already know how important networking is to success in any business. Being an author is no different, and for self-published authors, networking is something you cannot neglect. Here, we’ll cover some of the benefits of networking and the best places, virtually or in person, to accomplish this.

The new year has begun, and it's only natural to look back at what we did over the previous 12 months. As we see the past year in review, we often think about what we want to accomplish in the coming year. This is especially necessary as a writer. Now is the perfect time to take stock of writing goals: which ones you met, which are still valuable, and what ones you should set for the coming year.

Here, we offer some goals to consider adding to your list for 2024 to make the year even more successful.

Social networking is powerful. One-third of the world uses social networks regularly. Studies show that 71% of shoppers are influenced by social media in making purchasing decisions. While physical book clubs and reading groups still exist, online communities for book lovers make it easy for readers to share the books they are reading and their thoughts about them with a much wider audience. Social networking sites for books allow readers to connect with other readers around books.

If you've recently joined a new writing group or if you've started one of your own, you may be looking for some activities for your group meetings. Some groups may have stated rules and goals, depending on the type of group to which you belong. However, there are many fun and productive exercises you can incorporate into your meetings. 

In previous posts, we’ve talked about the benefits of a writing group and how to find one, but sometimes finding a group you want to join is difficult. Maybe you’ve visited some but they didn’t fit your needs, or maybe there just aren’t any in your area. If that’s the case, you should consider starting your own group. We've got some tips to help get you started.

Being a part of a writing group is a great idea and can be very beneficial to your work…but how do you find one? We have some great resources to share to help you on your journey toward reaping the benefits associated with joining a writing group. 

2023 was another fantastic year for IngramSpark authors. I am so proud to see what our teams have achieved in 2023, including a successful 10-year anniversary, no setup fees, and shareable links. I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to launch wholeheartedly into the new year!  

Writing and self-publishing are not solitary endeavors as some might assume. Sitting alone in front of a computer can only get you so far. If you're struggling to get your words onto the page or to cross the finish line and self-publish your book, joining a writing group can help.

One of the wonderful advantages of self-publishing and print-on-demand is that you don’t have to have a large stock of your book taking up space in your home. Nevertheless, indie authors should definitely have some copies on hand for a variety of uses. Neglecting to do so could cause you to miss out on many sales opportunities. Here are 11 reasons why you should buy your own book.

You’ve probably heard it before, but it bears repeating. The holidays are the busiest time for book sales, and you can’t wait until December to prepare. According to wordsrated.com, almost 20% of all books are sold during the holiday season. Take advantage of this time by ordering your own book from IngramSpark now. 

If you follow Kwame Alexander on Instagram, or have gone to The Book Doctors for advice, you may have heard of this exciting new reality show about finding America’s next great author.

IngramSpark first released groundwood paper in 2020 as an alternative to crème and white paper during a time when the latter two were in short supply. It was only available for certain trim sizes in the U.S. Since that time, we’ve expanded our groundwood paper offering to include most small trim sizes in all our print facilities, including those in the United Kingdom and Australia.  

IngramSpark takes a necessary stand to uphold the integrity of and reduce bias against independently published works. To align with our industry’s needs for content integrity, we will actively remove content from our catalog that is deemed unsuitable according to the criteria specified below, that may be deemed illegal or harmful under applicable law, or that may otherwise harm buyers or the reputations of IngramSpark, its affiliates, our publishers or distribution channels; IngramSpark retains the right to make any such determination in its sole and absolute discretion.

There’s one distinct difference between a good author and a great author: a good author knows what their audience wants, but a great author knows what their audience needs. They understand who their audience is, what drives them, and, most importantly, how to sell to them. 

After you've spent the time and money to edit, design, and market your book, the thought of selling it at a discounted price may seem counterintuitive. However, offering a discount is an excellent way to expand your reach in the book distribution channels. Discounting your book can help get it picked up by retailers. Here's how.

It’s hard to believe that we are almost through May. It has been quite the start to 2023, and May has proven no different with the many new changes that we have introduced at IngramSpark.  In our industry, we often are busy keeping up with the day-to-day changes that come along with publishing, but I would like to take a moment to express my gratitude and thanks for the continued support we receive from our IngramSpark authors and publishers. Your use of IngramSpark is instrumental in driving our growth and enabling us to create better opportunities for indies and independently published content around the globe.

Whether you’re excited or not about AI and using it in your author business, it is here to stay. We are in the early days of AI systems like Chat GPT and Jasper.ai and their power and utility will increase. That doesn’t mean you have to use these things as an author, but if you’re looking for some low-cost short cuts, especially for research, AI could be your answer.  

Library Organization and Purchasing Decisions

America's libraries fall into four basic types: Public, School, Academic and Special (armed forces, government, corporate). Like bookstores, most libraries purchase content from book vendors like Ingram or Baker and Taylor rather than directly from publishers. If your book isn’t in a library vendor catalog, you're already behind the curve.

Many people still believe they need a literary agent to become an author. They spend months crafting the perfect book proposal and then months searching for an agent. If they are lucky enough to find an agent who wants to work with them, they then can wait six months to a year to hear if any publishers are interested. In all of that time, a book could have been written, edited, designed, and published!  

In the past, getting independent booksellers to shelve self-published books was a difficult prospect. Indie booksellers were reluctant to sell self-published books, based on the old bias that self-published meant poor content or poor quality. But that was then and this is now. Not only have self-published authors upped their game when it comes to content, but the quality of self-published books is highly competitive with those of traditionally published books. So just how do you go about selling your book to independent bookstores?

2023 is in full swing and with it comes a whole host of new approaches to book marketing. We’re seeing media outlets revert back to in-person interviews following COVID-19 and indie bookstores taking a turn in the spotlight. A renewed focus on connecting directly with readers has made a huge impact on book sales in the wake of BookTok and influencer marketing. It’s a whole new world and below are 5 marketing trends to help you navigate it: 

With the rise of e-readers, ebook retailers, and changing shopping patterns, it’s never been a more advantageous time to share your story in the digital marketplace! There are several prominent self-publishing companies you can choose from when deciding to publish an ebook. While famous names like Kindle Direct Publishing, BookBaby, and Issuu might sound like the way to go, IngramSpark has so much more to offer authors. This includes the convenience of having your print and ebook in one platform, a user-friendly Book-Building Tool, a wide distribution network and easy conversion of print book files to ebook.

To Ebook Or Not To Ebook

Publishing an ebook is a great way to make your work available to a whole new market of readers! You may be wondering if your book will only work as an ebook or if it can also be a print book. What type of books should or should not be an ebook? Except for a few niche genres, anything that can be a print book can be an ebook as well! All different genres and book types, from cookbooks to poetry, memoirs to illustrated children’s books, can all become ebooks accessible on multiple smart devices.

What is Kindle Direct Publishing? 

In the world of self-publishing, Kindle Direct Publishing is undoubtedly a well-known name. Kindle Direct Publishing or KDP for short, is Amazon’s platform for self-publishing ebooks, paperback, and hardcover books. When deciding to self-publish your ebook, you probably thought of KDP as the go-to platform. If you have used KDP, then you are aware of the process of creating an account, uploading your book, book cover, and the book’s description to create a book that is ready for sale. It is a fairly straightforward process that has worked for many authors.

Getting your ebook into the world is a smooth process with IngramSpark. Whether you have already published a print book through IngramSpark or are ready to start your self-publishing journey, there are only six steps for your ebook to go from your computer to the rest of the world!

Whether it’s on a small phone screen or a large desktop, your ebook cover needs to grab attention and pique the reader’s interest. While the print cover and ebook cover are usually the same, the design approach is different for each. For the print cover, there are numerous factors to consider, such as paper type and texture, colors, embossed or debossed lettering, the spine, and back cover design. The ebook cover design doesn’t have those concerns but must still communicate effectively and attract the reader.

Who Sells Your Ebook?

There is a great sense of pride in seeing your book for sale at a bookstore. You can touch your book, you can take pictures of it, and persuade your friends to come and see your book in person. It can be an adjustment to feel that same level of excitement when your ebook is for sale on a website. Sending your friends a link is not quite the same as having them stand in front of your book on the shelf. Yet we cannot deny that our society continues to increase its activity and engagement in the digital world. So who are the distributors in this digital world, and how are they going to sell your ebook? IngramSpark is in partnership with over 40 ebook sellers and subscription services. When you create your ebook through IngramSpark those 40-plus distributors can sell your ebook to readers all over the world. There are too many to discuss all of them in one blog, so let’s focus on the top subscription services and the top online stores that will sell your ebook.

Determining the price of your ebook is a similar process to choosing a price for your print book; with a few key differences. Perhaps you have already priced your print book, and it’s currently being sold, or you may be just starting on your self-publishing journey and want to find the right price for your ebook and your print book. Whichever position you’re in, you need to know how to price your book and what strategies align with your goals.

When considering converting your book into an ebook, there are multiple benefits. Readers get instant access to ebooks, and distributors don’t have to bother with supply chain delays. The most rewarding advantage is that authors can receive higher compensation. Knowing the different ways in which your ebook can be sold is crucial to understanding how this compensation is achieved. We offer three main sales models to maximize your ebook distribution and profits; Retail, Library, and Institutional. We’ll dive into the methods and advantages of each model and learn how we can increase your ebook’s readership and earnings.

Now that everything has turned into 24/7 holiday shopping, you may wonder if it’s too late to get your book onto someone’s "must buy" holiday shopping list. While it’s too late in the season to be thinking of your holiday strategy, there are some great things you can still do to nudge sales in your favor. 

Converting to an Ebook

Writing a book is an enormous achievement. It takes time, dedication, and painstaking work.

What is IngramSpark’s Book-Building Tool?

For some authors, the hardest part of writing a book might be the twisted plot or character development. For others, it’s the outline and organization of chapters. It turns out that designing the book can prove to be an unexpected challenge for many authors. Several aspects must be considered, both technical elements and artistic features. IngramSpark’s FREE Book-Building Tool will guide you through the design process specific to creating an ebook.

The pandemic’s spotlight has begun to slowly fade as other global events take its place as a point of focus. In a recent Ingram-hosted panel discussion “The Health of Today’s Publishing Industry”, we heard from leaders in the industry, bringing their experience and perspectives on the future of publishing.  

In my experience, I’ve learned there are many reasons why authors don’t want to be on social media. Some think it’s too complicated, some tell me they’re too old (which always makes me laugh), and some just literally don’t have the time to manage their social channels. 

I am the first to admit that writing about controversial topics in children’s books can be a little scary. In 2017, I self-published my first book- - a children’s picture book. Not a happy, fluffy unicorn with rainbows type of book; a book about a very real and serious topic. One of those topics you really don’t want to have with your kids, but you know it’s your responsibility to do so. My book, “Momma, Did You Hear the News?,” helps parents have the difficult conversation known in the African-American community as “the talk.” It helps kids remember what to do if approached by law enforcement.  

When you embark on the journey of getting a book published, there’s a lot to consider and one of the things that should be on your priority list is how much you’ll be pricing your book for, which is a crucial piece of your book metadata. The editors of traditional publishing houses must fill out a profit and loss spreadsheet (P&L) before they can even acquire a book, let alone publish a book. The P&L accounts for decisions they’ll need to make in order to turn a profit on the book they hope to add to their list. So one of the best places to start when determining the profit goals of your book publishing endeavors is to seriously consider how you'll be pricing your book.

Some of the best books in the world already exist, pretty much fully formed, inside the author’s head. And there they stay, keeping you up at night while you think of more ways to explain your concept, rewriting it all inside your head. At some point, you realize that it’s been quite a long time and nothing has actually come out. You have so many ideas but you don’t know where to start with writing them all down. 

There are millions of books in the world, with more being published and distributed every day. The only way to keep track of them is with unique identifiers, which we call International Standard Book Numbers, or ISBNs. Each format of a book should have its own ISBN—its unique identifier that belongs only to that title and format—so that customers and retailers can place an order for the exact book they want.  

When you think of publishing, you may have one format that jumps to the forefront of your mind. Maybe you grew up in libraries and bookstores, so you want a printed book in your hands. Or maybe you grew up with a tablet in hand, so an ebook is your go-to format for reading. Whatever your background, it can be easy to think that publishing in one format is the end-goal of your publishing journey. But honestly, you should seriously consider taking advantage of multiple formats—paperback, hardcover, and ebook.  

Writing your book is a phenomenal accomplishment; the rush of typing those last words and putting the finishing touches on it is akin to climbing a mountain and finally reaching the summit. Once you get to the top, you’re hoping you can stop, enjoy the view, and relish in your achievement, and you can—but not for too long. Once you've completed your book, the next leg of the journey begins: marketing it. 

Ringing in the New Year feels quite different this year. There seems to be this underlying expectation that come 12:01am on January 1, 2022, the flick of a “magic wand” will wrap up one of the most challenging years in history and put us all back on track toward normalcy once again. 

One of the things that stands in the way of many writers' ability to self-publish is book design. Finding and hiring a book cover designer, formatting the interior, uploading your files to IngramSpark—it can all seem a bit daunting. What if we told you IngramSpark offers a FREE tool to create your own book online? You heard that right—learn more about what you can do with IngramSpark's free Book-Building Tool!

The purpose of book cover design is to draw the attention of your potential readers away from all those other tomes and novellas and sell them on the idea that your page-turner is the next book they need on their nightstand. But what makes a book cover jump off the shelves? Let’s take a look at the anatomy of a book cover and how you can create a cohesive look that appeals to your readers.

Your book has been written, rewritten, beta read, edited and reedited to within an inch of its life.  Now it is time to design and layout the interior. One of the first decisions you will be asked to make is the height and width of the book. This is called the trim size. So you go to your bookshelf and pull down your favorite four books and notice that they are all 6x9. There! Decision made! But not so fast.

Even before you are ready to publish your book, you have likely thought about how you want your front cover to look. However, before you can decide on the right book cover design you should have a complete and polished manuscript in front of you. Whether you design the cover and select a binding type yourself or work with a professional, you might want to become familiar with industry standards and guidelines, and take advantage of free tips offered by the experts. After all, the ultimate goal is to get your book into the hands of receptive readers who will be watching and waiting for your next book!

If you’re new to the publishing world, book returns may be a bit of an elusive concept. While print on demand services and digital innovations have helped the book business better predict book demand, returns are still an inevitable part of the bookselling process if you’ve chosen to make your book returnable with IngramSpark. We’re here to help you better understand why book returns occur, and help prepare you on how to handle book returns with IngramSpark.

Many authors write a book based on a subject they like, or perhaps on a unique experience they have had. As a book marketing consultant, a question I frequently hear is, “My book is finished, now what do I do?” Successful book marketing lies in giving prospective readers what they want to read. Figuring that out depends on four pillars: target market, customer needs, integrated marketing, and profitability.

There’s been a lot to distract us this year! If you haven’t started planning your holiday book sales, you’re probably not alone. While there will still be a holiday buying season this year, the 2020 version will look a bit different than those of years past.

‘Tis the season to be jolly... and productive. With the hustle and bustle of the approaching holiday season, it can be easy to push aside your writing productivity as you focus on all the festivities.

Succeeding as an author isn’t just about writing strong books. Sure, that may be the most important factor, but the rise of self-publishing has resulted in authors facing more competition than ever. If you want to stand out in the crowd, you need to make sure that you also write strong marketing copy.

For many years, the discussion around ebooks has been tied to print: which is better, more efficient, more reliable—as if the two options were pit head-to-head on a vs. match. But let's be realistic, both formats are on the same team. Skewed rhetoric has made it seem as if the two compete with each other when in reality, both could be working in tandem to bring your book more exposure. When it comes down to it, authors want their books to be seen by as many potential customers as possible. Offering a print AND ebook version of your books is one way to do that and with IngramSpark's newest updates to ebook distribution, your ebook format is even more visible than ever.

Making a habit of marketing your books is important for all authors and publishers. Some habits are good, leading to long-term success. Others are not so good and can keep you from reaching your goals.

Our world needs memoirs.

It needs individuals who are willing to share the honest reality of who they are and the things they’ve experienced. When someone chooses to read a memoir, it means they’re searching for something. They’re searching for understanding, to gain perspective or insight, and they’re hoping to find something within your story that they can resonate with—perhaps something that gives them hope. 

Think about a book you loved. I'll bet my own weight in Harry Potter or Jack Reacher novels that it was a character that earned your love. Maybe several characters. A group of friends. A family. A pair of lovers. A man and his sworn enemy. A boy and a kestrel.