Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA)
"Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA)" wants to make you a smarter publisher by giving you access to powerful ideas, strategies, and tools for success.
Our interview guests are independent publishers, author publishers, and hybrid publishers, as well as distributors, printers, reviewers, booksellers, marketers, visionaries, and opinion leaders from all sectors of the book publishing industry.
We are sponsored and supported by the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), the largest book publishing association in the U.S. serving independent publishers and author publishers. IBPA’s vision is a world where every independent publisher has the tools and knowledge needed to professionally engage in all aspects of the publishing industry.
Your host is IBPA Director of Membership & Member Services Christopher Locke.
- Update frequency
- every 25 days
- Average duration
- 33 minutes
- Episodes
- 116
- Years Active
- 2018 - 2025
Publishing: Looking backward, looking forward, with Robin Cutler of IngramSpark
Topics Covered
- What is IngramSpark?
- Templates to make layout easier and books look more professional
- The importance of a unique cover design
- On-demand books for retail and wholesale markets
- How has publis…
The search for hard data on how libraries foster book discovery, author recognition, and consumer sales, with guest Guy LeCharles Gonzalez of the Panorama Project.
### Links
2019 Readers’ Advisory Activities Survey
https://www.panoramaproject.org/2019-readers-advisory-activities-survey
Public Library Events and Book Sales Survey
https://www.panoramaproject.org/news…
Diverse books for a diverse world, with Nicole Johnson of We Need Diverse Books
Diversity in book publishing begins with young readers finding books that speak to who they are and a diverse population of young professionals finding jobs in every aspect of the industry. Nicole Jo…
Books are more than books: multimedia possibilities for content enrichment, with Lindy Ryan of Black Spot Books and Vesuvian Media Group
Some books lend themselves to creative collaborations and multimedia treatments. Lindy Ryan of Black Spot Books and Vesuvian Media Group outlines the key issues facing publishers today and talks abou…
A Foreword look, at trade shows, reviewing, libraries, and diversity, with Victoria Sutherland of Foreword Reviews magazine
Victoria Sutherland, founder/publisher of Foreword Reviews magazine and a new member of the IBPA Board of Directors, looks at indie publishing, virtual trade shows, reviewing, libraries, and diversit…
The view from the UK, a discussion with Independent Publishers Guild Chief Executive Bridget Shine
The COVID-19 pandemic is changing publishing around the world. Bridget Shine of the Independent Publishers Guild talks about issues, partnerships, and the role of indies and author-publishers in the …
Opposing the Open Library: an analysis of digital piracy and fair use, with Mary Rasenberger of the Authors Guild
Topics Covered
- The Internet Archive and why its position is wrong
- The Open Library
- What is fair use?
- Update on the Case Act
Links
From the Authors Guild
Appeal to readers and librarians from the victims of …
The IBPA Advocacy Committee, standing up for indie publishers, with Mel Corrigan
The IBPA Advocacy Committee is making plans for this coming year to lobby, write, and campaign for better awareness and fairness for independent publishers. Committee member Mel Corrigan discusses so…
New realities in book publishing in the post-COVID world, a speculative rant from host Peter Goodman
All the conventions of book publishing have been disrupted in just a few months as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. How many of these changes are permanent, and how is indie publishing likely to ev…
Virtual author events and other strategies for building online communities, with Maria Dismondy
What kind of virtual author events are successful in getting the word out, supporting booksellers, and developing enthusiastic online communities? Maria Dismondy of children’s book publisher Cardinal…
Strength from community, a portrait of Portland, with Forest Avenue Press publisher Laura Stanfill
The city of Portland, Oregon, is one of the centers of Pacific Northwest publishing. Laura Stanfill of Forest Avenue Press discusses her own journey and describes how the special bond among Portland …
Bookselling Update: First Impressions of the Impact of COVID-19, with John Mutter of Shelf Awareness
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed American life overnight. How are booksellers faring, what kinds of issues do they face, and what measures are they taking to survive? John Mutter of industry newslet…
Working with Amazon, Part 2: Quality control, social media, and preparing for the future, with guest Ian Lamont of i30 Media
Getting the look and content of your book right is priority 1. But looming changes at Amazon may be beyond your control. What to do? This is part 2 of our interview with Ian Lamont of i30 Media.
Topic…
Working with Amazon, Part 1: Amazon Advertising and managing the relationship, with guest Ian Lamont of i30 Media
Amazon advertising can be a great way to boost discoverability, but you have to know what it costs and how to manage Amazon issues that arise from time to time. This is part 1 of our interview with I…
Publishing in 2020, what lies ahead? with guest Angela Bole of IBPA
CEO Angela Bole of IBPA summarizes some of the key issues facing book publishers and authors in the coming year—hint: there are challenges, but lots of opportunities (and lots of great books!)
- importa…
A British indie tackles America: talking international publishing with guest Michael Cannings of Camphor Press
Topics covered include:
- Marketing into the US from overseas: conforming with schedules and promotion
- Using Ingram Spark to serve world markets
- Brexit: what happens next? Customs and VAT
- UK rules and regu…
California’s new labor law and its impact on publishers, authors, and freelancers, with guest Jonathan Kirsch
Links
Wikipedia on California Assembly Bill 5
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California\_Assembly\_Bill\_5\_(2019)
Text of California Assembly Bill 5 (see tabs for history, amendments, voting, analysis)
h…
The Frankfurt Book Fair, why you should start planning NOW, with guest Terry Nathan of IBPA
Topics covered include:
- What is the Frankfurt Book Fair? 302,000 visitors!
- Does it make sense for a small indie press or author publisher to attend?
- How the fair has changed over the years
- What IBPA offe…
The IP explosion: the expanding universe of subsidiary rights opportunities for indie publishers, with guest Ethan Ellenberg
Topics include:
- The big picture of IP for authors and publishers: the hub of a wheel with many spokes
- Published authors are already part of an ecosystem and can create their own editions, audiobooks, a…
The CASE Act, small claims for writers and publishers, with guests Mary Rasenberger and Cheryl Davis of the Authors Guild
Topics include:
- What is the CASE Act and why is it important?
- How does it work?
- A voluntary process where each side needs to opt in or out
- How big is piracy? A problem of international scope that demands…