Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA)

No matter where you are in your publishing journey—whether you're just starting out or you’ve been publishing books for decades—you're always hoping to level up your business.Fruition Publishing Concierge Services Founder and CEO Alesha Brown joins “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA)” to share advice about the best artificial intelligence (AI) publishing technology and the ones to avoid; paying author royalties; whether it’s worth hiring someone to do your social media; and much more!

PARTICIPANTS

Alesha Brown is the Founder & CEO of Fruition Publishing Concierge Services™, a hybrid publisher devoted to helping authors find their voice, monetize their expertise, and create profitable author platforms. Alesha’s work led to her receiving the 2019 Inside Business’ Entrepreneurial Excellence award. Her expertise has been featured in Publishers Weekly, Authority Magazine, Huffington Post, Thrive Global, and iHeartRadio, just to name a few. Alesha is a renowned speaker at numerous author forums and publishing conferences in addition to being a best-selling author, copywriter, and magazine editor-in-chief.

Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Director of Membership & Member Services, Christopher Locke assists the 3,600 members as they travel along their publishing journeys. Major projects include managing the member benefits to curate the most advantageous services for independent publishers and author publishers; managing the Innovative Voices Program that supports publishers from marginalized communities; and hosting the IBPA podcast, “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA).” He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.

LINKS
Learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association here: https://www.ibpa-online.org/page/membership

Learn more about Fruition Concierge Publishing Services here: https://fruitionpublishing.com/

Follow IBPA on:

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
X – https://twitter.com/ibpa
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/

With a new year comes all kinds of new possibilities for publishers to thrive! IBPA’s mission is to set up independent publishers and author publishers for publishing success, so CEO Andrea Fleck-Nisbet joins "Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA)” to discuss the major issues that publishers are sure to face in 2024, and ways that publishers can overcome them. She discusses distribution challenges; creative ways that publishers can find funding; solutions to market access obstacles; difficulties with running a publishing business and ways to tackle them; and so much more.

PARTICIPANTS

Andrea Fleck-Nisbet is CEO of the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), where she began her tenure in November 2022. Prior to that she was the founding vice-president and publisher of HarperCollin’s lifestyle imprint, Harper Horizon. Andrea spent fifteen years in sales, digital media and business operations at Workman Publishing and was Director of Content Acquisition at Ingram Content Group. She sits on the board of the Book Industry Study Group.

Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Director of Membership & Member Services, Christopher Locke assists the 4,000 members as they travel along their publishing journeys. Major projects include managing the member benefits to curate the most advantageous services for independent publishers and author publishers; managing the Innovative Voices Program that supports publishers from marginalized communities; and hosting the IBPA podcast, “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA).” He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.

LINKS
Learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association here: https://www.ibpa-online.org/page/membership

Follow IBPA on:

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
X – https://twitter.com/ibpa
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/

In the last few years, TOKYOPOP has had incredible success, leading Publishers Weekly to declare them one of the fastest growing independent publishers of 2023. It’s always helpful for indie publishers to learn from each other, so TOKYOPOP’s COO and Publisher Marc Visnick joins “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA)” to discuss the achievements and challenges they’ve had since the company began in 1997, including how they were able to bounce back so successfully after some difficulties in 2010 when, among other things, a major partner of theirs, Borders, went bankrupt.

PARTICIPANTS

Marc Visnick is the current COO and Publisher of TOKYOPOP. Founded in 1997, TOKYOPOP brings Asian pop culture to Hollywood and beyond. TOKYOPOP established the market for manga in North America, introducing the term to the English language in the process, and expanding the market in Germany, publishing thousands of books in both languages, distributing anime and Asian films on home video and television, licensing merchandise to consumer goods and companies, and creating graphic novels of both original content and major IP adaptations. TOKYOPOP’s core values focus on multiculturalism and diversity; aestheticism and artistic integrity; and passionate and positive storytelling.

Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Director of Membership & Member Services, Christopher Locke assists the 4,000 members as they travel along their publishing journeys. Major projects include managing the member benefits to curate the most advantageous services for independent publishers and author publishers; managing the Innovative Voices Program that supports publishers from marginalized communities; and hosting the IBPA podcast, “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA).” He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.

LINKS
Learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association here: https://www.ibpa-online.org/page/membership

Learn more about TOKYOPOP here: https://www.tokyopop.com/

Follow IBPA on:

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline

X – https://twitter.com/ibpa

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/

Follow TOKYOPOP On: 

TOKYOPOP on Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/TOKYOPOP

TOKYOPOP on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/tokyopop

TOKYOPOP on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TOKYOPOP

TOKYOPOP Official Website: https://www.tokyopop.com/

TOKYOPOP on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tokyopop

Independent publishers run into many of the same challenges with publishing, so the best way to figure out how to overcome those challenges is to learn from other publishers’ achievements and missteps. Taevo Publishing Founder and CEO Tamara Mayo joins “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA)” to discuss the best methods she’s learned about how to work with her authors; how to solve accounting issues; how to find funding; how to balance running a publishing business while also maintaining a full-time job; and much more!

PARTICIPANTS

Tamara Mayo is the founder and CEO of Taevo Publishing, a traditional publishing house geared toward promoting the works of underserved BIPOC women writers. She was raised in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia, where her love of reading sprouted into a hunger to play an active role in spreading diversity, equity, and inclusion in the publishing industry. Her publishing expertise incorporates 15+ years of experience in digital publishing, online instruction, and more.

Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Director of Membership & Member Services, Christopher Locke assists the 4,000 members as they travel along their publishing journeys. Major projects include managing the member benefits to curate the most advantageous services for independent publishers and author publishers; managing the Innovative Voices Program that supports publishers from marginalized communities; and hosting the IBPA podcast, “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA).” He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.

LINKS

Learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association here: https://www.ibpa-online.org/page/membership

Learn more about Taevo Publishing here: https://www.taevopublishing.com/

Follow IBPA on:

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
X – https://twitter.com/ibpa
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/
 

Many independent publishers feel a great divide between them and the Big 5 publishers. One of the biggest issues is access to various sales markets, such as bookstores, retail stores, and more. The good news is that there are new ways that these major publishers and indies can work together to the betterment of both.

One such way is through distribution. It can be quite difficult for independent publishers to land traditional distribution, but some indie publishers have found a path through Simon & Schuster. Simon & Schuster Vice President of Publisher Services Keith Parent joins “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA)” to share details about how to apply.

PARTICIPANTS

Keith Parent is Vice President of Publisher Services at Simon & Schuster. Keith originally joined S&S as a Sales Manager in the International Sales department in 2014 and returned to S&S in 2017 as an Account Executive in the Distribution Division. In 2022 Keith was promoted to Vice President of Publisher Services. In his role as Vice President, Keith manages the team tasked with supporting and maintaining all distribution client partnerships; providing sales, marketing, and publishing related strategic guidance to all independent publishers distributed by Simon & Schuster U.S. Prior to joining S&S, Keith held sales and business development roles with academic publishers such as Wiley, Sage Publications, and Congressional Quarterly Press. Keith is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore Maryland and a proud resident of Jackson Heights, Queens.  

Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Director of Membership & Member Services, Christopher Locke assists the 4,000 members as they travel along their publishing journeys. Major projects include managing the member benefits to curate the most advantageous services for independent publishers and author publishers; managing the Innovative Voices Program that supports publishers from marginalized communities; and hosting the IBPA podcast, “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA).” He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.

LINKS

Learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association here: https://www.ibpa-online.org/page/membership

Learn more about applying for traditional distribution through Simon & Schuster here: https://www.simonandschusterpublishing.com/sns-distribution/

Follow IBPA on:

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
X – https://twitter.com/ibpa
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/

Follow Keith Parent on:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-parent-34548523/

Independent publishers and author publishers are always seeking effective ways to promote their books, and one great way to do so is through LibraryReads. The Executive Director, Rebecca Vnuk, joins "Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA)” to explain how LibraryReads creates a widely read list of must-read, new books based on library staff recommendations and how indie publishers can get their books on that list. Rebecca also used to be a librarian, so she shares tips about how publishers can get libraries to carry their books.

PARTICIPANTS

Rebecca Vnuk is the Executive Director of LibraryReads. She has an MLIS from Dominican University and worked as a public librarian for a decade before becoming the editor for Collection Management and Library Outreach at Booklist magazine. Rebecca is the author of three reference books on the topic of Women’s Fiction, as well as a best-selling book on weeding library collections. She lives in the Chicago suburbs with her husband and sons (and is thankful that the tween still loves to read, at least!).

Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Director of Membership & Member Services, Christopher Lockeassists the 4,000 members as they travel along their publishing journeys. Major projects include managing the member benefits to curate the most advantageous services for independent publishers and author publishers; managing the Innovative Voices Program that supports publishers from marginalized communities; and hosting the IBPA podcast, “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA).” He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.

LINKS

Learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association here https://www.ibpa-online.org/page/membership

Learn more about LibraryReads here www.libraryreads.org

Learn more about how publishers can get their books included in the LibraryReads top 10 lists here https://libraryreads.org/for-publishers

Follow IBPA on:

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
X – https://twitter.com/ibpa
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/

Follow LibraryReads on:

Facebook and Instagram - @libraryreads

X - @libraryreads99

Are you hoping to sell your books to libraries? If so, trade reviews are a vital component to enticing libraries to buy your books, and librarians especially value Booklistreviews—the official trade publication of the American Library Association. So IBPA invited Booklist Editor and Publisher George Kendall as a guest on “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA)” to discuss how publishers can land a Booklist review; how they can best leverage their review; and much more.

PARTICIPANTS

George Kendall began as Booklist’s Editor & Publisher in 2019 and is now continuing in that role as well as serving as Interim Director of Publishing & Media at the American Library Association (ALA). When not overseeing Booklist business and editorial matters and managing ALA publishing, George might be reading the latest dark but enthralling apocalyptic or dystopian nail-biter, or, on a brighter side, he might be found hanging out with his young daughter, or enjoying his local library, perusing books, toys, and Playaways, or attending story time or “messy art” and “little learners” programs.  George received his MA in Literary Studies from the University of Cape Town in South Africa and studied with J.M. Coetzee, who later when on to win the Nobel Prize in Literature (2003). George began his publishing career in scientific, technical, and medical publishing before moving on to his current role. Prior to publishing, George was a professional classical musician. He will sometimes, though very rarely, dust off his French horn and play a few notes.

Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Director of Membership & Member Services, Christopher Locke helps guide the 4,000+ members as they travel along their publishing journeys. As one of his major projects, he oversees the IBPA NetGalley program, which generates buzz and garners reviews for indie publishers’ titles. He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.

LINKS

To learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association, visit here https://www.ibpa-online.org/page/membership

Learn how you can submit a book to be reviewed by “Booklist” here: https://www.booklistonline.com/get-reviewed

Follow IBPA on:

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
Twitter – https://twitter.com/ibpa
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/

Landing traditional distribution can be a major help in garnering exposure and sales for books in important markets such as Amazon, Kindle, bookstores, retail stores, and more. National Accounts Manager in Sales at Publishers Group West and Ingram Publisher Services David Dahl joins “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA)” to explain the behind the scenes of how distribution sales teams promote books to these lucrative markets, and gives tips for how independent publishers can set their books up for success with distributors.

PARTICIPANTS

David Dahl is National Accounts Manager in Sales at Publishers Group West and Ingram Publisher Services, where he has represented independent publishers to the book trade for more than thirty years; to amazon since 1998, and to Kindle and Apple Books since the inception of those platforms. David is a graduate of Reed College and received an M.A. from the University of California at Berkeley. David works daily towards the association's primary goals of advocating for and educating independent publishers.

Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Director of Membership & Member Services, Christopher Locke helps guide the 4,000+ members as they travel along their publishing journeys. As one of his major projects, he oversees the IBPA NetGalley program, which generates buzz and garners reviews for indie publishers’ titles. He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.

LINKS

To learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association, visit here https://www.ibpa-online.org/page/membership

Learn more about Publishers Group West at pgw.com and Ingram Publisher Services at ingramcontent.com.

Follow IBPA on:

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
Twitter – https://twitter.com/ibpa
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/

Book marketing isn’t just about selling books, it’s about building a reputation and an audience of loyal readers. An author may be focused on their writing so much that they don’t quite know what their brand is, but that’s where a publisher comes in. Publishers can, and should, help their authors pinpoint a professional and memorable author brand in order to engage fans and sell books. On this episode of “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA),” personal branding expert and internet marketing strategist Jeniffer Thompson shares practical tools for creating a sustainable author brand as well as easy-to-implement steps to highlight the brand story, elevate the author’s visibility, and ensure a consistent visual presence.

PARTICIPANTS

Jeniffer Thompsonis a personal branding coach, book marketing strategist, and publishing consultant. She co-founded Monkey C Media in 2004, an award-winning book cover and author website design house. She is also the host of The Premise podcast, co-founder of the San Diego Writers Festival, and serves on the International Memoir Writers Association board. VisitMonkeyCMedia.com to learn more, subscribe to her author marketing tips atJenifferThompson.comand listen to her podcast atThePremisePod.com

Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Director of Membership & Member Services, Christopher Locke helps guide the 4,000+ members as they travel along their publishing journeys. As one of his major projects, he oversees the IBPA NetGalley program, which generates buzz and garners reviews for indie publishers’ titles. He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.

LINKS

To learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association, visit here https://www.ibpa-online.org/page/membership

Check out the IBPA member benefit for Monkey C Media, which garners members 20% off design services: https://www.ibpa-online.org/page/monkeycmedia

Follow IBPA on:

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
Twitter – https://twitter.com/ibpa
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/

Social media can be an excellent tool for publishers to build brand awareness and garner exposure for their books, but it’s also complicated to properly navigate. One advantageous social media tactic is to hire an influencer, but how do you go about hiring the right one for your books? What types of campaigns work the best? What are some challenges to hiring an influencer and how do you overcome them? CEO & Founder of Branch & Bramble Emily Lyman joins “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA)” to share her expertise on all things related to social media influencers!

PARTICIPANTS

Emily Lyman has worked with publishing companies for more than a decade to help them achieve tangible marketing results. As CEO & Founder of Branch & Bramble, she’s built a digital marketing agency focused on helping authors and lifestyle brands craft new messaging and positioning rooted in values-based marketing that attracts life-long audiences.

Branch & Bramble has been named as one of the “Top US Digital Marketing & Digital Agencies” on Yahoo! Finance, as well as one of the “Top Digital Marketing Agencies in New York.” Lyman has been featured on Digiday, CO- by U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and Authority Magazine.

Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Director of Membership & Member Services, Christopher Locke helps guide the 4,000+ members as they travel along their publishing journeys. As one of his major projects, he oversees the IBPA NetGalley program, which generates buzz and garners reviews for indie publishers’ titles. He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.

LINKS

To learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association, visit here https://www.ibpa-online.org/page/membership

To learn more about Branch & Bramble, visit:https://www.branchandbramble.com/

Also, check out Branch & Bramble’s free book influencer marketing guide here: https://www.branchandbramble.com/book-influencers

Follow IBPA on:

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
Twitter – https://twitter.com/ibpa
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/

Follow Branch & Bramble on:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/branchbramble
Twitter - https://twitter.com/BranchBramble

Follow Emily Lyman on:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilylyman/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/emilylyman
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/elyman/