• should you use Wordpress? (hint: probably not, unless you’re good at fixing things)
• why every author needs a website
• what is the purpose of your website?
• the importance of having a professional look to design and organization
• how much content? a lot is fine . . . but it needs to be well organized!
• provide a short bio and a long bio, a short book description and a long book description; let visitors to your site check out your content on the home page and then drill down using menus to discover more
• how to use the website to drive sales: having great content is key to making people want to buy, so that is the first step
• most authors will choose to direct sales to online retailers, since handling your own sales can be complicated and time-consuming; plus, having a sales presence on Amazon can improve your rating and get reviews for your book
• the website should be about you, the author, to allow for it to expand if you publish more books in the future
• avoid doing too much fancy stuff and using trendy effects: they get old and tired quickly; minimal design is best
• all websites must be responsive, that is, they must work on smartphones as well as desktops (and Google will delist you from search results if your site is not up to snuff!)
• IMPORTANT! always register your domain under your name so that you have control of it; never let the people you hire as developers register your domain on your behalf

Pub Site: a website-building service
https://pub-site.com/

FSB Associates: a full-service marketing and publicity firm
https://fsbassociates.com/

John Burke is the co-founder of Pub Site, an easy-to-use website building platform designed specifically for authors and books, and is the COO of FSB Associates, a publicity firm specializing in promoting books and authors on the web.

Burke worked for several publishers including Crown, McGraw-Hill, Addison Wesley, and John Wiley, as well as in bookstores, before joining FSB Associates to launch its website development efforts. Their first website — one of the first ever author sites on the web — was for Sue Grafton.

Since then, John has developed over two hundred author websites, ranging from one book to over eighty. He is based in San Diego, California.

Peter Goodman (host) is publisher of Stone Bridge Press in Berkeley, California. He began his publishing career in Tokyo, Japan, in 1976. A longtime member of IBPA, he has served on the IBPA board and as IBPA board chair.

For more information, go to IBPA at https://www.ibpa-online.org/.

Audible has announced its intention to “subtitle” its audiobooks, but publishers are calling it a rights violation. What’s going on? CEO Angela Bole explains what steps IBPA is taking to protect its membership.

• Angela Bole and host Peter Goodman discuss the latest turn in the injunction against Audible initiated by some of the country’s largest publishers.
• Why should publishers be concerned?
• What’s happening in the court case?
• How did this all get started?
• What’s been the IBPA response?

Publishing Perspectives detailed article on the lawsuit, the IBPA letter, and the publishers requesting exclusion from the Captions program.
https://publishingperspectives.com/2019/09/ibpa-backs-us-publishers-association-in-objections-to-audible-captions/

IBPA’s own source of news and updates on the Audible lawsuit.
https://www.ibpa-online.org/news/467194/Updated-IBPA-Seeks-Information-from-Members-Interested-in-Exclusion-from-Audible-Captions.htm

Angela Bole is chief executive officer of the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), the largest book publishing association in the U.S. serving independent publishers and self-published authors.

Prior to joining IBPA, Angela served two years as deputy executive director of the Book Industry Study Group (BISG), an organization that fosters conversation and consensus across all sectors of the book business. Before that, she served two years as BISG’s associate director and two years as its marketing and communications manager.

Angela holds a Masters of Science in Book Publishing from New York University and currently serves on the board of directors for the Book Industry Study Group. In 2017, she was awarded the Book Industry Study Group’s Industry Champion Award, given to an individual whose efforts have gone beyond the requirements of his or her position to advance the book industry.

Peter Goodman (host) is publisher of Stone Bridge Press in Berkeley, California. He began his publishing career in Tokyo, Japan, in 1976. A longtime member of IBPA, he has served on the IBPA board and as IBPA board chair.

For more information, go to IBPA at https://www.ibpa-online.org/.

How can indie publishers make it today? Is there room on bookstore shelves for their books? Industry veteran and big-picture thinker Melissa Serdinsky speculates on survival, community, and industry trends.

Thin Air Collective

Host Peter Goodman’s article in The (IBPA) Independent on “The Bookstore of the Future”

Melissa Serdinsky is an experienced, hands-on, forward thinking executive with a proven ability to implement change, drive growth, and improve process in the publishing industry. She currently operates Thin Air Collective, a consultant and publisher based in Boulder, CO.

Melissa has over 30 years experience in bookselling and publishing. She is skilled in print manufacturing, digital publishing, content creation, metadata enhancement, public speaking, project management, infrastructure planning, and information management.

She was Vice President, ICG Services at Ingram Content Group, and Vice President, Digital Operations and Manufacturing, Perseus Books Group. She has also worked for Sterling Publishing and Stewart, Tabori and Chang.

Thin Air Perspectives provides valuable insights and efficiencies to publishers who want to spend more time on the creative bits and less on the nuts and bolts. Thin Air Publishing features subjects and authors that our family, friends and communities will want to add to their reading list.

Peter Goodman (host) is publisher of Stone Bridge Press in Berkeley, California. He began his publishing career in Tokyo, Japan, in 1976. A longtime member of IBPA, he has served on the IBPA board and as IBPA board chair.

For more information, go to IBPA at https://www.ibpa-online.org/.

##Links

Foreword Reviews

A Publishers Weekly article on the pros and cons of paid reviews

Michelle Anne Schingler is the managing editor at Foreword Reviews. Her responsibilities include previewing thousands of books each quarter for the magazine's audience of librarians and booksellers. She came to Foreword after her master's work at the University of Georgia and Harvard Divinity School, as well as a period working in public libraries. She likes books that surprise her by making her laugh out loud, that make her feel new and widening feelings, and that brim with quirkiness, and she still cannot resist the magic of a free book.

Peter Goodman (host) is publisher of Stone Bridge Press in Berkeley, California. He began his publishing career in Tokyo, Japan, in 1976. A longtime member of IBPA, he has served on the IBPA board and as IBPA board chair.

Giving talks about your book at associations, clubs, schools, and luncheons is a great way to connect with readers, develop sales, and establish your credibility as an expert in your field. Industry veteran Cheryl Callighan goes over the basics.

The Author’s Assistants

Find a Toastmasters Club near you!

Cheryl Callighan is a Master Virtual Assistant and Professional Author's Assistant with over 35 years of executive administration/project management.

Peter Goodman (host) is publisher of Stone Bridge Press in Berkeley, California. He began his publishing career in Tokyo, Japan, in 1976. A longtime member of IBPA, he has served on the IBPA board and as IBPA board chair.

IngramSpark

Go Publish Yourself podcast

Robin Cutler is committed to helping independent publishers easily get their content into the hands of readers around the globe. To help make this happen, Robin leads the development of IngramSpark and continues to support and refine the platform to better serve independent publishers around the world. Robin has broad knowledge of indie, academic and trade publishing and is an expert in content creation and distribution, on-demand models, marketing and author strategies. Robin is a leader in the independent publishing space, and when not developing new programs and services for IngramSpark, she can often be found sharing her expertise at industry events around the world.

Peter Goodman (host) is publisher of Stone Bridge Press in Berkeley, California. He began his publishing career in Tokyo, Japan, in 1976. A longtime member of IBPA, he has served on the IBPA board and as IBPA board chair.

Patagonia Books

Let My People Go Surfing by Yvon Chouinard

Yosemite In The Sixties by Glen Denny

BookStudio

PublishersWriters.org (San Diego)

PublisherWritersOrangeCounty.org

Read Local San Diego

List of IBPA Affiliates

Karla Olson is the Director of Patagonia Books, which publishes books as a mission outreach for Patagonia, the clothing company. She is the president of IBPA affiliates Publishers and Writers of San Diego and Publishers and Writers of Orange County, and founder of Read Local, a marketing coalition for authors. She has been in the publishing industry for over 30 years and is the owner of BookStudio, a publishing consultancy.

Peter Goodman (host) is publisher of Stone Bridge Press in Berkeley, California. He began his publishing career in Tokyo, Japan, in 1976. A longtime member of IBPA, he has served on the IBPA board and as IBPA board chair.

New developments in privacy law in Europe, and fair use, piracy, and widespread infringement by high-tech players remain big challenges for publishers. Publishing attorney Jonathan Kirsch analyzes a changing landscape.

Topics include:

Jonathan Kirsch’s website with links to his books and services: http://www.jonathankirsch.com/

IBPA’s model contract for translation and publishing rights, for reference (IBPA members only):

Information on DMCA takedown notices: https://www.dmca.com/faq/What-is-a-DMCA-Takedown

DMCA takedown notice template: https://support.scribd.com/hc/en-us/articles/210128926-DMCA-copyright-infringement-takedown-notification-email-template

Note: nothing in this podcast or the links provided should be construed as legal advice and is provided for informational purposes only.

Jonathan Kirsch is a publishing and intellectual property attorney based in Los Angeles, an expert witness in publishing industry disputes, an Adjunct Professor on the Faculty of New York University’s Professional Publishing Institute, and a lecturer and consultant on publishing matters. He has long served as general counsel to IBPA, which presented him with its Benjamin Franklin Award for special achievement in publishing. He is the author of 13 books, including Kirsch’s Handbook of Publishing Law and Kirsch’s Guide to the Book Contract, which are now in revision for a new and updated single-volume edition.

Peter Goodman (host) is publisher of Stone Bridge Press in Berkeley, California. He began his publishing career in Tokyo, Japan, in 1976. A longtime member of IBPA, he has served on the IBPA board and as IBPA board chair.

Check out the IPG website at https://ipgbook.com/

For measuring your book against industry standards, use the IBPA checklist: https://www.ibpa-online.org/general/custom.asp?page=standardschecklist

Richard T. Williams is the Vice President, Publisher Development, at IPG, where he reviews publisher submissions, pursues new publisher business, and manages a team of experts to help existing clients plan and develop their lists. He is a former sales rep at IPG and was the director of IPG’s Small Press United program from its inception in 2009. Also a former operations manager at an independent publisher, Richard is uniquely positioned to understand the needs of publishers in today’s industry and utilizes his knowledge and experience to help expand IPG’s suite of services to fit such needs.

Peter Goodman (host) is publisher of Stone Bridge Press in Berkeley, California. He began his publishing career in Tokyo, Japan, in 1976. A longtime member of IBPA, he has served on the IBPA board and as IBPA board chair.

A book sales rep becomes an author and learns first-hand how to get bookstores and associations interested in his book -- and which social media platform was the most effective may surprise you.

Topics include:

PARTICIPANTS

Andy Weiner is a longtime publishing professional. He has worked for Penguin USA, Random House, Chronicle Books, rightscenter.com, and for Abrams Books. He is also the co-publisher of* Close Enough for the Angels* by Paul Madonna, and is the author of the children’s book Down By the River, a book that Jensen Fly Fishing says: “blends family cohesion (mom and grandpa both take time telling stories and helping teach Art to fly fish), subtle contexts of fly fishing, and a gentle message of conservation.”

Andy’s website for his book:

For more information on the book Getting There; A Book of Mentors by Gillian Zoe Segal, mentioned in the podcast, see https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781419715709.

Peter Goodman (host) is publisher of Stone Bridge Press in Berkeley, California. He began his publishing career in Tokyo, Japan, in 1976. A longtime member of IBPA, he has served on the IBPA board and as IBPA board chair.