Traditional vs. Independent Publishing: What to Consider
Publishing is the step of taking your writing—whether it’s a novel, memoir, short stories, non-fiction—and turning it into a salable product: your book. As you consider whether to publish independently or seek a traditional publishing contract, ask yourself: What is my goal? How much time … Read more »
ISBN: What It Is, Why It’s Important for Self-Published Books, and How to Get One
Are you ready to self-publish your book and wondering what to do about an ISBN? If so, you’re not alone. The conversations surrounding the purchase and use of the ISBN are some of the most confusing, not to mention opinionated, ones I hear. Authors wonder … Read more »
Complete Guide to Author Websites with 15 Great Examples
Most authors know they need an author website to build their community, grow their audience, and sell more books. But that knowledge is followed by some common questions: Ok, but how do I do it and what will go on it? I don’t have much … Read more »
Book Distribution
Book distribution, or where and how people can find and purchase your book, is an important aspect of independent book publishing. As a self-published author, you need to understand the options and set up a system that works for you. In this article, you’ll find … Read more »
Hybrid Publishing: What It Is and Why You Want to Know
(Especially if You’re a First-Time Author) Recently, the term hybrid publishing has been gaining traction, and if you don’t know what it is, you should, especially if you’re new to publishing. It’s the best of both traditional and self-publishing worlds: offering a way to publish … Read more »
Why Not Publish a Book for Free
Short answer: It takes forever, it won’t be great, you’ll probably regret it, and…it’s almost impossible anyway. If you know you need help creating a book that stands a chance, check out our services for self-publishers. If you don’t want to believe our short answer … Read more »
The Six Stages of Book Marketing
Most authors I talk to these days recognize that books don’t sell themselves, but many are still opposed to the idea of marketing. They live somewhere along a spectrum I call the Six Stages of Marketing: denial, disbelief, resentment, bargaining, depression, acceptance… Read more »
Five Myths About Self-Publishing We’d Like to Debunk
The world of publishing has changed dramatically in the last few decades. Print-on-demand printing and distribution, along with the proliferation of e-books, have allowed more authors than ever to make their writing widely available. The world of opportunities can lead to a world of mistakes … Read more »
Marketing Coaching with Sue Campbell
Happily Ever Author Club! Sue Campbell of Pages and Platforms, offers private and community coaching for authors who want to fire up their marketing. This is an extremely valuable opportunity that will allow you to focus your marketing efforts where they matter the most. The … Read more »
Keep Your Writing Projects Moving Forward
No matter what stage you are at in the writing projects, there are more resources online the ever. Conferences that formerly would have required travel and hotel expenses are now being staged virtually. Many organizations have put classes online, giving writers unprecedented access to top-notch … Read more »
How Do I Publish on Amazon?
I see or hear some version of this regularly. Authors call and specifically ask: How do I get published on Amazon? The answer is: You don’t. But the question (and the confusion around it) is understandable. In this article we’ll describe how Amazon’s publishing arm, … Read more »
Our response to Covid-19
To our community, First, thanks for your support during these difficult and rapidly changing times. We continue to design and publish books and have several new, exciting projects in the works. But sadly, we in the office won’t be working near each other on a … Read more »
Can a Self-Published Book Be Picked Up By a Publisher?
Maybe you’ve found some success with your self-published book and you’d like to find a literary agent to test the waters with a traditional publishing house. And why not? The sky’s the limit. It is possible to bring a self-published book into the traditional publishing … Read more »
How to Copyright a Book
Want to know a secret? Copyrighting your writing is really as easy as including a copyright page in your book. In other words, your book is copyrighted the minute you’ve put words on the page, and this alone protects your work in most circumstances. But … Read more »
Is Self-Publishing Right For You?
Are you having a difficult time deciding if self-publishing is right for you? At Luminare Press, we never discourage an author from trying to get a traditional publishing contract, but we know that these days such contracts are few and far between. So why not … Read more »