Get Ready for Independent Bookstore Day

Independent Bookstore Day takes place this Saturday, April 27, and is a nation-wide event celebrated by independent bookstore owners, its patrons, and readers & writers of all ages!  Since independent bookstores are… well, independent, every party/celebration is different! That’s part of the fun, so plan on visiting more than one. At one bookstore you might find authors, singers, and musicians; at another you might experience a scavenger hunt, or a BBQ, or some bouncy houses for young readers.

top view of library with red stairs
Photo by Ivo Rainha on Pexels.com

As such, it is sure to be a day-long event for all the self-publishing authors and book readers in general who want to celebrate these community epicenters that are owned, run, and cared for by passionate book lovers.

And for you self-publishing authors out there, this may even be an opportunity to get to know your local bookstore owners, perhaps arrive upon a time for a book signing in the future, or drop off several books on consignment.  Or, at the very least, show other members of your household the beauty of books, no matter how they are published.

Need help finding indie bookstores in your area? IndieBound.org can help.

Need help self-publishing your next masterpiece? OutskirtsPress.com can help.

 

 

Meet, Greet, Read and Learn at the 2017 ALA Conference & Exhibition, June22-27

No one knows books like the American Library Association (ALA), so it makes sense that no one holds a book exhibition quite like the ALA either. The ALA Annual Conference & Exhibition takes place in Chicago June 22-27, with more than 25,000 library staff, educators, publishers, authors, exhibitors and special guests expected to attend. Whether you’re an Outskirts Press author, prospective self-published author, or simply a student, educator or business professional who’s passionate about reading, it’s a high-profile event that could forge new connections and opportunities for you in your own book journey!

Founded in 1876, the ALA is the oldest and largest library association in the world and serves a mission of promoting libraries, enhancing learning and ensuring access to information for all. There’s more to the ALA Conference & Exhibition than we could ever list here, but even the highlights offer an impressive immersion into the literary world!

This year’s event features an impressive list of key speakers: actor Sarah Jessica Parker; entertainer Bill Nye (“the Science Guy”); Reshma Saujani, founder and CEO of Girls Who Code; and a host of accomplished authors, entrepreneurs and literary professionals. Exhibition attendees receive unprecedented access and insight into the literary world via seminars and networking events with some of the most powerful movers and shakers in the industry.

The 2017 expo includes a variety of opportunities for readers, writers and publishers to learn, look and liaise:

  • 500-plus informational programs and sessions
  • more than 900 exhibitors, including authors and publishers in a variety of genres
  • literary readings
  • panel discussions
  • networking events
  • awards presentations
  • And so much more!

ALA Annual Conference & Exhibition is an opportunity to tap into valuable industry knowledge and make priceless connections. While it’s too late to get involved in the 2017 ALA Conference & Exhibition, Outskirts Press can make sure you’re represented at next year’s event to get the most benefit from every exciting lead!

So, think ahead to 2018 and exhibit book at the 2018 ALA Annual Conference & Exhibition with representation from Outskirts Press.

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Register Now for the 2017 Beijing Book Fair

International book fairs bring books, authors, and publishing professionals together under one roof and offer fabulous opportunities for authors to promote their own books. Authors can network, grow their fan base, increase book sales…and have some fun while surrounded by fellow book-lovers.

The 24th annual Beijing International Book Fair (BIBF) kicks off August 23-27, 2017 at the China International Exhibition Center. Thousands of authors from around the world will gather at the fair to display their work. It’s also a one-of-a-kind opportunity to mix, mingle and network with booksellers, publisher, literary agents and other book-related professionals on the lookout for talent and compelling books.

No other country has experienced the growth in the world marketplace that China has, and that impact has been greatly felt in the publishing and bookselling world. Blossoming readership in China represents an enormous opportunity for authors to take advantage of the growing demand for book translations, and publishers are scrambling to feed the frenzy. There is surging consumer demand for all types of books, and getting your book in front of this potential market can have a tremendously positive effect on the success of your book.

Register now through Outskirts Press to exhibit your book at the Beijing International Book Fair. When you exhibit at the Beijing Book Fair through Outskirts Press, you’ll receive …

  • Prominent, face-out display of your book with only four other Outskirts Press titles
  • An Outskirts Press representative on-site to personally answer questions and advocate for your book
  • Valuable industry leads
  • We’ll forward inquiries about your book directly to you so you can follow-up!

Time is running out and space is limited, so reserve your space today! To purchase this option, simply log into your Author Publishing Center at www.outskirtspress.com and select Beijing Book Fair from the Marketing Solutions menu.

Exhibit Your Book

Authors, Mark Your Calendars: The ALA Conference Is Coming to Orlando, June 23-28

Book lovers nationwide rejoice as the American Library Association (ALA) gears up for its 2016 Conference, June 23-28. The annual conference is a fun and lively event, attracting librarians and other participants by the thousands. This year’s speakers include bestselling authors Margaret Atwood, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Eric Dyson, and Brad Meltzer.

For self-publishing authors, participation in the ALA Conference is a golden opportunity to get your book in front of thousands of librarians. And you don’t have to travel to Orlando, Florida, to do it!

When you arrange exhibition through Outskirts Press, your book will receive valuable, face-out exposure on an exclusive shelf with four other Outskirts Press titles at the ALA Conference. An Outskirts representative will be on hand to personally answer questions about your book, and we will forward you any inquiries/leads we receive for your book so that you can do a personal follow-up.

The ALA’s annual conference attracts librarians from all levels of management, from all types of libraries, from all across the country, with attendance estimated at 25,000 and growing. These are the attendees who will be networking and browsing for books.

Yours could be one of the books they’re buzzing about!

Space is limited, so don’t miss out on this affordable marketing opportunity. Click here and reserve your spot for the next ALA Conference!

Published Authors Take Note: It’s Time for the Beijing Book Fair!

International book fairs bring books, authors, and publishing professionals together under one roof and offer fabulous opportunities for authors to promote their own books. Authors can network, grow their fan base, increase book sales…and have some fun while surrounded by fellow book-lovers.

But not every budget or schedule allows authors to attend these fairs and exhibit their work in person. That’s where Outskirts Press comes in!

This year, we’ll be representing our authors at the Beijing Book Fair, the largest and most popular industry book fair and publishing event in China. Wouldn’t it be great if YOUR book was there too?

When you reserve your spot for this special marketing option, Outskirts Press will make sure your book is exhibited at the Beijing Book Fair, even if you can’t be there. Your book will receive valuable, face-out exposure on an exclusive shelf with four other Outskirts Press titles, and an Outskirts representative will be on hand to personally answer questions about your book. Afterward, all inquiries will be forwarded directly to you for personal follow-up.

Space is limited though, so reserve a spot today!

You can exhibit your book at the Beijing Book Fair a la carte or as part of our Global Book Tour, which showcases your book at four different events for one discounted price: the London Book Fair, Book Expo America, the Beijing Book Fair, and the Frankfurt Book Fair. (Click HERE to see how.)

At Outskirts Press, we make it easy and convenient to expose your book to literally hundreds of thousands of international book buyers, readers, and industry professionals!

Celebrate Earth Day with Ecofriendly Book Publishing: Everyone Wins!

On April 22, we celebrate Earth Day by honoring our planet and raising awareness about pollution and depletion of natural resources. And independent authors who are concerned about environmental issues can feel good about joining the Earth Day movement when they publish with Outskirts Press.

At Outskirts Press, a full-service self-publishing and book marketing company, we don’t print thousands of copies the moment an author releases a book, leaving unsold copies to be tossed out with the trash. With print-on-demand, our books are printed only when they are ordered, one at a time, saving paper and energy. And many of our books are printed on recycled paper.

We also offer Kindle, Nook, iPad, and digital download e-books for authors who want to reach even more readers — without killing more trees.

Converting your book to an electronic edition is easy, and there’s a large group of readers who won’t have access to your book if it’s only in print form. If you want your book to reach as many readers as possible, it makes sense to release it in multiple formats. More formats on Amazon means more exposure, and more exposure translates to more success for you!

Mother Earth will be grateful for your decision to go digital. E-books save paper, and they can be easily updated or modified without having to scrap hundreds of copies of a print version.

You can join the millions of authors that have their books published as a digital edition by getting started today!

Print or Digital? Give Your Reader What They Want!

As a writer and aspiring author looking into the future of publishing your book, you’re probably weighing many different options. One of those options is the format in which you want to release your book —  print or digital? Hard copy or e-book?

However you decide to sell your work, your goal is to reach as many readers as possible…which is why you should consider releasing your book in multiple formats.

While it’s true that some consumers prefer to hold a shiny new book in their hands, others are diehard Kindle or Nook fans, representing a large group of “e-readers” who won’t have access to your book if it’s only in print form.

Plus, there are some fun advantages to e-books:

  • E-books are lower-priced than print versions. And people who are on the fence about a book are more likely to take a chance on a lower-priced digital version.
  • It only takes a few seconds to download an e-book and start reading —  instant gratification!
  • E-books offer anonymity and privacy for those who prefer not to share what they’re reading with their fellow commuters…
  • E-books have clickable Table of Contents, making it easy to quickly go to a particular page or chapter.
  • With syncing, the same book can be read on different devices, whether it’s a Kindle or a Smartphone, and you can pick up just where you left off.
  • E-books are better for the environment…and better for your back. Take hundreds of books wherever you go without having to lug the hard copies around!
  • Other e-book features include Highlights and Annotations, Dictionaries and Translations, and the X-Ray feature, which gives a list of all the major and minor characters in the book, along with other references. And e-readers allow you to adjust the font to make reading even easier.

Independent authors are rushing to take advantage of this digital technology and deliver their books into the hands of an enormous group of consumers. If you’re looking ahead toward becoming an indie author too, consider offering your readers the option of print or digital versions of your book.

More formats on Amazon means more exposure, and more exposure translates to more success for you!
Outskirts Press makes it easy for self-publishing authors to maximize online distribution of their books. We offer Kindle, Nook, iPad, and digital download PDF e-books. Join the millions of authors that have reached readers through e-books!

And don’t forget to submit your entry for Fandemonium, Volume 6 by April 30th! You can submit your literary work to Fandemonium@outskirtspress.com. See our blog here for the full details.

RECEIVE $498 OF EBOOK EXPOSURE FOR FREE!

Want more exposure for your book? This spring, it’s raining savings and we’ve got a deal for you! This month, you can make your book available on the 2 most popular eBook reading devices, the Amazon Kindle and Barnes & Noble NOOK for FREE. These 2 valuable and popular options will be included for authors who start publishing with our industry-leading Diamond publishing service or our full-color Pearl publishing service.

This means that upon publication, you will have a total of three editions of your book available and listed for sale-all for the price of one. That’s valuable exposure for your book and a great deal for you!

To receive this offer, add the popular Diamond package or the full-color Pearl package and enter the promotion code KindleNook16 during check out. It’s that easy!

Give your book the exposure it deserves-get started today!

Click to order the Diamond Package
Click to order the Pearl Package
TOP 5 PUBLISHING HEADLINES
AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT & SUCCESS STORY

“It was the caring and concerned helpfulness that made the difference. Leona was determined to solve all the problems I threw her way with kindness. I couldn’t have done it without her.”

Frank Lowe is an actor, and published and produced playwright who lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Tenacious and talented Kyle Kelly holds on to his dream of becoming a famous country-western singer and songwriter. He and his father, Cowboy Red, keep pushing through disappointments and small-time gigs until suddenly, they land the opening of Wonderland Park. Their Nashville careers skyrocket, and the future looks bright until Kyle meets and falls in love with Miranda, a waitress in a Mexican restaurant. Kyle is offered a lucrative movie contract, and he plans to marry Miranda and live happily ever after…until a tragic accident sends Miranda and her family back to Mexico. But Kyle knows what it means to pursue a dream, and he goes after her. He could never have imagined the dangerous and tangled web surrounding the love of his life-she’s not who she appears to be, and Kyle will find himself the target of merciless forces in Mexico who are determined to keep them apart. Kyle enlists all the help he can get, no matter how eccentric, to find and marry the woman he loves. Thrilling, heartfelt, and entertaining, Lonesome Cowboy is a story you’ll never forget!
– Frank Lowe, author of Lonesome Cowboy

Want to Submit Your Book to the London Book Fair? It’s Easy…

The London Book Fair: April 12 — 14

It’s time for the annual London Book Fair, where authors from all over the globe are showcasing their books and gaining valuable exposure among industry leaders. As the fastest-growing full-service self-publishing and book marketing company, Outskirts Press stays on top of industry happenings, and our representatives are in London representing our authors’ books right now!

If you want YOUR book to be represented in next year’s event, Outskirts Press can make it happen.

The London Book Fair is the largest and most popular industry book fair and publishing event in the UK, where authors can promote their books and their author brand, putting their work squarely in front of potential fans as well as key industry players.

Each year, the fair welcomes tens of thousands of attendees from all over the globe, including:

  • Literary agents/scouts — representing international authors and looking to sell/acquire rights to print, audio, and film/TV content
  • Publishers — ranging from small- to medium-sized publishers as well as the larger publishing houses, all conducting rights business, export, and national sales
  • Domestic booksellers — from both independent bookshops and the retail chains
  • Foreign booksellers — buying for their home markets
  • Library and Information Professionals — influencers and purchasers

If you want to give your work an incredible marketing boost without leaving the comfort of your own home, Outskirts Press will take care of all the details. When you arrange an exhibition through Outskirts Press, your book will receive priceless, face-out exposure on an exclusive shelf with four other Outskirts Press titles. A representative will be on hand to personally answer questions about your book.

Outskirts Press will provide the necessary copies of the book and all the contact information for both the author and publisher so that interested parties can make further contact during or after the fair. All inquiries Outskirts Press receives about your book will be forwarded directly to you for personal follow-up. After the fair has ended, you get a full report with all leads, pictures, and a summary of the happenings.

Take advantage of this amazing marketing opportunity! Space is limited, so don’t miss out on next year’s big event. Reserve your spot today.

And if you really want your book to go global, give it a boost in 2017 by showcasing it at four major international events — without ever leaving home. The Outskirts Press Global Book Tour package puts your book in front of industry leaders, literary agents, book buyers, and customers at FOUR major events: the London Book Fair, Book Expo America, the Beijing International Book Fair, and the Frankfurt Book Fair.

Outskirts Press handles all the details and represents you and your book at each event. Imagine having a personal assistant who can sell a potential buyer on your book halfway around the world!

Click here for details.

Triple Bonus with Outskirts Press!

Authors have 4 days left to receive triple the number of free author copies when they get started with the Diamond or Pearl self-publishing packages.

DON’T DELAY-THIS OFFER EXPIRES ON MARCH 31ST!

To receive the promotion, simply enter the promotion code MarchTriple16 when checking out of your shopping cart while purchasing the Diamond or Pearl publishing package. Click below for more information.

GET STARTED TODAY!

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Why it’s essential for your book to be at BookExpo America

Marketing your book online is a very cost-effective way to increase sales. But, what if you could get your book in front of people like agents, scouts, and movie or TV production/development professionals in a much more personal way? Think of the possibilities!

Each year, BookExpo America (BEA) draws over 100,000 attendees, making it the largest gathering of authors, booksellers, publishers, and industry professionals in North America. And while attendees come from all over the world, the BEA focus is squarely on American books, publishers, and authors — offering U.S. authors a golden opportunity to expose their work to those who live and breathe books.

Shouldn’t YOUR book be part of the action?

If you’re looking to get your book into the hands of one of these important contacts to further launch your career as an author, Outskirts Press can help.

Outskirts Press authors participating in the BEA Book Fair will receive valuable, face-out exposure of their book on an exclusive shelf with four other Outskirts Press titles, and a representative will be present to answer questions about your book. Your title will also be featured in the trade show catalogue as a “title on display,” which industry professionals can access at a later date as needed. We’ll also forward any contact we receive regarding your book directly to you for personal follow-up.

The 2016 BookExpo America takes place May 11-13 in Chicago, Illinois. The deadline to register your book is Friday, March 11th.

Make sure your book is there and reserve your space now!