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The Questions Your Editor Can’t Answer

There is a big mistake I see many authors make before hiring an editor, and it has nothing to do with grammar. By the time most authors reach out to Emerald Lake Books, they’ve already invested months—or sometimes years—writing and revising their manuscript. They’ve reached the point where they feel they’ve taken it as far as they know how, and now they’re looking for someone else to help them move it across the finish line. That’s a perfectly natural progression. After all, editing is one of the next major milestones in the publishing journey. What many authors don’t realize, however, is that there is another opportunity that comes before editing—one that no editor, publisher or marketing professional can fully address on their behalf. It’s an opportunity that belongs entirely to the author. The Conversations That Changed My Perspective When I first began working with authors, I assumed much of our time together would revolve around … Continue Reading

Launch Your Book Like Any Product

One of the greatest challenges for an author is figuring out how to effectively launch a new book. Their expertise is in writing, and a book launch is often a completely foreign process. However, if you are an author who is also an entrepreneur, small business owner or marketing professional, you have a distinct advantage when it comes to launching your book.

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What Authors and Publishers Need to Know About ePub Accessibility

You may have noticed that KDP recently introduced a new question to the content portion of your book listing. It is one that is labeled as “Accessibility Features,” and it prompts you to state whether the images in your ebook are accessible.

For many authors and publishers, this question comes as a surprise and they haven’t known how to answer the question or why it’s even important. So, this article covers what accessibility is, why it matters, and what you can do to improve the accessibility of your books.

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Local Printer or Print-on-Demand: What’s Best for Your Book?

If you’re getting close to publishing your book, one question you may be asking is: Should I print locally, or use a print-on-demand (POD) service? Both have their merits, but they serve different goals. Here’s a breakdown to help you decide what works best for your situation. When to Consider a Local Printer Local printing can be appealing, especially when you want: In these cases, a local printer can offer specialized services that POD printers can’t match. And when you consider that you also save on shipping costs when you print locally, it can seem even more appealing. But There Are Drawbacks The Benefits of Print-on-Demand POD has made publishing more accessible for independent authors. With POD: POD is ideal if you: Trade-Offs to Be Aware Of Some Printers Offer Hybrid Options Not all printers are strictly local or POD. Some offer short-run digital printing or fulfillment services for an additional fee. These can give … Continue Reading

When Should I Release My Book?

Strategic Tips for Choosing the Right Release Date One of the most important decisions you’ll make as you near the finish line with your manuscript is when to release your book. The right release date can help you build momentum, align with current events or seasonal trends, and increase your chances of early success. But how do you choose the right date? There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but there are several key factors worth considering. At Emerald Lake Books, we walk our authors through this same process—and now we’re sharing it with you. Consider Seasonal Timing and Thematic Tie-Ins If your book is tied to a particular time of year—holidays, seasonal themes, or school schedules—you’ll want to plan your release ahead of that season. For example: But what if your book isn’t seasonal? Think about your theme instead. Ask yourself: For example, we once released a middle-grade novel about dealing with bullying to coincide with National … Continue Reading

Second Editions: What You Need to Know Before Republishing Your Book

As a book publisher, I often hear from authors who are considering publishing a second edition of their book. Perhaps something isn’t working or sales are sluggish, or they’ve realized it’s time to update the material because it’s become a bit outdated. Or maybe they want to try a new cover to see if that appeals to their readership more. And sometimes, it’s because their first publisher has gone out of business or isn’t offering the support that they once did.

There can be all sorts of reasons for considering a second edition…

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Publishing a Business Book

Years ago, if you wanted to publish a book, you sought a literary agent to pitch your manuscript to publishers, hoping one would want to buy the rights. If all went well, the publisher paid you an advance against the first-year sales of the book, and your agent took their cut from that. Then, in a couple of years, you finally got to hold your book in your hands. This publishing model is still available today and is commonly referred to as “traditional publishing.” Many consider it to be the gold standard of publishing, and they covet the contract that proves their book’s worth. As more people tried to land publishing deals, though, the demand for publishing solutions outweighed the availability of publishing contracts. That gave rise to print-on-demand platforms, which enabled authors to become their own publishers. And “self-publishing” was born. However, many authors found they had a lot to learn to be successful … Continue Reading

Beware the Publishing Predators that Target Authors

Like many authors, even though I own a publishing company, I still get solicitations to republish my books from companies that haven’t done their homework. Unfortunately, as much as I am a champion for hybrid publishing and the benefits it has to offer the right authors, there are bad actors out there looking to take advantage of those who are unsuspecting. And they often start by telling you how wonderful they think you and your book are. After all, isn’t that music to our ears? Do Your Homework Whenever any business reaches out to you offering any service that you’ve never heard of before, it’s worthwhile to do some research before considering them seriously. This means Googling their names, especially in combination with “complaint,” “scam” and “reviews.” It also means checking to see if they’ve been highlighted or reviewed on Writer Beware and the ALLi websites as one of the known predators that target authors. … Continue Reading

Hybrid Publishing: A Publishing Alternative, Not a Scam

Earlier this year, the Society of Authors and the Writers Guild of Great Britain issued a joint report regarding the hybrid publishing model called “Is it a Steal?” In this report, hybrid publishing came under fire as being “the worst option a writer can take” and accusing hybrid publishers of predatory practices. For those who aren’t familiar with hybrid publishing, it’s a publishing model whereby the author subsidizes most or all of the costs of publishing the book while their publishing partner leverages their knowledge and expertise to create a quality book and send it out into the proper distribution channels to reach the author’s ideal readers. As in any industry, there are bad actors out there. You must do your due diligence before signing any contract. Some companies use aggressive marketing tactics trying to sell you on services and add-ons that you don’t really need, while others aren’t transparent about their contracts and will … Continue Reading

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