A Publisher's Conversation with Authors: What Good Is a Publisher Anyway?

 

It is Tuesday. Monday's madness is over, and Wednesday will take us over the hump, so Tuesday it is--for some serious discussion with authors. Tuesday talks mean to address authors in waiting and self-published authors who would like to go a more traditional route or who would at least like to take their steps with a publisher by their side.

This week we respond to the question, so what good is a publisher, anyway? It’s a fair question. In an era where self-publishing tools are abundant and accessible, why would an author choose to work with a publisher at all?

Let’s start with the obvious: publishers offer editorial rigor, professional design, and distribution pathways that elevate a book’s credibility and visibility. But beyond those basics lies a deeper truth—one that’s often invisible until an author is in the thick of it.

🛡️ A Buffer Between You and the World

Once your book is out, the world wants access—to your inbox, your time, your vulnerability. A publisher can serve as a buffer between authors and the scammers, the opportunists, and the well-meaning but relentless communicators who don’t understand boundaries. We field the odd requests, the confusing solicitations, and the “urgent” messages that aren’t urgent at all. We protect your focus.

📣 Marketing Support (With Realistic Expectations)

Most publishers aren’t marketing empires. We don’t have billboards or celebrity endorsements. But we do have networks, strategies, and experience. We know how to position your book for discoverability, how to craft a press release that doesn’t sound like a sales pitch, and how to guide you through the maze of author events, social media, and reader outreach. Yes, we depend on author involvement—but we’re in it with you.

🤝 Hand-Holding Through the Process

Becoming an author isn’t just about writing a book. It’s about navigating ISBNs, metadata, printer specs, seller platforms, and review etiquette. It’s about knowing what not to say to a distributor and how to respond when a retailer miscategorizes your book. As one of our authors recently said, after a particularly tangled issue with an online seller: “Wow! I am glad you are dealing with it, not I.” That’s the point. We take on the work and worry so you can keep writing.

✨ Editing That Transforms

A good book can become exceptional with the right editorial partnership. We don’t just fix typos—we refine structure, tone, pacing, and clarity. We ask the hard questions and honor your voice. The result? A book that’s not only more readable, but more likely to win awards, earn strong reviews, and stand the test of time.

🔍 Discoverability and Legitimacy

Self-published books often struggle to be seen. Publishers help with discoverability—not just through distribution channels, but through curated catalogs, genre placement, and relationships with reviewers, librarians, and booksellers. We help your book find its audience.

🎓 A Teacher in the Process

Perhaps most important, a publisher understands the norms, rhythms, and expectations of the publishing world. We teach as we go. We explain why certain choices matter, what timelines are realistic, and how to navigate the long tail of book promotion. We absorb the costs—financial (fully in the case of traditional publication, partly in the case of hybrid publication), emotional, logistical—so you can focus on what matters: writing, sharing, and connecting.

So what good is a publisher? We’re your partner, your buffer, your editor, your advocate. We’re the ones who hold the flashlight while you walk the path—and sometimes, we’re the ones who clear the path entirely.

The Tuesday talks reflect real discussions between the management of MSI Press LLC and our own authors or those would-be authors who come through our doors but don't make the cut--yet. If you have a topic that you would like addressed, leave the question in the comment section. Chances are, in our 22 years of publishing first-time and experiences authors, we have had a conversation with one of our authors that we can share with you.

 See more Publisher Conversations with Authors HERE.

 Learn more about publishing from an acquisitions editor -- how to get your book proposal accepted, why proposals are turned down/accepted, and how to find the right publisher for your book. On special sale for $5 while inventory lasts at MSI Press webstore. Also available as an e-book and an audiobook.

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We help writers become award-winning published authors. One writer at a time. We are a family, not a factory. Do you have a future with us?

Turned away by other publishers because you are a first-time author and/or do not have a strong platform yet? If you have a strong manuscript, San Juan Books, our hybrid publishing division, may be able to help.

Planning on self-publishing and don't know where to start? Our author au pair services will mentor you through the process.

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Julia Aziz, signing her book, Lessons of Labor, at an event at Book People in Austin, Texas.

Want to communicate with one of our authors? You can! Find their contact information on our Authors' Pages.

Steven Greenebaum, author of award-winning books, An Afternoon's Discussion and One Family: Indivisible, talking to a reader at Barnes & Noble in Gilroy, California.

   

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