MSI Press Blog

Most authors think of legacy in terms of readers, reviews, and the quiet hope that their books will outlive them. And they will. Books have a way of slipping past our lifespans, finding new hands long after we’re gone. But there’s another side of legacy that authors rarely consider — the practical, invisible side that publishers see every year. It’s the part that determines whether your books continue to thrive or quietly fall into disarray after you’re no longer here to guide them. This is the legacy conversation most authors never have, but every author needs. 🌿 Your Books Will Outlive You — But Only If Someone Can Steward Them When an author dies, their books don’t vanish. They keep selling. They keep earning royalties. They keep needing decisions: reprints, rights renewals, permissions, pricing, metadata updates, and the occasional crisis that only a human can resolve. If no one is designated to handle these things, your books become orphans — still alive, but without a guar...

  There’s a quiet truth in publishing that no one likes to talk about: authors die. Over the years at MSI Press, I’ve lost about a half‑dozen of them. Each time, the news arrived in a different way — a spouse calling, a friend emailing, a stray obituary someone forwarded. Not once did an author leave instructions for what should happen to their books, their royalties, or their publishing relationships. And yet, someone always thought to notify the publisher. Thank goodness. But this shouldn’t be left to chance. Whether you’re traditionally published or self‑published, your books don’t die when you do. They continue to earn royalties, circulate in libraries, and live in the hands of readers. That means your literary estate needs clarity — and your publisher (or distributor, or platform) needs direction. Here’s what every author should put in place now , long before anyone needs it. 🌿 Why This Matters More Than You Think Most authors assume their heirs will “figure it out.” T...