MSI Press Blog

  Why Humans Love the Personal Tidbits We like to pretend we’re rational creatures, drawn to books for their ideas and arguments. But the truth is simpler and more human: we’re fascinated by the small, seemingly trivial details of other people’s lives. What kind of tea does the author drink? What inspired the title? Why did they choose that anecdote? What were they thinking when they wrote that chapter? These details don’t change the content, but they change the connection. They make the author feel real, accessible, dimensional. They turn a book from an object into a relationship. This is why readers remember personal stories. It’s why they bring up your early book when they meet you. It’s why they ask questions that have nothing to do with your professional expertise. They’re not being silly — they’re being human. And for authors, those small details are often the bridge that turns a reader into a follower, and a follower into a community. T hese Tuesday talks reflect real discus...

  The Human Curiosity Behind Every Book Readers don’t just read books — they read people . They want to know who the author is, what shaped them, what they believe, and how their mind works. Even when a book’s topic is timeless, the author’s identity becomes part of the story. This is especially true when an author is known professionally for something entirely different. A lay‑audience book written by someone with a strong professional reputation becomes a kind of window into the person behind the expertise. Readers lean in. They want to see the human side, the unexpected side, the side that isn’t defined by credentials or job titles. It’s the same impulse that makes people read articles about how politicians brush their teeth or what CEOs eat for breakfast. The details aren’t important — the person is. Readers are endlessly curious about the lives behind the words. For authors, this is a reminder: your presence matters as much as your content. People follow people, not just...

  How a Decades‑Old Book Keeps Whispering Back Every author knows the thrill of a new release: the launch, the buzz, the early reviews, the first royalty statement. What we talk about less is the quiet, stubborn afterlife of a book — the way it keeps moving through the world long after we’ve stopped expecting anything from it. Sometimes that afterlife arrives as a tiny, almost comical royalty deposit. A few dollars. A few cents. A reminder that somewhere, someone found your book. Maybe they searched for it. Maybe they stumbled across it. Maybe they were handed a used copy by a friend. But they read it — and that matters. The long tail of publishing isn’t glamorous, but it’s real. Books don’t disappear when the marketing stops. They drift. They linger. They get discovered in unexpected places. They find new readers in new decades. And every once in a while, they send up a little flare: I’m still here. For authors, that pulse is worth noticing. It’s proof that our work has a lif...

  Understanding royalties is one of the most important—and most misunderstood—parts of publishing. The numbers look simple on paper, but the basis on which they’re calculated can dramatically change what an author actually earns. Below is a clear, practical overview of what’s typical, what’s fair, and how to protect yourself from the “hidden math” of net‑based royalties. 1. The Two Royalty Models: List vs. Net Royalties on List (Cover Price, MSRP) Calculated on the book’s full retail price Transparent and predictable Example: 10% of a $20 hardcover = $2 per copy Royalties on Net (Net Receipts) Calculated on what the publisher actually receives after retailer discounts and other deductions Retailer discounts are typically 40–55% A “10% royalty” on net often yields far less than a “10% royalty” on list “Net” may include deductions such as freight, warehousing, marketing fees, and returns Which Is Better? List‑based royalties are almost always better for authors Ne...