MSI Press Blog

  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's topic is hybrid publication . Times are changing, and so is the publishing industry. As a publisher, I see it every day: the increasing challenges of traditional publication, the surge in self-publishing, and the rising role of hybrid publication as a practical and promising middle ground. Let’s talk about why hybrid publishing is no longer a fringe option—it’s a realistic and necessary path for many first-time authors. Why Traditional Publishing Is No Longer the Default Traditional publishing, once the gold standard, is becoming less viable—especially for debut authors. The cost of editing, design, printing, distribution,...

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 discuss what happens -- from what we have seen -- when authors decide to go it alone. As publishers, we've witnessed a recurring pattern when working with aspiring authors. Many talented writers approach us with manuscripts that show promise but require developmental editing or platform building before they're market-ready. While many authors appreciate professional guidance, some find it difficult to receive constructive feedback. For those authors, the self-publishing route can seem appealing, particularly with platforms like Amazon Kindle offering free publication options. Authors gain complete creative control and high...

  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 unique and creative hybrid division, may be able to help. See our contact page for information on publishing options and guide to making a book proposal.  Write to us at info@msipress.com. Read more posts on hybrid publication . Sign up for the MSI Press LLC monthly newsletter (recent releases, sales/discounts, awards, reviews, Amazon top 100 list, author advice, and more -- stay up to date) Follow MSI Press on  Twitter ,  Face Book , and  Instagram .   Interested in publishing with MSI Press LLC? Check out information on  how to submit a proposal . Planning on self-publishing and don't know where to start? Our  author au pair  services will mentor you through the process. Interested in receiving a free copy of any MSI Press LLC book  in exchange for  reviewing  a ...

  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.  Today's post is a reaction to a communication last week with a new author, whose proposed contract we just rescinded--and why. The author had an interesting book but one that would not have broad appeal; yet, some kind of narrow niche depth appeal seemed likely or at least possible. The author had no publishing history, no platform, and no clear group of fans. This is not all that uncommon for us because we specialize in helping first-time authors edit their first books into good enough shape to win awards and gather in readers and reviews. As a result, we not only invest time, effort, and money into the production of the book, but we a...

  It is Tuesday. Time to tall turkey. 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. Today's topic addresses contracts -- what is a good one, what is a bad one, and what do the specialized terms actually mean? I will answer these questions in a series of posts, using, to start, our contracts, and will go through them paragraph by paragraph. Then, I will look at some other publishers' contracts for differing content. So far in this series, we have looked at paragraphs 1-7. Now we will look at paragrahs XX. At this point, it is important to know that all contracts differ, sometimes even those from the same publishing house, and numbers are not going to match. However, all contracts should have essen...