MSI Press Blog

  If you are an author, you are a target. That’s not meant to frighten you — it’s meant to prepare you. The moment your book appears online, your name, your email, and your hopes become visible to people who make their living by preying on writers. Some of these solicitations look amateurish. Others are polished, flattering, and persuasive. A few are so well‑crafted that even seasoned authors hesitate before realizing something is off. Scammers love authors because authors are dreamers. You believe in your book. You want it to reach readers. You want it to matter. And that makes you vulnerable to anyone who promises visibility, success, or “the audience you deserve.” Let’s talk about the red flags — the ones I see most often as a publisher, and the ones I want you to recognize instantly. Red Flag #1: Over-the-top flattery Scammers rarely open with a question. They open with praise. “Your book is a masterpiece.” “I was deeply moved by your story.” “This is the best memoir I’ve read ...

  One of the more practical uses of AI in publishing may not be replacing designers at all. It may be helping authors and publishers move past creative paralysis. Cover design can stall even experienced teams. Everyone may understand the content of the manuscript and even the audience, yet still struggle to identify the emotional tone the cover should communicate. A design can be technically competent and still fail to capture the heart of the book. This is where AI can become surprisingly useful. Used well, AI can function as a rapid brainstorming partner, generating visual directions that help clarify mood, atmosphere, symbolism, and tone. In some cases, a single AI-generated concept can help a team suddenly recognize what they had been trying to express all along. But that is only the beginning of the process. Professional designers still provide the essential work that transforms an idea into a publishable cover: typography, spacing, composition, branding awareness, production ...

  Every few months, an author somewhere asks the same question with a mix of hope and exasperation: Do I really need a mailing list? Isn’t that what my publisher is for? It’s a fair question. After all, publishers have marketing departments, publicity teams, catalog distribution, sales reps, and industry reach that most authors could never replicate on their own. So why should writers—already juggling drafts, revisions, deadlines, and life—take on yet another responsibility? The short answer: yes, you need a mailing list. The longer answer: you need it because your publisher cannot do what only you can do. Let’s unpack that. 1. Publishers market books. Mailing lists build careers. A publisher’s job is to promote a book —usually for a short window around launch. Their focus is seasonal, catalog-driven, and tied to sales cycles. Once your book moves out of its season, the spotlight shifts to the next wave of titles. Your mailing list, however, is not seasonal. It’s cumulative. It ...