An unexpected perk of the past two years is that printed and digital book sales are up, according to NPD BookScan. With book sales up for nearly all genres this year, there has never been a better time to publish a book.
So, what is the best choice: traditional publishing or self-publishing?
From 10-11 a.m. PST on Thursday, Oct. 14, authors Betsy B. Murphy and Mark Shaw will co-host a virtual publishing seminar filled with valuable information for anyone who’s considering writing or publishing a book. Shaw brings his expertise in traditional publishing, while Murphy offers insight on self-publishing. A post-event recording will be available for interested individuals who cannot make it.
The seminar, ideal for those who haven’t even started writing a book yet, supports prospective authors in understanding the business so they can focus on writing and becoming a successful, published author.
Betsy B. Murphy Shares her Self-Publishing Journey
One of the most important investments I made before writing my first book was buying Mark Shaw’s book, How to Become a Published Author. As an independent filmmaker, I neglected the business side of my work and consequently made deals for the distribution of my first two films where the distributor made money and I didn’t. As a writer, I didn’t want to make the same mistake so as I wrote my first book, I chose to inform myself about the business of publishing. Mark’s book How to Become a Published Author and a consultation with him saved me thousands of dollars.
Mark, a Bay Area resident, is a former criminal defense attorney and legal analyst for CNN, ABC and USA Today for the Mike Tyson, O.J. Simpson and Kobe Bryant cases. He also is a distinguished investigative reporter, historian and bestselling author (The Reporter Who Knew Too Much) who has published nearly 30 books. His most recent book, Collateral Damage, connects the lives and deaths of Marilyn Monroe, JFK and Dorothy Kilgallen. More than 3 million have viewed his interviews and presentations about his history-making books on YouTube.
While Mark made a strong case for traditional publishing, based on the content of my first book, my platform and a provocative title, I ultimately chose to self-publish. Within three months, Autobiography of an Orgasm had a full spread in the U.K. Sunday Times, something unheard of for self-published books. Seven years later, steady sales for the book continue. I’ve also successfully self-published four more books and guided others to do the same.
