Q&A Thursday!
Best Foot Forward Edition
Hi friends!
I took a little break in the last week to visit family and also be head counselor at Mom Camp because New York City schools didn't start until TODAY, SEPTEMBER 10th. Thank you for your understanding and I hope you enjoyed a week or so of one less email to read. 😄
But, now we're back in business. It's Q&A Thursday time and I'm excited to answer these questions.
Want to ask a Q&A Thursday question? Great! If you're a paid subscriber, you can fill out this form. If you're not a subscriber yet, mash that button down below. No question is too big or too small!
A asks: In this ever-changing publishing landscape, I would appreciate your perspective on what strategies an author can use to build a platform between digital-first publishing and getting a trad deal with a larger house. Is it possible, or are we all stuck in the lane we started in?
I am indie published and also mid-way through a contract with a small/midsize, digital-first publisher. I'm happy with them, but would also like to keep my options open to expand into more bookstore distribution. I am doing well within the context of the world I have — I'm selling at least as many books as other authors at the same book fairs, with the same publisher, etc. But it sounds like bigger publishers focus on BookScan numbers, and I just don't have the opportunity to sell many books that get reported to BookScan.
It feels like a constant catch-22: the big publishers want a platform, but they won't count the kind of platform that I'm able to build. Small press/indie success is built on reader interactions and new content, but the big publishers want exclusivity.
How can I leverage what I'm building into the success that larger publishers want to see? I am willing to start a pen name if that would help.
I think there are a couple things going on here, so I want to break them down for you and for other readers out there.
