THIS PAGE IS INTENDED EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE USE OF MSI PRESS AUTHORS, TO HELP WITH BOOK PRODUCTION, PROMOTION AND MARKETING. IT CONTAINS THE LATEST INFORMATION AND SUPERCEDES ANY INFORMATION THAT COMES OUT IN THE MONTHLY NOTES (NEWSLETTER FOR AUTHORS).
ACTIONS REQUIRED AND DESIRED IMMEDIATELY AFTER PUBLICATION
This CHECKLIST FOR NEWLY PUBLISHED AUTHORS covers the legal, administrative, and promotional actions that authors need to do once their book is out. Some listed actions (like Library of Congress copyright registration) are required; other are simply highly recommended.
Last update: 7-23-23
MSI Press prepares ARCs in specific cases. Sometimes, ARCs are necessary; sometimes, they are advantageous; sometimes, they are neither. Advance Review Copy explains in detail.
Last update: 5-17-23
It is critical for sales that authors be listed in Amazon’s Author Central. This is something authors must do for themselves. This author provides some guidance.
Last update: 7-7-23
Amazon rankings can be confusing, and, for sure, they are imprecise at determining book sales. However, they contain much useful information. The rankings at Amazon are similar to those at Barnes & Noble, so understanding one helps to understand the other. This document tries to demystify the rankings as well as provide advice on how to, potentially, achieve a better ranking for your book.
Last update: 7-7-23
AMAZON TOP 100
Yes, it is possible to get into Amazon’s top 100. We have authors who do regularly. Keeping in mind that the top 100 is relative to sales volume of other books in the same category (niche), this AMAZON TOP 100 document explains how some books are able to achieve this status and what you can do to position your book better for this elite status.
Last update: 8-3-23
AUDIOBOOK HELP
MSI Press does not prepare audiobooks. Some MSI Press authors have done this, and others have expressed an interest. Audiobook rights in all contracts remain with the author. We can recommend a couple of choices for preparing your audiobook if you are so inclined.
Voice over Vermont helps authors who want to voice their own audio book. Authors can record remotely, using V-o-V recording equipment and assisted by a professional audiobook producer. If you are interested in getting some help for an audiobook, downloadable the Audiobook_infosheet_101122_M and AB_Pricing_2023 (1) (pfh=per finished hour).
ACX may be the better choice if you prefer to find a narrator other than yourself for your book. You can also narrate your own book with ACX; however, you will need to have the proper recording equipment at home.
Last update. 2-2-23
AUTHOR DISCOUNTS AND CODES
Did you forget the codes needed to get author discounts through our webstore? The AUTHOR DISCOUNTS AND CODES document lists them for quick reference, including discounts for family members, acquaintances and friends.
Last update: 3-3-23
Book Scan is a feature available at Amazon Central for authors to have a picture of their total book scales. Except, BS is inaccurate. This document explains how and why. (Note: if you need to know your sales volume, just ask. We have a fairly current total sales number at all times.
Last update: 7-7–23
BOOK AWARDS
This document contains a list of all the book awards that we know about, including information about which authors have earned each of the awards (where an MSI Press author has won one — and, surprisingly, many of these awards have been won by our authors).
This document is in progress. We still need to add some of the competitions identified n 2022 Notes. Additional competitions will be added as we become aware of them. Please check back periodically for the updated version.
Need help? Book Award Pro, of which MSI is a partner, provides free and paid assistance to MSI Press authors. The information is contained in the downloadable Book Awards document.
The MSI Press blog contains information about book awards from time to time. You can read these posts at the MSI Press blogsite.
Download BOOK AWARDS.
Last update. 5-31-23
BOOK BUB
MSI Press is a Book Bub partner.
One of the advantages to our partnership is access to a wonderful pdf file that shares Book Bub Marketing Examples.
- Looking to build a website or improve one that already exists? Book Bub has suggestions for what works best for gaining reader interest and attention.
- How about your author bio? What should go into that? Book Bub has suggestions, based on bios that have helped authors stand out.
- Social media platforms? Book Bub has suggestions for Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram.
Last update: 6-26-23
BOOK PRODUCTION TIMETABLE
There are many steps in the book production process. For the most part, they are sequential. Some do not have specific deadlines, but once copyediting starts, deadlines, some of the immutable, kick in. If deadlines are missed in some cases, books will have to be rescheduled for a later release date. The BOOK PRODUCTION TIMETABLE document provides the steps and time frames from contract to post-publication promotion and marketing.
For more details about the book production process, this MSI Press blog post might help.
Last update. 3-3-23
BOOK REVIEWS
This document contains a list of book review possibilities, both pre-publication and post-publication, paid and unpaid. We will add more review possibilities as I hear about them.
The MSI Press blog contains information about book awards from time to time. You can read these posts at the MSI Press blog site.
Download BOOK REVIEWS
Last update. 2-2-23
BOOKSTORES
We have two documents that might help you here, depending upon what you are looking for.
GETTING BOOKSTORES TO CARRY YOUR BOOK(S) focuses on how to get your book into bookstores.
ABOUT BOOKSTORES focuses on where to find bookstores.
Last update. 6-10-23
COPYRIGHT REGISTRATION
Authors should register their copyright with the Library of Congress within 90 days of publication. Within weeks or months, authors will receive a certificate of registration. It is helpful for MSI Press if authors send a photocopy of that document for MSI records.
Last update. 3-3-23
DISTRIBUTION AND SALES POLCIES
For the first two years after publication, regardless of sales, books are front-listed and enjoy full distribution; they also benefit from right-of-return status. After that period, book sales must warrant maintaining these statuses. The DISTRIBUTION AND SALES POLICIES document explains the conditions for maintaining these statuses and authors’ options when the conditions are not met.
Last update: 6-10-23
This is a critical space for authors and their books to be in. This document provides general information.
Last update: 7-7-23
MANUSCRIPT PREPARATION
coming soon: how to finalize your manuscript before publication, ensure acceptance for quality, and speed up the copyediting process
Last update. 2-10-23
MARKETING & PROMOTION HELP
This MARKETING ACTIVITIES document provides guidance for marketing and promotion, keeping in mind that macro (national/international/generic) activities are undertaken by the press while authors are expected to handle micro (local/topic-specific) activities. Since marketing and promotion success is limited only be imagination and depends on individual authors’ willingness to invest efforts (and the direction in which they feel they can best use their talents and connections), this document is only a starting point. However, for authors who are not marketers (most are not), it can be a good source of support.
Here is a useful resource, a free book with 50 ways to market your book for free (we already do some of those for you — check with us). Some work only for self-published authors, but most work for all authors. Getting the work out without cost is valuable for all authors.
These MSI Press blogposts about marketing can be helpful.
You might also check out these MSI Press blogposts about book promotion and, for new books about to be launched, blogposts about book launches.
Last update. 7-7-23
REVERSION OF RIGHTS
The REVERSION OF RIGHTS document explains the difference between copyright and granted rights and the conditions under which rights may be reverted (returned) to authors. Timing and type of publication play roles in how rights reversion is handled, but authors always are in a position to ask to have their rights reverted.
Last update: 4-4-23
ROYALTIES
For most authors, MSI Press pays 10% on list (retail) price as royalties for paperback books and hard cover books. That generally works out to be about 50% of net. A 50% net option is available. For e-books, MSI Press pays 50% of net. Annual statements distributed in February and March provide calculations for royalties earned the preceding year.
The TIMETABLE FOR PAYMENT OF ROYALTIES depends on the amount of royalties, with royalties exceeding $600 in any quarter for books by any US citizen (the IRS required reporting level) triggering a quarterly payment.
Royalties are reported to the IRS for the year in which they are paid, not the year in which they are earned.
To help you understand the significant of your sales volume, please see INTERPRETING YOUR BOOK SALES,
Last update: 4-30-23
Includes information about pre-order sales during an ARC period and those immediately prior to book release.
Last update: 5-16-23
SOCIAL MEDIA
MSI Press maintains an active social media presence. MSI Press Social Media Posts can be found on our blog, X/Twitter, Instagram, and Face Book. We continue to explore other venus for social media, and all of our social media accounts are linked to our website, making it easy for visitors to bounce off onto one of our social media platforms to get a better feel for MSI Press and what it does.
Last update: 8-3-23
UNDERSTANDING YOUR BOOK CONTRACT
forthcoming
In the interim, the MSI Press blog has a series of posts about book contracts that might be helpful.
Last update 2-2-23
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