Benefits of Self Publishing: The Crossover Effect

This Wednesday, my third semester of teaching Pub_Inc will begin at the Art Academy of Cincinnati.

Got to say, it feels good, which brings me to this blog post.

On this blog, I've written hundreds of words touting the advantages of self-publishing over traditional publishing. Keeping your rights, higher ebook royalties, and having control over pricing, presentation, and content are the three biggest reasons.

Here come a few more.

Crossovers. I really enjoy it when intellectual properties visit each other's universes. Back when Who Framed Roger Rabbit? came out, I was giddy with joy during the Donald Duck/Daffy Duck piano duel. Sonic and Mario in the same game? Sign me up. Mulder and Scully from The X-Files on The Simpsons? Not to mention Super Friends camping out at the Hall of Justice.

Unfortunately, traditional publishers aren't big on crossovers. Rights are tricky. While some crossovers do exist, publishers looking to build an author's brand seem to want to focus on that author and that brand, rather than split time and profits with another author or publisher. The non-compete and first option clauses that are still boilerplate in legacy contracts also make a crossovers difficult or impossible.

If you want to share universes, going indie is the easier way to do it.

Novellas. In a paper world, books have to be a certain length. In a digital world, they don't. So a twenty-thousand word story that is too long for magazines and too short for a print book has no barrier to entry.

So naturally I've been a huge proponent of crossovers in my own fictional worlds. My next novel due out later this year, "A Coven's Lament", will combine characters from my collection of three short stories, "Chronicles of a Boy Misunderstood".

I had a ball doing this, and I hope it shows in the writing. Being able to release three connected stories, and another book combining characters and expanding story lines in such a short period of time, is something that would have been more difficult with traditional publishers. Plus I keep my rights, make better royalties, and have final say over cover art, price, and design.

What We Do On Thanksgiving Day

Thursday brings another celebration of what we Americans call Thanksgiving. But for many of us, there is so much activity and that real meaning behind the day has become lost. So, in order to try and bring some old traditions back, I want to encourage my readers to let this be a real day of gratitude.

I will start by conjuring up the images that come to my mind when I think of Thanksgiving…my late Aunt Sara’s house, sweet potato pie, turkey, football and family. When you think of Thanksgiving, what images come to mind?

 

I grew up watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade in television, taking little interest in the balloons, but more in the performances that seemed to happen every few minutes and trying to figure out if there were lip-syncing or not.  Santa was never big on my radar, but it seemed to pacify my younger brothers.  

 

Presently, Thanksgiving weekend is the busiest travel weekend of the year. Around tens of millions of people each year travel more than 50 miles in order to share Thanksgiving dinner with their families…talk about a yearning for home!

 

If you think about it, however, the actual events of Thanksgiving Day aren’t that exciting. Outside of watching the Macy’s Parade, tens of millions of people watch football, while tens of millions of people cook mass quantities of food. Then they all get together to eat more than they should, only to top off their gluttony with sweet potato pie and ice cream.

 

Thanksgiving should be about more than a parade, pigskin play, and fantastical deserts. Thanksgiving is still meant to be a time for gratitude. This has been the point of Thanksgiving Day throughout history.

 

I’m not asking we give up any of our prized Thanksgiving traditions. Go ahead and watch the parade and the games, if that makes your day special. Drive several hours to Uncle Joe and Aunt Mary’s house. Eat way too much dessert…these can be delightful traditions.

 

But I am going to ask you not to forget the heart of Thanksgiving. In fact, I’m going to encourage you to let Thanksgiving be more than just a day!

 

 

 

A New Study About EBooks For Kids Raises Eyebrows

School Library Journal and Follett School Solutions recently released the Sixth Annual Survey of Ebook Usage in the U.S. School (K-12) Libraries (September 2015) which the end result to take a look at the advantages (or disadvantages) there are to kids using ebooks.

 

Originally, because of many things like low cost and easy access, optimism about ebook adoption in schools has run high, but turns out to be unfounded from what the study says. It doesn't matter if you are #TeameBook or not, the details are shifting.

Detailed Pub_Inc Program Overview

For most of 9-week program, students meet in hour long workshops. Workshops are led by instructor K.A. Simpson, and other writing professionals who also provides written feedback and offers prepared lectures on various elements of the craft of writing. These classes also include analysis of published memoirs and impromptu discussions about the writing process. 

Because workshop participation is crucial, the full schedule will be available to students at the time students are notified of acceptance into the program. This should allow plenty of time to (re-)schedule any trips or other commitments over the course of the Incubator.

3 hours of individual consultations with the instructor

After each workshop meeting, students whose manuscripts were workshopped will meet with the instructor individually on a mutually agreed-upon date and time. The goal of these meetings is to allow the writer to synthesize the multiple perspectives students have heard at the workshop meetings, as well as strategize more specific plans for their work. Each writer will receive a minimum of 3 hours of individual consultation: 1 hour (broken up across 3 meetings, as the writer prefers).

In addition to these hours, the instructor will be available for weekly "office hours" sessions, at which students may drop in and discuss their projects as needed.

Weekly Check-Ins

To ensure that the manuscript develops, students will turn in a rough draft or revision of material every week the Incubator is in session. These will not be workshopped, but everyone will be required to complete them. The more you write, the easier it is to write!

Salon Series

At various times throughout the year, writers will visit with the class at a local pub, to discuss elements of the writing life.

Tuition

The entire cost of the program is $500. Tuition is payable in two installments. We have partnered with the Lillian Wright Simpson Foundation to allow tuition to be assessed on a sliding scale based on an individual's income level.

Free Open House & Info Session

Thinking of applying? Pub_Inc offers informal Q&A sessions via phone, including the workload, the application process, what the program does and doesn’t entail, the schedule, the philosophy behind our approach, and anything else on your mind.

Visit us at www.bkmkpublishing.wix.com/pub-inc for contact information.

Chronicles of a Boy Misunderstood - Special Edition

Chronicles is an eye-opening look into the life of three Black gay men. The stories of each speaks freely about what it was like growing up as a Black gay man and how those experiences dictate how hard and long we love. The three stories boldly address controversial issues under specific topics including slavery, love, class, social status, racism and the LGBT community.

In a way, I used the book to reveal the pain and struggles I endured over the past 20 years and how I was able to grow from those experiences instead of allowing them to destroy me.

This thought provoking work will cause you to take an inventory of your own prejudices and judgments of others. It also offers guidance and advice to anyone struggling with loving themselves regardless of their race, gender or sexual orientation.

A few weeks ago, I released a special edition of the book. What makes it special is that it includes a non-fiction piece that dissecs some of the reasons that prejudice, hatred, and fear still persists in society. I wrote the piece but it includes excerpts from an expert in African American Studies at the University of Cincinnati and a former Ret. US Army Sergeant.

Get your copy today. Only 100 copies will be printed. http://www.lulu.com/shop/k-a-simpson/chronicles-of-a-boy-misunderstood-special-edition/hardcover/product-21999164.html

Pub_Inc Takes Another Try

We enlisted the help of Woodie The Owl to help our crowdfunding campaign.  Come on now, how can you say no to an owl rockin headphones? 
https://vine.co/v/OHU3bgaA95w

Cager: The Boy Who Farted

Our friends at Bookmark Publishing just released their latest title!

"Cager: The Boy Who Farted", written by local Cincinnati author Jim Luken, is a great young adult story about a boy that, well, you know, farts. Despite the title, it's a great story that dives into race relations and coming of age issues.

Copies can be ordered at www.bkmkpublishing.com

HAPPY VETERANS DAY!

Help Get Pub_Inc Funded!

As many of you know, I have been on a mission to get our writing incubator up and running. We have since been incorporated by the Lillian Wright Simpson Foundation and will be one of their programs to help promote community engagement through social enterprise. 

 

For those of you who don't know, this non-profit is named after the late grandmother of our founder, K.A. Simpson,  who passed away in 2010 and lived her life to the fullest.  As a single mother, she raised five children in Newport, KY during the 1960s, 70's and 80's while creating a stable environment through hard work and community engagement.

 

BookMark Online and BookMark Publishing, have also been incorporated into the Foundation's family of services, where a portion of the proceeds are directly donated to the Foundation's community engagement efforts...that's efforts plural. In addition to our program, the Foundation will also host the following initiatives:

Pub_Inc is a resource center both for new and professional authors. Our mission is to challenge authors to envision a future of entrepreneurship while providing them with the tools to make their publishing dream a reality.

DreamChaser Mentoring provides youth mentoring to young male adults in the Greater Cincinnati inner city. Professional training will be provided for youth during the summer months and the school year.

High School Scholarships
The program goal is to assist recently graduated high school students from the Covington Independent, Newport Independent or Cincinnati Public School Districts.

We would love to say that leprechauns & fairy god-mothers could make my non-profit come to life, but we need some funding too, but every penny counts.  Please take a few minutes and visit my crowd funding page and consider giving to help make this happen!

BookMark Publishing Announce Short Fiction Contest Winners

And the winner is…

Only one could win, and although it was hard, BookMark Publishing picked Phillip Sterwerf’s “Raining All Over Me” as the clear winner.

He’ll get $150 AND his story published in this year's publication of short fiction published by BookMark Publishing.
.
Everybody wish Mr. Sterwerf well in the comments.

Raising Money and Taking Names

 

Our partnering company, BookMark Online, is offering 75% off all of their services this week.  The great thing about it is that a portion of all the proceeds goes to help fund our writing incubator.

 

Business Plan writing:
      Regular Price $399-$599
      Discounted Price $99-$150

 

Resumes/Cover Letters:
      Regular Price: $59.99-$119.99
      Discounted Price $15-$30

Social Media Marketing:
      Regular Price: $150/per month
      Discounted Price: $38/per month

Nonprofit Organization 3 months:
      Regular Price: $150/per month
      Discounted Price: $88 per month

Call to schedule your free consultation today. 513.402.2565

Short Fiction Contest is ending soon

www.bkmkpublishing.com

 

BookMark Publishing is honored to host a contest challenging writers to craft their best work.

 

The Contest: Create and submit your original, unpublished short story.

 

The Judges: BookMark Publishing Editorial Staff.

 

The Grand Prize: The winner will be announced on August 2014 and will win publication in the 2nd collection of short stories published by BookMark Publishing, AND $150.

 

www.bkmkpublishing.com

Here's Proof That Cincinnati Businesses Might Actually Be Changing For The Better

It's no secret that a lot of Cincinnatians aren't totally enamored with the corporate world. Skeptics have any number of reasons to question the motives of big businesses, and many people appear to believe that companies care about maximizing profits and not much else. Research from the University of Pennsylvania shows that people tend to perceive a link between companies that make a profit and companies that cause social harm. When participants were asked to assess various companies and industries -- some real, some hypothetical -- both liberals and conservatives viewed profits as undeserved, and even associated strong earnings with evil.

But those attitudes may be slowly eroding. According to the 2014 Edelman Trust Barometer, released last month by the public relations company Edelman, the public's trust in business has been steadily rising since the financial crisis of 2008, while trust in government has been declining worldwide.

This past year marked the most significant gap between trust in the government and trust in business recorded since Edelman began conducting the study in 2001. In nearly half of the 27 countries surveyed, there was a difference of more than 20 points between government and business trust ratings, and in some nations that gap was as high as 40 points. In the U.S., the study found, business got a trust score of 58 percent, while the government got just 37 percent, for a 21-point gap.

A full 84 percent of respondents worldwide even said that they believe businesses can pursue self-interest and profits while also doing good work for society.

More and more businesses are beginning to create change, making social responsibility a part of their corporate mission and taking action for the public good.

Just take a look at our very own Horseshoe Casino, which has lately taken strides to invest in local communities as they help the neighborhood surround the casino with a neighborhood cleanup earlier this week. 

PRESS RELEASE – Pub_Inc Publishing Incubator IndieGoGo Fundraiser

K. A. Simpson, local serial entrepreneur, turns to alternative funding sources for his latest project. Pub_Inc is a creative community incubator for authors. Join us & you'll become a creative master & published work generator while we work behind the scenes and help you through all the business mumbo-jumbo.

CINCINNATI -- K. A. Simpson, local serial entrepreneur, turns to alternative funding sources for his latest project. Pub_Inc is a creative community incubator for authors. With funding as the first major obstacle to getting any project off the ground, current economic conditions don't make the job any easier. Some have to become more innovative in their fundraising tactics, and the creative community has embraced sites like Indiegogo.com.

Indiegogo.com is a major player in the emerging crowd sourcing market. Founded in 2008, the site helps small projects to raise funds through its marketing service as well as social media. In line with Indiegogo.com guidelines, artists have a set number of days to raise all the funds. Simpson’s project has a 60-day fundraising window, from start to finish. Simpson has allotted this amount of time to raise just over $1,600 he needs to run the first class.

When asked about why Indiegogo.com was appealing, Simpson noted, "It’s a great community builder and helps me spread the word and update people easily. Having personally invested heavily in this project, it gives others the ability to help. The site is invaluable to my project.”

Pub_Inc’s Indiegogo campaign can be view at the following link:

http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/pub-inc-a-community-and-incubator-for-creatives

Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/Pub-inc

Twitter

http://www.twitter.com/pub)inc

Website

http://bkmkpublishing.wix.com/pub-inc

For inquiries, please contact K.A. Simpson via email at pubincinfo@gmail.com

513-402-2565

Its Up And Live!

It's official.  Our Crowd funding campaign is up and running for the holiday season.

Pub_Inc is a creative community incubator for authors that happen to know their way around business. Join us & you'll become a creative master & published work generator while we work behind the scenes sorting all the business mumbo-jumbo. Pub_Inc is remarkable in three major ways:
·  A strong focus on various learning styles; translating stuffy business rhetoric into easy to understand forms and templates
·  We'll be here for you whenever you need us. Where? Here. Where? Here. Yes. We're still here.
·  Collaborative& organic environment that adds value each time an author publishes their work, asks a question, or posts their success.

Make sure you check out the entire pitch AND all of the great perks your get for supporting our project here.

Thank you all so much in advance!

K.A.

Gearing up for Pub_Inc's Crowdfunding Launch

"If you can design one thing, you can design everything."

— Massimo Vignelli

What We Are Doing 

BookMark Online, BookMark Publishing and The Lillian Wright Simpson Foundation are taking on 2014 and joining forces to create a book publishing incubator called Pub_Inc here in Cincinnati.

Pub_Inc will be a resource center both for new and professional authors. The goal will be to challenge authors to envision a future of entrepreneurship while providing them with the tools to make their publishing dream a reality.

Pub_Inc will is designed to support both emerging and active authors. This incubator program assists emerging authors in building a solid foundation for publishing their work and creating a financially sound plan for managing their new source of income.  Pub_Inc will also assist active writers in growing their published work portfolio or getting a struggling author back on track.

Currently we are in the process of raising funds for our first class in 2014.  Look for our crowd funding campaign coming soon and learn more about the program here.