As self-publishing goes mainstream, several online communities have sprung up to help readers discover self-pubbed books, among them IndieReader, which reviews indie books and explores literature off the beaten path. Founder and president Amy Edelman shared some of her industry insights with Ebyline.
What was your inspiration behind IndieReader?
It wasn’t so much inspiration, as it was annoyance at the idea that people believed that a self-pubbed book couldn’t be as good–or better–than a book pubbed traditionally.
Yes, there are bad indie books, but there are many terrible trad pubbed books too written by novice article writers. I thought that indie authors and their books deserved a chance to be judged on their merits, not some ridiculous preconceived notion that just because the powers that be (ie agents and trad publishers) didn’t like their books that they were bad.
How would an indie author go about submitting a book for review?
By sending a paper copy via post (the address is on the site) or an ebook via email. Very simple.
Is there a selection process?
Yes and no. We do keep what we’re sent and our reviewers choose from that. Also, we have an arrangement with USA Today’s “Happily Ever After” blog to send reccs of indie ebook romances, so we tend to pull a lot from that pile lately.
What do you see as the pros and cons for authors choosing between traditional publishing and self-publishing?
Pros of being trad pubbed: That there are people with experience who can help you with the process. And let’s be real…between editing, cover design, PR, marketing, etc…it is quite a process. Also–and for some this is the most important factor–there’s a stamp of approval from the “man” that their work is good enough.
Cons of being trad pubbed: You willingly give up a lot of control. Sometimes that’s for the better, sometimes not. Also, you get a way smaller piece of the pie.
Pros of being indie: Control and you get to keep all the money.
Cons of being indie: You have to take responsibility for doing it all yourself.
Where do you see the industry headed over the next several years?
That is quite a big question, but I think that the whole revolution in the music industry has shown that its really the consumer (in this case, the reader) who decides these things.
Amazon is smart, less expensive and easier for a lot of people. Jeff Bezos is also very smart (yes, I know I said this twice). But I can’t ever see the independent bookstore going away…it’s really an experience beyond the purchase of a single book that can’t be replicated elsewhere.
As far as indie vs. traditional goes, just like in the film and music industries, I see indie (soon) getting respect as it’s own category, rather than books that are “lesser-than” traditionally pubbed. I think people will begin to see indie books for what they are: unique, cool and a pure expression of some really great authors.
