Reviews are one of the most important factors in enhancing the visibility and appeal of our books. And while one side of the coin is acquiring the numbers of Amazon reviews necessary for whatever the algorithm has decided to do that morning, or meeting the requirements of the likes of BookBub, the other side is securing a few high-profile, highly respected reviews. And for that, writers turn to one source more than any other: Kirkus.
ALLi News Editor Dan Holloway
Which brings me to this week's first story. Kirkus has bought AudioFile magazine. This will result in Kirkus now including a section of audiobook reviews, which will, possibly, offer an opportunity for indies looking to get format-specific reviews of their audio titles.
New Leadership at Publishing Perspectives
On the subject of magazines, this week saw the announcement that attempting to fill the unfillable boots of Porter Anderson at Publishing Perspectives will be Andrew Albanese. Albanese has made the very appropriate choice to pen, for his first piece in charge, a lovely tribute to Porter. Publishing Perspectives also outlines something of his journalistic background, including breaking stories on e-book price-fixing and running daily pieces from major book shows for Publishers Weekly.
Of course, I have done some digging around, and I found this article from eleven years ago to be particularly interesting. It is Albanese's account of how he self-published an e-book based on his reporting of the $9.99 e-book price-fixing battle. It both proves his chops as a self-publisher and gives an insight into his journalistic concerns. I look forward to seeing where he takes a publication I use so regularly.
The Convergence of Visual Storytelling
And finally, I was fascinated by this piece from Mark Williams. Williams is, of course, always readable and always has something important to say. But here he is talking about what he calls the convergence of comics, graphic novels, and manga. These are all formats with a high indie representation, and what he says about the possibilities for finding new readerships is well worth a read.
Thoughts or further questions on this post or any self-publishing issue?
If you’re an ALLi member, head over to the SelfPubConnect forum for support from our experienced community of indie authors, advisors, and our own ALLi team. Simply create an account (if you haven’t already) to request to join the forum and get going.
Non-members looking for more information can search our extensive archive of blog posts and podcast episodes packed with tips and advice at ALLi's Self-Publishing Advice Center.
