Offering authors an alternative to traditional publishing

Global Business

For aspiring authors there are more opportunities than ever to get your book out there. Amazon recently launched Kindle Press where writers can submit manuscripts that are then published if they receive enough reader votes. The writer receives a $1500 advance and 50 percent of royalties on e-book sales. 10 winning books were released earlier this week. CCTV America’s Karina Huber filed this report from New York.

Offering authors an alternative to traditional publishing

For aspiring authors there are more opportunities than ever to get your book out there. Amazon recently launched Kindle Press where writers can submit manuscripts that are then published if they receive enough reader votes. The writer receives a $1500 advance and 50 percent of royalties on e-book sales. 10 winning books were released earlier this week. CCTV America's Karina Huber filed this report from New York.

Highlights: 

  • Amanda Palasciano published her book Mascara, centered around a high school sorority, as an e-book on Amazon and Barnes & Noble for free. She also has a website, a blog, several social media pages and a GoFundMe campaign to raise money to get the book printed in paperback.
  • Publishers like MacMillan, which is headquartered in the Flatiron Building, said that the changes technology has brought to the publishing world are less of a threat than an opportunity for established publishers.
  • Jon Yaged, President & Publisher of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, says they are harnessing technology to discover new books.
  • MacMillan has acquired a book that got its first break through Kickstarter called “Hello Ruby”. It has also launched a crowd sourced imprint called Swoon Reads focused on teen romance. Writers can submit their manuscripts and then the crowd has a say in which ones get published.

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Libby Hellman, Author in crime genre on self publishing v. crowdsourced books
CCTV America’s Phillip Yin interviewed author Libby Hellman about how crowd funding books have helped new authors.
She has written 11 books and her most recent book, “Nobody’s Child” was self-published.

Libby Hellman, Author in crime genre on self publishing v. crowdsourced books

CCTV America's Phillip Yin interviewed author Libby Hellman about how crowd funding books have helped new authors. She has written 11 books and her most recent book, "Nobody's Child" was self-published.