Recently two large traditional publishers have opened self-publishing divisions, giving further credence to the notion that, even if not all literary purists approve, many publishing houses themselves believe self-publishing is the wave of the future.

Thomas Nelson has launched its self-publishing arm, West Bow Press, and Harlequin has just announced Harlequin Horizons. The self-publishing services they offer do not come cheap, ranging from $599 to $19,999, depending upon the support and marketing services desired. And many bloggers are livid. They see this as publishers cashing in on a growing industry without concern for the quality of books they publish or the dashed expectations of authors who come to them thinking the link to their famous imprint names will guaranty success.

But as I mentioned in a previous blog, the former CEO of Harper Collins has put it this way. "What is coming is not an evolution. It is a revolution." Thomas Nelson and Harlequin have seen the merits of attempting to go with the flow of change. As time passes, the lines between traditional publishing and self-publishing will continue to blur until it will be impossible to tell the difference in most cases. Even now, traditional publishers are offering critique services for a fee, and printers are acting as publishers, and retailers are serving as printers. The entire book publishing industry is in flux. To be outraged that publishers are trying to survive by keeping up with change is small minded and ultimately futile.

In 2008 the number of self-published books increased 132 percent from the year before. Since 2002 the growth has been 774 percent. At Dorrance, just a few years ago, we published only approximately 300 titles a year. Now we publish three or four times that number. All this makes it even more important that authors make well informed decisions when publishing their books. This blog attempts to provide authors with an understanding of the publishing climate and context in which we all now operate and to offer solid advice about what specific questions to consider as well as what activities to be prepared to take on as they attempt to publish and market their own books. Technological advances have created a scenario in which the author can speak directly to the consumer more efficiently and effectively than ever before. And the traditional book publishing industry must either adapt to the new models or many of its number will cease to exist.