In two words? A. LOT.

The Independent Book Publishers’ Association (IBPA) is for anyone in the independent book industry: printers and graphic sources; logistics and shipping; converter and subscription services; and of course, publishers, writers, and illustrators.. If you are in any way associated with the industry this is YOUR learning and networking opportunity.

If you’ve ever sat in on one of my classes, you know that I L-O-V-E Book Expo America.  The energy, the opportunity to meet new people, celebrating our Honorees … the list goes on. IBPA Publishing University gives you all of those things in an environment that lets you set your pace and better balance your learning and marketing opportunities.

IBPA Publishing University if for all of us who write, whether we have a book or are thinking about one. Or not. In an early conversation, someone asked me if I was an an author. I gave them my usual response.

No, I’m just a blogger.

The gentleman I was speaking with reminded me that I am, indeed, a published author! A simple change of perspective that shifted my mindset. [Not to mention an ego boost!]

The theme for this year’s program was “Discoverability: How to Reach Your Reader and Sell More Books.” It could easily have been called Shift: We are Well on Our Way. My sense of the attendees is that they view “digital and “E” as givens and are actively integrating these products and process into their operations.

That’s not to suggest that everyone said the exact same thing. Frankly, I wouldn’t want that. The conversations were honest (or “authentic” to use the current label), substantive, and – the best part – lead to more discussion and thought. For me as a writer,

• There is no one path to success.
• Diverse thinking is not just welcome, but embraced. 
• Sharing best practices and success, are as likely as sharing mis-steps and failure.

Most importantly, I learned that it is time to stop limiting our perspectives as publishers. There is no need to tag ourselves with words like small, independent, nontraditional, or just a blogger.

I am not planning to write a book, but I am now better prepared – and armed with tools – that can help me get more readers too.

Part II: The Book is Your Investment and Your Prop
Part III: The Shift has Happened: Publishers Perspectives