Inkshares New Crowd

Blog & website of children's book author Tara Lazar Inkshares: New “Crowd-Directed” Publishing  Model by David Michael Slater Greetings! My name is David Michael Slater. As an author of 20+ books (for children, teens, and adults) I am always interested in new ways of reaching readers. Self-publishing has never appealed to me. I have nothing whatsoever against it, but the sky-high pile of self-published titles one must compete with is simply too daunting, especially when so many people report not wanting to take the time to sift through that pile for the gems. The traditional route is as daunting as ever, but I do not bash it either. But it is a rough go, especially with a project that seems risky in any way. Enter Inkshares. My newest picture book, Hanukkah Howie vs. Santa Claus, recently launched  with this newfangled  â€œcrowd-directed” publisher. Inkshares  makes final decisions about projects based on pre-sales. This is a fascinating new approach that, thus far, I find extremely reasonable. Why? First, I can understand Inkshare’s desire to minimize their risk by taking on properties with proven market appeal (via pre-sales). What publisher wouldn’t? The result has been my working my tail off trying to secure these pre-sales, and I must admit it’s fairly exhausting. What’s the payoff? How about 50% of gross revenues and a non-exclusive contract? Hard to argue that both sides don’t benefit from such an arrangement. The process is simple, you approach Inkshares with your project. In my case, I came to them with the finished text and  an illustrator (the awesome UK artist Andy Catling) already on board. The Inkshares team evaluates your project, and if they deem it’s potentially viable, they will guide you through the  steps of setting up a project page and then a launch. They do help with social media marketing during the funding period, but mostly it’s up to you. So far so good. We’re a week in and funding at 23%. You can learn much more at Inkshares.com. If you are interested in my project, you can read the entire (500 word) text, see the hilarious art, and note the exceptional blurbs (like the ones below) coming in from popular and bestselling authors at HowievsSanta.com. Good luck on your on publishing paths, wherever they may take you! “A new holiday tradition deserves a new holiday classic read aloud, and David Michael Slater has delivered just that, right to our door, by sleigh and by Hanukkopter.” â€"David Lubar, Author of Hidden Talents and Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie Hanukkah Howie vs. Santa Claus “could bring about world peace, but only if you do your part.” â€"Heeb Magazine