In the past, Smart Rhino Publications ran two crowdfunding campaigns to fund anthologies. The Kickstarter campaign for A Plague of Shadows reached 178% of our goal, which was phenomenal! We can't thank our supporters enough.
But you might wonder, why launch a crowdfunding campaign? Well, truth be told, small indie publishers are having a rough time of it in today's market. The market is overloaded with millions of books published annually, and the competition is insurmountable. Fewer people may be purchasing books. Many different factors could be at play. Considering these difficulties, small publishers must now continually revise their marketing strategies and find alternative ways to increase funding. Crowdfunding is one of those ways.
Many independent publishers have folded in the past few years because of a lack of funding and various other reasons. That in itself is sad. But, even more sadly, many authors from those publishers now have few or no venues for their work. Their books are no longer in print, and many can't find new publishers. Talented writers are being left out in the cold. And we are the worst for it.
No one is getting rich in the independent publishing world, especially the small publishers that cater to niche markets. Smart Rhino takes particular pleasure in publishing lesser-known writers who show enormous talent. Giving writers the opportunity to publish their work drives much of what Smart Rhino Publications does. I suspect the same is true for most small publishers. But, even though for most of us this is more for love than for money, bills still must be paid. Otherwise, the venues for breakout writers will eventually evaporate.
What can you do to help indie publishers beyond supporting crowdfunding campaigns?
Easy.
Buy books. Of course, that's the best way to support publishers and their authors.
Write reviews. If you enjoy a book, go to Amazon, B&N, Smashwords, or any book distributor and let folks know. Even a brief "Wow! This book was fantabulous!" helps. Naturally, more descriptive reviews are invaluable for writers and publishers.
Talk to others about the books you enjoy. Publishers love successful word-of-mouth, but it's one of the hardest things to garner. Spread the word. Let folks know about the books you've enjoyed and recommend.
Buy yet more books! If you like a particular author, search him or her out and purchase more of their work. Take a chance on an author you might not know. The cycle begins anew! Write reviews. Spread the word even further.
What books have you read lately? I buy more and more books published by independent publishers. That's where I find the books I want to read. I have no issues with the traditional big publishers, but I find the indies aren't corporate entities with $$$ in their eyes. They publish books because they're into books and aren't slaves to accountants. They'll risk publishing new authors and books that big publishers won't touch.
Today's independent publishers and writers need your support, in any way you can provide it. Trust me, we'll greatly appreciate it. And then the indies can produce even more great literature!