Susan Neal director of CIPA is my special guest today. As a traditionally published author, I know very little the world of Independent publishing. I’ve invited Susan for a little Q& A to talk about CIPA.
Explain what the Christian Indie Publishing Association is all about?
The Christian Indie Publishing Association (CIPA) was created in 2004 to provide independently published authors, small publishers, and author published by small presses with resources to publish like a traditional publisher. Learning the publishing industry is challenging. CIPA discounts, educational materials, and marketing tools make your publishing experience easier and more profitable. Why do it alone when you can join a professional association?
Over seventy products are available to members. Some of them include:
Courses
Branding Your Book
How to Book a Podcast Tour
Tips for Getting More Book Reviews
Create a Professional-Looking Book
Develop an Audience for Your Books
How to Get Endorsements to Sell More Books Grow Your Audience with Content Marketing Increase Website Traffic with Pinterest Pins & Search Engine Optimization Techniques
Improve Your Book’s Amazon Rank by Expanding Categories & Strengthening Keywords Increase Your Book Sales through Enhancing Public Relations with Christian Media, Retailers, and Consumers
Reference Guides & Checklists
Author Media Kit
How to Get Your Book in Barnes & Noble
Finding and Using Beta Readers Book Industry Standards and Communications (BISAC) Subject Codes
Book Launch Marketing Checklist Book Launch Teams
Bookstore Events
Checklist for Creating a Professional-Looking Book
Editing Your Manuscript
How to Get Your Book in Libraries List of Radio & Podcast Media
List of 50+ Book Contests Metadata Checklist
Marketing Tactic Worksheet
Media Interviews
Media Pitches
Media Query Tracking Worksheet
Piracy & Digital Copyright Act Press Releases
Publishers Liability Insurance Online Giveaways
Thema: Subject Category Codes for Global Book Sales
Discounts (usually cover the cost of membership)
Free Title Set Up for IngramSpark
International Standard Book Number (ISBN)
International Standard Name Identifier (ISNI) Numbers
Christian Indie Awards
Book Design Templates and Covers
Book Formatting
BookFunnel
BookBaby (Self-publishing platform that does it all for you: editing, cover design, formatting, publishing, and distribution)
BookBrush Professional Plan (Image creation software to create marketing images) IndieReader’s In-Store Digital Review Service (Lists your book in an online catalog)
Bonus Content when ordering KDSPY (Browser extension that allows you to conduct book category and keyword research on Amazon)
Children’s Book Formatting and Creation
Magazine Advertising
Membership to Association of Publishers for Special Sales (APSS)
Membership to Writers & Publishers Network (W&PN)
Services offered through CIPA’s Partner members (Printers, book designers, publicists, advertising agencies, etc.)
Proofreading
ProWritingAid Manuscript Editing Software ($150 off lifetime membership)
Publisher Rocket (Software that provides book keywords and Amazon categories)
Reedsy services (Platform to find professionals who do editing, book design, proofreading, and publicist support)
Subscription to Publishers Weekly
Website Domain Authority Boost
If you are interested in joining CIPA for $90, go to https://christianpublishers.net/ and sign up today!
Along with all these services you have an opportunity for these same Indie Authors to enter their work in a contest. Tell us about the Christian Indie Awards and who can submit to it?
Since 2008, Christian Indie Awards honor Christian books by independent authors and small publishers for outstanding contribution to Christian life. A self-published author or traditionally published author with a small press can enter the awards. Books must be Christian in nature, promote the Christian faith, and intended for the Christian marketplace.
Judging is based upon design, content, quality, creativity, and alignment with biblical principles.
Awards will be offered in 21 categories: Anthologies, Bible Study, Biography/Memoir, Business/Finance, Children’s Book (4-8 years), Children’s Book (8-12 years), Christian Education, Christian Living, Devotional, General Fiction, Gift Book, Historical Fiction, Mystery and Suspense, Novella, Personal Growth, Poetry, Relationships/Family, Romance, Speculative, Theology, and Young Adult (12+ years).
About Susan Neal :
The deadline for the Christian Indie Awards contest is November 15, 2021. However, the early-bird entry fee’s first deadline is on August 1, 2021 and the second early-bird period ends on October 1, 2021 The awards are sponsored by Christian Indie Publishing Association (CIPA). CIPA members receive a $10 discount on the contest entry fee.
As a Certified AWSA Writer Coach, Susan U. Neal RN, MBA, MHS, desires to help others publish and sell their God-given message. She is the author of eight healthy living books. Her self-published, award-winning, best-seller, 7 Steps to Get Off Sugar and Carbohydrates, won the Selah award and sold over 17,000 copies in three years.
Susan won the 2020 Christian Author Network Crown Award for Outstanding Broadcast Media for her book marketing campaign. She is a trusted advisor for authors and helps many sell more books. Susan is the Director of Christian Indie Publishing Association (CIPA) and Christian Indie Awards.