How to secure permissions for your book

There may be places in your manuscript where you quote from a previously published work. If you’re quoting a substantial portion of the original material, you need to obtain permission from the copyright holder (and you may have to pay a fee). Otherwise, you could end up scrambling for a replacement quote—or worse, be forced to do a rewrite—if the copyright holder turns down your request.

What requires permission to reprint?
Not absolutely everything you quote requires permission, only the substantial quotations. What constitutes “substantial”? If it... keep reading


5 Questions about Book Indexing

This guest post was written by Stephen Ullstrom, indexer and proofreader.

Crack open any nonfiction book and flip to the back. Chances are, you’ll find an index there. Although overlooked at times, the index is a useful guide for readers to locate specific concepts and subjects within a book. The author isn’t usually responsible for creating the index—that job lies in the hands of a skilled professional, the indexer—but it’s worthwhile for anyone writing a book to understand how the indexing process works.

Here ar... keep reading


Networking, learning, and celebrating indie publishing at IBPA’s Publishing University 2018

On April 6–7 I joined 300 independent publishers and authors in Austin, Texas, to go “back to school” and advance our education at the Publishing University 2018. The annual conference, organized by the Independent Book Publishing Association, featured a mix of keynote speeches, panel discussions, and in-depth seminars run by industry experts, on topics ranging from author branding, distribution, and sales to editorial development. All the major publishing models were well represented at the event, with traditional publishers, self-p... keep reading


Aspiring Authors Find the Roadmap to Success at the Book Publishing Boot Camp

Can a published book be a business card? Many people seem to think so, if we’re judging by the turnout at the Book Publishing Boot Camp, a publishing conference for entrepreneurs looking to write the best nonfiction book to build their brand.

The all-day event, co-hosted by LifeTree Media and Pink Velvet Couch, took place at the Best Western Plus Chateau Granville in downtown Vancouver on Tuesday, March 6. It was a packed day of informative presentations, interactive workshops, and stimulating... keep reading


Hybrid Publishers are not Vanity Presses

Authors today have many publishing options available to them, which can make it hard for them to understand the differences, much less choose the route that suits them best. Some authors want the professionalism and market reach of a traditional publisher, while others prefer the accessibility, higher royalties, and expediency that self-publishing provides. And then there are those authors who simply want the best of both worlds.

Many businesses have sprung up to service this “best of both wo... keep reading


Press Release: Hybrid Publisher Criteria Published by the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)

For Immediate Release

February 23, 2018

Hybrid Publisher LifeTree Media Calls on Canadian Industry to Adopt Hybrid Publisher Criteria Published This Week by the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)

VANCOUVER – The US-based Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) has developed and released a groundbreaking nine-point list of criteria to define and standardize hybrid publishers, with input from Maggie Langrick, Publisher and CEO of Canadian hybrid press LifeTree Media Ltd. IBPA’s Hybrid Publisher Criteria is the publishing industry’... keep reading


Q&A with Robert Mackwood, Seventh Avenue Literary Agency

Robert Mackwood is the owner and principal agent of the BC-based Seventh Avenue Literary Agency — one of Canada’s leading non-fiction agencies. Catch him in person at the Book Publishing Boot Camp on March 6, where he’ll discuss what agents look for on a panel about the business of publishing.

How and when did you begin your career as a literary ag... keep reading