The growing presence of independent authors in the publishing industry

We all hear stories about the breakout success that a few authors have. And there is plenty written, including by me on this blog, about how this kind of independent or self-publihsed success is challenging the traditional publishing model. But for the most part, a success story is about a single author- I usually picture as someone from a suburb in Nebraska going from PTA meetings one day into a NY city star in the VIP section overnight, even though I know it's not even remotely like that. The one piece of that image that rings somewhat true, though, is that the success stories we hear are about authors who have each found their own individual route to success.

Independent Authors at BEA

Porter Anderson wrote a great breakdown over at JaneFriedman.com about how six of those authors are banding together to bring their stories to BEA as a booth. Those six are: Bella Andre, Stephanie Bond, Tina Folsom, Barbara Freethy, Hugh Howey, and CJ Lyons. As Lyons, author of 18 books that have sold 1.5 million+ copies says, "Six entrepreneurial authors with more than 8.4 million books sold and counting: Is BEA ready for indie authors to claim their own territory?" In my mind the group of them all walk in from the elevator in slow motion, wind in their hair, with Wu Tang's Bring Da Ruckus abolutely cranked. 

It's great to see Independent authors come together and stand proud beside the big publishing houses. The story is that either route can lead to success if you work hard and have a little bit of luck. For those of us on the outside looking in at authors selling millions of copies, it's good to know that it does happen.

What do you think about independent authors coming together at BEA? Have you read anything by any of them?

Image source: HGruber via flickr