Hello creatives!

If you’re here, you are probably curious about independent publishing.

These are exciting times for creatives, especially those with an interest in the business side of things. You might have heard that the creator economy is exploding. Goldman Sachs thinks it will double in 2024 and by 2027 will be an industry worth half a trillion dollars a year.

There are no gatekeepers anymore. Well, there are, but you don’t need to get past them.

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Who am I?

So - a bit about me and why you should trust me to guide you with your independent publishing.

I’m a novelist, publisher, former lawyer and magazine editor, with nearly 30 years experience in the media industry. I’ve won awards, edited some of the biggest titles in the UK, written eighteen books which have sold almost two million copies, been translated into over twenty languages and appeared on the Sunday Times bestsellers list many times over.

When I tried writing a legal thriller under a pen-name, the option was sold in a six-figure deal to Sony Pictures. I’ve been a Marie Claire/Prince’s Trust mentor and British Society of Magazine Editors New Talent judge. I was even asked to ghost-write a novel for Donald Trump. (I turned him down.)

For years, one of my best friends, Bella Andre, one of Amazon’s biggest selling indie-authors, had been encouraging me to pivot into independent publishing. But despite seeing Bella’s remarkable success, I resisted, being too comfortable in traditional publishing to take the plunge.

Until lockdown happened. That caused a bottle-neck at the publishing companies and retailers and when the launch of my latest book was delayed - and put back again - I decided to set up my own digital media company and publish my novels myself.

In 2021 Sunflower and Co was launched, and the first book I published through the imprint was on the Amazon bestseller list for almost three months.  In the three years since, I’ve published four new Tasmina Perry novels, relaunched by entire backlist in the US, and started to take on other authors. I work alongside my husband, a former commercial publisher who is as excited about the creator economy as I am.

Some of Sunflower & Co’s books.

In May 2023, I also started a publication called We Are All Creatives on Substack, which is full of essays about the creative life and writing advice. But I keep getting asked one question above everything else.

So I thought I’d create a separate corner of the internet to tell you how to do just that.

These are exciting times in the publishing industry. It’s lovely to be Richard Osman, hitting the top of the charts with every book and making a fortune.

But you don’t have to be a traditionally published author to make a great income or have Hollywood interested in stories. I’m now making six-figures from independently publishing and my latest book is out with various LA production companies for their consideration. They don’t care who’s published my book - Penguin Random House, Sunflower & Co or the man in the moon, they only care if it’s a great story and works for adaptation.

My indie-published books have also been sold to European publishers for translation into other languages, just like my traditionally published books were.

Who is Own Your Own Imprint for?

Experienced authors who want to pivot into independent publishing. I’ll show you how to set up their own imprint.

Authors who are happy with their traditional publishing deal but want to optimize their rights and sell in other countries.

Authors who can write quickly; perhaps your publisher only wants one book a year from you, but you know you can write more. You want to set your own schedule and income.

Debut writers who have tried to get a traditional deal but have been unable to get past the gatekeepers – the agents and editors – to land your dream deal.

Anyone at the start of their creative writing journey. You’d love to make money from your writing and want to think strategically from the get-go about how you can do that.

What do you get?

Free subscribers

Every week you’ll get something from me about independent publishing, perhaps an interview with someone who is smashing it or thoughts on creative business. I’m keeping up with developments in the media industry so you don’t have to.

Paid membership

If you are serious are independent publishing I’ll tell you all you need to know to give your imprint every chance of success.

You’ll get weekly essays and regular tips on everything from craft to marketing and promotion to foreign translations and film and TV options.

I’ll be interviewing some of the industry’s leading independent creators.

Paid members will get 50% off my Self-publishing Intensive Masterclass, which will be a visual walk through of the entire independent publishing process, with over 20+ hours of video content.

I’ve tried to make this course as competitively priced as possible and with the paid subscribers discount it’s even better value.

(Regular price of the course is £199. Paid subscribers of OYOI can get it for £99).

You will also receive 10% of any IRL courses and supper clubs. I’d love to build an engaged community of independent creators and think that in-person events is the best way to do it.

Founder memberships

They’ll be a very limited amount of these. You will get two 35 minute phone call/zoom calls with me to discuss your creative project or to ask specific advice about the indie-publishing process. This will cost £250 and of course, gives you access to all the above paid benefits as well. If you think you might need extra coaching to help kick-start your own publishing imprint - this might also be for you.

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