So what is an imprint?

And why you need one in the world of publishing.

Whenever I tell anyone I’m a writer, the response generally falls into two camps. Lots of people get excited. They ask me where I get my story-ideas from and tell me that their dream is to one day write a book themselves The other camp are a bit more dismissive.

‘Have you published anything?’ they ask with varying degrees of suspicion.

When I tell them that I’ve published fifteen books with Harper Collins, Hachette and Simon and Schuster and William Morrow in the United States, and that most of them have been Sunday Times top ten bestsellers, that seems to pass the secret test. But when I say I’ve published the last five books myself the response is lukewarm to say the least.

I don’t like the phrase self-publishing because of it.

Unfairly, self-publishing is viewed as vanity publishing, or raises the assumption that you can’t get a traditional book deal.

It’s strange, because in other sectors of the entertainment industry the idea of releasing material yourself is seen as innovative and empowering.

When Radiohead self-released their seventh album In Rainbows it was big news. Their ‘pay what you want’ model made their fans happy, the special disc-box sold through their website inspired other musicians to do the same. When The Beatles set up Apple, they were seen as being at the heights of their powers. Sinatra launched Reprise Records to gain more creative control, then signed Dean Martin to the roster. Prince pioneered artist-led distribution with NPG Records. Jack White oversees his own creative empire Third Man which includes, a record label, a shop and an events space. No-one is feeling sorry for any of them.

Jack White’s Third Man record shop in London’s Soho. He has other stores in Nashville and Detroit. (Image courtesy of the Third Man website.)

It’s why I prefer to use the term independent publishing. It says personal creative control and yet it’s not limiting - like Sinatra or Jack White’s Third Man label you can take on other creatives if you so choose.

So what is an imprint? And why do you need one?