Whether you call it self-publishing, indie publishing, print-on-demand or hybrid publishing, there is no disputing the fact that authors now have many more options to see their work in print beyond traditional publishing.

Over the last ten years, self-publishing has been “democratized” and evolved from what was stigmatized as an amateurish endeavor to an increasingly accepted and exciting form of publishing. The industry has enjoyed a revolution of popularity and gained credibility via major print media coverage. In fact, it was Smith Publicity that pitched a story about self-publishing to The New York Times, which resulted in a front-page, above-the-fold article. This article is widely considered the seminal media event that turned the tide of the negative perception of self-published books and open doors for self-published authors.