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Excerpted from our new guide, Book Marketing In The Age of COVID-19, we have answers to key questions authors are asking as we approach the holidays.

I’m still getting emails about our recent guide, The Hybrid Author Game Plan. I think it really struck a chord with a lot of authors contemplating their publishing path. Publishers are, in my mind, getting unrealistic in their expectations for new authors. It takes time for an author to build a following and loyal audience. I would say even “modest” sales should be quite encouraging for you! Whether or not you keep the eBook rights – or decide to self publish both print and eBooks – for your next book, I would give BookBaby a serious look.

BookBaby wants to provide you with the information you need to write, publish, and market your book effectively. Arm yourself with information on how to publish, market, promote, and sell your next book. Our free guides will help everyone from first-time writers to veteran authors. Now you can download all our guides at once (for free), including "Marketing Your Book On Amazon," "Twitter for Authors in 10 Minutes a Day," "Making Money With Your eBook," "Printed Book Design 101," and more!

As I've received lots of comments on our new BookBaby guide, the Hybrid Author Game Plan, I thought I'd clarify some misconceptions about hybrid publishing might work in practice for our authors. Jeffrey H. wrote: "Read your article, but I think it is somewhat misleading if one is trying to submit to magazines, and journals and publications—be it short stories, poetry, whatever. These publications typically demand unpublished manuscripts—they do not want to even consider something that is already out there." You’re spot on correct about the use of the same content. My thought about the "hybrid" nature of publishing is to use different content in each publishing path.

As the self-publishing industry emerged, every author was tasked with a new – and very important – decision: Should I continue to pursue the traditional publishing route – with the support of agents, publishers, editors, cover designers to push books into brick & mortar bookstores? – OR – Should I try my hand at self publishing – either DIY or with the help of companies like BookBaby where I can retain more control and much more of the earnings? Here’s the big change: Just a few short years later, this really isn’t a question anymore. Every author – new, experienced and everyone in between – can remove the “OR” and replace it with “AND.”