May Your Books Flourish This Spring
As spring settles in, it’s the perfect time to refresh your publishing strategy and invest in the tools that help your books grow. This month, we’re sharing expert insights on standing out in a crowded market with 99designs by Vista, spotlighting bestselling thriller author Dan Ames, and highlighting resources to help improve discoverability, strengthen your branding, and connect with more readers. From metadata management tips to promotional opportunities and seasonal reads, there’s plenty to help your publishing goals flourish this spring.
INSIDE THIS EDITION:
- INDUSTRY INSIGHTS: Standing Out in a Crowded Market with Robyn Challands, 99designs by Vista
- AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT: Dan Ames
- PARTNERSHIP SPOTLIGHT: BookTrib
- PLATFORM FEATURE OF THE MONTH: New Policy Updates
- SELF-PUBLISHING TIP OF THE MONTH: Manage Series Tool
- PROMOTIONS & OPPORTUNITIES:
- Special Offer on Laura Durham’s Annabelle Archer Series
- The Indie eBooks to Read Right Now
- MORE AUTHOR RESOURCES & READS:
- Self-Publishing Book Cover Design 101
- The Most Anticipated Indie Book Releases of May 2026
- The Rules of Rapid Release with Susan Stoker
INDUSTRY INSIGHTS: Standing Out in a Crowded Market with Robyn Challands, 99designs by Vista
Robyn Challands from 99designs by Vista shares how thoughtful cover design and branding can help authors capture attention, connect with the right readers, and make a lasting first impression. From common cover mistakes to design trends and branding tips, this conversation is packed with practical advice for indie authors at every stage.
AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT: Dan Ames
Dan Ames shares how years spent balancing advertising, family life, and early morning writing sessions led to a successful career as a bestselling thriller author. In this guest post, he reflects on persistence, publishing, and the path that led him to Reacher.
PARTNERSHIP SPOTLIGHT: BookTrib
Looking to get more eyes on your book? Through our partnership with BookTrib, B&N Press authors can access promotional opportunities designed to help connect books with passionate readers. From reviews and featured articles to author interviews and social promotion, BookTrib is dedicated to championing indie voices and helping standout stories get discovered—all at a special rate!
PLATFORM FEATURE OF THE MONTH: New Policy Updates
At Barnes & Noble Press, we’re committed to supporting independent authors and creators. We’ve recently introduced updates to our B&N Press policies designed to help protect authors, maintain content quality, and continue providing the best possible publishing experience.
SELF-PUBLISHING TIP OF THE MONTH: Manage Series Tool
Spring is the perfect time for a metadata refresh! Consistent series information helps readers discover every book in your series. Using the manage series tool on the B&N Press platform, you can quickly review and update your listings to keep everything linked and discoverable.
PROMOTIONS & OPPORTUNITIES:
Special Indie Offer on Annabelle Archer series! If you like charming characters, fast-paced comedy, and behind-the-scenes glimpses into the wild world of weddings, then you’ll love Laura Durham’s Agatha award-winning cozy mystery series!
The Indie eBooks to Read Right Now: Discover ten standout indie books we can’t stop recommending, unforgettable reads from incredible authors that deserve a spot on your TBR right now!
MORE AUTHOR RESOURCES & READS:
- Self-Publishing Book Cover Design 101
- The Most Anticipated Indie Book Releases of May 2026
- The Rules of Rapid Release with Susan Stoker
Missed Last Month’s Newsletter?
Catch up on past tips, author spotlights, and publishing insights.
Read the April Newsletter!
Cheers!
The B&N Press Team
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