This is just a quick question. Which are the hot genres in self publishing and which ones sink without trace?
I'm guessing paranormal romance, thriller and crime would be at the top, while literary, memoir and children's would be at the bottom, but that's a complete guess.
Any thoughts?
Since neither the thread nor the question pertains to e-books, my answer does not pertain to e-books (although it does not necessarily exclude them as an ancillary product).
I've seen the following self-published with considerable success (large sales):
- Textbooks (in a specialized field)
- Business/technical books
- Historical fiction
- Light historical nonfiction
- Thrillers (with a local setting; don't know his sales, but publishing book after book over years suggests success)
The success in each case reflected the expertise, professionalism, and relentless work of the author/publishers.
I have seen author/publishers who have had satisfactory (to them, apparently, although I don't know sales numbers) outcomes with children's books (young readers through YA). All of the above were offset printed.
The above pertain to individuals I know, and their books, not to genres per se.
--Ken
P.S. Dan Poynter, self-publishing guru, sells vast numbers of books. Total sales in the millions by now, I imagine. See
www.parapublishing.com to learn more about his books. Wide trade distribution.
P.P.S. Self publishers who do everything right, with a publishing company name separate from their own name, writing and publishing to trade standards, and with trade distribution, have books in the trade that are indistinguishable from books from large publishing companies. That is, you would not know that the author is also the owner of the publishing company.
P.P.P.S. I think that the question is not necessarily which genres work, but
which author/publishers do what is necessary to make their books successful. Even in the hottest of genres, a book will fail if not promoted and marketed well. And even in the least-active of genres or specialties, a book can succeed if the author/publisher effectively packages the book, targets the audience, promotes to that audience, and facilitates sales to that audience.