* In the first 10 months of 2012, self-published titles accounted for 3% of total market share in units and 1% of dollars spent.
* 74% of self-published ebooks purchased were adult fiction, 23% of which were romance; just 9% of self-published books were children’s titles.
* 58% of self-published books were bought for less than $1.
Bowker Market Research

Day by day, the publishing industry grows more diverse — and confusing. This is especially true if you choose to go the DIY self-publishing route. In addition to all the work involved in writing your book, you’ll also need to orchestrate editing, publishing logistics (ISBN numbers, metadata tags, etc.), and distribution. And then, of course, there’s marketing — which offers the same creative challenges to us all, whether we are independently or traditionally published authors — or both.

Should you opt to manage the publishing process on your own, there’s a new resource available that promises to provide both practical and inspirational support. Bowker, the official ISBN agency for the United States and its territories, has just launched a helpful new Web site: http://www.SelfPublishedAuthor.com.

The Bowker site is easy to navigate and well organized. It offers checklists of self-publishing must-dos, insider industry advice, suggestions on helpful partnering options, resources for finding professional editing help, and listings of events tailored to self-published authors.

Most impressive, perhaps, is the expert marketing support that the site offers, via some very practical and creative articles written by book promotion pros. I know firsthand from interviews for may small-business start-up guide Birthing the Elephant that marketing is the Achilles Heel of entrepreneurs — and make no mistake, as an indie author, you’re an entrepreneur! — which means you have to sell as well as tell. So if you need practical advice as an indie author and if you need a boost with your marketing, check out http://www.SelfPublishedAuthor.com. And write on!