Our thanks to Julie Breedlove, Marketing Manager, BQB Publishing for this guest post:

I like to go fast. Mom competed on an amateur street racing team, so I blame her for that adrenaline addiction. On the other hand, I like to be conscientious and in control. That’s where Dad comes in. Responsibility and early adoption towards new technology had him pushing me towards gas alternatives while car shopping several years ago. I knew there was a happy medium for me when I looked into hybrid cars. Power, pride, control, and responsibility all in a comfortable, trustworthy package. That same perfect blend came into play when I entered the publishing industry.

Hybrid publishers, like Boutique of Quality Books Publishing (BQB), bridge the gap between traditional and self-publishing options. Understanding publishing options is similar to comparing them to the systems powering cars. Here’s what I mean:

Traditional Publishing = Race Cars. These vehicles come with a well-known brand name, and an established fan base. Competition to become a sponsored driver (author) is Fierce with a capital F. While the visibility can be significant, the likelihood of being noticed by these teams and sponsors is slim. Once on board, you don’t have to worry about maintenance, publicity, or gas money, but you also give up control over your car (book) and your paycheck is divvied up between many hands. There is a lot of money and power behind you, but you no longer own the vehicle propelling you forward.

Self-Publishing = Electric Cars. Spurred by new technology, this model has caught on fast. It’s efficient, convenient, and exciting, but requires a pretty big initial investment. No one will be paying you to drive this car, but there is potential to make your investment back since you retain rights. Just like an electric car can only drive around 100 miles before needing to recharge, authors publishing through self-publishers typically have a limited reach and a smaller radius of success. Most self-published authors struggle with publicizing their books and fall short on how to sell it. Also, since this option is relatively new, it’s often not trusted as a quality product by readers.

Hybrid Publishing = Hybrid Cars. This hybrid model, like BQB Publishing, is backed by more than one source of power and combines the efficiency of electric (self-publishing) with the power of popular race cars (traditional publishing). With hybrid companies such as BQB, manuscripts must go through an acquisition process and, if accepted, are then put through rigorous editing, professional design, and prepared for national distribution.

All of these professionally guided steps are coupled with hands-on author involvement. There is an initial investment from the author, but by sharing the financial risk, hybrid publishers are able to pay a much higher royalty percentage. Hybrid publishing models unite the best of both worlds to create a more efficient and author-friendly alternative that also produces high-quality books.

Just like cars, people have different preferred ways to get from A to B. Before beginning your publishing journey, decide which make and model will get you there most comfortably. Authors, start your engines, batteries, or both!

To learn more about BQB Publishing, visit bqbpublishing.com or visit them at Booth 425 at the Decatur Book Festival September 1 and 2!