“Copublishing” With Köehler Books
John Koehler, writer, graphic artist and founder of Köehler Books Publishing, understands the frustration of writers who, despite the quality of their work, find no place for their work in the limited traditional publishing space. Tired of waiting for an agent and the author's lack of control over the publishing process, Koehler began publishing his own books in 2004. His titles include a collection of his writings, reflections on life with bipolar disorder, and many other works of fiction.
When his fellow writers saw the quality of the finished books, they loved him too. And so the hybrid publishing house was born. When he founded Köhler Publishing in 2010, Köhler said he did not use the term "hybrid press". Instead, he preferred "co-edition". This moniker captures the essence of what matters most to Koehler and the mission of the eponymous platform. “We think we work very closely with our writers… collaboration is key,” he says. “Because the author is the most knowledgeable, connoisseur of the work.”
Koehler mainly publishes fiction, although he also accepts novels. However, the publisher does not publish all the material; in fact they are very selective and publish less than 20% of the books submitted. Koehler emphasizes that the quality of the writing is the most important component of a book's success. And if this quality does not work early on, it will be a difficult pass. “The biggest tip of the iceberg is quality,” Koehler says. "Readers as a group cannot be deceived."
For Köhler, the benefits of publishing with a hybrid press are numerous. Authors can expect their books to hit the market much faster than if they went the traditional publishing route. It also gives writers more say in editing and creative development. And publishing at Köehler gives authors something perhaps even more valuable: the knowledge they need to protect the integrity of their work and find readers.
Among the hybrid publishers, Köehler stands out: in addition to the hybrid publisher, the house offers traditional publishing contracts for selected books, about 5-10% of the titles published each month. For Koehler, it helps build credibility in a publishing world that is still skeptical of homebrewers and gives them the opportunity to showcase the titles they deserve.
Another benefit of publishing with Köehler: if a publication sells 2,000 or more combined copies of e-books, print books, and audiobooks, including copies the author purchases from the publisher, the author becomes a traditional publishing agreement to ship their next book. The event serves as an additional motivation for the authors to protect their works. This does not mean that Koehler authors should promote their books on their own. In addition to a full range of in-house services, including Ingram editing, cover design and distribution, Köehler offers strong marketing support, which Köehler personally takes very seriously.
“I'm a marketing guru,” says Koehler. “After publishing over 1,300 books and talking to many influential people, I have learned something.” He also added to his work two books on book publishing and marketing: The Pocket Guide to Book Marketing and The Pocket Guide to Publishing. Both are available for free download on the site.
Köehler Books Publishing maintains transparency at every stage, from development to publication and advertising campaigns. Authors can see how much they will spend before starting their publishing journey. And if you have questions or want to compare your experience with other writers, the community is here to help. To do this, Koehler maintains a personal Facebook page. Through the Köehler website, authors and readers can vote on the cover design of their book.
In addition to a comprehensive approach to internal publishing, Koehler's books speak for themselves as successful and satisfied authors. According to author Betsy Ashton, "Authors who are lucky enough to be signed to Köehler Publishing experience a real collaboration between writers and publishers, writers and publishers." This is a well-deserved honor for a publisher who, through their commitment to quality, integrity, and community building, is reaching a moment for contemporary writers.
A version of this article appeared in Publishers Weekly on 12/09/2022 under the heading: "Co-published" with Köehler Books.
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