Kevin Weiss

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Nov. 27, 2012 –Simon & Schuster, Inc., and Author Solutions, Inc. (ASI) today announced the launch of Archway Publishing, a new self-publishing service with a focus on fiction, non- fiction, business and children’s categories.

“Through Archway Publishing, Simon & Schuster is pleased to be part of the rapidly expanding self-publishing segment of our industry,” said Carolyn Reidy, President and Chief Executive Officer of Simon & Schuster. “Self-publishing has become a viable and popular route to publication for many authors, and increasingly a source of content for traditional publishers, including Simon & Schuster. We’re excited that we’ll be able to help more authors find their own path to publication and at the same time create a more direct connection to those self-published authors ready to make the leap to traditional publishing.”

In a bid to take a leading position in the growing self-publishing market, Penguin has acquired self-publishing platform Author Solutions from Bertram Capital, a San Mateo, Calif.-based venture-capital and private-equity firm, for $116 million.

The acquisition comes less than a year after Penguin launched its own self-publishing platform, Book Country, and at a time when self-publishing firms are jockeying for favor with authors by offering new features and lower prices. A company statement about the acquisition did not mention Book Country.

Author Solutions, Inc. (ASI), the world leader in indie-book publishing, announced the release of its 100,000th e-book, "Arise, O Phoenix," marking a major milestone for the company and indie authors worldwide.

"In late 2009, we launched an initiative to become the world's largest publisher of original digital content. With our latest milestone, we're on pace to achieve our goal by the end of 2012," said Kevin Weiss, president and CEO of Author Solutions, Inc. "As the market leader, we've accelerated our pace by offering authors the right mix of print and digital services with access to the marketing and distribution they need to promote their works."

Booktango™, the free DIY e-book publishing platform from Author Solutions, Inc., announced its new e-book cover designer feature is now available for Booktango users. With the WYSIWYG cover designer, authors can quickly and easily create custom cover art for their e-books with drag-and-drop simplicity.

As the self-publishing phenomenon has grown and matured, traditional book publishers have passed through something like the five stages of grief.

Self-publishing and online services, e-books, and digital demand printing are joined into a new and powerful sector that is transforming the industry. For industry professionals whose career satisfactions and livelihoods are bonded to the future of the book, this new sector offers a wild ride and a venturesome future.