Future Think: Agile Book Publishing Startup LeanPub

Maybe the biggest challenge ahead for Leanpub is bringing more publishers into the mix. “For publishers, it's tricky. Some publishers want to use Leanpub's ebook tool chain, but not our storefront. Our tool chain is really good; we even include exporting InDesign at the end of it, which the publisher can use as an input to their print book production process. So, to this effect, we're putting something together to support that explicitly as a fully supported SaaS (SaaS meaning software as a service).

However “agile” Leanpub has to be in testing and iterating offerings for publishers, Armstrong says the logic of serving both authors and publishers is there: "As we talked with authors and publishers, we realized they have the same goals. Authors and publishers are trying to make the best book they can, trying to release a book while it's still relevant and trying to figure out the right price for the book."

Journalist Porter Anderson, formerly with CNN and the Village Voice, specializes in publishing at PublishingPerspectives.com, JaneFriedman.com, and WriterUnboxed.com