How an innovative new fiction publishing model is redefining storytelling

Tal Kilim is pioneering an innovative new fiction publishing model where readers decide what gets published. Here's how it works. 

I’m excited about introducing you to a new approach to book publishing today, but first need to tell you how I discovered it. Or, rather, how it discovered me.

It happened when Tal Kilim signed on as a coaching client not for a specific book, but for her new company, Booksnout Publishing. Booksnout offers a new approach to publishing crowdfunding, one where readers decide what does and doesn’t get a crowdfunding campaign. It’s an innovative new fiction publishing model.

Working with Tal, I initially advised on website content – questions authors will have about the innovative model, the selection process, publishing process specifics, and so on. Now, I’m mostly hanging around as an as-needed marketing consultant, cheering Israel-based Tal and her colleagues on from the other side of the world.

Because Tal’s publishing model is unique, I encouraged her to collaborate with bloggers and podcasts serving authors and the publishing industry so she could explain her groundbreaking approach and what’s in it for writers.

And that’s what brings us here today. Let me introduce this smart, soft-spoken creator.

Meet Tal Kilim, editor and publishing innovator

Tal Kilim is an editor with publishing experience, a project manager, and a senior web developer with a passion for literature.

Tal brings many skills and interests to Booksnout Publishing, her new publishing house for fantasy and science fiction (with more genres coming soon).

Alongside her husband, she loves vigorous challenges, fantasy fiction you can sink your teeth into, developmental editing, and cats.

What’s Booksnout all about?

To interview Tal about this new fiction publishing model, I put myself in your shoes. These are the questions I think you’d want answered.

Here’s the resulting conversation.

What is Booksnout, and what makes it different from other publishing models?

Booksnout is a publishing house based on crowd-publishing, as I call it. It’s a special model where, instead of editors choosing which novels are print-worthy, readers cast their vote and decide which novels should be published.

Readers vote by supporting a novel in its crowdfunding campaign. When a campaign ends successfully, the novel is fully edited, designed, and published. It’s as simple as that.

We don’t accept every manuscript for crowdfunding. Our editorial team maintains the high quality of novels by making sure the prose is strong, clear, and fluent. But our personal tastes in stories do not play a part, which is a key point of the Booksnout vision. We give every well-written story the chance it deserves.

What other companies have a similar publishing model, and what makes yours different or better?

I think the closest model belongs to Inkshares, which pitches books based on an excerpt and collects presales to launch the book.

Booksnout’s approach is unique in several ways:

• We do a major push to bring readers to the platform, rather than asking the writer to gather their own readership and drive presales.
• We rely on time-limited, high-action crowdfunding campaigns with all their excitement, like reward tiers and stretch goals, on our in-house platform.
• We ask for specific rights for a limited time, in a deal that’s both fair and respectful to writers.
• We launch with a focus on specific subgenres to help bring more of the right readers to each story, so we know precisely where to find our readers.

Why are you the right person to lead this new approach to publishing?

I bring with me a special blend of skills. On the one hand, I’m a strong editor with experience in the publishing world and a passion for fiction. On the other hand, I’m a project manager and web developer with extensive experience in putting together complex web applications.

On the third hand (which I don’t physically have 😉), I know my limits, and I make sure to surround myself with people who are savvy in all the areas needed to make this work.

And perhaps most importantly: This is not just a business venture for me. It’s a vision, a passion, and a dream that I will work tirelessly to make a reality and success.

What types of authors are you looking for right now as you launch?

We’re eager to discover all kinds of fiction writers, but we’re launching with a focus on cozy fantasy/sci-fi and warm fantasy romance.

Cozy fantasy is a growing niche with a lot of readers who are hungry for low-stakes, community-driven stories that deliver a warm, fuzzy experience. Think of it as the literary equivalent of a blanket, a cup of tea, and some dragon-baked muffins.

You can find our guidelines for this subgenre here.

Warm fantasy romance, as the name suggests, takes place in a rich magical world with a focus on a positive romantic relationship. Some great themes, for example, are friends to lovers, second chances, healing, and personal growth.

Please give us a brief overview of what happens after an author submits an excerpt of their manuscript for consideration.

Here’s what happens:

1. Our editors review your excerpt (first 10,000 words) and outline.
2. We’re looking for stories with strong writing and a solid outline. When we accept a story, we offer a contract.
3. Once signed, you’ll provide the first 30 to 35% of the manuscript (together, we’ll work out the best cut-off point for getting your readers completely hooked).
4. Your story then officially joins our grand opening. When we open the platform for readers and power up our marketing campaign, your story will be there to greet them, make new connections, and gather new fans. Readers can send you tips (both private feedback and cash) and pledge their support for the novel.
5. When the novel reaches 450 pledges, and you have a complete strong draft, we’ll launch its crowdfunding campaign. There, your novel will have 30 days to reach its funding goal. (If the campaign fails, no worries. You can always collect more pledges and try again.)
6. Once you reach the funding goal, our team professionally edits your novel and adds a genre-specific cover design and layout. You’ll have a high-quality book that we’ll send to all your supporters.
7. We will then carry your novel on our platform for direct sales and distribute it globally in e-book and print form until the contract ends.

I trust you. But there are a lot of scammers out there. What can you say to authors who might be skeptical at best and untrusting at worst? 

We’re doing everything possible to make our process friendly, transparent, and fair to writers:

• We never charge our writers any fees.
• You retain all intellectual property rights.
• We offer clear royalties, we ask for fair rights, and our contract is limited by time.

Also, I’m investing the equivalent of $120,000 into the platform that supports this model.

From authors I’ve already met at the London Book Fair and Imaginarium Convention in Kentucky, I know the hunger for an alternative, fair publishing path is strong. My passion to provide it is just as strong.

I have a strong team that believes in me, as well as several writers who have already jumped on board.

Give us a try. You won’t regret it. Sometimes small teams really can change the world.

What else would you like us to know about Booksnout and its innovative new fiction publishing model?

We believe that old publishing models are outdated, self-publishing models are too isolating and expensive, and crowd-publishing is the future.

Together, we hope to make Booksnout the go-to place for all fiction writers who have a strong story to share.

Good stories and writers deserve a better chance than the one they’re getting right now. It’s time to change that, one genre at a time.

What questions do you have for Tal about this new approach to bringing books to the world? Please share them in a comment.