Let’s face it, in order for indie authors to get published these days they have to do more than write a great book.

You also have to know what’s selling, what isn’t, and how to market!

So with that in mind, I’ve pulled together a list of Smart Publishing People, Great Writing and Publishing Communities, ways to Stay on Top of Publishing Changes, Genre Marketing Advice Blogs, Great Marketing and Social Media People, and Best Podcasts for Authors and Writers, because when it comes to getting published in 2016, every indie author needs a village to help them get there.

This week we’ll start with Smart Publishing People for Indie Authors to Follow in 2016!

Your homework is to check them all out. You don’t have to become a die-hard, because obviously that would be a lot of information to digest, but get to know them so you feel confident in the resources and information out there, so you can go back to these great people when you need them.

1. Janet Reid, Literary Agent: I met Janet years ago at a writers conference and have been following her ever since. Her information is solid and she’s a great agent, too. jetreidliterary.blogspot.com
2. Nathan Bransford: Nathan always has great publishing information and insight into the industry, definitely a must for indie authors, check him out when you get a chance. http://blog.nathanbransford.com/
3. KM Weiland: KM’s website, helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com, is aptly named. She’s the award-winning author of the bestselling Outlining Your Novel and Structuring Your Novel. She’s an invaluable mentor for writers who want to become indie authors – follow her for rock solid tips to improve your writing skills. www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com
4. BookWorks: Run by Betty Sargent, who has a very impressive publishing resume, it’s the new go-to for all things publishing (both traditionally and self-published). Their blog, bookworks.com, is fantastic, helpful and the entire BookWorks team works really hard to get out only the best and most helpful information on self-publishing for indie authors. They have worked to create a community where authors and professionals can come together to share guidance and insights – follow them to become a part of this community.
5. BiblioCrunch: Run by Miral Sattar, BibiloCrunch is a fantastic portal to find great service providers that have been vetted by the BiblioCrunch staff. They also have a fab #indiechat every Tuesday at 4pm EST. Scope out bibliocrunch.com too.
6. Kristen Nelson: She’s not just an agent but also a very smart publishing person who blogs on all things publishing-related. Don’t miss her take on latest trends, what’s selling and what isn’t. http://nelsonagency.com/pub-rants/
7. Mark Coker: Founder of Smashwords, Mark has become the voice of indie authors. He works tirelessly to give authors the best possible experience on his site: Smashwords.com. He’s also a great speaker (I always love his sessions) and he’s a fan of hard data. The numbers never lie and he often releases real-time stats on book publishing that will blow your mind.
8. C. S. Lakin’s Live Write Thrive: Author, editor and writing coach C. S. Lakin loves helping aspiring indie authors get their manuscripts ready for publication. On Live Write Thrive, she writes about proper scene structure, character development, editing and crafting a fantastic story. www.livewritethrive.com
9. Nina Amir: I’ve known Nina for years. She’s always sharing some of the best information on marketing, writing a book (finishing a book, yah!), and other author-inspired posts. howtoblogabook.com
10. Writer Unboxed: Writer Unboxed began as a collaboration between aspiring novelists Therese Walsh and Kathleen Bolton in January, 2006. They often dissected complex books and movies, analyzing what made them work so well, and had even written and published an article about Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings. When a second article idea was rejected, they decided to create their own forum where they could publish their observations anytime they wished. Writer Unboxed was born. They’re thrilled the site now includes contributors from all walks–from the not-yet-published to bestselling authors and industry leaders–and that it’s grown into such a rich community for writers. http://writerunboxed.com/
11. Helen Sedwick: When it comes to legal and the legalities of book publishing Helen is your go-to. Can I legally use this song? What if I use the term Kleenex in my book, will I get sued? Oh, and speaking of books, Helen’s got a great one on all things legal and publishing. And it’s not a bunch of legal jargon, it’s a simple to understand guide to keep you out of the courtroom – a MUST for indie authors doing it on their own. http://helensedwick.com/
12. Funds for Writers: Started by C Hope Clark, who I’ve had the pleasure of meeting many times, FundsforWriters is a great online resource for writers and aspiring indie authors. Their emphasis is on finding money to make writing a realistic career. Of course, you’d write anyway. That’s the way of a writer. http://fundsforwriters.com/

Tune into the next newsletter for my list of Great Writing and Publishing Communities for Indie Authors in 2016!