Luminare Press - Hybrid vs. Self-Publishing with Patricia Marshall {ep. 163}

Alexa's Publishing Chat

As hybrid presses become a more popular option, we're often asked about the difference between hybrid presses and self-publishing. Here's a breakdown of the differences at Luminare Press
📚 Self-Publishing Assist vs. Hybrid Publishing

Self-Publishing Assist (Luminare Press)

• Offers fee-for-service publishing help: editing, cover and interior design, layout, POD setup (via KDP and Ingram), ebook formatting.
  
• Authors retain full control and 100% royalties by publishing under their own accounts.
  
• Best for authors who want a high-quality product but maintain ownership and marketing responsibility.
  
• Ideal for personal legacy projects, entrepreneurs, or authors with built-in audiences.
  

Hybrid Publishing (Lucent Book Group - launching soon)

• Offers curated publishing partnership: more involvement in editing, development, and marketing.
  
• Patricia and team select manuscripts they believe in and help authors from developmental edits to post-launch marketing.
  
• Author still retains creative control, but receives hands-on collaboration and a professional publishing experience.
  
• Higher cost, but greater long-term support and potential reach.
  

In this episode, Alexa and Patricia discuss:

• How a family self-publishing project sparked Patricia’s publishing career
  
• What sets self-publishing assist services apart from hybrid publishing
  
  
• How to align your publishing path with your goals and budget
  
• The risks of unprofessional book design and formatting
  
• Why editing is the first step in effective book marketing
  
• How scams are targeting indie authors—and how to avoid them
  
• Trends in cover design, metadata, and the evolving expectations of readers
  
• The upcoming launch of Patricia’s new hybrid imprint: Lucent Book Group
  
• How authors can build long-term publishing partnerships
  

🔗 Learn more about Luminare Press and get their Women in Publishing Summit special offer:
https://womeninpublishingsummit.com/luminare
🎙️ About Patricia Marshall and Luminary Press

• Patricia is the founder of Luminare Press, offering publishing assistance and hybrid publishing since 2011.
  
• Inspired by helping her 89-year-old mother self-publish a novel, Patricia saw the need for a professional, author-supportive publishing service.
  
• Luminare Press has evolved from a family venture into a company of 10+ professionals with editors, designers, and contractors.