STOP! Don’t Publish That Book Until You Read This (2025 Update)

Hey friend,

Happy New Month! February is a month with tremendous possibilities waiting to happen! Can you feel it? Are you as excited as I am? If you are not, this newsletter will leave you bursting with excitement. Continue reading to find out why!

If you’ve ever felt the burning call to write a book that transforms lives but wondered if self-publishing was the right path, let me assure you—this is your time!

Self-publishing is exploding across Africa, and 2025 is shaping up to be the most innovative, disruptive, and opportunity-filled year yet. But to succeed, you need to understand where the industry is heading—especially as a faith-driven author.

Whether you’re writing your first book or your fifth, here’s a no-filter breakdown of what’s happening in the African self-publishing space—and how you can take full advantage of it.

1. Self-Publishing is No Longer Plan B—It’s THE Plan

✨ Once upon a time, people saw self-publishing as “the backup plan.” You know, like when a child tells their parents they want to be a comedian/actor/writer, and the parents say, “Better go and study law first.” Exactly!

But that mindset is old school now! Self-publishing is no longer for people who “couldn’t find a publisher.” It’s for those who want to own their message, control their income, and get their books straight into the hands of readers. With traditional publishers still focusing on educational books and lacking infrastructure for fiction and faith-based content, self-publishing has become the bold, faith-filled choice for authors who want to reach their audience on their own terms.

👉🏽 What This Means for You: No more waiting. No more excuses. If you have a book idea, this is the time for you to birth. Because whether you like it or not, someone out there is waiting for the message God has given you.

You don’t need a big-name publisher to be successful—you need a God-given message, a solid strategy, and the right coaching to launch your book to the world.

2. Direct-to-Reader Models Will Dominate

📚Forget sitting around and hoping that bookstores will magically stock your book OR relying solely on Amazon… African authors are bypassing the middlemen and selling straight to readers through WhatsApp, Instagram, personal websites, and even voice notes! Yes o… We are building our own communities.

Some authors have even turned WhatsApp groups into secret bookstores—where people pre-order, pay, and receive their books before they even hit the market. Others are crowdfunding their book launches (a.k.a. using “community support” instead of “bank loan stress”).

👉🏽 What This Means for You: Instead of worrying about bookstore deals, focus on building your tribe. Who are the people God has called you to serve with your book? That’s where your sales will come from. Your biggest book buyers won’t be strangers walking past a bookstore—they will be the people who know, like, and already trust you, aka people you have a real relationship with and those you’ve nurtured online.

3. Digital Books & Audiobooks Are Africa’s Future

📖Look, I love my freshly printed books as much as the next person, but let’s be honest— Africa is a mobile-first continent. E-books and audiobooks are exploding because people are consuming books differently.

Companies like AfricanBooks.com, Genti Media, and AkooBooks Audio are making it easier than ever to publish e-books and audiobooks. Even big tech companies like Rakuten Kobo and Amazon are tapping into the African market.

Meanwhile, South Africa just launched Kobo Plus, a subscription service for e-books, meaning more Africans will read digital books like Netflix binge-watchers.

👉🏽 What This Means for You: If your book is only in print, you’re leaving money (and impact) on the table. Add an e-book or the audiobook version like my sister-friend, and captain Eziaha Bolaji Olojo is doing and reach a wider audience without breaking the bank on printing costs.

Speaking of Eziaha, Drumroll, please! My fitness coach is doing the mostest and we love it!!! The audiobook of The WELLNESS CHAMPIONS Book is officially dropping on February 14th! That’s right—Valentine’s Day just got a whole lot sweeter (and healthier).

Don’t wait—secure your copy now! Call or WhatsApp +234 703 901 3290 for nationwide delivery (Nigeria), or head over to Laterna Lagos to grab yours today! If you live outside Nigeria, your copy is sitting pretty on AMAZON! Go grab it now!

4. WhatsApp & Social Media—Your New Bookstore

📲 Once upon a time, people carried books around in their handbags. Today, people carry entire libraries in their phones—and they’re buying books through social media faster than you can say “Check out my link in bio.”

WhatsApp groups are the new bookstores. In Zimbabwe, self-published authors are using WhatsApp groups to market and sell their books directly. In Nigeria, we’re taking things further—voice note marketing (because why type when you can just gist with your customers?). Some publishers have even formed WhatsApp book farms—secret groups where books are traded, promoted, and sold.

👉🏽 What This Means for You: Your book doesn’t need a shelf to sell—it needs a strategy. If you’re not marketing your book on social media, you’re missing out on one of your biggest opportunities.

5. Faith-Based & African-Language Books Are Rising

For years, publishers ignored faith-based and indigenous language books because they thought they wouldn’t sell. But that’s changing. 

📖 In South Africa, Jacana Media is now funding books in local languages.
📖 In Nigeria, Cassava Republic just received a grant to translate children’s books into local languages.
📖 In Ghana, publishers are seeing a growing demand for Christian and motivational books.

👉🏽 What This Means for You: If God has given you a faith-driven book idea, don’t assume there’s no market for it. There is a generation looking for content that aligns with their values—your book might just be the answer they’ve been praying for. The right message, in the right format, with the right strategy—will always sell!

Speaking of Faith-Based Books, you are cordially invited to the release of the Book My Encounter With Unseen Forces That Control the Mind" (see pic above) by the amazing scribe Zimmy Egwuatu who was part of the “S.A.W Community'‘ for Scribes, Authors, and Writers. I will be speaking on "Partnering with God to Birth". Join us for an explosive time of encounter this Saturday!

6. The African Creative Economy is Getting Major Investments

💰Let me say this loud and clear—THERE IS MONEY IN THIS INDUSTRY!

Governments, banks, and international organizations are investing millions into the creative sector. Nigeria’s new Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (IDICE) Fund is launching with $617 million to support authors, publishers, and content creators.

South Africa is rolling out grants and funding for African-language books. Even Ghana recently secured support for digital publishing initiatives.

👉🏽 What This Means for You: This is not the time to sit on your book idea. There’s more support, funding, and opportunity than ever before.

There are grants, sponsorships, and crowdfunding opportunities waiting for smart authors who know how to position themselves. The time to act is now!

The Future is in Your Hands—Will You Step Into It?

My dearest friend, you’ve read all these trends. You’ve seen that the industry is shifting in your favor. Now, the question is—will you take action, or will you keep procrastinating?

🚀 Will you keep waiting for “one day,” or will you make 2025 YOUR YEAR?

🔥 If you’re ready to stop overthinking and finally birth the book God has placed in your heart, then let’s make it happen.

📩 Reply to this email and tell me—what’s the biggest challenge stopping you from publishing? I want to hear from you.

Or better yet…

📚 Join my upcoming webinars, author community, or the coaching program when it goes live, and let’s make 2025 the year your book changes lives. 

With faith and fire,
Ugonne Ann [The Author’s Coach]
https://ugonneann.com