When one thinks of publishing, the first image might be running around, contacting every publishing company on the list just to find the right contact. However, times are changing—and for the better. Technology has transformed every industry, and publishing is no different. In the era of Kindle and Swipes, the art of storytelling risks fading away.
In this disruptive world of chaos, Chennai-based entrepreneur Naveen Valsakumar, CEO and Co-Founder of Notion Press, a BE in Aeronautical Engineering, has taken up the challenge to reshape the publishing landscape with technology. This is backed by his firm belief that technology is a tool and a force multiplier.
With a cybersecurity background, Naveen was restless to get on to his next venture. He explains, “Going back in time, it all started when, as a team, we tried publishing a book. The process was tedious, complicated and time-consuming. In addition, one person, the editor, decided what stories got published seemed absurd. During this exploration phase, we learnt about the thriving self-publishing industry that gave authors control and helped them build successful careers.”
Valsakumar is an avid reader and a firm believer in the word ‘Awesome’. For him, using the word ‘awesome’ is like a personal reset button to learn something new. He asserts, saying, “Whenever I say it, it puts me back into a mindset where I am open, optimistic and ready to take on big ideas.” With big new ideas comes his recent challenge to build a mobile bookstore in just 100 days – a sheer engineering feat (normally it takes more than a year to build one).
With grit and determination, Valsakumar explains, “The idea behind building the bookstore was to take books to the readers, while recreating the magic of going to a bookstore. By doing this, the reader is discovering their next read, which can be a recommendation from someone who loves reading, aka that uncle behind the library counter.”
The mobile bookstore is just the beginning – NotionPress is working on building a tech stack that all booksellers can use to manage their stores and curate collections efficiently. The larger goal is to help make bookstores relevant in the age of Kindle.
Interestingly, the mobile bookstore will embark on a reading sojourn starting from Chennai, covering the entire Southern region, and thereafter moving to other states in India. Tamil Nadu, known for its deep literary heritage, will be a vital part of Notion Press’s journey. “NotionPress has published 5000+ books in Tamil alone and thousands more in other Indian languages to date. Making regional publishing more accessible and rewarding while encouraging authors to publish in their native language,” affirms Valsakumar.
Valsakumar believes that publishing a book today is a lot like starting a company. He acknowledges that, like any organisation, in publishing, authors invest time, resources, and creativity into making their books a reality. Self-publishing is similar in nature, while giving authors complete control over the content and generating revenue.
The mobile bookstore is just the beginning of Valsakumar’s disruption of the publishing world. His next steps will be delving deep into the world of AI in publishing. His aim is simple – making publishing accessible. Valsakumar concludes, saying, “We want to explore the possibilities of turning a book into different formats, like a course or a series, with the help of AI. As a brand, Notion Press is expanding globally as we have plans to venture into the US and UK markets.”
