Exploring Authorpreneurship as a Viable Model for Sustainable Income through Microfinancing: A Case Study

This project addressed the need for diversified economic solutions for Small Island Developing States in the Caribbean, such as Jamaica, which are economically vulnerable because of dependence on tourism and exposure to natural disasters. While Jamaica’s Vision 2030 National Development Plan (Planning Institute of Jamaica, 2009) identifies the cultural and creative industries and intellectual property as key drivers of economic growth, creatives (including authors) often perceived as “unbankable,” have difficulty accessing financing. This study explored authorpreneurship as a viable model for sustainable income generation in Jamaica through an investigation of six of my authorpreneurship initiatives conducted over a six-year period (July 2018–July 2024). A qualitative case study methodology was employed, drawing on seven data sources: reflexive interviews and analyses of my initiatives, documentary analysis, focus group discussions, individual author interviews, a survey of 44 Jamaican independent authors, and interviews with six microfinance providers.

The findings confirmed authorpreneurship as a viable model for sustainable income generation in Jamaica, demonstrating that microfinancing can be beneficial when applied formally or informally. Two authorpreneurship models emerged: the book sales-plus model and a hybrid model integrating books with proven online business models. An Authorpreneurship Capacity-Building Transformational Strategy (ACTS) was developed to put these models into action. This study contributes to scholarship on creative entrepreneurship, publishing studies, and microfinance by expanding definitions of an author’s success beyond book sales and presenting an authorpreneurship framework applicable to Jamaica and other Caribbean Small Island Developing States.