Expertise Meets Design: Celebrating Scott E.D. Skyrm

Some books serve niche markets. Others become unexpected bestsellers. Scott E.D. Skyrm’s journey with Brooklyn Writers Press demonstrates how professional design, author platform, and specialized expertise can combine to create remarkable commercial success.

The Repo Guy

Scott E.D. Skyrm is known in his industry as “the Repo guy”—a recognized expert in the financial services field with deep knowledge of repo markets and trading. This kind of specialized expertise is valuable precisely because it serves a specific, knowledgeable audience that understands the importance of accurate, authoritative information. When Scott came to Brooklyn Writers Press, he brought both his expertise and his industry credibility. These assets would prove crucial to his books’ success.

The First Book: A Learning Experience

Scott’s first book with Brooklyn Writers Press, “Rogue Traders,” didn’t perform as well as hoped. Looking back, we identified a key factor: the author provided his own cover design, which, despite his best intentions, wasn’t strong enough to compete in the marketplace.This experience taught valuable lessons about the importance of professional design and the difference that a compelling cover can make in a book’s commercial performance.

The Turning Point: Professional Design

For Scott’s second book, “The Repo Market,” Brooklyn Writers Press took full creative control of the design process. The result was stunning—an elegant, professional design that immediately signaled the book’s authority and quality. The hardcover with dust jacket was particularly impressive, creating a visual presentation that matched the sophistication of Scott’s content and appealed to his professional audience. Unexpected Success “The Repo Market” became the second highest-earning title in the Brooklyn Writers Press catalog—a remarkable achievement for a specialized financial industry book. This success wasn’t accidental; it resulted from the combination of several factors working together.

The Synergy of Success

Scott’s success demonstrates the power of synergy between multiple elements:

Author Platform: Scott’s large Twitter following gave his book built-in visibility and credibility within his industry. His reputation as “the Repo guy” meant that people in his field were predisposed to trust his work.

Publisher Expertise: Brooklyn Writers Press provided professional design that elevated the book’s presentation and signaled its authority to potential readers.

Specialized Knowledge: Scott’s deep expertise in repo markets created a book that served a genuine need in his industry—accurate, authoritative information from a recognized expert.

Market Timing: The financial services industry was hungry for reliable information, and Scott’s book arrived at exactly the right moment. Lessons in Professional Standards Scott’s journey from “Rogue Traders” to “The Repo Market” taught important lessons about the value of professional design and the difference it makes in a book’s commercial performance. When an author provides their own cover design, even with good intentions, the result often lacks the polish and professionalism that readers expect. Professional designers understand market expectations, visual hierarchy, and the subtle elements that make a cover compelling.

Building on Success

“The Repo Market” success validated our approach to design and our commitment to professional standards. It showed that when expertise, platform, and professional presentation combine, remarkable results are possible. This success also strengthened Brooklyn Writers Press’s reputation as a publisher capable of handling specialized, technical content while maintaining the highest design standards. The Value of Specialized Markets Scott’s books demonstrate that specialized markets can be highly profitable when served by authors with genuine expertise and credibility. While “The Repo Market” might not appeal to general readers, it’s invaluable to financial professionals who need authoritative information. This recognition of specialized market value has influenced how Brooklyn Writers Press approaches all publishing decisions.

Trust in the Creative Process

Scott’s willingness to trust Brooklyn Writers Press with the design of “The Repo Market” proved to be the right decision. By stepping back and allowing professionals to handle design, he created space for the kind of creative excellence that elevated his book beyond what he might have achieved alone. This kind of trust—in the publisher’s expertise and vision—often leads to the best outcomes.

Gratitude for Partnership and Growth

To Scott: Thank you for trusting Brooklyn Writers Press with your expertise and your books. Thank you for allowing us to learn from “Rogue Traders” and apply those lessons to “The Repo Market.” Your willingness to step back and allow professional design to enhance your content resulted in a book that became one of our most successful titles. “The Repo Market” demonstrates what’s possible when author expertise, publisher professionalism, and market timing align. Your reputation as “the Repo guy” and your large Twitter following created a platform for success, but it was the professional design and your trust in our creative process that transformed potential into achievement. Brooklyn Writers Press is grateful for the partnership and proud that “The Repo Market” has become such a successful title in our catalog. Your journey from “Rogue Traders” to “The Repo Market” teaches important lessons about the value of professional standards and the power of trusting expertise. 

Next in our “Celebrating Our Authors” series: We’ll continue honoring the diverse voices that make Brooklyn Writers Press a publisher committed to meaningful literature. 

Discover Scott E.D. Skyrm’s financial expertise and explore our complete

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