tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27125272.post6356371307031676919..comments2024-03-28T11:09:00.899-05:00Comments on Candy's Blog: Strange Goings-on in the Publishing Industrycs harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13708705800818667923noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27125272.post-51112802774904757462011-04-01T12:54:50.936-05:002011-04-01T12:54:50.936-05:00Susan, I like to read the first few pages and a sc...Susan, I like to read the first few pages and a scattered few from the middle, too, before I'll buy a new author (I've discovered many writers polish the first chapter extensively but skimp on the rest). I'm one of those weird people who actually prefers hardcovers. But I know so many people who tell me they're buying more books now that they have an e-reader. I suspect we're only just beginning to see the effects of this on the industry.cs harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13708705800818667923noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27125272.post-78608516843316344322011-03-30T16:35:13.633-05:002011-03-30T16:35:13.633-05:00I'm quite conflicted on this whole issue. As ...I'm quite conflicted on this whole issue. As a reader I love going to a bookstore and browsing, and I refuse to buy a book (unless it's by one of my very few autobuy authors, like Candy) without reading at least a chapter. Without that, I don't know if I like the author's voice or if it has one of the hot buttons that make me put a book back on the shelf immediately. I like traveling and leaving behind books for others to read. I appreciate the handselling that the staff in a bookstore can do. I appreciate supporting jobs in my neighborhood. And I love reading a physical book. Since my local Borders closed, I've bought far fewer books for exactly these reasons.<br /><br />OTOH, if more and more authors only publish e-books and if more of the authors I like publish digital versions of their backlists, I might be forced to buy an e-reader. Not a Kindle but perhaps a color Nook or an iPad.Susan/DCnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27125272.post-11813278233743932002011-03-30T11:38:23.743-05:002011-03-30T11:38:23.743-05:00Barbara, I think Amazon taking 30% off the top is ...Barbara, I think Amazon taking 30% off the top is just beyond disgusting. And you're right--what's to stop them from increasing their piece of the pie in the future?<br /><br />vp, You are so right: some publishing houses are deliberately trying to put the brakes on e-book sales, mainly to protect their authors' standing on the NYT list, which doesn't lump e-book sales in with paper sales for the hardcover or mm lists (they have separate e-book lists. I only have the rights back to one of my romances, but I am looking into putting it up as an e-book. I'm also trying to get the rights back on some of the others. To my astonishment (and, frankly, chagrin), Ballantine has recently made several of them available again in mass market--my mystery Midnight Confessions being one.<br /><br />Steve, Thanks for the answer. If it took you 20 hours, it would take me longer, especially since I don't have an e-reader and would be utterly clueless. But to be frank, I'm not sure I'd recoup $600. At the same time, I don't feel competent to do my own cover. (Did I tell you how much I love that Poison Door cover? I think it's your best so far.)cs harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13708705800818667923noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27125272.post-88922761370295328682011-03-29T15:23:30.999-05:002011-03-29T15:23:30.999-05:00Hi Candy,
Sorry it took so long to get back. To a...Hi Candy,<br /><br />Sorry it took so long to get back. To answer your question, formatting my first one (Crossroad Blues) took me about twenty hours. Second time through (Poison Door) I was able to get the same job done in about six hours. <br /><br />Of course, if had your name recognition I'd probably hire the jobs out. I know you can get professional formatting and cover design for under $600. You'd be able to keep writing while they did the heavy lifting, *and* you'd have final approval of your cover.<br /><br />Hope you don't mind, I'm mentioning you in my next blog post- maybe tonight. :)Steve Malleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17561234111786788616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27125272.post-41248491734994418692011-03-29T08:23:08.154-05:002011-03-29T08:23:08.154-05:00As with the ongoing print vs. ebook conversations ...As with the ongoing print vs. ebook conversations amongst readers, I do not think that this issue has to be an either/or situation. I think it makes sense for authors to look for ways to take advantage of the new markets. In many ways, publishers have held the upper hand in the writer/publisher relationship for too long, and this might be an opportunity for writers to take some control. I also think that the creative control issue is a real one. I find that many of the independent authors that I have discovered through my kindle reading are doing some very interesting things and I'm enjoying discovering new writers. That said, I think there is still a place for traditional publishing houses. My hope would be that they would realize that working off an ancient and crumbling business model is not the way to survive. Publishing as an industry needs to try to quit choking ebook sales and embrace the new technologies. I am surprised that they learned nothing from the music industry debacle. As with any business, they must evolve or face extinction.<br /><br />I do know that since I started reading on the kindle, I am buying twice as many books annually. This year, I may triple the amount. I attribute this to ease of use, convenience and the lower cost of ebooks. I still buy print books and I expect I always will, but for the amount of genre reading I do, ebooks have made perfect sense. <br /><br />I would encourage writers who own any ebook rights to their backlist to publish them. I am constantly on the look out for older titles and I love the idea of the writer getting a larger share of the profits. Candice, I would be thrilled to buy any of your backlist on ebook. I have managed to obtain old paperback copies of most of your work at used books stores, but since those copies are falling apart, I'd gladly buy them in e book format.vphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18391627462437170416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27125272.post-49563015811280658392011-03-28T19:36:45.972-05:002011-03-28T19:36:45.972-05:00I think the thing that's not being discussed a...I think the thing that's not being discussed a whole lot yet, is that favorable royalty rate through Amazon-- I have to wonder how long before Bezos changes the rules (as he is wont to do) and that 70% begins inching down. Mind you, it has a long way to go before it hits 14%, but still, it's something to consider. <br /><br />It's all crazymaking and enough to make a person throw their hands up and declare themselves done with the whole thing.Barbara Caridad Ferrerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09819588291534894141noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27125272.post-37167238351921539552011-03-28T06:41:43.929-05:002011-03-28T06:41:43.929-05:00Pax Deux, I think you've nailed two of the big...Pax Deux, I think you've nailed two of the biggest problems with self-published e-books. Right now, publishers act as "gate keepers" weeding out the awful. Yes, they also weed out some wonderful books that just don't fit anyplace, but they do serve as a quality control. The second problem is, How does anyone ever hear about these books? Self-promotion is very time consuming.<br /><br />Jane, I much prefer paper books myself--in fact, I like big hardcovers. But e-books are an increasingly large part of sales. They're between 20-25 % of my sales, although I'm told my sales are unusually heavy in e-books for some reason.cs harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13708705800818667923noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27125272.post-75421684122486703032011-03-27T21:23:55.889-05:002011-03-27T21:23:55.889-05:00I think that ebooks are around seven percent of to...I think that ebooks are around seven percent of total book sales. I prefer to read a hard copy book. There's just something about holding the book in your hand. Also, I think that printed books go up in value, some quite significantly, as a specific book become a scarce commodity. I can't see that happening with a file that's downloaded to a device.Janenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27125272.post-19882079636759169332011-03-26T20:59:26.717-05:002011-03-26T20:59:26.717-05:00I have two e-reading devices (kindle and ipad), wh...I have two e-reading devices (kindle and ipad), which I acquired for work and travel purposes. But nothing beats a book, at least for those of us who grew up reading them. <br /><br />As a reader, I also wonder about how will I judge self published books. Will I be able to skim through some pages, or will I be restricted to a synopsis? How will I hear from these authors, if their books do not make it to Amazon or my local B&N (I'm not even counting independents). <br /><br />Lots to think about.Pax Deuxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00320616435799727609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27125272.post-30798694722608177192011-03-26T13:39:30.374-05:002011-03-26T13:39:30.374-05:00Anon, I think Eisler is right when he says that pu...Anon, I think Eisler is right when he says that publishers are trying to put the brakes on e-books in order to protect their paper sales. Ironically, a big motivating factor is that the NYT does not count e-books in with hardcover sales, so publishers are also trying to maximize their author's chances of hitting that all-important list. One of these days the NYT will have to include e-books with whatever format the book is currently issued in--right now, the separate e-book list is weird; the e-book plus print list favors paperbacks.<br /><br />And Brockway does have a point on freedom. I've been lucky with two of my editors, but I know the romance industry in particular has become ridiculously narrow. I quit reading romances long ago, and I know I'm not the only one.cs harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13708705800818667923noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27125272.post-87451225172879084832011-03-26T11:58:04.541-05:002011-03-26T11:58:04.541-05:00That should be A Night in Eden - bad fingers :-).That should be A Night in Eden - bad fingers :-).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27125272.post-47780706896702118422011-03-26T11:56:56.863-05:002011-03-26T11:56:56.863-05:00Hi Candy:
I hope you publish any of the backlist ...Hi Candy:<br /><br />I hope you publish any of the backlist titles to which you have the rights (I am particularly waiting for An Night in Eden - I love that book).<br /><br />Typos in e-copy, geographic restrictions (I cannot buy Where Serpents Sleep as an ebook in Canada), Agency pricing and unfair royalties to authors are all examples of how the big publishers are trying to sabotage ebooks to the detriment of their authors. I don't think that the $2.99 ebook price is going to be the norm for a new full-length book (Eisler's current $2.99 e-offering is a short story). For backlist titles, this may be a fair price as many of the necessary costs were already incurred when the book was originally published. That price may also be good as an introductory price for new self-published authors. Ultimately, I think the price for a new full-length book is going to settle in somewhat higher. <br /><br />As Brockway said in her commentary, the fact is that, many midlist authors are just not getting their contracts renewed unless they are prepared to meet the big publishers narrow criteria of what is acceptable. Self-publishing (and publishing with small independent e-publishers) allows these stories to be told.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27125272.post-73693572057411089212011-03-25T22:53:24.048-05:002011-03-25T22:53:24.048-05:00Shelley, Oh, dear; I'd no idea they weren'...Shelley, Oh, dear; I'd no idea they weren't using the digital copy. Where are these typos coming from? How bizarre. I hope this doesn't mean I'm going to have to start reading Kindle galleys, too. <br /><br />Charles, the situation is serious in flux, isn't it?cs harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13708705800818667923noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27125272.post-18755461884461338442011-03-25T22:45:14.425-05:002011-03-25T22:45:14.425-05:00Shows what a strange world we are living in now. ...Shows what a strange world we are living in now. Everything seems open and weird.Charles Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052592247572253641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27125272.post-22359122789628631952011-03-25T22:12:12.356-05:002011-03-25T22:12:12.356-05:00On the general topic of e-books, I read the last S...On the general topic of e-books, I read the last Sebastian book on my Kindle (and loved it :D) but I noticed a surprising amount of typos. I think my favorite was one where it was supposed to be "Me?" but it came out "e?". There were also some spacing issues where there were supposed to be gaps within a paragraph. Are publishers still working out the kinks of e-books? I would've thought it'd be the same electronic copy that would go into print.<br />~ShelleyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27125272.post-89828508312749130622011-03-25T14:33:42.544-05:002011-03-25T14:33:42.544-05:00That's interesting, Steve; I suppose it's ...That's interesting, Steve; I suppose it's word of mouth kicking in. How much of a pain was it to put those books up--seriously?cs harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13708705800818667923noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27125272.post-27488366857057736622011-03-25T14:28:26.619-05:002011-03-25T14:28:26.619-05:00It was indeed a strange week! :)
There thing I...It was indeed a strange week! :)<br /><br />There thing I've noticed since I put stuff up on Kindle is that my sales are the opposite of mainstream release: Instead of a big burst at the beginning trailing off to nothing, my sales are building momentum. Every month I sell more than the month before. <br /><br />Now, I'm not one of those who thinks this momentum just builds and builds and builds-- there's bound to be some kind of a bell curve there, or maybe a sales chart like a stock graph with heaps of ups and downs. <br /><br />But it does go on forever. <br /><br />Personally, I don't think publishers are going away. Or not exactly. They may be doing everything possible to drive themselves to extinction, but sitting on giant piles of money and intellectual property can compensate for a whole lot of stupid.<br /><br />My greatest hope is that a large and vibrant self-publishing movement will bring publishers to heel, force them to correct their bad old ways...Steve Malleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17561234111786788616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27125272.post-82369158614062420192011-03-25T13:59:05.162-05:002011-03-25T13:59:05.162-05:00Melinda, I did not know that. Thanks for the link....Melinda, I did not know that. Thanks for the link. It is interesting that she cites creative freedom. Perhaps I've been lucky, but despite the fact that my stories have always bucked guidelines (especially my romances), I've never felt my creative freedom constrained. I'm considering putting the one romance to which I now have the rights up as an e-book, but the friends I know who have done this have had sales of less than 100! (As Amanda herself notes in her post.)cs harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13708705800818667923noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27125272.post-65447762701172604952011-03-25T13:31:23.334-05:002011-03-25T13:31:23.334-05:00Interesting post, Candice--I saw a piece today on ...Interesting post, Candice--I saw a piece today on romance writer Connie Brockway doing the same thing:<br /><br />http://www.likesbooks.com/blog/?p=6169<br /><br />Interestingly, Brockway cites creative freedom as an important factor in this decision (or perhaps it's more of an important byproduct?). She says "Of course, this was more than a business decision. Strictly as a writer, I’m squealing with joy at the notion of being completely free to write the stories I most want to read. And, I sincerely believe, that my readers most want to read."<br /><br />I'm not a publishing whiz or anything, but I've wondered for years why more authors don't self-publish. Perhaps we've reached a technological and emotional tipping point now, with a enough people having e-readers to make this worthwhile?RevMelindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09266250590472359357noreply@blogger.com