tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post4998433259304505469..comments2023-11-02T06:57:11.400-04:00Comments on BookEnds Literary Agency: Building Your Career on Kindle, the PublishedBookEnds, A Literary Agencyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06287278822065839469noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-35770375019929002212010-11-24T20:06:31.628-05:002010-11-24T20:06:31.628-05:00Great post! And a lot of good points to consider!
...Great post! And a lot of good points to consider!<br /><br />LeeLee Thompson/Thomas Morgan/James Logan/Julian Vaughnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08961562523377985551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-66487186854224034022010-11-24T14:42:53.528-05:002010-11-24T14:42:53.528-05:00Tricycle Press--which has published a lot of great...Tricycle Press--which has published a lot of great books that are out of the mainstream--still exists. Random House acquired it about a year ago but the editorial office remains in California, and at least for now the press is continuing to bring out those types of books that built its reputation, including the recent Americas Award winner in the picture book category, Carmen Tafolla's bilingual What Can You Do with a Paleta?/¿Qué puedes hacer con una paleta?Lyn Miller-Lachmannhttp://web.mac.com/lynmlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-50521361744808640592010-11-24T14:19:59.984-05:002010-11-24T14:19:59.984-05:00". Wonder if anyone told Michael Crichton tha...". Wonder if anyone told Michael Crichton that when he submitted Pirate Latitudes?"<br /><br />Actually, Crichton never did submit PL, it was dredged up posthumously from his computer in order to keep him going.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-19733772160566866272010-11-24T14:12:56.870-05:002010-11-24T14:12:56.870-05:00Timothy Hallinan and Marsha echo my concerns. I ha...Timothy Hallinan and Marsha echo my concerns. I have been traditionally published, but as I've started to write stories that veer from the mainstream, and with houses who celebrated less conventional projects (like Tricycle Press) unable to stay in business, I worry that my stories may not find a home among traditional publishers. With self epublishing, I'm free to explore the quirky projects, while still doing other more mainstream work. But quality is also a big concern for me, which is why I have not done it... yet.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-38414258995808355012010-11-24T13:15:13.777-05:002010-11-24T13:15:13.777-05:00I have to agree with Timothy. How many times have...I have to agree with Timothy. How many times have authors and agents heard the comment from editors, when a manuscript or outline is under consideration, that they are rejecting it because they don't feel it is marketable? I ran across this a few years back, after one of my books (The Iron Rose) was praised by Publisher's Weekly as being one of the top seven fiction books released that year. I write Historical Romance, so that was doubly exciting. Yet when I informed my editor that I planned to write a sequel, which was in response to enthusiastic demands from my readers...I was told it would likely be "unmarketable" that "pirate books" were not selling. Hmmm. Wonder if anyone told Michael Crichton that when he submitted Pirate Latitudes?<br /><br />Bottom line is I still have the bones of that manuscript and now I'm free to flesh it out and publish it myself.Marsha Canhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03390464984506686497noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-36666771351195683612010-11-24T12:23:14.204-05:002010-11-24T12:23:14.204-05:00One thing I think this post overlooks is actually ...One thing I think this post overlooks is actually the most important (to me) aspect of self-pubbing e-books: freedom. I've had ten books published by four big five companies and had a great time with them. But there have also been book ideas that were deemed insufficiently commercial - mostly things outside my normal genre -- that ultimately went unwritten.<br /><br />What e-pub means to me is that I'm free to write any book I want -- just as a painter is free to paint any picture he wants -- without having to convince a publisher that it'll be worth their very considerable investment. This has been creatively explosive for me. I'm working on one book for commercial publication and two for e-book publication. As a novelist, I've never felt this free.Timothy Hallinanhttp://www.timothyhallinan.com/blognoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-89992121213572322902010-11-24T11:47:03.847-05:002010-11-24T11:47:03.847-05:00This is so interesting. In an age when everyone w...This is so interesting. In an age when everyone wants to be published or remain a published author the lure of going it on your own by self-publishing is strong.<br />But as stated there are many issues to consider as there are in any business decision. Thank you for posting this.<br />StellaStella MacLeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00772073287130986889noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-23552945737688223412010-11-24T09:18:43.096-05:002010-11-24T09:18:43.096-05:00You know, when we decided to pay royalty shares to...You know, when we decided to pay royalty shares to authors on anthology inclusions, rather than flat fees, we were given some rather funny looks. <br /><br />That was a head scratcher. As far as I was concerned, as an author, I'd rather have a share of unlimited digital and POD (which stays on market forever) than a one-time payment. <br /><br />It's nice to know that authors are coming around to this idea.Sarah J. MacManushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03430266551248332700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-44521337760729405092010-11-23T20:56:18.382-05:002010-11-23T20:56:18.382-05:00It's not that agents are going away. Establish...It's not that agents are going away. Established writers still need them, because the more deals you have, the more help you need. But what's changing is the role of agents for NEW (meaning, as yet unpublished for significant money) writers. New writers no longer need agents to break in. If it sells well enough on Amazon, the agents and publishers will come to YOU. So in my mind, it's a waste of energy for a new writer to worry about an agent, indeed, to worry about anything but writing the best possible book and having it sell.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-62221655835077294832010-11-23T20:28:35.152-05:002010-11-23T20:28:35.152-05:00To anon at 12:02
good epublishers that I recommen...To anon at 12:02<br /><br />good epublishers that I recommend<br /><br />Samhain Publishing<br />Carina Press<br />Loose -ID (for erotic only)<br /><br />they have good editing and great cover artistsVivi Annahttp://www.vivianna.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-10061948091559988272010-11-23T20:18:30.073-05:002010-11-23T20:18:30.073-05:00I can answer the question, Does e-publishing '...I can answer the question, Does e-publishing 'ruin' a writer for agents, for you, Kristan:<br /><br />Answer: Not if your e-book sells! If it doesn't sell, then change your name, cuz Amazon = New Slush Pile, and the Book Buying Public = the new agents.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-60091934767282760402010-11-23T19:36:37.091-05:002010-11-23T19:36:37.091-05:00Jessica, I'd like to repeat my question from y...Jessica, I'd like to repeat my question from yesterday's post, because obviously I'd like to know your thoughts, and because I don't think I'm the only one wondering:<br /><br />Does e-publishing "ruin" an aspiring writer for agents?<br /><br />Full question/background info here: http://bookendslitagency.blogspot.com/2010/11/launching-your-career-via-kindle.html?showComment=1290435653384#c8942652961795586712<br /><br />Thanks!<br />KristanKristanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04771013578685419826noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-10841395500295511182010-11-23T19:18:48.064-05:002010-11-23T19:18:48.064-05:00If I were concerned that my older books were not a...If I were concerned that my older books were not as "good" as my recent ones, I would republish them as eBooks under a pseudonym.<br /><br />Same if I were worried about books in a different genre than where I'm currently most popular.Gerald M. Weinberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05902673055244863609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-2075652162937559262010-11-23T14:28:17.850-05:002010-11-23T14:28:17.850-05:00In response to anon @ 11:37 am
I've experienc...In response to anon @ 11:37 am<br /><br />I've experienced this, too. And I'd like to suggest one thing to all new authors who are submitting short stories to traditional publishers who are doing print anthologies:<br /><br />Don't settle for the flat author fee anymore, and let them know it. These print books are going to become digital, they will be around for a long time gaining new readers, and you should be getting a percentage of the digital royalties you deserve. And if the publisher won't agree, don't submit. There are plenty of reputable e-publishers out there looking for new authors who are willing to pay royalities on e-book sales for short story anthologies...as well as a flat fee up front. I'm not talking about millions of dollars in your pocket. But these publishers are very sneaky and they are making profits now thanks to e-books they never thought they'd make. <br /><br />At the very least, make sure you sign "non-exclusives," so you can self-publish down the line if you wish.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-44778825129994623812010-11-23T12:59:07.979-05:002010-11-23T12:59:07.979-05:00Thanks for this informative series of posts from y...Thanks for this informative series of posts from your perspective. From non-writers I constantly hear: Why do you need an agent or a big publisher? Just e-publish yourself! It's so frustrating.<br /><br />http://tericarter.wordpress.comUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09286500369307269667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-33735267217853025992010-11-23T12:43:15.039-05:002010-11-23T12:43:15.039-05:00To the above anon, I say "forever" or un...To the above anon, I say "forever" or until Amazon changes things up. They cold decide to stop selling ebooks, or to switch to a new model and only feature those under the new model. Never know.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-43377028359629705212010-11-23T12:38:09.692-05:002010-11-23T12:38:09.692-05:00Anon: Amazon. Who else do you need? Someone to tak...Anon: Amazon. Who else do you need? Someone to take your royalties in exchange for editing and cover art? Develop your own stable of professionals to handle these things for you. Pay them up front. Publish with Amazon at $2.99 or less and you've got 70% forever, never go out of print.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-8897485008731733262010-11-23T12:02:14.862-05:002010-11-23T12:02:14.862-05:00I'm considering e-publishing, but where can on...I'm considering e-publishing, but where can one find a list of legit e-publishers? Thanks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-85833298997572786762010-11-23T11:37:07.988-05:002010-11-23T11:37:07.988-05:00There is also an aspect to this you didn't poi...There is also an aspect to this you didn't point out, which is understandable because there are so many new factors to consider.<br /><br />Up until a few years ago, many erotic romance authors were submitting short stories to print publishers for anthologies. These authors were paid a small flat fee and there were no royalties involved. Which was fine...it was expected...an no one cared. It was more about building publishing credits than making money. <br /><br />However, when the authors submitted to these publishers the authors had no idea that the print anthologies would one day become kindle e-books. The contracts were worded ambigiously and none of these authors are getting royalties on the e-book sales now. In some cases, the authors have moved on to e-publishers and these back listed books are now competing with their newly released e-books. In my case, they are all listed on goodreads right along with my newer books and readers have no idea they are not supporting the authors when they buy the back listed books. <br /><br />But thanks to self-publishing e-books, and contracts that read "non-exclusvie" these authors aren't totally screwed. They can now re-release their own short stories as stand alone e-books and collect the royalties they deserve.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-16251982528980144712010-11-23T10:54:59.538-05:002010-11-23T10:54:59.538-05:00The various digital retailers are also a pretty go...The various digital retailers are also a pretty good way to place work that doesn't fit well elsewhere because of length: short stories and novellas. I placed a longer short story under my usual pen name that had already been published in a literary journal. I ended up selling about 2,000 copies and getting some very nice reviews. Not a fortune at 35% of the .99 cent price, but certainly good promotion for my novels and my author brand.<br /><br />And thank you, Jessica, for clarifying the terms you used. ePublishing shouldn't be confused with self-publishing, as I'm sure the nice people at Carina, Samhain and the others would want emphasized. The GOOD ePublishers provide editing, copyediting, coverart and promotion.Sarah J. MacManushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03430266551248332700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-75077879362504441182010-11-23T08:59:55.861-05:002010-11-23T08:59:55.861-05:00A thoughtful series of posts. Thanks for giving y...A thoughtful series of posts. Thanks for giving your two cents on this hot topic-you definitely gave me something to think about this morning.Annahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00961332983813359209noreply@blogger.com