The Publishing Industry - Just so you'll know.

This very enlightening article explains it all in great detail and leaves no question as to why the publishing industry is the way it is presently. I quote it often and will continue to do so. The link I initially gave is a bit weird now though. So I've found a new link to the page:

This is the new link.

Though I've discussed it before it seems when I post about it again that new readers are immediately shocked and surprised. If you're an author and you want to understand more about why things are the way they are then you need to go to the link above and read it thoroughly.

For your viewing pleasure I will only quote some excerpts:

"The 1920s saw the founding of such important publishing houses as Simon and Schuster, Random House, Alfred A. Knopf, and Viking Press. Although Random House would grow to be the largest and most successful publisher in the country, and would hold that position into the twenty-first century, Simon and Schuster introduced some important industry innovations with long-term consequences."

*Sue scratches head* I wonder what those "important industry innovations" were?

"The Great Depression of the 1930s hit the book publishing industry as hard as it hit every other sector of the American economy. Booksellers at that time were mostly small local businesses, and to help them survive the economic hardships of the depression, Simon and Schuster invented a system allowing booksellers to return unsold copies of books for credit against future purchases. Other publishers quickly had to follow Simon and Schuster's lead, and the practice became the industry standard."

Well, I guess it was a good idea at the time. But I like the way this "industry standard" is described here: http://www.creativemindspress.com/business.htm

Back in the Depression, when bookstores were going under right and left, publishers realized they had to do something radical to keep booksellers in business. They came up with the idea of returns—a system whereby any bookseller may return any book, with little regard for how long the book was kept or what condition it was in. No one told the book business the Depression ended 70 years ago. We still have a system that—not to put too fine a point on it—sucks. Few other industries operate on what amounts to a giant consignment scheme.

LOL SUCKS! Really? Not only that but small publishers don't even get to see their returned books. The only way to survive is to make your books non-returnable. That way large bookstores can still order your books but not take you down with the ship. I sort of hate to say it but unless this return policy mess is straightened out, Barnes & Nobles is next. Good thing there are Independent Bookstores to pick up the slack. Independent bookstores that don't abide by Industry Standard that is. ;D

Gotta love these groups! NOT!

So I get an email solicitation today. Here it is:

Greetings Sue Dent,

We thought you might be interested in our site for authors!

Author & Book Promotions promotes literary works by best-selling and new authors wanting greater online book publicity! A&BP have worked with authors across the globe including Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, the Caribbean, and the United States.

Our mission is to bring as much publicity to Authors of all stages and expose their books to readers around the world! We not only want to support those whose works are in print, we also seek to guide those who aspire to become authors in the book marketing process.

For authors wanting greater exposure, a Featured Books section is available. It is a service that A&BP is providing to best-selling and new authors seeking an increase in their online book publicity.

Sincerely,
A&BP
Author & Book Promotions

I know y'all are eager to see my response. So here it is! ;D

Sorry I've seen this group on FB and several other groups like it but it is my belief that until you STOP offering publicity to "best-selling" authors your small efforts to help new and small-pubbed authors will fall on deaf ears. Clearly "best-selling" authors don't need help, DUH! And mentioning them is pointless. They're already "best-selling" and have access to all sorts of promotion already. Also mentioning these authors sort of defeats the purpose of what you propose your little FB page is for. Just my opinion of course.

Sue Dent
Give me a break!

Sue Dent signs multi-million dollar contract with Random House!

I've been waiting forever to post that headline. Thank-you April "FOOLS" Day for finally arriving so I could. And so everyone asks, "Sue if they did offer you that, would you turn it down? Knowing how you feel about large publishers and all."

To the "everyone" who might venture to ask this, that's one scenario I'll never have to worry about so I don't feel inclined to speculate.

HAPPY APRIL FOOLS DAY THOUGH!

Boycott {insert publisher of choice}

A new trend? It does seem to be the case. But I've found, at least so far, that the publishers being singled out by their authors don't operate much differently than all the other traditional presses out there.

They're attempting to play the game as set up by the money controlling "big dog" publishers without considering that doing so means certain death. The publishing industry rules only work for the larger publishers. Small presses need a completely different set of rules to survive.

So do I agree with boycotting small traditional houses? Not really (and I've been with two who went under due to believing they could actually operate under the rules set in place by large publishers.) And boycotting large houses is futile because they control the industry and are far tooooo big to be touched by our rock throwing. Readers aren't being affected by authors being "screwed" so life will go on.

And just in case you think I don't have a dog in the hunt, there are over 4000 hard-back copies of Never Ceese out there that I'll never see a penny from. Not one cent will come to me . . . ever. Gotta love that. ;)

Concerning Virtual Book Signings . . .

From press release:

Concerning the idea of a virtual book signing Sue says, "It's a very real solution to a very real problem. Large chain book stores are distribution centers for large publishers. They don't embrace small published authors and certainly not self-pubbed ones. Most of us aren't even allowed to do signings. The reason? We have to play it smart and make our books "non-returnable" so bookstores don't eat us alive. Large book stores won't order your books if you make them non-returnable which means you don't get a book signing. A virtual book signing means we don't have to worry about dealing with these bullies anymore and we can sell face to face with folks all over the world!"

Making books non-returnable to survive in large bookstores set up to only distribute large publishers books is a bad idea anyway. The scenario of these bookstores ordering thousands of books (to subsequently push large publishers books to the top of best seller's lists) and sending all most all of them back for FREE isn't a scenario that will EVER work for small press or self-pubbed authors. It will take them down and has in record numbers.

And because I've neither the funds nor the "connections" to advertise my book signing the way each and every large publisher does, I MIGHT sell five books. Thank you large publishers for taking over the world with your money. I guess that means you WIN!

Forever Richard #54 in Vampire books on Amazon

Yep. Happy to see Forever Richard in the top 100 vampire books on Amazon. Sad to say I didn't make any money off the books that sold that put it there and neither did my publisher.

Happy to say that I now have the rights back and it is out of print. Sad to say that once the four left on Amazon sell  no more NEW ones will be available as it is now out-of-print.

Happy to say that if you want a copy of Forever Richard you may contact me. Sad to say once they're gone though, they're gone!

Happy to say that Black Bed Sheet Books will be republishing Forever Richard, long-listed for a 2009 Pluto Award and long-listed for a 2010 British Fantasy Award, before the end of 2011!!!! So watch for it and make sure and read Never Ceese first and order it directly from Black Bed Sheet books at the Black Bed Sheet Store!

BTW I meant Amazon shouldn't be able to come up with an new copies to sell. There are quite a few copies of Forever Richard legitimately for sell by other vendors. If you buy the ones listed for $60 or more please at least give me the money instead. Good grief! Amazon won't be able to get any more copies until the book is republished through Black Bed Sheet Books. Or at least they shouldn't be able to.

Proud to present Angel Time

Like this book needs an introduction. :) Anne Rice, one time vampire writer, now writes for general market Christian readers specifically. She's given up her vampire writing for naught, as I understand it, because it points to a very dark time in her life that she'd rather not revisit. So going back to her Catholic roots, she's now writing with a more defined perspective. Not as defined as affiliated Christian publishers thank goodness but defined none-the-less.

Will it be good?

*gasp*

What kind of question is that?

Of course it will be. After all, this is Anne Rice. It wasn't what she wrote about that made her who she is but her exquisite style. Keep in mind, despite writing Christian fiction, you won't find Mrs. Rice's work in larger Christian Bookstores as you should. Knopf publishing isn't affiliated. However, I do foresee some larger Christian bookstores ignoring this fact as Mrs. Rice stands to sell a lot of books!

So there ya go! Another non-affiliated Christian book and at least two more to come in this series. I'm excited.