Archive
Literary Agents in the Brave New World of #selfpublishing
In a blistering post David Gaughran takes on a newly formed ‘self-publishing’ company (if you want to know why I use the quotes, check out my self-publishing basics. I’m going to be updating that post in a couple minutes) and the literary agents backing it.
Whether you’re a published author, or are considering it, this post is a ‘must read.’
Click here for the post.
#amazon beta-testing #ebook #cover Generator
If you’re planning to self-publish an ebook, and don’t have the skills, you’re in luck. Amazon’s experimenting with an automated ebook cover generator (on the lines of CreateSpace’s cover generator. And it’ll be free.) About time, I say.
The Digital Reader has more details on this.
Literary #agents Reinventing Themselves
With so many (inexpensive) options available to authors who are not traditionally published (and even those who are), literary agents are having to reinvent themselves. An interesting post from The Passive Voice.
Publishing #contracts and #royalties in the Big Bad World
Jane Friedman has great advice on Writers Unboxed for authors in this brave new world of electronic publishing. Click here for the post.
KOBO Ups Royalties for The Self-Published
Kobo, the Japanese counterpart to Amazon, is running a limited time promotion. Between September 1 and November 30 all ebooks priced between $1.99 and $12.99 will earn their authors 80 percent royalty (vs. Amazon’s 70%).
If the book is priced outside of this range, the author will earn 45% royalties (vs. Amazon’s 35%).
Kobo, anyone? kobobooks.com/KoboWritingLife
Buy My Book, Be My Beta-Reader?
There’s an interesting post on a wordpress blog by someone who calls herself VacuousMinx, on rushing to publish. She talks about an author who’s been engaging her reviewers, making changes to her book based on reader suggestions and re-uploading, if there’s such a word, to Amazon. At what point do you cross the line from engaging readers of your books, to using them as your beta readers?
Apparently another author made changes to her book based on reader feedback (the 1 star ones), and i now sells both versions online; f she gets complaints about the ending, she suggests the reader buy the other copy as well.
What do you think about this?
Ebook rights: why you need to hang on to them
A report in techcrunch.com says, and I quote:
The Association of American Publishers released a report today that shows that ebooks have beaten hardcover revenues for the first time. Ebook revenues topped out at $282.3 million YTD while hardcovers hit $229.6. Almost exactly a year ago the tables were turned with ebooks hitting $220 million and hardcovers brushing past $335 million.
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All the more reason to hang-on to the rights of your ebooks. Someone I know of signed a deal with a small press. They’re getting 30% of the ebook revenues after Amazon takes their cut. I don’t know how much the publisher will price the book at, but lets say it is $5. The publisher makes 70% of $5, which is $3.50. The author nets 30% of $3.50 = $1.05.
Since paperback sales are declining, I don’t like the idea of giving ebook rights away, since it is so easy to upload to Amazon yourself.
I know, I know – the publisher does the editing and book cover, you’re saying. But you can hire a professional editor and book cover designer yourself for a *one time fee.* By paying out royalties, someone else is making money on your work into perpetuity. For paperbacks, where there is distribution and warehousing and promotion, in addition to editing and print book formatting and cover designing, I can see the need for royalties.
But for ebooks?
Book Reviewers Sought: Los Angeles Review literary journal
The Los Angeles Review literary journal is looking for three to five book reviewers. These reviewers will primarily be responsible for our new online review section, which includes reviews of self-published books. Some reviews may also be published in the print journal. Fiction, poetry and nonfiction reviewers are all welcome to apply. Online reviews are 200 to 500 words in length. Print reviews are 200 to 300 words.
Applicants should have some experience reviewing books, preferably for a literary journal. This is a volunteer position at this time; a stipend may be added in the future.
To apply, please send an email to the Book Review Editor, at LAReview.bookreviews(at)gmail.com (replace (at) with @) in sending email). A resume/CV and links to published reviews are appreciated. To find out more about us, please visit our web site at http://losangelesreview.org/.
Courtesy: the crwropps-b yahoo group
Connecticut libraries announce Random House ebook boycott
Click here to see why.
Amazon Bestseller in ‘Eastern Drama’: Click On Cover To Buy
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