tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7131988310809850503.post1136889933059748948..comments2024-03-26T11:31:47.225+00:00Comments on RJ Scott - Author: I am part of the problem... sort of... RJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12451151020470211560noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7131988310809850503.post-23436939461001362112016-02-28T00:14:29.977+00:002016-02-28T00:14:29.977+00:00I do worry about the future. I saw Samhain offer e...I do worry about the future. I saw Samhain offer ebooks at what I thought was a reasonable price and they still couldn't make it work. So one of my other publishers - whose prices are higher - what hope for them? I'm put off subbing anything else to them while the price is so high. Why would a reader buy one book at over $6 when they could buy a few books for that price? But even setting your own price - at a reasonable level - won't alter the fact that you are competing in an increasingly huge market. Anyone can publish now and anyone does! Readers care less about grammar etc than I'd hope. The story is all. If you're established, maybe you can survive but it's going to get harder and harder.Barbara Elsborghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15825994197656747262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7131988310809850503.post-28486324187898598012016-02-27T19:40:43.592+00:002016-02-27T19:40:43.592+00:00I think maybe it is also partly to do with the EU ...I think maybe it is also partly to do with the EU tax on E-books which for me 20% so I'm buying alot less books now.ShirleyAnnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12552368259225199393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7131988310809850503.post-17062085871151299992016-02-27T18:02:26.999+00:002016-02-27T18:02:26.999+00:00As someone who is published with small press publi...As someone who is published with small press publishers, I would say that many authors in my position know just as much as self published authors about how crucial marketing is. I am quite sure the publishers know it too.<br /><br />Only one of my publishers (one which has sadly closed for, I understand, much the same reasons as Samhain) seemed to set up blog tours and a promotion for every one of their authors and each book that was released. I got the impression that not all authors appreciated their efforts as much as I did.<br /><br />Small press authors do just as much marketing as self published authors, if not even more, because we have the additional hurdle of not being able to set our own prices in our efforts to make our voices heard among the masses of others. <br /><br />I don't know of any who simply sit back and rely on their publishers to get them sales. I see authors marketing day in and day out and getting nowhere. Good authors giving up and quitting the industry. And I can't say I blame them. <br /><br />The publishing industry is tough and getting worse. Not everyone is going to stick it out and I have no doubt that as more small presses close their doors, more authors will vanish from the genre. <br /><br />I don't see self publishing as the answer. Yes, self published authors can set their own prices, have reduced overheads etc, but if it is difficult to be seen in the listings now, how much harder would it be if everyone was self published? You can only reduce prices so far and with so many free books out there, it will soon appear to be the case that the only way to be truly seen will be to give your books away for free. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7131988310809850503.post-71921866632111527672016-02-27T17:09:39.676+00:002016-02-27T17:09:39.676+00:00From a readers perspective I have to say that I bu...From a readers perspective I have to say that I buy a lot more books at the lower eBook prices way more than I bought on paper and I bought a ton of paper. Ku let's me try out authors and if I like them I've bought the book too so I can reread even if I drop Ku. I guarantee I have read a bunch of books on Ku that I would never have bought in either paper or eBook. So it all has its place but I am sorry the price points leave so little money in the hands of the authors.Anerahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05357531803712869902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7131988310809850503.post-9030144797261889242016-02-27T16:45:09.782+00:002016-02-27T16:45:09.782+00:00I would say most publishers' editing costs are...I would say most publishers' editing costs are higher as they use several editors per book. At least from my experience. Covers would be about the same as RJ said as many use freelance artists. Maybe they get a discount for frequency, but probably not a huge amount.<br />Add staff costs and you're looking at a considerable investment per "average" novel. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16732114630482037286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7131988310809850503.post-66419803869965659262016-02-27T15:49:49.656+00:002016-02-27T15:49:49.656+00:00P, I guess that makes it worse for a publisher, as...P, I guess that makes it worse for a publisher, as there isn't a bulk cost for quantity? I don't know. <br /><br />hugs xRJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12451151020470211560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7131988310809850503.post-36509091062598186242016-02-27T15:23:07.798+00:002016-02-27T15:23:07.798+00:00Just as a side note, cover artists are not salarie...Just as a side note, cover artists are not salaried staff at any of the publishing houses I work for. We are contracted on "work for hire" contracts and are paid a flat rate per cover, plus an additional print premium, depending on the publisher.<br /><br />And, for the record, the publishers I'm referring to are Sam Hain, Dreamspinner, Loose Id, and Riptide.<br /><br />I don't know what difference that makes to the discussion above, but just wanted to clear some facts up.<br /><br />P x<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7131988310809850503.post-3992024889199242982016-02-27T14:46:21.301+00:002016-02-27T14:46:21.301+00:00Awww, hugs xxxxxxAwww, hugs xxxxxxRJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12451151020470211560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7131988310809850503.post-66642313148526332302016-02-27T14:40:18.715+00:002016-02-27T14:40:18.715+00:00Love you RJ
You're doing it for all of us
Keep...Love you RJ<br />You're doing it for all of us<br />Keep on keeping on and being awesome<br />Hugs loveLouis Stevensnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7131988310809850503.post-51368745555880074032016-02-27T14:17:59.667+00:002016-02-27T14:17:59.667+00:00A very sad day, and hugs you LM XA very sad day, and hugs you LM XRJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12451151020470211560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7131988310809850503.post-67536343661432931752016-02-27T14:17:07.094+00:002016-02-27T14:17:07.094+00:00I agree with all of this... I have felt like the p...I agree with all of this... I have felt like the pubs have relied on the author's marketing...<br /><br />RJ XRJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12451151020470211560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7131988310809850503.post-43168609927558836432016-02-27T13:36:13.150+00:002016-02-27T13:36:13.150+00:00I admit my thinking when I heard this latest sad n...I admit my thinking when I heard this latest sad news was along the same lines as you. But I don't think you're part of the problem <3 <br /><br />First off, publisher's costs for cover, editing, etc. are different because they have salaried staff for those things. So it truly isn't [my cost increased exponentially], there is a cap. A staff cover designer working full time can do a lot of covers, and so I'm betting the per-cover cost for a publisher is a lot lower than an indie's one-time cost. Same with editing, formatting, etc. Though of course they have lots of other, business related, costs, they also have lots of business related benefits and resources.<br /><br />I do agree that the rise of self publishing (and the lower price tags encouraged by amazon) are a BIG part of the problem, but I'm not sure we should blame ourselves for that either. Prices of traditionally published books have been on the high end of the market forever. It's not a shock that has caught up with the houses. When publishers can't promise readers anything more than a self-publisher can, their prices should reflect that.<br /><br />I also think publishers have ignored marketing their authors for too long. How can you take a huge cut of profits but expect your authors to do most of the work? And how can you blame your creatives when they fail to magically turn into marketing genuises? As self-published authors, we know how much a book launch hinges on marketing and effective promotion. Yet almost none of that is done by publishers, unless for their "big name" authors. If I tried to launch a book on my own with only a few ARC copies sent out and an ad on my own blog, I'd not expect profit. I'm nobody and I know this. Why don't publishers know this as well?<br /><br />Overall, I'm saddened by Samhain closing. I've been reading Samhain titles for a long time, a lot longer than I've been self-publishing that's for sure. And I know a lot of authors who just won't self-publish, for lots of reasons. They want to work with a publisher, and they should be able to do that. It's getting harder to find one and that is a shame. Self-publishing should be an option, not a necessity.<br /><br />I don't know what is going on in the world of romance publishing, but the times they are a-changin'. I just hope I'm still here when the dust settles! :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7131988310809850503.post-14601749270781857072016-02-27T12:38:10.983+00:002016-02-27T12:38:10.983+00:00I hate to say it, but 200 sales for a new author i...I hate to say it, but 200 sales for a new author is rather optimistic. I have been publishing about as long as you and I struggle to make even half of that amount. I am actually stunned my two remaining publishers continue to offer me contracts. <br /><br />I am increasingly worried about the current trend and like you I don't see a solution. <br /><br />It is a sad day in the publishing world. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com