Posted by:
Diane
| Comments
Best selling author Seth Godin (12 New York Times etc. bestsellers) dropped a bombshell on the publishing world when he announced on his blog that he’s not going to publish “traditionally” anymore.
“I’ve decided not to publish any more books in the traditional way. 12 for 12 and I’m done. ”
Why would a successful author ditch the world that has helped create his success? (Or has he succeeded despite it?)
“Traditional book publishers use techniques perfected a hundred years ago to help authors reach unknown readers, using a stable technology (books) and an antique and expensive distribution system.” (Of the latter, I wrote a post back in March 2007 called “The Fatal Flaw in the Book Publishing Industry.” We’re finally now seeing its collapse.)
In an interview with Jeff Rivera for a Mediabistro feature, Seth elaborated: Read More→
Posted by:
Diane
| Comments
Michael Hyatt, CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishers, said too many books are being published (300,000 last year, around 700 by his company) and that we don’t need more books, we need better books. He says that they are able to predict fairly accurately which books will make it and which will not. In fact, they’ve been 95% accurate about which titles will do well.
So what makes an author successful? “[Successful books] are typically written by Read More→
Posted by:
Diane
| Comments
One of the key aspects of what I call “New Era Publishing” is to provide content in more than one format, so that the author’s message can be consumed in the ways the consumer chooses. “Your content on their terms” is how Paul Colligan puts it.
Publisher Thomas Nelson just announced a new program called NelsonFree, which “allows readers to receive content in multiple formats—physical book, audiobook and e-book—without making multiple purchases.” With NelsonFree, the price of the hardcover book includes both the audio download and the e-book, available in several formats, including EPub, MobiPocket and PDF.
Once readers purchase a book with the NelsonFree logo, they are directed to a Web site where they register and answer a security question. They then can download an audio MP3 file and choose the format of e-book.
Interestingly, Joel Miller, v-p and publisher, business and culture, said Nelson will not raise the price of hardcovers in the NelsonFree program. “I only see the price going up if a particular project has unique added expenses in producing the audio and digital books,” Miller said.
Nelson president and CEO Michael S. Hyatt said, “I believe that the industry is shifting and we, as publishers, need to explore new methods of getting our content into the hands of customers. NelsonFree will give readers a new level of value and flexibility. It will enhance their literary experience and allow greater employment of the content without breaking the bank.”
I applaud Nelson for being proactive here and leading the way. As an author’s advocate, I can’t help but wonder, do authors get any added royalties for the digital content? My guess is not, if the publisher is not charging extra.
On the other hand, making the content available in many formats should only boost sales and gain an author more exposure and reach. And isn’t that what we want as authors?
Posted by:
Diane
| Comments
Just read Michael Hyatt’s Tweet about how he’s seen few authors handle fame well … just minutes after my husband sent me an email with an excerpt from an interview Rick Warren did with Paul Bradshaw.
Rick is the author of The Purpose-Driven Life and other books that have become best sellers.
Here’s what Rick said. You decide what you think of how he’s handling his fame and fortune.
And cancer …
“People ask me, What is the purpose of life?”
And I respond: In a nutshell, life is
Read More→
