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| Ahhhh, Gotcha |
As a blogger who tries valiantly to post at least once a
week on this bog and relatively often on three others, some days you just run
into a wall. Today is such a day. Where to turn? Well I have written 150 previous
posts on writing and the independent publishing world, so let’s just flip the
switch on the old Way-Back Machine and see what pithy things I wrote long, long
ago.
From February 2012
Battle of the Indies
– There is No Winner, Yet
Currently there is a quiet (as well as not so quiet) war
going on between independents. No, not unaligned politicians, but between and
among writers, publishers, and booksellers. Each is fiercely waving their
banners over the smoldering pile of the old-line bookstores and publishers. I
fully realize that the Penguin, Random House, HarperCollins, and the other big
houses won’t go away, but their power has been significantly diminished and in
some genres, destroyed. The gaggle of editors and agents that feed their
furnaces are also reacting with predictable actions and threats, “I’ll tell
you, if you publish independently, you’ll never work in this town again.” Kind
of silly if you ask me
What is more of a concern are the independent bookstores
(Indies) that are turning a cold shoulder toward independent publishers (also called
Indies). While they profess to be independent and are fighting off the remains
of the national bookstore chains (where is Crown, Borders, et al?) to survive
they seem to continually put up barriers to small publishers and independent
writers. I hear “Your books aren’t up to our requirements for professional
quality.” “You can’t supply my needs, sign up with Ingram or some other
distributor.” “Don’t bother me, I want to go out of business on my own terms, I
keep a low inventory.” “Okay, but you have to do it on commission.”
In an article in the current issue of Alive, a very well done
local magazine here in the East Bay of Northern California, Anita Venezia
(friend and author of a wonderful novel set in Italy) offers her thoughts on
the mess were in (GO HERE). We writers are all trying to find a voice and to be heard over the sturm and
drang of the publishing world. Sure we all want Da Vinci Code numbers, Nora Roberts reads, and even the ridiculous
advances someone like Bill Clinton gets. But to be turned down by your local
bookstore, the one you supported for twenty years; is a serious kick in the
butt. Good God man, didn’t you watch You’ve
Got Mail, didn’t you understand the premise? I’m here to help you, not just
to annoy you.
There are many independent associations of writers and
bookstores throughout the US. Each region has its small chain of well-run local
bookstores that offer not only well stocked shelves but book signings,
speakers, and even some even battle with Starbucks and Peets with coffee and pastries.
In the parlance of urban planners they become “Third Places,” where citizens
come together to relax, meet, and read. Of course the bottom line is commerce,
sit a while, buy a book, and buy coffee. They claim to be Independents yet they
seem to act like the big boys when it comes to independent writers and
publishers. “Go away kid, you bother me!”
But there are changes in the wind, in fact in some quarters
it’s a gale. Apple is trying very hard to recreate the school textbook market
in their image through iBook (and you know, it might work!). Amazon is starting
to get all “proprietary” with teases and new “opportunities,” see its KDP
store. The number of ebooks being sold is climbing in a classic bell curve (but
will they level off?). The number of eReaders (remember I claim to be the
inventor – GO HERE – for proof), is growing. Kindles, iPads, iPadMini, Nooks, eReaders, and on and
on, pick your poison. If there is one sure thing, it’s that this thing ain’t
over.
The opportunities for new models in marketing and selling
ebooks is huge. Currently there are many ideas flying around but with little
proof of success. I know there must be at least one that works across so many
platforms (if you have an idea – post below in comments, let the world know!).
We writers toil in the dark of early mornings and stolen
hours from friends and family. We are certifiable and many of us should be
committed. But we love to tell our stories (even the ones about mind reading
zombies from Des Moines who own Prius dealerships so they can steal your credit
card numbers), it’s just what we do.
More later . . . . .
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