There is no better, best or worst

The publishing rule book has been thrown away. Dick made a post about how the world of publishing is changing when a seasoned author could not get his new book published through his previous publisher and went with Publish America. The fireworks started soon after that.

It is a fact that even multi-book authors are being dropped by their traditional publisher, then they have to decide what direction they will pursue next. ALL options out there are valid today. The bottom line is once your book is out on the market, how it got there is kind of an academic exercise. I have a book through PA and two through iUniverse. Why, I wanted control and retention of my rights on the last two books. I sold the audio rights to one of my books, got an advance and my audio book is in libraries nationwide. It did not matter that I paid to get my book out, what mattered is that I sold enough libraries on the paper version of the book to generate enough demand for an audio version that I was contacted by the acquisitions dept. of an audio publisher. That qualified me for entry into the author's guild and I joined and was accepted. That same book made the ESSENCE bestseller list. Traditional publishers are making room for Sarah Palin, Travis the chimp and whatever other quick hit out there. If the traditional deal is available, take it. The other argument is moot.

Whether you call them vanity, self-publisher, publishing service provider etc. it really does not matter.

If your book is out on the market, congratulations.

Well said, DT. That is the spirit that I love to see around here.

Quote :

ALL options out there are valid today

Not the one that that make you pay either upfront (iUniverse) or on the installment plain (PublishAmerica and their overpriced books).

But yes, the publihing world is changing.

My book is on the market. You can buy Mr. Planemaker's Flying Machine for $13.02 (£7.55) here:

http://www.lulu.com/content/6134857

The book will be serialised on radio this April, so I have finally got around to self-publishing to provide readers with a reasonably priced copy (the book is still available at various prices on all the on-line stores). I didn't fight with or fall out with PA. They have treated me well from the day I signed a contract.

Congratulations Shelagh.

Congratulations, Shelagh, I am so happy for you and proud of you too.

cturkel wrote:

Quote :

ALL options out there are valid today

Not the one that that make you pay either upfront (iUniverse) or on the installment plain (PublishAmerica and their overpriced books).

But yes, the publihing world is changing.

cturkel,

I usually don't engage in this type of back and forth, but every once in a while, the crap silo fills up. I seem to notice a pattern of sniping on what others are posting and few original thoughts. When something is posted with any hot trigger point of potential controversy, here come the sidetrack express. I/we know how these different companies work, therefore there is no additional enlightenment being brought ot the table. I know that PA charges more per book to make their money up on the back end. I know that I paid for my books to be produced, I paid for it. Let me enlighten you to something. Even with a traditional publisher you pay to get your book published. This is how it works. You get an advance, until your books earns out that avance you don't get any other royalties. Once your books earns out that advance, you get your royalties paid on a scheduled basis. When your book earns out, you have paid for your book to be published. I am paid royalties on my paper book and on my audio book, one is self-published and one is traditional, they are the same book.

This is a zero sum game.

No you don't pay to get your book printed up front with a traditional publisher, but you pay by selling your rights to the publisher. The traditional publisher works on a shared risk basis, some books will earn out the advance, profit beyond that and some will not. Those that do not, wiil have their authors dropped from the roster. No, you don't have to pay the advance back because they are betting that they made a proper judgement when they paid it to you to begin with. If they misfired, that is on them.

Thanks DT and Alice! I don't know if the reduced price will produce any additional sales but it will be an interesting experiment.

Dt,
well said.

Turkel, since you say you don't usually engage in back and forth discussions, why don't you put a zipper on that mouth of yours? We have heard it all before and don't need more of it from you. What are your credentials that make you the great authority on the publishing business? Come on, tell us. Unzip that mouth of yours long enough to do that one thing. Tell us what you've done beside spout off.

Very well said DT, Dick, Abe and Shelagh! Alice and I share wishing congratulations and know that it has taken hard work for each of you to get your books out there. You have done splendidly and I hope you enjoy much success!

Mr. Turkel, you would do well to heed Dick's advice. He is the most experienced among us, having made his living writing for many years. HE has knowledge!!

DT, I am truly thrilled for you, and the same for you, Shelagh.

Thanks Zada!

Wow Shelagh, that is very exciting news! Your book at £7.55 on lulu vs £15.50 on Amazon. I had to blink a couple of times to be sure it was real!

Ahad,
Shelagh is a magician. She waves her wand and things happen.
How much do you charge for renting that wand, Shelagh?

dtpollard wrote:

cturkel wrote:

Quote :

ALL options out there are valid today

Not the one that that make you pay either upfront (iUniverse) or on the installment plain (PublishAmerica and their overpriced books).

But yes, the publihing world is changing.

cturkel,

I usually don't engage in this type of back and forth, but every once in a while, the crap silo fills up. I seem to notice a pattern of sniping on what others are posting and few original thoughts. When something is posted with any hot trigger point of potential controversy, here come the sidetrack express. I/we know how these different companies work, therefore there is no additional enlightenment being brought ot the table. I know that PA charges more per book to make their money up on the back end. I know that I paid for my books to be produced, I paid for it. Let me enlighten you to something. Even with a traditional publisher you pay to get your book published. This is how it works. You get an advance, until your books earns out that avance you don't get any other royalties. Once your books earns out that advance, you get your royalties paid on a scheduled basis. When your book earns out, you have paid for your book to be published. I am paid royalties on my paper book and on my audio book, one is self-published and one is traditional, they are the same book.

This is a zero sum game.

No you don't pay to get your book printed up front with a traditional publisher, but you pay by selling your rights to the publisher. The traditional publisher works on a shared risk basis, some books will earn out the advance, profit beyond that and some will not. Those that do not, wiil have their authors dropped from the roster. No, you don't have to pay the advance back because they are betting that they made a proper judgement when they paid it to you to begin with. If they misfired, that is on them.

This post by DT should be required reading for all loudmouths and bashers.

Dt, I love your post. Nicely said.

Shelagh, I'm so happy for you. Your hard work and persistence is paying off.

Vickie

Thanks Vickie! Yes, there are are no shortcuts or quick fixes.

Dick Stodghill wrote:

dtpollard wrote:

cturkel wrote:

Quote :

ALL options out there are valid today

Not the one that that make you pay either upfront (iUniverse) or on the installment plain (PublishAmerica and their overpriced books).

But yes, the publihing world is changing.

cturkel,

I usually don't engage in this type of back and forth, but every once in a while, the crap silo fills up. I seem to notice a pattern of sniping on what others are posting and few original thoughts. When something is posted with any hot trigger point of potential controversy, here come the sidetrack express. I/we know how these different companies work, therefore there is no additional enlightenment being brought ot the table. I know that PA charges more per book to make their money up on the back end. I know that I paid for my books to be produced, I paid for it. Let me enlighten you to something. Even with a traditional publisher you pay to get your book published. This is how it works. You get an advance, until your books earns out that avance you don't get any other royalties. Once your books earns out that advance, you get your royalties paid on a scheduled basis. When your book earns out, you have paid for your book to be published. I am paid royalties on my paper book and on my audio book, one is self-published and one is traditional, they are the same book.

This is a zero sum game.

No you don't pay to get your book printed up front with a traditional publisher, but you pay by selling your rights to the publisher. The traditional publisher works on a shared risk basis, some books will earn out the advance, profit beyond that and some will not. Those that do not, wiil have their authors dropped from the roster. No, you don't have to pay the advance back because they are betting that they made a proper judgement when they paid it to you to begin with. If they misfired, that is on them.

This post by DT should be required reading for all loudmouths and bashers.

Thanks Dick,

What most people fail to understand is that there may be different avenues for different people to reach their goal. Everyone will not be Dan Brown or J. K. Rowling. Most authors, even those with traditional deals still do other things to make ends meet.

There will never be an end to the circular arguments about what is best, but I just wanted to point out that there is no free ride. Publishers are under pressure as this article about Harper Collins closing a division shows:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090210/ap_on_en_ot/books_harpercollins;_ylt=A0wNcwJwn6BJkXkAaCNREhkF

Given the current climate, throwing stones at how someone else got their book published is really not appropriate.