Self-publishing: is it killing the mainstream?

In genre fiction, going it alone is beginning to look a much more dependable route to successBrenna Aubrey self-published her debut romance novel At Any Price on the Amazon Kindle on 9 December 2013. One month later At Any Price had netted a total profit of £16,588. Aubrey's success is far from unique – 2013 was a breakout year for "indie authors" led by the phenomenal success of Hugh Howey. But Aubrey is among the first in a wave of authors to do what, until very recently, would have been unthinkable; turn down a $120,000 (£72,000) deal from one of the big five publishing houses and decide to do their job herself."Ebooks have changed everything and the traditional publishing establishment is not quite keeping up," Brenna Aubrey answered when I asked her about some of the negative responses to her decision from traditionally-published authors. "I also think that in some ways authors who have been chasing their own dream deals take my rejection of the dream deal as a rejection of their core values and aspirations."The six-figure deal has been the aspiration of many authors for decades. A major advance – such as the $2m deal announced for Garth Risk Holdberg – can cement a literary career. But the reality is that advances for mid-list writers are often no more than $5,000. Aubrey's deal of $120,000 was significant, but would have been split across three novels, divided with her agent and paid in instalments. When she cranked the figures Aubrey realised that – even as a... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2014-02-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #stieg larsson #dragon tattoo #digital sales

Other Publishing stories related to: 'Self-publishing: is it killing the mainstream?'

Publishing Hears Echoes of Netflix Business Model

Offering unlimited television shows and music for a flat monthly fee has worked for Netflix Inc. and Spotify AB. Will it work in the book industry? Continue reading at AllThingsD

[ AllThingsD | 2013-09-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book industry

September’s Top Reviews of Self-Published Books from BlueInk Review

This month's “starred” reviews of self-published books include a collection of spiritualist lectures, an examination of the Andean Q’ero faith and a pair of compelling novels. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-09-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #top reviews #self-published books #blueink review #starred reviews

The View From The Tree : 6 Things Magazine Publishers Should Stop Doing Now

By D. Eadward Tree The future of publishing ain't what it used to be. A few years ago, "everyone" knew what was coming: except for a few old-timers and Luddites, consumers would soon switch entirely to digital... Continue reading at Publishing Executive

[ Publishing Executive | 2013-09-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #eadward tree

Bloomsbury acquires Hart Publishing for £6.5m

Bloomsbury has acquired legal publisher Hart Publishing for £6.5m. The addition of Hart... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-09-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |

U.S. Intelligence Agencies Will Begin Publishing The Number Of Surveillance Orders They Request Each Year

In a victory for transparency advocates in the wake of the PRISM secret surveillance scandal, U.S. intelligence agencies will begin revealing the number of surveillance orders they request per year under various FISA ordinances, as well as national security letters. The agencies will also reveal... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2013-08-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #intelligence community #president obama #direct access #releasing information #data requests

Beijing 2013: Savvy Publishers, Closer Collaboration

Almost everybody reported increased sales to China, and no one had failed to note (and welcome) the changes within the Chinese reading and publishing community. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-08-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #closer collaboration #publishing community

Guinness World Records Signs Deal with China’s Largest ELT Publisher

In a ceremony at the 2013 Beijing International Book Fair, Guinness World Records (GWR) and China’s Foreign Language Teaching and Research Publishing (FLTRP) signed an agreement for the publication of the 2014 Chinese-language edition of the Guinness World Records annual book. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-08-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |

Kindle ebookstore and self-publishing platform now available in Mexico

Both readers and writers in Mexico have a reason to rejoice today, as Amazon has just launched the Kindle Store and Kindle Direct Publishing in their country. The ebookstore will feature over 70,000 Spanish-language titles, as well as ebooks in indigenous tongues like Nahuatl. To help fill up... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2013-08-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #paulo coelho #basic kindle #kindle paperwhite #mortar shops #press releases

Sales, Profits Up at Lagardere Publishing

Total sales at Lagardere Publishing rose 1.4% in the first half of 2013, to 917 million euros, while EBIT increased 24.6% to 71 million euros. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-08-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #total sales #lagardere publishing

VIDEO: Online publishing firms growing

The internet and new technology is making a dream of being an author a reality for many writers. Online self-publishing - bypassing agents and publishing houses is now a fast-growing sector. Continue reading at BBC World

[ BBC World | 2013-08-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publishing houses

Six iPad Magazines That Are Changing The Publishing Business

Remember when the iPad was supposed to save publishing? For all the hype of the tablet revolution and its impact on the industry, most digital magazines are still growing into the form factor. Far too often, tablet mags are simply regurgitated copies of the print edition served up as clunky,... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2013-08-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #traditional format #good start

Hot Key to publish Alloy titles

Hot Key Books has signed a deal to become one of the UK publishers for Alloy Entertainment,... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-08-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #hot key #uk publishers #alloy entertainment

Hanson Leads S&S Canada into Publishing

After finally winning permission in May from the Canadian government to publish Canadian books, rather than just marketing titles from the U.S. and U.K., Simon & Schuster Canada is gearing up to release its first domestic list under the direction of Kevin Hanson. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-08-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #kevin hanson

Haruki Murakami's latest novel to be published in the U.S. in 2014

The Haruki Murakami book that has sold 1 million copies a week in Japan is coming to America. It has been selling spectacularly -- particularly for a work of complex literary fiction.The Haruki Murakami book that has sold 1 million copies a week in Japan is coming to America. It has been selling... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2013-08-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #haruki murakami

Ether for Authors: How Clear a View of Publishing Do We Have?

At Publishing Perspectives, Porter Anderson looks at Bowker's new market research, at grassroots survey efforts, and at questions around ebooks' potential. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-08-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #porter anderson #market research

Publishing Perspectives Frankfurt Book Fair Preview 2013

Download Publishing Perspectives' Frankfurt Book Fair preview of what’s new, what’s happening, and what are likely to be some of the hot topics of discussion this year. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-08-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #hot topics

DOJ defends Apple ebook price fixing injunction, says publishers had it easy

The US Department of Justice isn't buying publishers' arguments that proposed injunctions against Apple for alleged ebook price fixing are excessive and contradictory. DOJ attorney Lawrence Buterman claims in a response letter that the penalties against Apple are necessarily harsher, since it... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2013-08-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #agency pricing #giving amazon

Publishers join Apple in objecting to proposed measures by the DOJ

Following the ebook price-fixing trial, the Department of Justice wants to impose measures on Apple, but publishers say they'll be the ones hurt by the rules. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-08-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #proposed measures

Argentina Exhibits Growing Professionalization in Children’s Publishing

Children's and YA already account for 22% of the Argentine book market and innovation and increased professionalization is helping the segment to grow. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-08-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |