It's come to my attention that on a Yahoo group for booksellers there has been a call to boycott Amazon's new Thomas & Mercer imprint. I signed with Thomas & Mercer for STIRRED, the eighth Jack Daniels novel, co-written with Blake Crouch (who will chime in on this topic after me).
I've also heard that certain booksellers want to return any books of mine they have in stock as a punitive measure.
So signing a deal with Amazon makes me the enemy of bookstores?
Me, who has signed at over 1200 bookstores? Who has thanked over 1500 booksellers by name in the acknowledgements of my novels? Who has named five major characters in my series after booksellers?
Now I'm the bad guy, for wanting to continue my series and make a living?
You may know that my publisher, Hyperion, dropped my Jack Daniels series after six books, even though they continue to sell well as backlist titles. The only way I could get print books in the series into the hands of fans was to sign with another publisher.
Thomas & Mercer stepped up to the plate to give my fans what they want: more Jack Daniels books.
Amazon allowed me to get into bookstores--something self-pubbing couldn't do for me without a lot of extra work on my part. They offered me a terrific deal, and have done more marketing and promotion than any of the publishers I've previously worked with.
They've treated me with nothing but respect, listened to and implemented many of my ideas, and have been an absolute joy to work with.
They're the new publisher on the block. But they're already doing it better than anyone else.
This trend won't end with me. Amazon will continue to publish more and more authors, because the major publishers are making a lot of major mistakes and a lot of writers are getting hurt by the Big 6.
So my question to indie bookstores is: When other authors sign with Amazon, and they will, are you going to boycott them as well? What happens when it is a major, bestselling author? Is this how you service your customers, by limiting the amount of choice they have?
I'll be honest. I'd love it if my books went out of print, so I could have the rights back. I'm getting financially reamed by my publishers, just like every other author is. Sending my books back isn't hurting me in the least.
But it saddens me that any bookseller would take such a limited view of my intent.
My goal remains what it has always been: to write books for fans and make a decent living.
I get a lot of hits on this blog. I could mention the name of the bookseller that thought up this boycott, and ask my readers to boycott them right back. I bet I could even get a picket line going to protest.
Of course, I would never do anything like that. I love bookstores. I want them to succeed. I haven't done many signings lately, but I'll be at the Printer's Row Book Fair in Chicago on Saturday June 4th at 11:30 am, signing at Big Sleep Books, one of my favorite indies.
I'm not the enemy. Neither is Amazon.
The threat to bookstores is a technology that is rapidly being embraced by readers.
I didn't invent ebooks. But for the first time in my writing career, I'm making a comfortable living because of them. So are many other authors.
This doesn't make us bad. It doesn't make us anti-bookstore.
It just makes us human.
The times are changing. In a few years, there may not be anymore chain bookstores.
The indies have a chance to survive, and even thrive. But only if they embrace change.
Being afraid of change has never lead to success.
So what can indies do?
Read on. Blake and I have a few ideas...
BLAKE SEZ:
I’ve published four novels with the legacy publisher St. Martin’s Press. For my first two, I toured extensively, on my own dime, across the country, almost solely visiting indie bookstores. I did this because I love indie bookstores, the booksellers, the owners... you can feel the love of books when you walk into one, which is often absent in the chains.
My decision to release RUN on my own has been extensively chronicled on this blog. It had nothing to do with turning my back on Indie bookstores. It had everything to do with seeing the change happening in the market, and wanting to make a living for my family.
My agent tried valiantly to sell RUN to Big 6 publishers, for many months. There were no takers. And yet, I've managed to sell 20,000 copies on my own in just a few months, and I'm currently in talks with a well-known independent bookstore to release a limited edition hardcover version of RUN.
So to have indie bookstores now calling for the boycott of my work is baffling, but I understand this is a scary time for bookstores. When panic sets in, this leads to knee-jerk reactions.
I recently met with the book-buyer at my local indie store to discuss this very thing... what do indies do when they’re losing writers to ebooks.
First of all, I think indies need to understand that the vast majority of the writers whose work they try to sell are getting reamed financially by their publishers. They’re probably not making a living on the books they write. The vast majority of writers get dropped by their publisher. And those who don’t are fighting a battle to survive that is largely out of their control. For every Patterson or Grisham you have, there are hundreds, if not thousands of books that fail. I understand you need those heavy-hitters to keep your lights on. But I need ebooks to keep mine on. This would seem to set our interests against each other, but I don’t think that’s necessarily the case.
Ebooks are here. They’re now the preferred way to read, and lashing out against writers embracing this to make a living isn’t going to change anything.
My choice to sign with Amazon was twofold: (a) it allows me to reach more readers and fans than I ever could on my own; (b) Amazon is also releasing a trade paperback of Stirred, and will have the full distribution power of any major New York publisher. Even on the books I release myself, I make everything available in print, and these are easily ordered from the major distributors.
The bigger question, the one I discussed with the folks from my local bookstore, is what happens next for Indies?
Here are some ideas Joe and I had:
1. Sell used books. There are billions of books in print, and they aren't going away anytime soon. Joe's publisher charges $7.59 for an ebook of Fuzzy Navel. You could sell the used paperback for $1.99.
2. Remember why people shop indie. My local store has the best, most knowledgeable, well-read staff around. They can turn you on to a book you’ll love based upon a short discussion. They read constantly. There is still something about a live, in-person recommendation that beats reading Amazon and B&N reviews any day. I have no doubt that Maria’s Bookshop in Durango, Colorado will survive as long as there are publishers, because the experience they give the customer walking in the door is unmatched, and you simply cannot get it on the Internet.
3. Author events. But you need to give people a reason to attend other than just a signature. Perhaps an exclusive short story from that author, free to everyone who buys a book. Perhaps a $30 admission includes a book, a coffee, a copy of the talk on DVD, and a signed t-shirt. Give your customers something they can't get elsewhere.
4. Start publishing. If you're an indie store beloved by authors, ask those authors for a story to put into an anthology, which you can then publish in print or as an ebook. Or ask favorite authors with out-of-print backlists if they'd like to partner with you to re-release those books. If Amazon is becoming a publisher, why can't you?
Between Joe and I, we have over twenty book-length works available. If you'd like to publish any of them and sell them out of your store, contact us. We'll give you an 85% royalty, send you our already formatted interiors and covers, and you can print and sell as many as you'd like. Or we can do the printing, and ship them to you signed, and give you the same 40% discount the major NY Publishers give you per book.
These are trade paperbacks, 9"x6", priced at $13.95.
Our titles include:
65 Proof (Collected Stories)
Shot of Tequila
Disturb
Trapped
Endurance
Origin
The List
Suckers
Jack Daniels Stories (Collected Stories)
Horror Stories (Collected Stories)
Flee
Draculas
Banana Hammock
Run
Desert Places
Locked Doors
Serial Uncut
Killers Uncut
Famous
Serial Killers Uncut
Fully Loaded (Collected Stories)
Thicker Than Blood
You might think, "That's a nice gesture, but how will it help me compete?"
Between Joe and I, we've sold over 400,000 self-published ebooks. I'm betting some of your customers would want the print versions of these.
And we're just two authors. Imagine doing this with a hundred authors. Your own imprint, selling books the chains don't sell, signed copies that Amazon doesn't sell, for a higher profit margin than you get anywhere else.
5. Ebooks. Google Books has been underwhelming so far. But the ABA is a powerful group, and certainly this coalition can get a system in place to get the works of writers to their fans. Indies selling Indies. With the current retailers pretty much letting anyone publish anything, there is a window here for the ABA to hone the overwhelming sea of crap currently offered by other ebook retailers and to present a better Indie bookstore.
Imagine the Indiebound Indie-bestseller list. Indie recommendations. Indie book groups. Then you’ll be able to have virtual events. Internet booksignings using Autography to sign ebooks and Skype for the author talk. We've already partnered with OverDrive to get our books into libraries, and we're on every major (and minor) ebook platform.
Indie bookstores should have a platform. You're a smart, tough, dedicated group who loves to read. You don't need to wait for others to bring you into the fold. You can create your own ebook network.
When this happens, Joe and I will be the first in line to give you our work to sell.
Nobody wants to see the Indies disappear. There is a tremendous opportunity here, but it starts with taking the emotion out of how you view ebooks and looking at it with an eye to what customers want.
What they want hasn't changed. They want your advice about what books to read.
You just need to figure out how you can best serve them in this brave, new world.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
411 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 401 – 411 of 411"I've also noticed how a regular contributor jtplayer does nothing but work as a professional contrarian to whatever subject is posted AND simultaneously debates other participants at this forum in a consistently condescending and demeaning way."
Thanks Faith, I appreciate the recognition.
Sorry I don't conform to the group-think that goes on regularly around here. This place would be rather boring if it merely served as an echo chamber for Joe Konrath.
I post based on how I feel about a particular subject. No, I am not a "professional" contrarian. I just happen to read a lot of bullshit posted here on a regular basis, and comment accordingly. Like I am right now. With the bullshit you posted.
As for bowerbird, he and I went at it a few times. I'm glad he's gone. Maybe some day I'll go away too. And then you can be glad as well.
Have a great day!
I have been very frustrated with book sellers. They have some very self-defeating behaviors. My books are #1 best-sellers on Amazon, yet I can't get them on shelves in bookstores. I have stores turning away people trying to BUY my books from them, and I am left scratching my head wondering why they DON'T want business...yet complain we aren't supporting them enough.
Thanks for another wonderful post.
I've had a small publishing company since 1997 (Yellow Cat Publishing). I had one bestseller (The Arbuckle Cafe) but have plodded along with the rest of my books (some self-published, some by other authors), dealing with distributors and bookstores. I ended up selling the majority of my books on Amazon (paperbacks). But it made such little money it was almost like a hobby.
I'm now in the ebook market, and I've made more in one month than I did in six, and it's just starting. I no longer have to give a percentage to a distributor (who always paid a few months late) nor do I have to beg bookstores to carry my books (even though they sell).
I love Amazon. It's now allowing me to do what I love, which is to write and produce books. My local bookseller would never reorder, I always had to call them, they paid late, etc. etc. I really don't care if they fall to Amazon. Provide a service people want and they'll come to you. I haven't been in a bookstore for ages. They depress me with all the junk they carry from the Big 6 - I know there's quality stuff out there, but a lot of them won't carry it.
My sister was an established writer with a Big 6 publisher and they totally ignored her wishes re. covers, editing, etc. They were SO arrogant. I say good riddance to them all. The public will choose what they want, not some bookstore or Big 6 editor. Bravo to the writers going the ebook route. The playing field is being leveled, finally.
I am a bookseller in Australia and we are legally obliged to buy (with some exceptions)most of our books from Australian suppliers. Yet often I can buy cheaper retail overseas than the local suppliers charge me. Just sayin.
I'm a newbie and read your blog whenever I can to get some helpful guidance - you're amazing. But what you're saying here is SO profound. If a writer wants to pay the bills, they have to sell what they write. If the Big Guys aren't buying but the e-pubs are...B follows A. I love holding a book in my hands. If I find a book I think I'm going to want to share with friends I still buy a print copy - can't share on Kindle. But if I can start making an income with e-writing, I'm going to publish where I can sell my work and pay my bills. I think your ideas for Indie bookstores are outstanding and I would LOVE to see our local stores take off and run with some of them. Thanks for inspiration!
Could you tell me more about Amazon being a publisher? This is the first I'd heard of it. I thought Amazon was a bookseller only. How do they help you publish your book? Is it a form of self-publishing, like Ingram? If you've written a blog post about it, perhaps you could direct me there.
Wow. Great blog post. I think the thing that I liked most is that you do at least offer some creative ideas for them going forward. I really don't want to see local bookshops go away but many of them are closing up shop all over the country. They *need* to get creative and proactive to keep their doors open going forward.
It's with eyes wide open and ears listening to their customers that they will still remain a fixture of our lives for many years to come.
In-store events *used* to be optional (some stores still shudder at the thought of them) but with their product (the books) being readily available online I think that you are exactly right. Give the customer a reason to come IN. Something they can't get elsewhere. Coming up with creative ideas that will really work will certainly enlarge and help to cement their bottom lines in the future.
The real world book business is changing. There's no doubt about it.
Thanks again for the great post.
Sincerely,
Adonna Pruette
Author Pro PR
twitter: @passionmuse
I like indie bookstores. Really. They're quaint and charming. I also kind of wish a milkman still came to deliver milk in those cute little carafes every morning. But unfortunately, times change. Could someone please tell me what is the purpose of an indie bookstore at this point, besides atmosphere and nostalgia?
It is actually quite selfish of them. If you tell them: "Ok fine, I won't use amazon", will they then feed your family? Of course not. You have a right to earn a living your way. It is your books, your stories and your fans. That these bookstores now want to take the time and actively boycott you is low, and somewhat desperate. So much for trying to foster a relationship with them.
Anyway, I would like to use this opportunity to thank you for all that you have done in advocating the profession of writing. Those of us who are wannabe writers, newbie writers, dreamers, or even remotely interested in the idea of writing, we salute you.
I also became a Thomas & Mercer this year, after having published five novels with top publishers (Viking, Grove, SMP, etc.), and finding that, because the sales of my last novel weren't great—seventeen years ago—no one was willing to take a chance on the new one, which is actually a genre novel and would probably outsell all of my previous ones together.
My agent cut a deal for the new book, and reissues of my backlist, as my rights had reverted to me on all five titles. All books will be available as ebook and trade paperbacks. My experience with T&M has been amazing. I have, as they say in the movie business, final cut, and everyone I've dealt with has been supportive and fun to work with.
I recently emailed the owner of an independent bookshop in a town where I once lived, and where, as a resident, I published two books (both with Viking), and where I gave talks, signed books and basically had something of a following. The owner told me neither I nor my books would be welcome in her shop, as T&M is an Amazon imprint. I wrote back saying that I fully understood her sentiment regarding this, but I also asked her why she would punish an author. She makes downloads available in her shop, my paperbacks are distributed by Houghton Mifflin, but she basically said she would sooner die than allow this.
Which seems both tragic and moronic all at the same time. I recently was in NY for the BEA, and had dinner with a higher-up at Amazon. We talked about the notion of hand selling, how, with mainstream publishers this can be the kiss of death. He smiled and said, "Ah, but we can hand sell to 197 million customers. That's the difference."
Times have changed, and I think everyone in this business needs to understand what lies ahead.
Hi,
First I have to say that I think it is great that the authors have taken time to not only present their (I think well thought out and solid) positions know but to do it in a positive way and to provide solid ideas about how Indie bookstores can adapt so as to not only survive but thrive.
Secondly and perhaps of more interest than the above which are likely to have been mentioned in a good chunk of the 400+ comments that I admittedly didn't read all of (sorry I'm sure each one is a special and wonderful flower). I have a story that I think may be relevant, my dad started and artisan bakery about 20 years ago and since day one has never worried that something a competitor might do would be able to force him to go out of business, unless his response or lack thereof was incorrect or insufficient. Moreover he maintains that competition is not by definition bad for his business, there are several ways of thinking about why this is (this is also the point where my punctuation goes to h*ll) 1 the cliche of a rising tide lifts all boats applied to the artisan bread market in Minneapolis (then and now). In particular if someone who normally only ate supermarket bread was exposed to artisan bread there is a decent likelyhood they will become a repeat customer who will patronize other artisan bakeries in addition to the one who got them hooked. I found this post through a very roundabout path that started with reading and loving Barry Eisler's wonderful book Rain Fall, getting hooked and getting the rest of the series (all ebooks all from Amazon and all bought around 100 pages in the first book), skip a few steps which involve mostly reading the Rain books rather than my text book about the exiting world of ops management and I was just reading the author acknowledgments at the end of The Detachment and googled Legacy Puplisher. What I found was about 35,000 words between Joe and Barry about many interesting topics (and a few horrifying ones ((oh the frogmanity)). Long point longer I am absolutely going to check out Joe's work (and probably buy the EBook from kindle because I'm lazy and think he should be paid for his work and his consumer friendly positions). 2) there are more people in the market that want good bread than he would likely ever be able to bake, just as there are more books worthy of being read than the legacy publishers will or can publish leading to smart authors examining all options and smart bookstore examining and offering material from all sources. 3) perhaps most relevant to this topic for the 3 brave souls who are still reading is the idea that without some form of tension or pressure always pushing a business or a person to be better they will get complacent and will not only fail to get better but they will most likely start to get worse. A manager or a leader can push their people to be better but to push a business as a whole usually requires outside forces which is usually competition. Also competition doesn't have to be overly adversarial when the woman who was our head baker for years left to start her own bakery (with his encouragement) a situation came up where a restaurant account that she was going to be taking was opening a new location and needed bread before her bakery was open but after she had left so he let use our ovens and ingredients only charging her cost for the ingredients. There are lots of other examples like that one, the point is the existence of competitors will ultimately result in better products and if you are doing it right you will be the one selling them when they evolve. Sorry for the longness, I was inspired by Joe and Barry; but not inspired enough to include any monkey on frog action (seriously I can't unsee that). Thanks for all the great writing both hear and in the books and short stories.
Ben M.
Post a Comment