Comments on: Choices, choices

By: Michelle

Michelle — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 06:48:26 +0000

I agree, LaD. And the ability to have something new the moment you think: ‘I feel like reading . . .’ and click, click, download, there it is .

By: Michelle

Michelle — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 06:47:13 +0000

Kath, I think some of that hoohaa regarding Harlequin is because of all the publishers, HQN is the ONE that readers do know about. Say Mills & Boon, or Superromance, etc, and the reader knows exactly what type of book you’re talking about.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 06:41:04 +0000

Edie, I think there are huge changes coming. It won’t happen all at once, but the publishing industry will be very different in ten years time, I bet.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 06:39:39 +0000

Liz, I think the winners in that scenario will be ‘brand’ names like Nora Roberts, Dan Brown, etc. They have the fan base. If they e-pubbed their own work, they would most likely do very well. Those just starting out, it will be hard for them to get noticed.

By: LaDonna

LaDonna — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:18:16 +0000

Great post, Michelle! I’m just watching the publishing world do its thing, and curious how it will all turn out too. I really don’t have a clear opinion on what’s going on yet, and it is a little confusing at times. I just want great stories to be available, whatever the format. I’m a total book lover, but am interested in buying a reader one day…when the prices go down a few notches.

By: Kath Calarco

Kath Calarco — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 15:20:02 +0000

I used to think that the average book buyer/reader didn’t choose according to the publisher, but rather, the author. And then all the HQN self-pub mess got me to thinking of all the badly written, unedited, stuff that regular readers would buy because it’s from HQN. Suddenly I realized that average reader who doesn’t pay attention to publishers, will begin to notice crappy writing and THEN start noticing which publisher put it all out there.

Cheap doesn’t always mean bad, but does quantity affect quality?

By: Edie Ramer

Edie Ramer — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 14:17:26 +0000

Very interesting post! And now that you (and your husband( present it that way, I agree. Lately I’ve been reading a lot of gloom and doom for writers. I’ve been trying not to let it get me down, but your blog gives me hope.

I’d love for traditional publishers to continue, and most traditional pubs now offer their ebooks in ebooks, too. Great books can come from e-publishers as well. We can compare this to cable TV and regular TV. This time of year, most of my favorite shows are on regular TV, but there are gems on cable, too. I’m watching the new White Collar show on cable. And I found my favorite show, NCIS, on cable reruns, though it’s a network TV show.

Self-publishing could be a route, too, like Liz said. Though I don’t see that as my route in the near future.

By: Liz Kreger

Liz Kreger — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 12:14:29 +0000

Great blog, Michelle … and a thinker. This reminds me of when the first VHS players came out – oh, probably 25 or 30 years ago. Anyone remember the Beta? My older brother bought one for over $1,500 when it first came out. Now you can get a DVD player (which is infinitely superior to the Beta) for $50 … if not less.

It’s the same for most every technology. Right now Kindles sell for $350 or so. I’m waiting for that price to come down as more and more competition appears.

I think there are a number of authors who will skip the traditional publisher route … whether it be an e-publisher or the tried and true print publishers. You can check out J.A. Konrath’s site. He has released a couple of original works directly to Kindle and says he does well with them. Granted he already has a following of faithful readers, but I can see this happening more and more. For a very cheap price, you can release your own book and reap nearly all the benefits.