|
Thursday, August 19, 2010
E-Book Country: Why E-Books? Why Now? Because JA Konrath is My Wizard in Publishing Oz!!!
Morning, All!
Happy Thursday!
With the launch of my debut release BOOTSCOOTIN' BLAHNIKS on both Amazon's Kindle and at Smashwords, I found myself BOOTSCOOTIN' My Way Into E-Book Country. So, besides going Behind and Beyond My Books, I'm also giving you the inside scoop on all things E-Book related in my new blog series E-book Country.
Let's start with 'Why E-Books?' 'Why Now?'
The answer is as simple for me as it is beyond outrageously complex.
Simple because I've always been one to prefer going at something from outside-the-rest-of-the-pack-box. Outrageously complex because the traditional publishing industry is just a complete chaotic, all-the-animals-are-out-of-their-cages-running-amok-and-ready-for-a-fresh-kill zoo!
Why E-Books? Why Now?
Because thriller writer JA Konrath is My Wizard in Publishing Oz!
If you're not reading Konrath's blog A Newbie's Guide To Publishing http://jakonrath.blogspot.com/, you must start now!!! Not tomorrow. Tomorrow is too late!!!
As you may know from my previous blog posts, I've struggled my way along the Yellow Brick Road to Publishing Oz for the last nine years. And as you also know as either a writer yourself or an interested observer of the publishing industry or perhaps an industry insider, today's writing-for-publication journey goes wayyy beyond the standard "it ain't easy".
Today's traditional publishing world is just one major WTF?! after another. And I'm sorry, if that seems a bit harsh. But that's reality. And if like Queen Nora (as in Nora Roberts) advised us at July's RWA10 in Orlando, you don't get that "Publication is wild wicked with nosedives" and get that you'd best just "suck it up" then you should probably like she advocated "stay outta the pool"!
Nora continued in her RWA10 Keynote Address with the wise notion "Say bullshit to it being easy. Ride the hard! RWA is a springboard - it's up to you to jump!"
So after nine years of jumping, dragging my ass outta the pool, hitting the board again, jumping again, and again, and again, always changing-up the jump's style to whatever the current traditional pub judges (i.e editors) wanted to see, I was saved by a proven champion diver -JA Konrath - who wasn't afraid to jump his own way. Hell, you could probably say JA also started a migration to a whole new pool at the other end of the publishing park, the end the traditional pub folks just don't want to go to or are staying in the shallow end too afraid of the deep water they find themselves in at their own pool.
I'd met JA (aka Joe) several years back in Midwest Indiana when he was doing promo for WHISKEY SOUR, the first in his beyond fabulous Lt. Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels thrillers. I then met-up with him again this past April in a workshop he gave at RT10 in Columbus OH. He said, "This is the time to be an author - an E-Book author. You can make more money now than ever." Then he gave us a ton of great numbers to back-up his statement. And I mean great numbers! Numbers no publishing exec I know of will share with you. You can read 'em all for yourself on Joe's blog.
One stat really got me though. Joe pointed-out that he was, at that time, making $12,000 per month from Amazon's Kindle. But that was $12,000 on books NY (meaning NY publishers) had rejected.
Uhmmm, Hello! Now that made me pay wayyy more attention!!!
(Note: Do keep in mind, though, as Joe repeats over-and-over, he's selling well, in part, because of his "bust my ass promotions".)
Yes, you have to have a beyond fabulous book. But yes, you also have to be a Promo Ho or Pimp and work-it hard. Ride the hard like Nora advises. And bust your ass with promo per good 'ole Joe.
So there I sat in April listening to Joe. I then came home and read every blog post he currently has posted on his site. I also always read everything I can get my hands and eyes on regarding the traditional pub world. (You can't just be a writer and write. In today's publishing nuthouse, you'd better be one savvy business person too or you're sooo going to get screwed!!!) I've also worked in a major publisher's returns center (so I know what goes on with traditional pub numbers...and it ain't pretty). I also know, per Joe's advise, that I had a beyond fabulous book (based on the fact it had landed me my beyond terrific and savvy agent, had been in major acquisition considerations by all the big NY houses for two years, had wayyy wonderful feedback from many editors who wanted to buy it but just couldn't because "chick lit was dead" and they'd never get it past their bosses, had people emailing me every day about when the book would be available 'cause they loved the excerpts they'd read on my site and loved my voice, etc, etc etc). I also had "bust my ass promo" down to a science. Well...pseudo science. Promo can never ever be straight science. Complete with my own crazy theories of what works and what doesn't.
All that was left for me to do then was be like JA Konrath, My Wizard in Publishing Oz, and make my balloon take-off. And take-off, not from the traditional magic powers everyone in Oz and the surrounding lands thought the Wizard had. Remember, those powers had been stripped-away and exposed when Toto tore back the curtain. The E-Book World has been Traditional Publishing's Toto and exposed the old-way, a presumed magical way, that books got into readers hands.
Now it's up to each writer to summons their Inner Dorothy, follow the Great JA Oz, and put-on their own ruby slippers - or in my case boots - and figure out how to fly their own balloon or click their own shoes, PC mouses, or touch screens to the new E-Book Country Publishing Oz.
Okay...that's all for this inaugural E-Book Country post. But stay-tuned for a ton more on the new E-book Country. Upcoming topics include: Choosing an E-Reader, Pricing E-Books, Cover Design, Format Issues, Which E-Book Digital First Publisher is right for you, and lots more.
I'm looking forward to your comments and questions. And please let me know E-Book Country topics you'd like me to address.
Sexy Sassy Smart BOOTSCOOTIN' BLAHNIKS and E-Book Country Wishes --- D. D. Scott
P.S. You can find BOOTSCOOTIN' BLAHNIKS by clicking on the following links to both Amazon's Kindle and Smashwords:
Amazon’s Kindle
http://www.amazon.com/Bootscootin-Blahniks-Books-ebook/dp/B003ZDO30W/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1281641043&sr=8-2
Smashwords
http://smashwords.com/b/21363 Labels: E-Book Country
4 Comments:
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
-
|
Hi D.D., Thanks for the interesting info. about E-Books! Keep on telling us like it is.
Thanks for your thoughts, jaw!
And yes, it is sooo vital that we as authors aren't afraid anymore to "tell it like it is".
Here's one very valid reason:
Just this week, one of the Big Six NY Pubs sent letters directly to their authors, bypassing these authors' agents all together, trying to get them to sign-over their E-Book rights (under new terms) to that publisher.
Talk about Buyers Beware!!! In the publishing world, it's becoming Authors/Writers Beware!!!
When you have big businesses playing that kind of dirty pool with the people who make them their money, it's time to "tell it like it is" to protect the innocent.
Sexy Sassy Smart E-Book Country Tellin' It Like It Is Wishes --- D. D. Scott
P.S. For more info on the nightmare I relayed, see super agent Kristin Nelson's blog at http://pubrants.blogspot.com/2010/08/publishers-behaving-badly-again.html
"... I also had "bust my ass promo" down to a science."
Um, and don't forget about your cover! ;)
Soooo, I assume your upcoming topic involving "Cover Design" is going to plug RNC some where in it? ;) lol.
Jimmy Thomas
www.RomanceNovelCovers.com
www.facebook.com/JimmyThomasDotCom
Hi, Jimmy!
Thanks for stopping to chat!
You bet your sweet ass my E-Book Country "Cover Design" topic will be all about you and RNC, Baby!!! LOL!!!
Thanks beyond bunches for making my BOOTSCOOTIN' BLAHNIKS hero Zayne look much hotter than even I imagined he'd be!
In book two, you're a Meat n' Three Diner King so you'd better start your research on that...LOL!
Sexy Sassy Smart BOOTSCOOTIN' BLAHNIKS and Bust Your Ass Promo Wishes --- D. D. Scott