Think about anything that changes, the first step often isn’t the best step but what is important is that a step was taken. -V95

Exactly, Bernita. There’s no point in being anything else yet, right?

Oh, of course, Charles. It could be the naysayers are right and this will be disastrous for writers. I think it’s more likely that it will be a medium improvement or a medium loss for writers, and will ultimately not change the industry as a whole very much.

I found myself rolling my eyes. It does sound like an epublishing set up. And they do state that it’s experimental, and I support that. I do have a problem with profit sharing. I know novels and anthologies don’t play by the same rules, but profit sharing is a common payment for anthologies, and there is a very slim chance that you ever see any of that. The chances plunge the smaller the press and it’s the small, tiny, micro presses that offer profit sharing as a way to keep upfront costs down.

But royalties is a completely different beast, and I have heard no complain about the people making a career out of legit-published e books.

Exactly, kis. I never did submit to Samhain, but I remember when they first announced they were opening thinking they were going to do very well, simply because they had the experience to do it. And yes, it is a gamble for publishers to buy debut novels; which is fine, and they obviously have to do so. The thing is, it’s not that I’m sold on this idea, I just don’t think it’s time yet to start crying foul because it *could* be a good thing for everyone.

Yeah, I know Seeley, I thought the same thing–this isn’t new. A lot of it depends too on how quickly they can get the books out.

*shrug* I do see your point, Devon, but most of my work has been sold after it was written, and as I said, with one exception I’ve never gotten an advance. So I come to it from a different angle, I guess. And I really can’t believe they’re going to put books out there and let authors do ALL of the promo, without doing anything themselves–you can’y “profit-share” if there’s no profit to begin with, and even if they’re not paying an advance they’re still paying for editing, cover, production, bookstore placement, etc. etc. Besides, it’s one experimental imprint, it’s not HC retooling their entire business. I’m not thinking it’s the greatest thing that could ever happen, I just think it’s not something to panic over yet.

See above, kis.

In my day job, I don’t get paid until after I’ve worked my shift. I don’t get a tip until after the customer has paid and left. IRL, people get paid for work they’ve done–not for work they might do, or are in the process of doing, or will eventually get to–unless they have a proven ability to get quality work done on time.

I have never submitted a book for consideration until it was already finished. You have to have a good track record to be able to sell a novel on proposal, and if you’re a proven seller, a publisher should pay you a decent advance.

But looking at Anna Genoese’s bit on profit and loss, gambling on unknown authors they way the industry currently does is just that–gambling. As much as people might wail about change, I can see this new paradigm benefitting newer authors and the industry as a whole tremendously.

Promo is another matter altogether. I hate promo–can’t even begin to tell you how much. But if I’m making a higher percentage, I’d be willing to consider doing the work myself or possibly paying someone to do it for me.

From Graphic Arts Online “Combining Bob’s creativity with HarperCollins’ sales acumen and digital leadership, this new entity will create a unique publishing platform to incubate a new publishing paradigm– one that is unparalleled in the industry”

My response:
Effin Eh!!

They may be cutting advances, but it looks like they’re doing it to move toward the same format as most existing epubs. Low advance, high royalty.

This rocks (IMO)

And maybe once they stop getting advances and have no choice but to see their books in eformat, the dinosaurs at RWA will catch on.

Format is my only question with this announcement. Sony has their own, Kindle has their own, pdf, secure pdf, Mobi, Palm…maybe HarperCollins will have the pull to standardize the industry. I think the variety or formats and requirment to convert is very off-putting for people new to ebooks.