B.E. Sanderson's Blog, page 73
September 18, 2015
Jo Talks Genies
I'm probably going to get my ass kicked for doing this, but I'm pretty sure the Council doesn't check the blogosphere, so I should be fine.
Let's begin at the beginning...
Genies, or as they prefer to be called 'djinn', are a creation of the gods - probably as some form of entertainment. I mean, what could be more entertaining for super-powerful beings than making a race of beings, endowing them with the ability to do pretty much anything, and then giving them a set of unbreakable Rules to live under? Oh, and tying their hands behind their back with their power being contingent on a few syllables spoken by people who can't figure out how to program a VCR.
I don't know when the first genie crawled out of its primordial soup. The oldest genie I know is Zeke and he isn't exactly all that interested in talking about his DOB. Something about being around to watch Atlantis sink beneath the waves - whatever that means.
Anyway, genies. You've probably already heard the stories, watched the movies, read the books. Phenomenal power, tied to a lamp or a bottle (or whatever we choose for our sanctuary - mine's a cameo brooch), and leashed to a Master. We mostly become genies because of our own stupidity. Personally, I made the mistake of wishing for unlimited wishes - which set up a chain reaction wherein I traded places with the genie granting the wish. I had unlimited wishes I would then have to dole out three at a time to whoever held my sanctuary, and he had his freedom. Not quite a fair trade, in my opinion, but I was young and stupid at the time.
Every rare once in a while, a genie becomes free. We can be wished free by a Master, or we can trade places with a foolish human like that genie did to me, or we can have a Master who dies without making all his wishes - which is how I gained my emancipation. Like I said, though, genies have a set of Rules they have to live under whether they're free or not. And free genies still have to get their juice from someone somewhere making a wish. Free floating wish energy - wishes made every day by every human on the planet whether they're granted or not - helps build up the stores, but nothing sparks a genie like a good old fashioned wish.
Ahhhh.
Oh, where was I?
Yeah, genies... djinn... You've only heard about us in fiction because we'd really rather the general populous not now we really exist. We'd be hunted like animals - either to become slaves or to be killed or to be captured and studied. Who wants that? We just want to be free to do our own thing. Problem is when we're out there in the world doing our own thing and messing with the general balance of things. And that's where the Council comes in. As much as I hate their petty prying, they do serve a purpose - keeping mankind from knowing about us, keeping rogue genies in line, enforcing the rules. My problem is I never know what they'll think of as a 'rule' rather than just a guideline for behavior. You know how it goes - is the speed limit 25 through here or is it 55? It's not like there are signs.
But that's just me.
I can't think of anything else you might want to know this morning, so if you have a question, ask it. I'll answer to the best of my ability. And here's a question for you: What was something that happened to you because of something stupid you did? How'd that work out for you?
Oh, and if you're interested in learning more about genies, snag a copy of B.E.'s book, Wish in One Hand. If you like it, leave a review, tell your friends, etc. If all goes well, she might let me star in another book or two or a dozen.
Let's begin at the beginning...
Genies, or as they prefer to be called 'djinn', are a creation of the gods - probably as some form of entertainment. I mean, what could be more entertaining for super-powerful beings than making a race of beings, endowing them with the ability to do pretty much anything, and then giving them a set of unbreakable Rules to live under? Oh, and tying their hands behind their back with their power being contingent on a few syllables spoken by people who can't figure out how to program a VCR.
I don't know when the first genie crawled out of its primordial soup. The oldest genie I know is Zeke and he isn't exactly all that interested in talking about his DOB. Something about being around to watch Atlantis sink beneath the waves - whatever that means.
Anyway, genies. You've probably already heard the stories, watched the movies, read the books. Phenomenal power, tied to a lamp or a bottle (or whatever we choose for our sanctuary - mine's a cameo brooch), and leashed to a Master. We mostly become genies because of our own stupidity. Personally, I made the mistake of wishing for unlimited wishes - which set up a chain reaction wherein I traded places with the genie granting the wish. I had unlimited wishes I would then have to dole out three at a time to whoever held my sanctuary, and he had his freedom. Not quite a fair trade, in my opinion, but I was young and stupid at the time.
Every rare once in a while, a genie becomes free. We can be wished free by a Master, or we can trade places with a foolish human like that genie did to me, or we can have a Master who dies without making all his wishes - which is how I gained my emancipation. Like I said, though, genies have a set of Rules they have to live under whether they're free or not. And free genies still have to get their juice from someone somewhere making a wish. Free floating wish energy - wishes made every day by every human on the planet whether they're granted or not - helps build up the stores, but nothing sparks a genie like a good old fashioned wish.
Ahhhh.
Oh, where was I?
Yeah, genies... djinn... You've only heard about us in fiction because we'd really rather the general populous not now we really exist. We'd be hunted like animals - either to become slaves or to be killed or to be captured and studied. Who wants that? We just want to be free to do our own thing. Problem is when we're out there in the world doing our own thing and messing with the general balance of things. And that's where the Council comes in. As much as I hate their petty prying, they do serve a purpose - keeping mankind from knowing about us, keeping rogue genies in line, enforcing the rules. My problem is I never know what they'll think of as a 'rule' rather than just a guideline for behavior. You know how it goes - is the speed limit 25 through here or is it 55? It's not like there are signs.
But that's just me.
I can't think of anything else you might want to know this morning, so if you have a question, ask it. I'll answer to the best of my ability. And here's a question for you: What was something that happened to you because of something stupid you did? How'd that work out for you?
Oh, and if you're interested in learning more about genies, snag a copy of B.E.'s book, Wish in One Hand. If you like it, leave a review, tell your friends, etc. If all goes well, she might let me star in another book or two or a dozen.
September 16, 2015
Debunking Erroneous Ideas
Okay, so I've been hearing about this article that some chick wrote for the HuffPo. Now, I didn't read it in its entirety. Frankly, the only parts of it I did read were in a post by another author who took time out of his busy schedule to fisk her.
Apparently, this person got her undies in a wad over people who write fast or publish lots or whatever. According to her, writing a book should take years and should be labored over like Hercules cleaning stables or some such rot. And if you write in quantity, your books will obviously be of lesser quality. (She should take a look at Asimov. I've heard he averaged 8-9 books a year. But then again, he wrote... science fiction... :gasp: which should never be confused with literature. Right? :smirk:)
Specifically, her bad number was four books a year. Heh. Just so happens, my plan is to put out four books a year. What a coinkydink. She says writers should maybe MAYBE put out one book a year. To truly savor the experience and give the readers something drawn from our souls with a pen-shaped hypodermic.
:eyeroll:
She also totally shits on self-publishing and calls us all hacks. (Even though she, in fact, is a self-published author. Self-hatred is such a sad thing.) :shrug: I've been called worse by better people.
Yeah, thanks for the advice, chicky-poo, but I'll let the market tell me whether I'm a hack. So far, sales are telling me I write well and the reviews ain't bad neither. And readers are telling me - in person, in FB message, in reviews - they want sequels to the books I already have out, and they want them NOW. They're willing to wait 6 months, maybe, but they don't have to like it. And there's plenty to distract them while I'm dragging my feet, so I'd better get cracking.
In other news, I read an article recently that talked about how ebook sales are falling and so is the sky. I reserved judgment until the real facts came out over at Author Earnings. Turns out ebook sales overall are hunky-dory - when you add in indie books, of course. Traditionally published ebook sales are off. Natch. And since the same companies that own the big dogs own the media outlets reporting the 'news', they're going to spin it their own way.
Again, the market pretty much tells you what you need to know, if you're willing to listen. Readers are still reading. They're just reading less-expensive, but still quality, independent books rather than shell out double or triple for a traditionally published book. I can live with that.
One thing that particularly tickled me about the AE report is they refer to people like me as being in the "Shadow Industry". Makes me feel all mysterious and stealthy.
Only The Shadow knows how satisfying self-publishing is. ;o)
Apparently, this person got her undies in a wad over people who write fast or publish lots or whatever. According to her, writing a book should take years and should be labored over like Hercules cleaning stables or some such rot. And if you write in quantity, your books will obviously be of lesser quality. (She should take a look at Asimov. I've heard he averaged 8-9 books a year. But then again, he wrote... science fiction... :gasp: which should never be confused with literature. Right? :smirk:)
Specifically, her bad number was four books a year. Heh. Just so happens, my plan is to put out four books a year. What a coinkydink. She says writers should maybe MAYBE put out one book a year. To truly savor the experience and give the readers something drawn from our souls with a pen-shaped hypodermic.
:eyeroll:
She also totally shits on self-publishing and calls us all hacks. (Even though she, in fact, is a self-published author. Self-hatred is such a sad thing.) :shrug: I've been called worse by better people.
Yeah, thanks for the advice, chicky-poo, but I'll let the market tell me whether I'm a hack. So far, sales are telling me I write well and the reviews ain't bad neither. And readers are telling me - in person, in FB message, in reviews - they want sequels to the books I already have out, and they want them NOW. They're willing to wait 6 months, maybe, but they don't have to like it. And there's plenty to distract them while I'm dragging my feet, so I'd better get cracking.
In other news, I read an article recently that talked about how ebook sales are falling and so is the sky. I reserved judgment until the real facts came out over at Author Earnings. Turns out ebook sales overall are hunky-dory - when you add in indie books, of course. Traditionally published ebook sales are off. Natch. And since the same companies that own the big dogs own the media outlets reporting the 'news', they're going to spin it their own way.
Again, the market pretty much tells you what you need to know, if you're willing to listen. Readers are still reading. They're just reading less-expensive, but still quality, independent books rather than shell out double or triple for a traditionally published book. I can live with that.
One thing that particularly tickled me about the AE report is they refer to people like me as being in the "Shadow Industry". Makes me feel all mysterious and stealthy.
Only The Shadow knows how satisfying self-publishing is. ;o)
September 14, 2015
Freebies, Goodies, and Giveaways - Do They Work?
As you know, I've been working on some different marketing ideas this year to see what works and what doesn't. I've read advice and opinions. I've considered it from several angles. And I'm still pretty much lost.
For instance, there's the opinion that giving books away translates to sales. Sounds pretty anti-intuitive, I know, but from what I've read, it's supposed to work. I tried a free day with Dying Embers. 356 people downloaded a copy. Sales did not increase afterwards. What I did get was a boatload of sites pirating Dying Embers. I do Goodreads giveaways - where you can enter to win a copy of a paperback of one of my books along with some swag. (I have one going on right now for Wish in One Hand, as a matter of fact.) Not sure any of those entries turned into sales after the contest ended. I did get a review from the winner of Accidental Death, though, so that was good.
I have goodies I give away whenever I get a chance. Right now, it's bookmarks and postcards. They're small enough to keep a stock of them in my purse and then handy enough for people to accept even when they're working the cash register at the store. I like to think those do get me new sales every now and then. Plus, I like giving them to people. So win-win.
Occasionally, I'll give a paperback copy of my books to someone locally - the library, the local bookstore, etc. Since the library system still hasn't cataloged the first two books I gave them back in... June, was it? I know I'm not seeing any sales from that. The local bookstore gal passes out my books as loaners to people she think will enjoy reading them and maybe will tell others about them. :shrug: I enjoy giving her books, so I'm okay with not getting a return on that.
I know other writers have better swag - pens, kitschy items, bookbags, mousepads, etc. But I'm not sure how that's translating to sales for them. I'm sure it's promoting good will. Right now, I can't afford to promote good will without seeing a return on investment.
What kinds of givies do you like? Which ones are more likely to encourage you to buy a book in the future?
For instance, there's the opinion that giving books away translates to sales. Sounds pretty anti-intuitive, I know, but from what I've read, it's supposed to work. I tried a free day with Dying Embers. 356 people downloaded a copy. Sales did not increase afterwards. What I did get was a boatload of sites pirating Dying Embers. I do Goodreads giveaways - where you can enter to win a copy of a paperback of one of my books along with some swag. (I have one going on right now for Wish in One Hand, as a matter of fact.) Not sure any of those entries turned into sales after the contest ended. I did get a review from the winner of Accidental Death, though, so that was good.
I have goodies I give away whenever I get a chance. Right now, it's bookmarks and postcards. They're small enough to keep a stock of them in my purse and then handy enough for people to accept even when they're working the cash register at the store. I like to think those do get me new sales every now and then. Plus, I like giving them to people. So win-win.
Occasionally, I'll give a paperback copy of my books to someone locally - the library, the local bookstore, etc. Since the library system still hasn't cataloged the first two books I gave them back in... June, was it? I know I'm not seeing any sales from that. The local bookstore gal passes out my books as loaners to people she think will enjoy reading them and maybe will tell others about them. :shrug: I enjoy giving her books, so I'm okay with not getting a return on that.
I know other writers have better swag - pens, kitschy items, bookbags, mousepads, etc. But I'm not sure how that's translating to sales for them. I'm sure it's promoting good will. Right now, I can't afford to promote good will without seeing a return on investment.
What kinds of givies do you like? Which ones are more likely to encourage you to buy a book in the future?
September 11, 2015
Remember and Live Your Life
I don't need to tell you what day it is. But I won't admonish you to spend a single second in silence, remembering what those butchers and assholes did fourteen years ago.
Remember, certainly. How could one ever forget?
But do not bow your heads. Honor the fallen by holding your head up. Take up arms in your own way by living your life to the fullest. Walk around with your face uncovered and your soul free from guilt. Play music. Look at art. Draw. Sculpt. Write books. Dance. Have sex. Drink, if you have a mind to - alcohol, coffee, rainwater... Do whatever it is that they say you can't do without breaking one of their asinine rules.
Be free and celebrate your freedom.
Don't let them have even one inch of your life.
A moment of silence? Fuck that shit. Live your life and be free.
Shout it from the rooftops.
"Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light, what so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?" I see it. Do you?
Remember, certainly. How could one ever forget?
But do not bow your heads. Honor the fallen by holding your head up. Take up arms in your own way by living your life to the fullest. Walk around with your face uncovered and your soul free from guilt. Play music. Look at art. Draw. Sculpt. Write books. Dance. Have sex. Drink, if you have a mind to - alcohol, coffee, rainwater... Do whatever it is that they say you can't do without breaking one of their asinine rules.
Be free and celebrate your freedom.
Don't let them have even one inch of your life.
A moment of silence? Fuck that shit. Live your life and be free.
Shout it from the rooftops.
"Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light, what so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?" I see it. Do you?
September 9, 2015
BloodFlow Cover Copy Tease
Hi All!
I said on Monday that I would share the cover copy I've been working on for BloodFlow. It occurs to me that showing it now would make me a tease, since the book isn't due out until November. But not showing it would make me a welcher. So here it is:
Disgraced by rumor and her career in shambles, Agent Miranda Kruz knows she wasn’t assigned to investigate the high-profile death of a senator’s wife because she’s the best person for the job. Her superiors want this to go away. But when the autopsy uncovers a perfectly healthy but very dead woman, Randi can’t let her superiors push her toward shutting it all up. Even if her only suspect is a microchip her bosses have been banking on to take care of the nation’s ‘immigrant problem’. Project Hermes is their golden opportunity and they’ll be damned if they let anyone stop it. They may be damned either way. Something about Hermes stinks, and Randi intends to uncover its secrets whether the government wants her to or not.
As more bodies fall to suspicious heart attacks, all Randi has to go on is a voice and the sinking suspicion that maybe the man who started this cascade of death isn’t the only one intent on dropping corpses all over the nation’s capitol.
It's rough yet, but it gives you the general idea of what's ahead.
I also have a very rough draft of the cover, but I'm not sharing that yet. It needs work to look professional and that's what I want to show the world - a professional cover.
I said on Monday that I would share the cover copy I've been working on for BloodFlow. It occurs to me that showing it now would make me a tease, since the book isn't due out until November. But not showing it would make me a welcher. So here it is:
Disgraced by rumor and her career in shambles, Agent Miranda Kruz knows she wasn’t assigned to investigate the high-profile death of a senator’s wife because she’s the best person for the job. Her superiors want this to go away. But when the autopsy uncovers a perfectly healthy but very dead woman, Randi can’t let her superiors push her toward shutting it all up. Even if her only suspect is a microchip her bosses have been banking on to take care of the nation’s ‘immigrant problem’. Project Hermes is their golden opportunity and they’ll be damned if they let anyone stop it. They may be damned either way. Something about Hermes stinks, and Randi intends to uncover its secrets whether the government wants her to or not.
As more bodies fall to suspicious heart attacks, all Randi has to go on is a voice and the sinking suspicion that maybe the man who started this cascade of death isn’t the only one intent on dropping corpses all over the nation’s capitol.
It's rough yet, but it gives you the general idea of what's ahead.
I also have a very rough draft of the cover, but I'm not sharing that yet. It needs work to look professional and that's what I want to show the world - a professional cover.
September 7, 2015
Back to Work
Yeah, I know the 'holiday' weekend isn't over yet. I've always been a bit confused about taking a day off to celebrate working, but that's a post for an alternate universe. Anyway, writers don't work like other people, so weekends and holidays are often still work days.
So, of course, I'm working. Not as hard as I have at other times this year, and not as diligently as I should be working, but I am working. Right now, I'm reading through the beginning I already wrote for the next book in the SCIU series - a sort of unattached sequel to Dying Embers. It's called Fertile Ground. And it stars Agent Teri Buchanan - a rape victim assigned to catch a serial rapist. (See a pattern? Pyrophobic agent goes after serial arsonist/murder.) It's a hard book to write and it's one the mainstream would probably toss me out on my ass for, but I think it's one that needs to be written, so I'm writing it. Look for this one to release in maybe May 2016.
To the end of getting this book right, I watched an interesting show about serial rapist/murderer Dusty Rhodes last night. A forensic psychologist interviewed him. It was gratifying to know I'm already on the right track with my own villain.
Also, I sent Bloodflow off to the editor this past week. She already sent me a note saying she dove right in when she was supposed to be doing something else and loves it so far, which is always good. I've been working on the cover copy for that, too. Busy busy. This book will release in November - good lord willin' and the creek don't rise. I'll share the copy later. I read it to Hubs, and he said 'Ooo, good one!', so I got that going for me.
What were you up to over the weekend? What's on the schedule for this week?
So, of course, I'm working. Not as hard as I have at other times this year, and not as diligently as I should be working, but I am working. Right now, I'm reading through the beginning I already wrote for the next book in the SCIU series - a sort of unattached sequel to Dying Embers. It's called Fertile Ground. And it stars Agent Teri Buchanan - a rape victim assigned to catch a serial rapist. (See a pattern? Pyrophobic agent goes after serial arsonist/murder.) It's a hard book to write and it's one the mainstream would probably toss me out on my ass for, but I think it's one that needs to be written, so I'm writing it. Look for this one to release in maybe May 2016.
To the end of getting this book right, I watched an interesting show about serial rapist/murderer Dusty Rhodes last night. A forensic psychologist interviewed him. It was gratifying to know I'm already on the right track with my own villain.
Also, I sent Bloodflow off to the editor this past week. She already sent me a note saying she dove right in when she was supposed to be doing something else and loves it so far, which is always good. I've been working on the cover copy for that, too. Busy busy. This book will release in November - good lord willin' and the creek don't rise. I'll share the copy later. I read it to Hubs, and he said 'Ooo, good one!', so I got that going for me.
What were you up to over the weekend? What's on the schedule for this week?
September 2, 2015
Character Profile: Meet Ezekiel ben Aron
Ezekiel ben Aron
born: before Atlantis sunk beneath the waves, an original Israelite
Hair: curly black
Eyes: brown
Height: 6'
Weight: slim
Year of changing: I'm not sure they had calendars back then
Creator: Unknown
Marital status: currently unmarried
Djinn status: Free
Reason for status: He's says 'it's a long story', but I think he'd just prefer not to say.
Current residence: Mansion, south of Denver, CO
Current employment: Owner and proprietor, B.A. Security
Known associates: Hans and Frank (his bodyguards), Mary Killigrew, Jo Mayweather
Pets: After what he's seen and what he knows, he prefers not to have pets.
born: before Atlantis sunk beneath the waves, an original Israelite
Hair: curly black
Eyes: brown
Height: 6'
Weight: slim
Year of changing: I'm not sure they had calendars back then
Creator: Unknown
Marital status: currently unmarried
Djinn status: Free
Reason for status: He's says 'it's a long story', but I think he'd just prefer not to say.
Current residence: Mansion, south of Denver, CO
Current employment: Owner and proprietor, B.A. Security
Known associates: Hans and Frank (his bodyguards), Mary Killigrew, Jo Mayweather
Pets: After what he's seen and what he knows, he prefers not to have pets.
August 30, 2015
Sales and Junk
I said yesterday over at The Writing Spectacle that I would talk about sales and junk here today, so here I am.
Sales to date: 850
Dying Embers - 454
Accidental Death - 379
Wish in One Hand - 17
Weeks since publication:
DE - 29
AD - 15
WE - 2
I'm averaging 4.08 books per day overall.
As for the junk, it's marketing stuff. Now, understand that I have know way of directly linking my marketing efforts to sales - except for the big jumps I see after I place an ad with ENT. From those two ads, I got 508 sales at the .99 price point (some with the 35% royalty and some with the 70% royalty.) Here are some of the other places I've had ads:
Omnimystery News - both paid ads and free 'articles'
Goodkindles
Ereader News Today
Every Writer Resource
Kboards
I'm going to assume, since my rankings have jumped here and there, that some of those ads turned into KU borrows - which later turned into 'sales' after being read. Speaking of that, KU has accounted for approximately 127 books 'sold'. BTW, Accidental Death has been big with the KU crowd. Yay. I hope to see similar numbers down the road for Wish in One Hand and Dying Embers.
Again, thank you for all of your support. I'm chugging right along and should have a fourth book out in November - good lord willin' and the creek don't rise.
Sales to date: 850
Dying Embers - 454
Accidental Death - 379
Wish in One Hand - 17
Weeks since publication:
DE - 29
AD - 15
WE - 2
I'm averaging 4.08 books per day overall.
As for the junk, it's marketing stuff. Now, understand that I have know way of directly linking my marketing efforts to sales - except for the big jumps I see after I place an ad with ENT. From those two ads, I got 508 sales at the .99 price point (some with the 35% royalty and some with the 70% royalty.) Here are some of the other places I've had ads:
Omnimystery News - both paid ads and free 'articles'
Goodkindles
Ereader News Today
Every Writer Resource
Kboards
I'm going to assume, since my rankings have jumped here and there, that some of those ads turned into KU borrows - which later turned into 'sales' after being read. Speaking of that, KU has accounted for approximately 127 books 'sold'. BTW, Accidental Death has been big with the KU crowd. Yay. I hope to see similar numbers down the road for Wish in One Hand and Dying Embers.
Again, thank you for all of your support. I'm chugging right along and should have a fourth book out in November - good lord willin' and the creek don't rise.
August 27, 2015
Interesting Discussion with Hubs about Ebook Pricing
Yesterday, Hubs and I were talking about pricing and marketing and ebooks. As has happened before - because I'm the reader in the family and I know these things - Hubs wanted to know about traditionally published book pricing vs self-published pricing.
Basically it started out with me talking about my own books' pricing, and how much, as a reader, I'm willing to pay for an ebook and why. (I mean besides the obvious reason that my book buying budget is dinky because I'm funneling most incoming fundage into the book publishing budget.)
Me: I have a tough time spending more than $3.99 for an ebook, unless it's the next in a series from an author I really love. And there's only one series I have to have immediately, so I spend $9.99* when they come out because I don't want to wait for the paperback.
Hubs: And how much are the paperbacks?
Me: Usually? $7.99 or $8.99 but they come out like a year later. I think (name withheld) puts his paperbacks out at $9.99, so I'm not paying more to have it early.
Hubs: So, let me get this straight. The paperback - which costs the publisher more money to produce than the ebook - is more expensive than the paperback. No wonder they're screaming so hard about keeping ebook pricing high. That's where they're making all their money.
---
We didn't devolve this time into how much of that price the traditionally published author actually takes home. For them what don't know, it's typically 15% minus the agent's 15% minus any marketing pay for themselves. (Someone will correct me if this has changed recently.)
So, I walk into our office/library to check something out. Another author I generally buy in paperback - because Walmart always stocks her new releases - has the list price at $7.99. I paid like $5.99 at Walmart. I went on Amazon to check the list price of the paperback against the list price of the Kindle version. Same same. $7.99 either way. Unless you're getting the Wallyworld discount. Same book but with the paperback, the publisher has printing costs and labor and shipping and overhead - in addition to the across-the-board costs of editing, cover art, etc. that all versions of this book bear.
Hmm. Curious.
Then I went to see what a big-name traditionally published author charges for his books. For his most recent release, MSRP list price = $28.00. Amazon is selling it for $16.80. Kindle price? $14.99. The paperbacks aren't due to be released until February and they're listed at $15.99 a pop (or Amazon rate of $12.60). Wow. But he's really popular and people will shell that out. Too bad he's only getting a fraction of that with a fraction taken out of it.
It's really not surprising that the traditional publishers are pissed at the indies. We undercut their pricing by around 60% ($3.99 vs $9.99 = $6 difference. If my math is wrong, shoot me.), produce a comparable quality piece of merchandise, and have little overhead. Rascally upstarts that we are. What I'm kind of surprised about is that the authors aren't pissed at their publishers who are making loads off the ebook sales and not sharing a larger portion of the pie. :shrug: Maybe someday publishing contracts will catch up with new technology, but that's a discussion for another time.
One of these days, I'll have to do some more research into how much it costs to produce hardcopy books vs the cost of producing an ebook. I think the readers might like to know. But right now, I have work to do. These books aren't writing themselves.
*This author's Kindle book prices drop after they've been out for a while. The last one I bought for Kindle is now $7.99. It was worth the $2 difference to have it on release day, imo.
Basically it started out with me talking about my own books' pricing, and how much, as a reader, I'm willing to pay for an ebook and why. (I mean besides the obvious reason that my book buying budget is dinky because I'm funneling most incoming fundage into the book publishing budget.)
Me: I have a tough time spending more than $3.99 for an ebook, unless it's the next in a series from an author I really love. And there's only one series I have to have immediately, so I spend $9.99* when they come out because I don't want to wait for the paperback.
Hubs: And how much are the paperbacks?
Me: Usually? $7.99 or $8.99 but they come out like a year later. I think (name withheld) puts his paperbacks out at $9.99, so I'm not paying more to have it early.
Hubs: So, let me get this straight. The paperback - which costs the publisher more money to produce than the ebook - is more expensive than the paperback. No wonder they're screaming so hard about keeping ebook pricing high. That's where they're making all their money.
---
We didn't devolve this time into how much of that price the traditionally published author actually takes home. For them what don't know, it's typically 15% minus the agent's 15% minus any marketing pay for themselves. (Someone will correct me if this has changed recently.)
So, I walk into our office/library to check something out. Another author I generally buy in paperback - because Walmart always stocks her new releases - has the list price at $7.99. I paid like $5.99 at Walmart. I went on Amazon to check the list price of the paperback against the list price of the Kindle version. Same same. $7.99 either way. Unless you're getting the Wallyworld discount. Same book but with the paperback, the publisher has printing costs and labor and shipping and overhead - in addition to the across-the-board costs of editing, cover art, etc. that all versions of this book bear.
Hmm. Curious.
Then I went to see what a big-name traditionally published author charges for his books. For his most recent release, MSRP list price = $28.00. Amazon is selling it for $16.80. Kindle price? $14.99. The paperbacks aren't due to be released until February and they're listed at $15.99 a pop (or Amazon rate of $12.60). Wow. But he's really popular and people will shell that out. Too bad he's only getting a fraction of that with a fraction taken out of it.
It's really not surprising that the traditional publishers are pissed at the indies. We undercut their pricing by around 60% ($3.99 vs $9.99 = $6 difference. If my math is wrong, shoot me.), produce a comparable quality piece of merchandise, and have little overhead. Rascally upstarts that we are. What I'm kind of surprised about is that the authors aren't pissed at their publishers who are making loads off the ebook sales and not sharing a larger portion of the pie. :shrug: Maybe someday publishing contracts will catch up with new technology, but that's a discussion for another time.
One of these days, I'll have to do some more research into how much it costs to produce hardcopy books vs the cost of producing an ebook. I think the readers might like to know. But right now, I have work to do. These books aren't writing themselves.
*This author's Kindle book prices drop after they've been out for a while. The last one I bought for Kindle is now $7.99. It was worth the $2 difference to have it on release day, imo.
August 26, 2015
What's Up and What's Next - A Ramble
A while back the CFO and I were talking about the self-publishing business and how to keep the engine running. As in, how to keep a production schedule of a book released every three months when I'm clearly not banging away on the keyboard. As you know Bob, I do have a boatload of books already written, so I could probably publish books for three years straight without ever writing a new word.
"Are all of those books viable?"
"Well, I'd like to think they are."
The reality of it is that while they may all be viable and perfectly wonderful books, they also might not be what the market is looking for. In fact, right now, I'd say MY market is looking for more of what I've already released. And in order to give the market what it wants, it means more new words.
And in order to give my soul what it wants, I have to let the market down every now and then.
Wait, what?
Well, I have a lot of books in me - in a variety of genres. Generally, the market likes writers to stick to one genre and run with it. So, I expect certain segments of the market will be let down every now and then by what's ahead. Sorry about that. If I do this, then the products you enjoy will be better in the long run, though. Trust me.
Anyway, I'm just about done with this round of edits on Bloodflow (techno-political-medical suspense - a for-me book) and I'm thinking about what to jump into next. September is for new words. In deference to my customers, I'll be working on either the next book in the SCIU series OR the next Dennis Haggarty mystery.
I expect from here on out that's about how it'll work - for-you books put out at regular intervals with for-me books sprinkled here and there. Hopefully some of you will enjoy the for-me books. Expand your genres, expand the reading material available to you. Know what I mean?
Meanwhile, I'd better get editing so I can send this off to the AWE (Awesome Wonderful Editor-gal) and then set my buns down for some heavy-duty word slinging.
Have an awesome day, Everyone! And happy reading. =o)
"Are all of those books viable?"
"Well, I'd like to think they are."
The reality of it is that while they may all be viable and perfectly wonderful books, they also might not be what the market is looking for. In fact, right now, I'd say MY market is looking for more of what I've already released. And in order to give the market what it wants, it means more new words.
And in order to give my soul what it wants, I have to let the market down every now and then.
Wait, what?
Well, I have a lot of books in me - in a variety of genres. Generally, the market likes writers to stick to one genre and run with it. So, I expect certain segments of the market will be let down every now and then by what's ahead. Sorry about that. If I do this, then the products you enjoy will be better in the long run, though. Trust me.
Anyway, I'm just about done with this round of edits on Bloodflow (techno-political-medical suspense - a for-me book) and I'm thinking about what to jump into next. September is for new words. In deference to my customers, I'll be working on either the next book in the SCIU series OR the next Dennis Haggarty mystery.
I expect from here on out that's about how it'll work - for-you books put out at regular intervals with for-me books sprinkled here and there. Hopefully some of you will enjoy the for-me books. Expand your genres, expand the reading material available to you. Know what I mean?
Meanwhile, I'd better get editing so I can send this off to the AWE (Awesome Wonderful Editor-gal) and then set my buns down for some heavy-duty word slinging.
Have an awesome day, Everyone! And happy reading. =o)
