Ryan Field's Blog, page 584
November 21, 2010
About Book Pirates, the Quality of Books, and Better Back Cover Copy for Readers
Below is a recent comment left by a reader regarding an older post I wrote about book pirates. I replied to the comment as best I could. Since I wrote that particular post, I've learned a lot about why readers pirate books and I probably wouldn't have been as blunt as I was. And frankly, I didn't totally disagree with the recent comment and I'd like to thank this person for leaving it. I can't tell you how much I appreciate this kind of honest, constructive feedback. I hate to hear readers feel as if they've been ripped off. I don't like to feel that way myself, especially because I know and understand that buying e-books isn't inexpensive.
In my reply, I hope I've offered a solution for readers who aren't sure about purchasing books. I know this is what I do when I'm not sure about making a book purchase. In many ways, it's a valid concern all readers have. But I don't think piracy is the answer.
Communication is the answer, at least it seems to be in this particular case. And I know that the next time I write back cover copy for my next book, I'm going to be taking this reader's opinion very seriously so I get it right.
Comment:
Anonymous said...
Piracy works both ways. I've bought too many ebooks that all ended up like something my teenage daughter could write for her English assignment.And yes of course their covers and blurbs were enticing enough hence why I bought them, but they ended up supremely disappointing, I felt cheated. Even free slash fiction/gay fiction writers write better. :/ The sad thing is some of these authors often have awesome previous work, but seemed to now bow down to the simplified money-making machine by cranking out subpar works. And while their prices may seem like peanuts to you guys, for the rest of us in other parts of the world, it's still expensive.If quality of writing went up, I wouldn't hesitate to pay up front. Lord knows there are plenty of free works online that I'd happily pay for simply because the authors actually put real effort into them. But while it still remains hopelessly juvenile and formulaic, I really have no choice but to screen them first before spending. I don't believe covers and book jacket descriptions anymore.
My reply:
ryan field said...
Anon...I can't comment on the quality of books, but I know for a fact no one writes a book, takes the time to publish it and promote it, and puts that much time into something with the thought process they will be stealing money from readers. That's just not how it works. Whether or not you like the book is another matter. But no author or publisher is intentionally trying to pirate your money. Frankly, I'm not thrilled with a lot of books I've read, or for that matter films I've seen and television shows that leave me wondering what producers are thinking. But I still pay my cable bill each month and I'm not downloading free movies. My suggestion to you is that if you have any questions about a book, contact the author. I just wrote a blog post about this topic and welcome all questions from readers who are thinking about buying my books but aren't sure. I can't speak for all authors, but I'm more than willing to explain or answer questions. And please take the time to research before you buy. I always post more info about books on my blog than readers see on back cover copy and book covers. I even post excerpts from the book that aren't part of the back cover copy. And I do this for the very reason you feel you're being ripped off: so readers know what they are buying. Check out e-book online retailers like allromanceebooks.com or fictionwise.com. You will get the first chapter of the book for free, in most cases, and if you can't tell whether or not you like a book by reading the first chapter, it's most likely not the book for you.
November 21, 2010 11:56 AM
In my reply, I hope I've offered a solution for readers who aren't sure about purchasing books. I know this is what I do when I'm not sure about making a book purchase. In many ways, it's a valid concern all readers have. But I don't think piracy is the answer.
Communication is the answer, at least it seems to be in this particular case. And I know that the next time I write back cover copy for my next book, I'm going to be taking this reader's opinion very seriously so I get it right.
Comment:
Anonymous said...
Piracy works both ways. I've bought too many ebooks that all ended up like something my teenage daughter could write for her English assignment.And yes of course their covers and blurbs were enticing enough hence why I bought them, but they ended up supremely disappointing, I felt cheated. Even free slash fiction/gay fiction writers write better. :/ The sad thing is some of these authors often have awesome previous work, but seemed to now bow down to the simplified money-making machine by cranking out subpar works. And while their prices may seem like peanuts to you guys, for the rest of us in other parts of the world, it's still expensive.If quality of writing went up, I wouldn't hesitate to pay up front. Lord knows there are plenty of free works online that I'd happily pay for simply because the authors actually put real effort into them. But while it still remains hopelessly juvenile and formulaic, I really have no choice but to screen them first before spending. I don't believe covers and book jacket descriptions anymore.
My reply:
ryan field said...
Anon...I can't comment on the quality of books, but I know for a fact no one writes a book, takes the time to publish it and promote it, and puts that much time into something with the thought process they will be stealing money from readers. That's just not how it works. Whether or not you like the book is another matter. But no author or publisher is intentionally trying to pirate your money. Frankly, I'm not thrilled with a lot of books I've read, or for that matter films I've seen and television shows that leave me wondering what producers are thinking. But I still pay my cable bill each month and I'm not downloading free movies. My suggestion to you is that if you have any questions about a book, contact the author. I just wrote a blog post about this topic and welcome all questions from readers who are thinking about buying my books but aren't sure. I can't speak for all authors, but I'm more than willing to explain or answer questions. And please take the time to research before you buy. I always post more info about books on my blog than readers see on back cover copy and book covers. I even post excerpts from the book that aren't part of the back cover copy. And I do this for the very reason you feel you're being ripped off: so readers know what they are buying. Check out e-book online retailers like allromanceebooks.com or fictionwise.com. You will get the first chapter of the book for free, in most cases, and if you can't tell whether or not you like a book by reading the first chapter, it's most likely not the book for you.
November 21, 2010 11:56 AM
November 19, 2010
New Christmas Release: DOWN THE BASEMENT II: SANTA SATURDAY
I just opened an e-mail...thanks allromanceebooks.com...informing me DOWN THE BASEMENT II: SANTA SATURDAY has been released. I know it's early and we haven't even had Thanksgiving yet, but I think people like to prepare ahead of time when they are planning their Christmas reading list. So I'm glad it's out now, instead of two weeks from now.This sequel to the Lambda Award winning short story, DOWN THE BASEMENT, is a novella that takes the two main characters to another level of romance. It's very erotic and the characters have an unusual relationship. But there is a lot more love and romance in this sequel than there was in the first story. The allromanceebooks link I posted above gives detailed information, plus an excerpt. The book is also available at many other retail e-book sites, including amazon and www.loveyoudivine.com And if anyone has any questions, feel free to e-mail me. You'd be surprised how many readers do ask me what books are about, and I don't mind answering their questions. I'd rather someone know exactly what they are buying and not be disappointed in discovering it was something entirely different than they thought it was. I'd also love to thank Dalia Craig for being the managing editor, Dawne Dominique for creating a wonderful cover, and Janet, my wonderful editor at LYD for taking time to work on this with me while she's been going through a personal life crisis.
November 17, 2010
One Reason I Enjoy Facebook
This was posted by a friend of mine on facebook. Though I've never met this person, I feel as if I've known her for a long time through facebook. She posted this youtube video of her daughter singing, which I thought was very good!!
I wanted to post something like this on "National Unfriend Day," for people who are only looking to keep facebook friends and family they know, which to me defeats the entire purpose of a broad social network. I've never met this woman or her daughter in person. But I'm glad I did meet them through facebook.
I wanted to post something like this on "National Unfriend Day," for people who are only looking to keep facebook friends and family they know, which to me defeats the entire purpose of a broad social network. I've never met this woman or her daughter in person. But I'm glad I did meet them through facebook.
The Future of Libraries...New Hope, PA
This week I read in my local newspaper, The Bucks County Herald, there's a new developer trying to buy prime real estate in New Hope, PA, in order to build a new 4 million dollar library that will be surrounded by new condos. The property he wants to buy is only three acres, with a grand old mansion that's filled with local history. The links above provide more information.
New Hope has always been a small tourist attraction with a diverse community of artists, writers, actors, and creative types. Because of the location, it attracts New Yorkers, Philadelphians, and everyone in between. Some come from all over the world. The theater history goes back to the mid-twentieth century with the Bucks County Playhouse, and it's still not uncommon to see Barbra Streisand walking through town, among other celebrities, at certain times of the year.
But New Hope is still a small town, and I couldn't help wondering about building a new library for millions of dollars. Tourists don't come here for the library, they come for the attractions. In the past, I always frequented the library. As an author, I did research, had my name on lists for the newest book releases, and kept my library card as up to date as I keep my driver's license. But in all honesty, I haven't been to the library in years. I do my research online, I order my e-books online, and I don't even bother with DVD's anymore. I just order movies On-Demand. If I need copies of something...once or twice a year now...I go to the UPS store.
I've read different articles on the future of libraries in general and no one seems to be taking a firm stand one way or the other. In large cities, I've heard reports that public libraries have become more like community centers, where people can come in out of the summer heat and winter cold to use computers and socialize with each other. In small towns like New Hope, the only people I know who actually go to the library anymore are older people who wouldn't know a blackberry communication device from a blackberry pie. But I can't even say it's an age thing, because my 77 year old mother has stopped going to the library completely and now reads all her books on an ipad. And so do most of her friends.
At this point, I don't think anyone can predict the future of libraries. I wouldn't even try to make a prediction like this. And I still love libraries, even though I don't go anymore. I'm hoping for a compromise. A lot of people believe libraries will evolve into research and learning centers...much like what's now happening in large city libraries where people use them as community centers. Which would be nice in concept. This way we don't lose the beloved tradition of the public library. We just help it evolve into something different, which will benefit everyone in the community.
But I do think that before any small community decides to take the advice of a property developer with a personal agenda, who is promoting an expensive new libraray along with his brand new condos, that community should take the time to do a little research about the future of libraries (or community learning centers) before they make any definite commitments.
New Hope has always been a small tourist attraction with a diverse community of artists, writers, actors, and creative types. Because of the location, it attracts New Yorkers, Philadelphians, and everyone in between. Some come from all over the world. The theater history goes back to the mid-twentieth century with the Bucks County Playhouse, and it's still not uncommon to see Barbra Streisand walking through town, among other celebrities, at certain times of the year.
But New Hope is still a small town, and I couldn't help wondering about building a new library for millions of dollars. Tourists don't come here for the library, they come for the attractions. In the past, I always frequented the library. As an author, I did research, had my name on lists for the newest book releases, and kept my library card as up to date as I keep my driver's license. But in all honesty, I haven't been to the library in years. I do my research online, I order my e-books online, and I don't even bother with DVD's anymore. I just order movies On-Demand. If I need copies of something...once or twice a year now...I go to the UPS store.
I've read different articles on the future of libraries in general and no one seems to be taking a firm stand one way or the other. In large cities, I've heard reports that public libraries have become more like community centers, where people can come in out of the summer heat and winter cold to use computers and socialize with each other. In small towns like New Hope, the only people I know who actually go to the library anymore are older people who wouldn't know a blackberry communication device from a blackberry pie. But I can't even say it's an age thing, because my 77 year old mother has stopped going to the library completely and now reads all her books on an ipad. And so do most of her friends.
At this point, I don't think anyone can predict the future of libraries. I wouldn't even try to make a prediction like this. And I still love libraries, even though I don't go anymore. I'm hoping for a compromise. A lot of people believe libraries will evolve into research and learning centers...much like what's now happening in large city libraries where people use them as community centers. Which would be nice in concept. This way we don't lose the beloved tradition of the public library. We just help it evolve into something different, which will benefit everyone in the community.
But I do think that before any small community decides to take the advice of a property developer with a personal agenda, who is promoting an expensive new libraray along with his brand new condos, that community should take the time to do a little research about the future of libraries (or community learning centers) before they make any definite commitments.
November 16, 2010
Release Day: RICKY'S BUSINESS
Today is the release day for my new m/m romance, RICKY'S BUSINESS. This one is based loosely on the 1980's film, "Risky Business," starring Tom Cruise. You can read more about it here. And I'm sure it will be released on all the well known online e-book stores as well as amazon.
But I always like to post a little back story here on the blog so people know what they are buying. Although the book is not exactly like the movie, I do like to point out that when I write books like this it's not about fan fiction. If anything, it's about giving lgbt readers a taste of what the mainstream public gets all the time and takes for granted. In the past twenty years I can list a handful of pop culture lgbt oriented books and films that were for the mainstream. For the most part, if gay men and women wanted to read about other gay men and women, they were given very little choices. Personally, I'm not a huge fan of the "artsy fartsy" literary books written for the lgbt community. And I usually find most gay films lacking something important in more than one way. I prefer pop culture. So this is my take on an old storyline that could have worked well if it had been originally written for two gay men, or two gay women.
November 15, 2010
An Agent Rejects You and Tells You Why
I don't offer much advice on this blog because publishing is such a broad industry. And there are so many changes happening these days most advice anyone has to offer tends to become obsolete a month later.
But there is one thing I can advise that I've learned through experience when it comes to getting rejected by literary agents. And that's very simple: just delete the rejection and move on. There's no need to send back a nasty e-mail (no matter how much you want to), there's no need to defend your position, and there is no reason to take any agent rejection personally. They don't know it all, and the best agents will be the first to admit this.
So take all rejections for what they are: a subjective opinion. If an agent takes the time to offer comments with the rejection and you agree with the advice, there's nothing wrong with thanking them. But if an agent rejects you and makes comments you don't agree with, there's not need for you to comment. Just move forward and put it behind you.
Always keep it positive. Trust me, the next day you'll be glad you didn't reply with a nasty, counterproductive e-mail.
But there is one thing I can advise that I've learned through experience when it comes to getting rejected by literary agents. And that's very simple: just delete the rejection and move on. There's no need to send back a nasty e-mail (no matter how much you want to), there's no need to defend your position, and there is no reason to take any agent rejection personally. They don't know it all, and the best agents will be the first to admit this.
So take all rejections for what they are: a subjective opinion. If an agent takes the time to offer comments with the rejection and you agree with the advice, there's nothing wrong with thanking them. But if an agent rejects you and makes comments you don't agree with, there's not need for you to comment. Just move forward and put it behind you.
Always keep it positive. Trust me, the next day you'll be glad you didn't reply with a nasty, counterproductive e-mail.
November 14, 2010
One of the Best LGBT Web Sites I've Seen in a Long Time: CODY'S WORLD
A fellow blogger turned me on to this web site, CODY'S WORLD. It's a posthumous tribute to a young gay man who passed away a few years ago. The link is here, and I've posted a section below verbatim. If you have the time, it's worth checking out.
Cody was involved in a very serious motor accident during the early hours of the morning on Saturday 3rd November, 2001. He was admitted to hospital and underwent emergency surgery. His injuries were incredibly serious and he never regained consciousness. He passed away a few hours after surgery.
Most of the original Cody's World website has been left intact, exactly as Cody had written it and laid it out. I have done this in his memory. He had a lot of good things to say and it should be left as is. The pages that have been removed or changed, have been altered for various reasons, not the least of which is to spare Cody's friends hundreds of emails. Cody's email has also been removed from the contact page. His Guest Book is open for visitors and friends to leave messages. The "privacy" capability has been removed to enable all his messages to be read by everyone. Cody placed a lot of importance in the site guest book and enjoyed reading the many entries that were left for him. Some of them critical of him, but he left them anyway and often received an apology after the writer had been through his site.
Cody has left behind a legacy of honesty and friendship. He breached a generation gap and taught everyone, young and old, that we need to respect the differences in each other.
Cody was involved in a very serious motor accident during the early hours of the morning on Saturday 3rd November, 2001. He was admitted to hospital and underwent emergency surgery. His injuries were incredibly serious and he never regained consciousness. He passed away a few hours after surgery.
Most of the original Cody's World website has been left intact, exactly as Cody had written it and laid it out. I have done this in his memory. He had a lot of good things to say and it should be left as is. The pages that have been removed or changed, have been altered for various reasons, not the least of which is to spare Cody's friends hundreds of emails. Cody's email has also been removed from the contact page. His Guest Book is open for visitors and friends to leave messages. The "privacy" capability has been removed to enable all his messages to be read by everyone. Cody placed a lot of importance in the site guest book and enjoyed reading the many entries that were left for him. Some of them critical of him, but he left them anyway and often received an apology after the writer had been through his site.
Cody has left behind a legacy of honesty and friendship. He breached a generation gap and taught everyone, young and old, that we need to respect the differences in each other.
November 13, 2010
T'ill The End: Trust me, You'll Like This Song
November 12, 2010
New York Times: E-Books and Best-Seller List
I copied and pasted the article below from this link. It's just one more of the daily changes happening within the publishing industry in the past few years. And I can't help but remember that almost two years ago a good friend of mine who works in publishing told me e-books wouldn't last and there was no reason to take them seriously. Evidently, the NYT seems to think there's something to e-books now.
In an acknowledgment of the growing sales and influence of digital publishing, The New York Times said on Wednesday that it would publish e-book best-seller lists in fiction and nonfiction beginning early next year.
The lists will be compiled from weekly data from publishers, chain bookstores, independent booksellers and online retailers, among other sources.
Since 1935 The Times has published best-seller lists, widely considered the industry standard. Best-seller lists are also published by Publishers Weekly, a trade publication, and newspapers including The Los Angeles Times and USA Today.
Janet Elder, the editor of news surveys and election analysis for The Times, said the newspaper had spent two years creating a system that tracks and verifies e-book sales.
"We've had our eye on e-book sales since e-books began," Ms. Elder said. "It was clear that e-books were taking a greater and greater share of total sales, and we wanted to be able to tell our readers which titles were selling and how they fit together with print sales."
E-book sales have risen steeply in 2010, spurred by the growing popularity of the Amazon Kindle and by the release of the Apple iPad in April. According to the Association of American Publishers, which receives sales data from publishers, e-book sales in the first nine months of 2010 were $304.6 million, up from $105.6 million from the same period in 2009, a nearly 190 percent increase.
Several major publishers said that e-books had climbed to about 10 percent of their total trade sales. Some publishing experts have predicted that they will rise to 25 percent in the next two to three years.
RoyaltyShare, a San Diego-based company that tracks data and aggregates sales information for publishers, will work with The Times, provide data and offer an additional source of independent corroboration.
The Times will also redesign the section of its Sunday Book Review that features the best-seller lists. The Times already publishes 14 lists, including those for fiction, nonfiction and advice books in hardcover and paperback, as well as children's books and graphic books.
"To give the fullest and most accurate possible snapshot of what books are being read at a given moment you have to include as many different formats as possible, and e-books have really grown, there's no question about it," said Sam Tanenhaus, editor of the Book Review. The new listings, he added, give readers "the fullest picture we can give them about how a book is doing week to week."
In an acknowledgment of the growing sales and influence of digital publishing, The New York Times said on Wednesday that it would publish e-book best-seller lists in fiction and nonfiction beginning early next year.
The lists will be compiled from weekly data from publishers, chain bookstores, independent booksellers and online retailers, among other sources.
Since 1935 The Times has published best-seller lists, widely considered the industry standard. Best-seller lists are also published by Publishers Weekly, a trade publication, and newspapers including The Los Angeles Times and USA Today.
Janet Elder, the editor of news surveys and election analysis for The Times, said the newspaper had spent two years creating a system that tracks and verifies e-book sales.
"We've had our eye on e-book sales since e-books began," Ms. Elder said. "It was clear that e-books were taking a greater and greater share of total sales, and we wanted to be able to tell our readers which titles were selling and how they fit together with print sales."
E-book sales have risen steeply in 2010, spurred by the growing popularity of the Amazon Kindle and by the release of the Apple iPad in April. According to the Association of American Publishers, which receives sales data from publishers, e-book sales in the first nine months of 2010 were $304.6 million, up from $105.6 million from the same period in 2009, a nearly 190 percent increase.
Several major publishers said that e-books had climbed to about 10 percent of their total trade sales. Some publishing experts have predicted that they will rise to 25 percent in the next two to three years.
RoyaltyShare, a San Diego-based company that tracks data and aggregates sales information for publishers, will work with The Times, provide data and offer an additional source of independent corroboration.
The Times will also redesign the section of its Sunday Book Review that features the best-seller lists. The Times already publishes 14 lists, including those for fiction, nonfiction and advice books in hardcover and paperback, as well as children's books and graphic books.
"To give the fullest and most accurate possible snapshot of what books are being read at a given moment you have to include as many different formats as possible, and e-books have really grown, there's no question about it," said Sam Tanenhaus, editor of the Book Review. The new listings, he added, give readers "the fullest picture we can give them about how a book is doing week to week."
November 11, 2010
Release Date for SANTA SATURDAY
I haven't blogged much this week because I've been working hard with editors trying to get two Christmas novellas out as soon as possible. But I just found out DOWN THE BASEMENT: SANTA SATURDAY will be released on November 19th...more than plenty of time for a Christmas novella. And I'm still not sure about the novella I'm writing for Ravenous yet. It's titled, THE GIFT OF CHRISTMAS, and it's still in edits.
I'll post more about each novella as the release dates approach. But I'd like to mention as many times as possible that they are both very different in the sense that SANTA SATURDAY is more on the modern romance-erotica side...not what I'd consider a classic romance...even though there is a happy ending and both characters are in a monogamous relationship. But THE GIFT OF CHRISTMAS is definitely a romance in the classic sense. I will try to make this clear in the back cover copy of both stories.
