Some Frequently Asked Questions
You can read the basic FAQ here, but here are answers to a few more frequently asked questions:
1. Why are covers different in the US and other countries?
Generally speaking, each country has a different publisher, and that publisher chooses its own artwork for the covers.
2. Can I get a signed book, bookplate, etc?
Unfortunately, I don't have the ability to sign individual books or send out bookplates (or other materials) on request at this time. But I try to host plenty of contests and blog tour spots to let folks have a shot at Dark Elite and Chicagoland Vampires swag. You can also visit the store to buy CV and DE gear.
I can send out bookmarks in bulk to bookstores, so feel free to ask your local bookstore to send me an email request.
3. Why are your e-books sometimes more expensive than your published books? Can you make the e-books cheaper?
I can hear your frustration through the Interwebs! That said, the publisher and retailer set the prices of the books, and I have no say in those decisions. (Nor would I want to! Too much maths!)
Generally, as I understand the system, e-books often are lower in price than print copies. In some circumstances, however, a retailer might provide an extra discount on the print copy of the book that makes it appear that the e-book version is "more expensive" than the print version. (Thus, even if it appears the Kindle version of a book is "more expensive" than a paper copy at Amazon, this is actually because Amazon provides a discounted copy of the paper book. The Kindle version would still, for example, be cheaper than a paper copy purchased at a brick-and-mortar bookstore.)
More importantly, e-book sales are only a small fraction of a publisher's current sales. (From what I've seen on the Interwebs, somewhere between 3-5%.) Yes, that fraction is increasing, but publishers still have all the overhead associated with actually publishing and printing the book--paying the author, paying the editors, office and overhead costs, typesetting, cover art, printing, advertising, servers and 'lectronics, web hosting, etc. The only chunk of that not associated directly with e-books is the printing bit, and when 92-97% of books are still sold in paper form, publishers still have all those costs anyway.
That said, it's quite possible e-book prices will drop in the future if (when?) e-books become a bigger chunk of the market. (Who remembers how much VCRs used to cost? Now I think they give them away with the purchase of soup.) :)
1. Why are covers different in the US and other countries?
Generally speaking, each country has a different publisher, and that publisher chooses its own artwork for the covers.
2. Can I get a signed book, bookplate, etc?
Unfortunately, I don't have the ability to sign individual books or send out bookplates (or other materials) on request at this time. But I try to host plenty of contests and blog tour spots to let folks have a shot at Dark Elite and Chicagoland Vampires swag. You can also visit the store to buy CV and DE gear.
I can send out bookmarks in bulk to bookstores, so feel free to ask your local bookstore to send me an email request.
3. Why are your e-books sometimes more expensive than your published books? Can you make the e-books cheaper?
I can hear your frustration through the Interwebs! That said, the publisher and retailer set the prices of the books, and I have no say in those decisions. (Nor would I want to! Too much maths!)
Generally, as I understand the system, e-books often are lower in price than print copies. In some circumstances, however, a retailer might provide an extra discount on the print copy of the book that makes it appear that the e-book version is "more expensive" than the print version. (Thus, even if it appears the Kindle version of a book is "more expensive" than a paper copy at Amazon, this is actually because Amazon provides a discounted copy of the paper book. The Kindle version would still, for example, be cheaper than a paper copy purchased at a brick-and-mortar bookstore.)
More importantly, e-book sales are only a small fraction of a publisher's current sales. (From what I've seen on the Interwebs, somewhere between 3-5%.) Yes, that fraction is increasing, but publishers still have all the overhead associated with actually publishing and printing the book--paying the author, paying the editors, office and overhead costs, typesetting, cover art, printing, advertising, servers and 'lectronics, web hosting, etc. The only chunk of that not associated directly with e-books is the printing bit, and when 92-97% of books are still sold in paper form, publishers still have all those costs anyway.
That said, it's quite possible e-book prices will drop in the future if (when?) e-books become a bigger chunk of the market. (Who remembers how much VCRs used to cost? Now I think they give them away with the purchase of soup.) :)
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