Comments on: The Author Advantages of E

By: Angelia Sparrow

Angelia Sparrow — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 21:19:25 +0000

Raelene makes some excellent points. When the e-model works, it works well. There are many ways for it to fall apart. I’ve seen and felt the effects of several of them. Then again, 80% of all small businesses fail, so why should e-pubs be any different?

The cheap and easy submission process drew me in, the willingness to try riskier stories hooked me and Ellora’s monthly checks are just frosting. (I’ve still got some properties with quarterly paying e-pubs)

The limited time for backlist in NY publishers varies by author and house. I was able to walk into B&N and pick up a 2007 mass market paperback by an author I’d recently met. His 2006 was on the shelf beside it. I do like having my backlist easily available for my new readers.

By: Donna Basinow

Donna Basinow — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 17:01:18 +0000

Great article! Truly lays out the strengths of e-publishing as well as clarifying that it’s not a contest or a war.

By: Kate Douglas

Kate Douglas — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 14:19:17 +0000

Excellent post, Raelene. My career is a perfect example of an author using epublishing to advance their career. I started out writing for Hard Shell Word Factory in 1998 when I was unable to find a buyer for my quirky stories in NY. I discovered Ellora’s Cave in 2001and began to build a following for my erotic romances. In 2004 I was writing for both EC and Changeling Press when the NY market recognized that readers really loved those sexy romances and bought my CP series, Wolf Tales. I am currently writing the 19th story (including novellas) for Kensington Publishing, with two more contracted and a new, mass market series set to debut in March 2010. My story is not unusual–authors such as Angela Knight and MaryJanice Davidson, Michele Bardsley, Cheyenne McCray and Dakota Cassidy have turned ebook careers into successful NY publishing careers. All of us went into NY with a strong readership that followed us over from our ebook sales, and while I can’t speak for the others, I have seen sales of my ebook backlist continue so that I still receive monthly royalty statements from my epublishers. RWA’s ostrich-like stance does no one any good. An author, whether epublished or print, needs the same education about the publishing business in order to succeed. If RWA intends to meet the needs of its members, it has got to be more inclusive.

By: Deb Kinnard

Deb Kinnard — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 01:06:28 +0000

I’m proud to be e-published. I’m not with EC but with Desert Breeze, who has allowed my inspie romances to reach an audience. I cannot count how many times I’ve been told that Christian fiction “can’t sell” the types of stories I write. Well, it’s early days for my current novels, but mine apparently are selling just fine, “no-no” thematic elements or not.

And lest anyone think I’m talking naughty Christian fic here, I’m talking about “no-no” items such as: divorced characters, medieval settings, marriages of convenience, and so forth.

I quit RWA because I was tired of being neither fish nor fowl. All three of my e-publishers, past and present, take me seriously as an author, and such houses are where my work should be.

By: Kathy Kulig

Kathy Kulig — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 21:38:53 +0000

Great post! A clear explanation of why the e-pub model works. (It works for me) Authors can choose what career path is right for them when they understand what opportunities are available.

By: Jean Hart Stewart

Jean Hart Stewart — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:26:00 +0000

Excellent summation and just the way I feel about e-books. They’re the wave of the future, and RWA just refuses to realizes the advantages to both writers and readers. I’ve just dropped out of RWA but intend to keep up with some very good friends I’ve made in the local chapter.

By: Francesca Hawley

Francesca Hawley — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 03:21:10 +0000

Wonderful educational post, Raelene. Thanks for visiting today to share information all authors need to know!

By: Lynn Crain

Lynn Crain — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 02:54:45 +0000

Thanks for the insight to this wonderful field of publishing.

You have made some very valid points and if RWA can keep the emotion down, the business sense up then we should be able to resolve this problem professionally.

It would be great if we could.

Thanks for taking time out of your busy day to talk to us. It was great!

Lynn

By: Jacqueline Roth

Jacqueline Roth — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 01:57:12 +0000

To me the business model that Raelene explained makes sense and I agree with the points she raised. What draws me to this model is not only the idea of getting monthly/quarterly royalties but others mentioned as well. The no backlisting stance that has been adopted by many in the other model have caused a lot of quality books to go out of print in remarkably short order.

And I do feel publishers in this model invest in their writers, more than those in the other model in that they can take a chance on someone who is new, writing edgy work, etc. Let’s remember they don’t give an “advance” they will recoup from the profits, they give an investment of art, editing, formating, etc. that to me counts just as much as handing me a check for a small advance that they may never recoup. And we all know what happens to small houses that over reach.

By: Adele Dubois

Adele Dubois — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 01:46:45 +0000

Terrific article, Raelene. As a proud Ellora’s Cave author, I love the flexibility of writing at my own pace and the creative freedom I enjoy.