Comments on: Backlists, Hydra and the Future of Indie Publishing http://www.teleread.com/publishing/backlists-hydra-and-the-future-of-indie-publishing/ News & views on e-books, libraries, publishing and related topics Sun, 19 May 2013 17:12:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Juli Monroe http://www.teleread.com/publishing/backlists-hydra-and-the-future-of-indie-publishing/comment-page-1/#comment-1254792 Juli Monroe Thu, 14 Mar 2013 12:28:40 +0000 http://www.teleread.com/?p=81281#comment-1254792 @Thalia, glad to hear some are learning the lessons. I've gone both indie press and self-pub, and there's advantages and disadvantages to both, so I'm all for both being options. @Thalia, glad to hear some are learning the lessons. I’ve gone both indie press and self-pub, and there’s advantages and disadvantages to both, so I’m all for both being options.

]]> By: Leigh Russell http://www.teleread.com/publishing/backlists-hydra-and-the-future-of-indie-publishing/comment-page-1/#comment-1254618 Leigh Russell Thu, 14 Mar 2013 09:29:50 +0000 http://www.teleread.com/?p=81281#comment-1254618 My series of crime thrillers is published once a year. The series is proving so successful (in terms of reviews and sales) that I now write a spin off series which is being published once a year, making a new book every six months. My series of crime thrillers is published once a year. The series is proving so successful (in terms of reviews and sales) that I now write a spin off series which is being published once a year, making a new book every six months.

]]> By: Thalia http://www.teleread.com/publishing/backlists-hydra-and-the-future-of-indie-publishing/comment-page-1/#comment-1254559 Thalia Thu, 14 Mar 2013 08:43:08 +0000 http://www.teleread.com/?p=81281#comment-1254559 Interesting article. I work for a reasonably large independent publisher and one of the lessons we've learned (but many majors haven't) is how much ebooks have changed what you can do with an author who has a long list. Of course, the author themselves can sell an ebook fairly effectively so as a publisher you only really add value if you can invest in print editions. These do take a while to earn their money back for anything other than a title that gets a lot of immediate press and shelf space. However, if you look at a combined strategy you can make things work - use special sales and ebook sales to cover the early costs and to get some print copies into the warehouse, even if you don't get a traditional trade take-up, and then you effectively have a 'new' backlist title. All publishers know how important backlist is, the trick is how to get from the upfront costs (and losses!) to a point where a book is simply part of the backlist and selling reasonably steadily. Anyway, that's a bit of a ramble, but the point is that some publishers are learning this lesson. Those who can't will increasingly look like dinosaurs to those who know anything about the self-pub world. Interesting article. I work for a reasonably large independent publisher and one of the lessons we’ve learned (but many majors haven’t) is how much ebooks have changed what you can do with an author who has a long list. Of course, the author themselves can sell an ebook fairly effectively so as a publisher you only really add value if you can invest in print editions. These do take a while to earn their money back for anything other than a title that gets a lot of immediate press and shelf space. However, if you look at a combined strategy you can make things work – use special sales and ebook sales to cover the early costs and to get some print copies into the warehouse, even if you don’t get a traditional trade take-up, and then you effectively have a ‘new’ backlist title. All publishers know how important backlist is, the trick is how to get from the upfront costs (and losses!) to a point where a book is simply part of the backlist and selling reasonably steadily.

Anyway, that’s a bit of a ramble, but the point is that some publishers are learning this lesson. Those who can’t will increasingly look like dinosaurs to those who know anything about the self-pub world.

]]> By: Marilynn Byerly http://www.teleread.com/publishing/backlists-hydra-and-the-future-of-indie-publishing/comment-page-1/#comment-1254126 Marilynn Byerly Wed, 13 Mar 2013 18:00:55 +0000 http://www.teleread.com/?p=81281#comment-1254126 The problem for big publishers is the number of books they put out per quarter or per month. They can't afford the cost, up to $250,000 per book not counting author advances, to create more than a certain number of books, and the bookstores limit their shelf space, as well. Publishers like Harlequin who have huge monthly lists of new books are often forced to only sell one title per book line at certain stores. Not the optimum way to make money. WIth only a limited number of books to put out, the publishers would be devoting half their list to authors like Nora Roberts and Heather Graham who can produce close to a dozen books including reprints per year. That would not only limit the number of authors out there, it would concentrate the kinds of books, as well. The problem for big publishers is the number of books they put out per quarter or per month. They can’t afford the cost, up to $250,000 per book not counting author advances, to create more than a certain number of books, and the bookstores limit their shelf space, as well. Publishers like Harlequin who have huge monthly lists of new books are often forced to only sell one title per book line at certain stores. Not the optimum way to make money.

WIth only a limited number of books to put out, the publishers would be devoting half their list to authors like Nora Roberts and Heather Graham who can produce close to a dozen books including reprints per year.

That would not only limit the number of authors out there, it would concentrate the kinds of books, as well.

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