E-books: The format of a publisher looking to the future — or looking to save money?

AprilHare · 10-05-2010, 12:54 AM

Interesting article on e-publishing, relating to my favourite TV show, Being Erica - makes for an interesting discussion on ebook publishing: http://www.cbc.ca/books/bookclub/201...ave-money.html

Quote:

Two upstart publishers with little capital are sitting in a café. They're mapping out how to market a manuscript they're courting, The Purple Dora, by a new writer on the block.

Brunette: "The goal should be to publish The Purple Dora and get it into Chapters."

Blonde: "No, it's not, chicken. Not any more. Now there's the Kindle, the e-Reader, the iPad. E-publishing, it's the future of reading."

Brunette: "I absolutely think that e-publishing should be a part of our business plan, but what about books? Real, solid, curl up on the couch with, take to the beach..."

Blonde: "Yah, books cost money. They have to be barcoded, warehoused, shipped. Mucho dinero that we don't have."

The brunette is Erica Strange and the blonde Julianne Giacomelli, two characters on the CBC's hit TV show Being Erica. Last season, both were fired from their cushy gigs at the fictional River Rock Publishing. This season, they're venturing into the risky territory of starting their own press.

Their exclusive e-book route for The Purple Dora made me think about the factors behind a book's format. Hardback? Paperback? E-book? One format? Two? All three? There's a lot at stake in getting this right. It can determine whether your book gets read or written off.

GhostHawk · 10-05-2010, 07:36 AM

Take a look at what Baen started back in the 90's. There is your future.

Steven Lyle Jordan · 10-05-2010, 08:43 AM

Looking to the future, or looking to save money... the two aren't mutually exclusive. You can do both... and how often in history has going the modern route been less expensive? Literally the only thing holding back the tide is Luddite businesspeople and consumers... there's no practical reason not to do it.

L.J. Sellers · 10-05-2010, 09:39 AM

With the option to use Lightning Source as a POD printer/fulfillment center for print books, there's no reason for a publisher to not make a book available in both digital and print formats. The set-up costs are minimal and the promotion efforts overlap.
L.J.

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10-05-2010, 07:36 AM	#2
GhostHawk Data Privateer! Posts: 586 Karma: 62887 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Fargo ND Device: Ectaco Jetbook& Jetbook Lite	Take a look at what Baen started back in the 90's. There is your future.

10-05-2010, 08:43 AM	#3
Steven Lyle Jordan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,478 Karma: 5171130 Join Date: Jan 2006 Device: none	Looking to the future, or looking to save money... the two aren't mutually exclusive. You can do both... and how often in history has going the modern route been less expensive? Literally the only thing holding back the tide is Luddite businesspeople and consumers... there's no practical reason not to do it.

10-05-2010, 09:39 AM	#4
L.J. Sellers Novelist Posts: 287 Karma: 387979 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Eugene, Oregon Device: Kindle	With the option to use Lightning Source as a POD printer/fulfillment center for print books, there's no reason for a publisher to not make a book available in both digital and print formats. The set-up costs are minimal and the promotion efforts overlap. L.J.

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