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Your cynicism is quite understandable, MJ.
Funny to think that one of the first ebook publishers in the world (Jacobyte Books of Adelaide) opened in the 90s when the rest of the world was dithering. Not so funny that it met with such wildly enthusiastic apathy Down Under that my own wee house had to take over Jackobyte in 2004 to save its best titles and authors from obscurity. (Jacobyte's excdellent editor-in-chief and owner is still part of our own team.)
The Australian and New Zealand reader, I feel, has been abused by the industry -- with local publishers and retailers carrying equal blame. Some superb writing talent has also withered on the vine (which is why we're so proud to carry as many Australian authors as we do at BeWrite Books).
The 'traditional' industry there appears to be in its death throes. The final nails in the coffin are just being hammered home by the ebook explosion ... and by the promise by the massive Ingram/Lightning Source to open a print and dispatch base in Australia next month.
When their printed-on-demand books hit the local market at reasonable prices and with only local shipping charge, retailers will at last be shown to have been artificially and hugely inflating cover prices for far, far too long. We've always had healthy readership Down Under, but until now, hefty shipping costs from US and UK LS print bases has significantly added to the cost.
Cheers. Neil
PS: If you want to take a look at what's on offer at BB, by the way, MJ, go to the bookstore section of our site (linked below). If you then hit the 'our authors' button up top of the page, you'll be able to spot our Australian authors. If two or three titles catch your eye, just drop me a note of them and your preferred format and I'll be happy to send them along with our compliments. Otherwise just let me know your favoured genres and I'll send you a wee grab bag.
Karma to ya and best wishes. Neil -- ntmarrATbewrite.net (but use the @ sign, of course)
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