Quote:
Originally Posted by BearMountainBooks
The agent isn't going to be too happy about involving a lawyer either. At at about 300 dollars an hour for a lawyer who specializes in publishing contracts, you'll be out more than the book will make in about two conversations. From what I understand, publishers pretty much say, 'Take it or leave it. You an hire a lawyer, but really, we aren't going to change much." The agents work deals because the publishers have come to trust their judgement in vetting the manuscripts for them. Plus, in some cases the agents are ex-employees of said publishing firm.
And that is not to demonize agents. They serve a purpose and they usually get a better deal than the author can arrange on his/her own. But ultimately, you have to know what you're really getting and the contracts are not really in the author's favor. Because of that, indie publishing is not going to go away. And more authors are going to do both.
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Well I wish all authors the best of luck. While I might abhor some types of books, without books I would want to curl up and die probably. And despite complaints of high prices, and again I find prices very high in some cases not many have been driven to sin and depravity by a book addiction.
Authors making money is a good thing, and while I agree that the split between authors and publishers may be unfair in many cases, I feel that the publishers should make a living too. Probably agents as well, and bookstore owners etc. All contribute to some degree.
I also know that if publishers and agents and even authors went out of business today, the world would go on but be a far poorer place despite the many books already available.
I don't think I will spend much time personally looking at Indie books, but happy hunting to those that do, and may fortune smile on the Indie authors every bit as much as the traditionally published ones.
Helen