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Originally Posted by darryl
@fjtorres. Good post. One thing we can know for sure about the best-selling authors is that they are certainly given very favourable terms indeed. However, as much as it pains me to say it, so long as the Big 5 have a stranglehold on access to a significant segment of the market, it has something attractive to offer authors. Access to this segment of the market could for some authors be the door to best-selling status. And the next generation of best sellers for the Big 5 could well prove to be top indie authors who want to reach the whole of the market including those buying from physical retail stores. Unlike the Big 5, I wish Baen and Angry Robot and the like every success. But they are not owed a living. They too must adapt and find their place in the changing market.
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It going to vary by genre: romance is about 70-30 ebook, SF is about 50-50, mystery and thrillers will be lower. Litfic is the lowest ebook penetration. For romance going tradpub isn't going to bring in enough added reach to justify the move. SF? It's headed that way...
A point to consider is that Indies these days *can* get into print and B&M so the only stranglehold the BPHs hold is on the payola front tables. But those are reserved for the high advance authors. Not many at any point in time. So, unless that kind of promotion is guaranteed... Well, at life-plus-70 they're going to have ante up a lot of money.
Also, remember, the kind of guys they'll want are going to already be making big money. The same dynamic that keeps the legacy guys in place is keeping the Indies indie.