Quote:
Originally Posted by ShadowAuthor
In this day and age, I just can't see why authors don't/can't sell the paper copies of their books through the regular channels, and distribute all electronic versions of their work themselves, thus reaping a larger profit in the process.
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Because in many existing contracts, the publishers already hold ebook rights. In new contracts, only heavyweight authors stand much chance of hanging onto ebook rights. Most others wouldn't see it as worth fighting over, because ebook earnings are still tiny in the whole picture.
Plus, at this stage, only a handful of writers are very savvy about ebooks. To create your own ebooks requires a considerable investment in time and energy. Too many people think it's simple. It's not.
And before you cheer Random House too much, they're the company that made a huge grab for ebook rights in old contracts--trying to tie up books whose authors
could try to do the above.