MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Authors and readers unite! Let's solve the problem together...

Iqy · 02-08-2010, 04:23 AM

THANK YOU FICBOT!
I spent about 4 months researching ebook publishing sites and came up with every shortcoming you mention here and more. It is infuriating, because as Derek says, publishers are still fighting to stay in control, they won't let go without a fight, there are more Caribbean Islands to buy!

I think I have found a way to make them obselete. We just have to think big and we have to act as a solid group of writers and readers together, we don't need them in the middle taking all the cream.. Read the following before you look at the solution.
1.BORDER and DISTRIBUTION RESTRICTIONS
These are the result of stupid old agreements between authors, (their agents actually) and publishers and distributors, whereby rights to countries are sold and policed. Ebooks can not have this restriction, what is the point if they do, ebooks are a global commodity! So so old fashioned.
2.DRM is also so so old hat. The future is DRM free, publishers will hang on to restricting us for as long as we let them, but we have to go around them. New unpublished writers and writers with new uncontracted books, have the opportunity to publish in ebook form DRM free, so when we buy an ebook we can put it on all of our devices. The ultimate answer is to have access to a book for life after we've paid for it, so we can put it on all our new devices for ever.
3. PRICING and ROYALTY SPLIT Smashwords has a good pricing model 85% writer 15% Smashwords AFTER Paypal fees, but when you get into the small print there are deductions for things like 'affiliate fees, retailer discounts, etc etc,' so it is not that clear. Once an ebook is written edited and converted to epub, thats it! From then on its the click of a mouse and a click of the cash register! Publishers will tell you that its expensive to produce ebooks, total crap. I believe $2 to $5 is a fair price depending on the writers popularity. Over $10 is greedy. Look at the baggage ebooks leave behind, Agents, Printers, Distributors, Transporters, Wholesalers, Retailers, any more?
4. COPYRIGHT As both a reader and a writer, I totally understand the need for copyright. However, take a paperback. We buy it, pass it on to our partner, who passes it on to a mate, who passes it on to a mate, who sells it to a 2nd hand bookstore who starts the whole process again. So, DRM free books might be passed on, no difference. The chance of a $2.95 ebook being pirated and passed around is minimal. This may not be so for big time writers at $12.99, but for most of us its not a problem. If it becomes a problem congrats, you've made it! Ebook writers will just have to accept this and accept that their book can be in front of billions of readers, not just in a few bookshops in a few cities if they are lucky. A massive difference.

THE ANSWER
As I said above, I've spent months on this and the best site by a million miles is a tiny start up web site www.zuluexpress.com. After communicating with the owner for weeks I listed my book with him and sold just short of 200 in a couple of weeks, then it slowed down. Not bad for a brand new site. I asked him if I could give it away for a month to try and get some readers engaged as I am presently writing the sequel, and Book one has a killer ending.

'No problem,' he said, do whatever YOU want! How refreshing. ALSO, he matches Smashwords, in fact beats them hands down on Royalties, its a genuine 85% writer 15% zuluexpress after Paypal, with not one more expense deducted, ever.

His recommended pricing for my book was $2.99 which I'll reinstate in March. I get $2.20 of that! Thats more than a big time writer gets from a publisher. If I get popular I can increase the price if I want. I probably won't.

Its DRM free, there are no territory restrictions, he won't accept books unless they are available globally, and he's working flat out to ensure that zulu ebooks are compatible with every reader. Very difficult, but given time I'm sure he will achieve it, the guy is a genius. Its early days and we are all pioneers.

The idea for a book for life came from him. Once you buy a book at zulu, it sits in your members file, and is available to you forever. This might lead to some sneaky downloads, but in my opinion its best for most of us to get as many books out there as possible, and how many would be ripped off? Not many.

I don't think we need to do anything else but support this guy. Contact him and ask him the questions I did, he's on OUR side. steve@zuluexpress.com

I NEED WRITERS TO JOIN ME AT ZULUEXPRESS.COM If you are sitting on a great book check it out and whack it on, you are not even committed, you can take it off any time if you want. If we can get a few hundred, then a few thousand writers there, we can dispense with those damned publishers, check it out and whack it on, you are not even committed, you can take it off any time if you want. If we can get a few hundred, then a few thousand writers there, we can dispense with those damned publishers and rewrite the history of publishing and reading.

WHO IS INTERESTED? Tell everyone.

02-08-2010, 04:23 AM	#5
Iqy Member Posts: 10 Karma: 64 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Brisbane, Australia Device: PDA	Its Iqy Here, I'm excited THANK YOU FICBOT! I spent about 4 months researching ebook publishing sites and came up with every shortcoming you mention here and more. It is infuriating, because as Derek says, publishers are still fighting to stay in control, they won't let go without a fight, there are more Caribbean Islands to buy! I think I have found a way to make them obselete. We just have to think big and we have to act as a solid group of writers and readers together, we don't need them in the middle taking all the cream.. Read the following before you look at the solution. 1.BORDER and DISTRIBUTION RESTRICTIONS These are the result of stupid old agreements between authors, (their agents actually) and publishers and distributors, whereby rights to countries are sold and policed. Ebooks can not have this restriction, what is the point if they do, ebooks are a global commodity! So so old fashioned. 2.DRM is also so so old hat. The future is DRM free, publishers will hang on to restricting us for as long as we let them, but we have to go around them. New unpublished writers and writers with new uncontracted books, have the opportunity to publish in ebook form DRM free, so when we buy an ebook we can put it on all of our devices. The ultimate answer is to have access to a book for life after we've paid for it, so we can put it on all our new devices for ever. 3. PRICING and ROYALTY SPLIT Smashwords has a good pricing model 85% writer 15% Smashwords AFTER Paypal fees, but when you get into the small print there are deductions for things like 'affiliate fees, retailer discounts, etc etc,' so it is not that clear. Once an ebook is written edited and converted to epub, thats it! From then on its the click of a mouse and a click of the cash register! Publishers will tell you that its expensive to produce ebooks, total crap. I believe $2 to $5 is a fair price depending on the writers popularity. Over $10 is greedy. Look at the baggage ebooks leave behind, Agents, Printers, Distributors, Transporters, Wholesalers, Retailers, any more? 4. COPYRIGHT As both a reader and a writer, I totally understand the need for copyright. However, take a paperback. We buy it, pass it on to our partner, who passes it on to a mate, who passes it on to a mate, who sells it to a 2nd hand bookstore who starts the whole process again. So, DRM free books might be passed on, no difference. The chance of a $2.95 ebook being pirated and passed around is minimal. This may not be so for big time writers at $12.99, but for most of us its not a problem. If it becomes a problem congrats, you've made it! Ebook writers will just have to accept this and accept that their book can be in front of billions of readers, not just in a few bookshops in a few cities if they are lucky. A massive difference. THE ANSWER As I said above, I've spent months on this and the best site by a million miles is a tiny start up web site www.zuluexpress.com. After communicating with the owner for weeks I listed my book with him and sold just short of 200 in a couple of weeks, then it slowed down. Not bad for a brand new site. I asked him if I could give it away for a month to try and get some readers engaged as I am presently writing the sequel, and Book one has a killer ending. 'No problem,' he said, do whatever YOU want! How refreshing. ALSO, he matches Smashwords, in fact beats them hands down on Royalties, its a genuine 85% writer 15% zuluexpress after Paypal, with not one more expense deducted, ever. His recommended pricing for my book was $2.99 which I'll reinstate in March. I get $2.20 of that! Thats more than a big time writer gets from a publisher. If I get popular I can increase the price if I want. I probably won't. Its DRM free, there are no territory restrictions, he won't accept books unless they are available globally, and he's working flat out to ensure that zulu ebooks are compatible with every reader. Very difficult, but given time I'm sure he will achieve it, the guy is a genius. Its early days and we are all pioneers. The idea for a book for life came from him. Once you buy a book at zulu, it sits in your members file, and is available to you forever. This might lead to some sneaky downloads, but in my opinion its best for most of us to get as many books out there as possible, and how many would be ripped off? Not many. I don't think we need to do anything else but support this guy. Contact him and ask him the questions I did, he's on OUR side. steve@zuluexpress.com I NEED WRITERS TO JOIN ME AT ZULUEXPRESS.COM If you are sitting on a great book check it out and whack it on, you are not even committed, you can take it off any time if you want. If we can get a few hundred, then a few thousand writers there, we can dispense with those damned publishers, check it out and whack it on, you are not even committed, you can take it off any time if you want. If we can get a few hundred, then a few thousand writers there, we can dispense with those damned publishers and rewrite the history of publishing and reading. WHO IS INTERESTED? Tell everyone.