Agency Model pricing -- Anyone else Disgusted?

[jusmee]

Originally Posted by ThomasMcKean

I'd like to know who this is? My publisher has always given me $10% which I have felt is a bit LOW, seeing as how I am the one who writes the books...

My source says it is because it is eBook only. Apparently two publishers that pay high like this are Ellora's Cave, and Cobblestone Press.

[cancelx]

I thought as much
I don't know, maybe im still old school for writing.... i don't mind the idea of reading ebooks (which i have yet to add one to my reader), but writing for them..... i don't know yet, I'd need to see some financial returns info compared to publishing with a paper company.

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by bbqncigars

Robertb:
FYI, Baen is a publisher (mostly s.f.) that has been doing ebooks before most anyone ever heard the term. The late Jim Baen had a vision of publishing his books in electronic format along with the original paper. Pricing is lower on the electronic versions due to lower overhead. There is also the bonus of getting the ebook a bit earlier than the hardcopies hit the shelves. For certain authors, you can even get Advance Reader Copies if you can't wait for the completely edited and proofed text of your next fix. The ARCs command a premium, but sometimes you just can't wait for that next book.
Needless to say, publishers like Baen are rare.


Wayne

Dear Wayne:

I appreciate the "heads up". I had no idea.

I wish I could get Baen eBooks on my eBook Store. I am going to try. I love Science Fiction and want to build up that Genre.

[ThomasMcKean]

Originally Posted by jusmee

My source says it is because it is eBook only. Apparently two publishers that pay high like this are Ellora's Cave, and Cobblestone Press.

Then it prolly would not be long before something I wrote showed up on that pirate bay or whatever that site is.

[jusmee]

Originally Posted by ThomasMcKean

Then it prolly would not be long before something I wrote showed up on that pirate bay or whatever that site is.

Being realistic. Scans of paper only novels turn up in those sorts of places anyway. If the book is popular enough, it'll be scanned and stolen.

My theory is, keep the prices of what you are selling low and reasonable, and anybody who opts for the stolen version would not have been a customer anyway. Chances are, they might steal one, like your work, then procede to buy others you have written.

[jusmee]

Originally Posted by cancelx

I thought as much
I don't know, maybe im still old school for writing.... i don't mind the idea of reading ebooks (which i have yet to add one to my reader), but writing for them..... i don't know yet, I'd need to see some financial returns info compared to publishing with a paper company.

They are however, providing a means for beginner writers to start their career, when more traditional publishers may not be willing to take the risk.

Also, the immediacy of browsing an online book store, finding a story or two you want to read, and being able to get it "in your hands" right there and then, is quite compelling, especially if the prices are competitive. Once you start, you have be strict with yourself or else you will blow all your pocket money. So, as a model for selling books, there are good reasons why it should take off

[ThomasMcKean]

Originally Posted by jusmee

Being realistic. Scans of paper only novels turn up in those sorts of places anyway. If the book is popular enough, it'll be scanned and stolen.

My theory is, keep the prices of what you are selling low and reasonable, and anybody who opts for the stolen version would not have been a customer anyway. Chances are, they might steal one, like your work, then proceed to buy others you have written.

One of the books has sold over 65,000 copies (ain't no one more surprised by that than I am!), and I do check every now and then to see if it has been pirated. So far I've been lucky. Compared to some books, 65,000 is small potatoes. But since I thought it would sell 15, maybe 20, I am quite pleased.

One of the other books, now out of print, was listed on amazon for over $2400.00 for a time. If it had sold, I would not have seen any of that money because it was a resale.

It is interesting being an author...

[MaggieScratch]

10% of list price is normal commercial royalties for hardcopy. Most publishers are paying 25% of net (meaning, of what they get from the distributor or retailer) for e.

There is at least one agent who thinks royalties will rise to 50% with agency pricing. I know there are other agents around who are hinting that royalties for ebooks should be higher than 25%. It should be understood that the 10% of list figure was arrived at as representing approximately half of the publisher's net receipts for each book, so 50% of net for ebooks is not as nuts as it may seem.

[ThomasMcKean]

Originally Posted by MaggieScratch

It should be understood that the 10% of list figure was arrived at as representing approximately half of the publisher's net receipts for each book, so 50% of net for ebooks is not as nuts as it may seem.

I am not sure this is true in my case. The book goes for $19.95 and the publisher once told me it costs him $4.00 to print each book. Mind yew, this was many years ago (the book has been in print now for over 15 years, it is the one in my avatar). That would mean that he loses...erm...(counting on fingers)...$7.98 somewhere else along the way for each book.

Not sure about that 100% though. I am a writer, not a mathematician. If someone is in the mood for a good math puzzle, they can feel free to correct me if I am wrong.

[MaggieScratch]

That's after taking out costs for overhead, such as editorial costs, salaries, rent, utilities, etc. There are costs other than "printing" that go into making a book. In other words, when they end up with money that is not owed to anyone, the publisher splits it with the author. And remember the publisher only gets around 50% of the list price from retail outlets.

And again, it's approximate, and refers to large-scale commercial publishing houses. I'm sure there are particular examples that can be cited as an exception.

[John F]

Robertb congratulations on your great book store. I wouldn't mind seeing better search functionality; I find it very difficult searching for specific books by title or author.

Have you seen this site:

http://www.inkmesh.com/

They do a pretty good job of looking up prices at a bunch of different stores. Their prices are a little stale sometimes, but it is a very nice site. Maybe you could contact them and get included.

Originally Posted by Robertb

...

Look, I fought like hell to finally come out with a good eBook Store with great pricing. Our prices are well below the others. Some even beat out Kindle.

...

And for everyone else... you may still want to check other stores for lower prices, you may be surprised to find a few have lower prices for some titles.

[Xenophon]

Originally Posted by Robertb

Dear Wayne:

I appreciate the "heads up". I had no idea.

I wish I could get Baen eBooks on my eBook Store. I am going to try. I love Science Fiction and want to build up that Genre.

Contact them directly to negotiate. My guess (based on past public comment from their principals) is that their key issue will be NO DRM. If you're willing to accept that, you'll probably be able to work a deal.

Xenophon
(NOT a Baen insider, just a long-time fan)

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by John F

Robertb congratulations on your great book store. I wouldn't mind seeing better search functionality; I find it very difficult searching for specific books by title or author.

Have you seen this site:

http://www.inkmesh.com/

They do a pretty good job of looking up prices at a bunch of different stores. Their prices are a little stale sometimes, but it is a very nice site. Maybe you could contact them and get included.



And for everyone else... you may still want to check other stores for lower prices, you may be surprised to find a few have lower prices for some titles.

Dear John:

I will try today to make contact and get included.

For anybody out there that is a writer/author... if you have the novel in EPUB or PDF... send me a PM. Our normal deal is we will put it up on our site and split the profits with you 50-50. We are trying to get more content and we do let YOU set the price. This makes money for you and still allows the lowest price for the purchaser.

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by Xenophon

Contact them directly to negotiate. My guess (based on past public comment from their principals) is that their key issue will be NO DRM. If you're willing to accept that, you'll probably be able to work a deal.

Xenophon
(NOT a Baen insider, just a long-time fan)

Dear Xenophon:

Thank you. I will try to find them online and contact them.

I would love to go non-DRM if they are amenable to that.

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by Robertb

Dear Wayne:

I appreciate the "heads up". I had no idea.

I wish I could get Baen eBooks on my eBook Store. I am going to try. I love Science Fiction and want to build up that Genre.

Dear Wayne:

I did contact Baen and they seem interested. The key person is at the London Book Fair for a while; but I am confident when he returns we will talk well.