04-28-2010, 08:35 AM | #16 |
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The author owns it, because that's part of the fee you pay when getting published. Essentially they design it for you, and it's yours after that. As for Oort, the limited edition versions were all POD done by Amazon, and the cover was done my yours truly. Yes, I'm no art major, but I at least gave it my best shot. And as for my new publisher, I didn't get the "writer" package when I had the book republished with 2 Moon Press. I actually did the masterpiece package, and got it at the novelist price because I was gonna do so many books with them. ^_^ Plus I personally know the owner. He's actually a really good guy. If you want to meet him, we'll be over at Motor City Con, Gen Con, and Dragon Con this year, to name a few of the big events we'll be at. I'm gonna be working his booth helping him out while selling some of my own books as well.
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04-28-2010, 08:52 PM | #17 |
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WOW! I never knew the author pays the publisher... I thought it was the other way around...
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04-28-2010, 09:05 PM | #18 |
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Well, it depends on the publishing house. The *BIG* houses that take in millions of dollars every time someone blinks can publish the book for free, and pay authors an advance for their work. However, there's a catch. >98% of authors who sign with them sign away literary control of their work, meaning that once you sign that huge 180 page fine print contract, you sign away your book and all control of it to them. Sure, you get to publish for free, but you lose control of your work, and you have to make changes based on what *they* want, not what you want. Only the absolute biggest author names with powerful attorneys can have contracts written up to favor them and retain control.
Also, unless you're one of those big super names, you won't get your advance until you've sold at least 100,000 copies, which really doesn't make it an advance. Yes, there are the select few who do get huge advances and retain control of their works, but they're big names. The rest don't. On top of that, you are treated like cattle, and the customer is treated like dirt. Years ago it used to be the crowning achievement to get your book picked up by one of the big publishing houses. Today, that's not so much the case. The big publishing houses have turned, more or less, into the RIAA and MPAA of books. IE, you want to avoid them at all costs. The next step down, which is what I have, is a pay to publish house. This is not a vanity publisher. There's a difference, and most people don't see that. It's agreed that the PTP publishing house I'm using does charge a small up front fee, but that's just for the setup, after that everything moves forward in the exact same way that one of the big houses would do it. Well, I should say *did* it, as they don't do it this way anymore. IE, my publisher actually cares for me and the owner handles each author personally. Yeah, ok, he's a small publisher, but sometimes you're best if you go that route. With my publisher, even though they're PTP, you still have to get approved by them, and they most certainly DO NOT take everyone. He's actually rejected quite a number just this month alone. As he grows in size, he'll switch away from the PTP format to a more traditional publishing house setup. But even though he's small right now, he does everything for you just like he was a big publishing house. I've got all kinds of book shows, signings, radio ads, news paper, reviews by the LA Times, etc, etc, etc. IE, he works his butt off so you can be successful, and works with you personally every step of the way, just like the big houses used to do. Now, in comparison, the next level below a PTP house is a POD (print on demand) and the Vanity publishers who only take your money, setup your book, print it, and then leave you to fend for yourself. He's anything but that. ^_^ |
04-29-2010, 01:29 AM | #19 |
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Thank you Steve...
Since I know very little about book publishing, this was very educational... |
04-29-2010, 01:33 AM | #20 |
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Edit.
Last edited by dadioflex; 12-15-2010 at 06:14 PM. |
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04-29-2010, 02:29 AM | #21 |
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I've only just read the 'link', but... that's shocking... I'm so glad I'm not a writer.
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04-29-2010, 08:50 AM | #22 | |||||
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04-29-2010, 10:41 AM | #23 |
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Edit.
Last edited by dadioflex; 12-15-2010 at 06:14 PM. |
04-29-2010, 05:43 PM | #24 |
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Thanks. And glad I could help. ^_^
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04-30-2010, 10:51 PM | #25 | |
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05-04-2010, 01:26 AM | #26 |
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Hi guys,
this was an interesting post. I've always wondered about PTP houses, but this clarified the issue I had in mind. Cheers, Heikki www.tulagihotel.com |
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