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Tag Archives: self publishing

Print Survives While eBooks Wane

15 Thursday Oct 2015

Posted by Megan in Books, The Future

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

books, digital books, eBooks, Kindle, Kobo, printed books, self publishing, self-published books, technology

A recent New York Times story talked about how print books are on the rebound, while digital books are on a sudden decline. eBook sales sharply decreased this year, while print books remain steady. Even more so, bookstores are seeing profits and sales of digital readers, like Kindle, are declining.

Image via Wikimedia Commons

Image via Wikimedia Commons

It appears the terror over the end of print books – with their aroma, words on paper you can touch, and the stacked bookshelves that display them – maybe waning. Some people are relaxing or are relieved to know that eBooks did not take over old fashioned media, much like MP3s replaced CDs and cassettes, or Netflix is replacing TV and cable.

But based on the comments section for that NY Times article, and other comments on writers forums and blogs, many would say the article is misleading. Some argue that eBooks will not disappear anytime soon. After all, they are good for traveling and there are certain genres that are good for eBooks, such as erotica and romance. After all, one reason why eBooks were doing so well was because of the popularity of the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy.

Another reason why eBooks may be declining is because of how some books are priced at the same amount as print books. Another would be because some eBooks are not archived long enough on the reading devices.

I also cannot help but wonder if the decline of the eBooks has a lot to do with the backlash over self-published books. Many of them are filled with editorial mistakes such as misspelled words, grammatical errors and formatting issues. My book has this problem when I first released it, so I am just as guilty here for hurting the self-publishing/digital book movement that is now struggling. I am still seeing many blog posts and articles complaining about the editorial troubles, with some people swearing off self-published books for good.

I believe eBooks will stick around, but will not erase printed books forever. I think eBooks will be one of the many ways to enjoy a book. For now on, there will be four formats: hardcover, softcover, audio and digital. Audiobooks certainly didn’t ruin printed books, and they are still being used for various reasons. The same will go for digital books.

But in the meantime, eBooks need to look good. The eBook craze coincided with the self-publishing craze and now both are receiving a kind of backlash. In order to keep eBooks around as one of the many preferences to read a book, those who choose to release their books via the digital route need to be more professional and have a business mindset, rather than simply a creative one.

 

 

 

Self-Publishing May Be Like The California Gold Rush

19 Wednesday Jun 2013

Posted by Megan in Self-Publishing

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

authors, book industry, book publishing, books, California Gold Rush, eBooks, Kindle, self publishing, self-published authors, self-published books, Smashwords

Ever since I self-published my book back in September, I’ve had people ask me about both my experience and my take on self-publishing. Many are fascinated, while some are skeptical. I get the occasional few that look down at me, but so what? 🙂

Image via Wikimedia Commons

Image via Wikimedia Commons

I know many writers out there wonder if self-publishing is here to stay or will it hit a wall like many trends do. Most point out that self-publishing is not as easy as it may sound. It is true that publishing your book(s) on your own is a huge gamble, especially in the financial sense. You are putting your own money toward something that you may not profit from. It may take a few years, and a few books, to make a name for yourself and see your hard work pay off. Basically, self-publishing is like any other business venture. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.

What comes to my mind about the future of self-publishing, and book publishing altogether, is the California Gold Rush. When gold was discovered near San Francisco in 1848, tens of thousands from all over the world flooded the Golden State in hopes of becoming filthy rich from gold. These people were known as the 49ers, and I would say many self-published authors could be called the same. After all, we are part of a huge rush during a major turning point in publishing history.

I’m sure there self-published authors who felt that they would strike it rich based on the success stories of Amanda Hocking and John Locke. Others, like me, were intrigued by the idea of being in control of their product. When gold was found in California, a whole new world opened up. California developed a reputation as the place where dreams can come true – and not just from gold. Even today, California is the place to go for dreams to become reality, particularly among dot-com entrepreneurs.

But the reason why I compare self-publishing to the California Gold Rush is because while so many followed their dreams of success, few have actually gotten rich. I’ve heard of authors who struggle to sell even 100 copies of their books. Their investments do not pay off and they probably regret their decision to release their work on their own (NOTE: I can’t say this is definite for all, but I’m sure somewhere out there, there is an author kicking his or herself for not doing well with self-publishing). Writers like Amanda Hocking and John Locke are rare, just like those who actually found gold in California. Many naysayers of this form of book publishing may smirk over the disillusioned writers who dared to risk it all.

But what could happen, much like the results of the California Gold Rush, is that the book industry can change into something far different than what was expected. As a result of the gold rush, California became a state in 1850 and it’s population boomed. San Francisco went from a tiny town to a bustling city, and several spots in the state saw similar changes, albeit smaller. New technologies came about to transport gold seekers across the U.S. and around the globe. The rush made America seem much larger and everything became possible.

I can’t say what exactly will be left behind once the self-publishing craze quiets down. It won’t go away altogether, that’s certain, but I do think self-publishing will lead to something else for authors who want to share their works with the world. I highly doubt things will go back to the way they were – just like the U.S. did not go back to life before the gold rush.

Image via Wikimedia Commons

Image via Wikimedia Commons

Self-publishing has brought income for graphic designers creating book covers, editors fixing up manuscripts, tech-savvy book lovers to start blog tours and other promotional methods, and even video editors have found work to make book trailers. These are all freelance workers, and they may be tied with the increasing number of freelancers due to the struggling job market. But would these people be seeing extra money if self-publishing didn’t become a popular choice for many authors?

Heck, one good outcome from self-publishing is the increasing popularity of the New Adult genre. Originally begun by St. Martin’s Press a few years ago, self-published books have truly brought this genre to the masses. While some are skeptical of New Adult (NA) too, it is gaining in popularity thanks to self-publishing. One more point for this venture!

But it is still early to say what will be the final result of self-publishing. Many are still interested in this route, and that is good if they have reasonable priorities and goals. As long as writers are aware of the risks of self-publishing – especially financially – I say they should give it a shot. It’s cool to be part of something historic!

As for me, I would say I have done well. I am not a huge success, and if I ever get there, I’m a long way off. My first and only book has either sold or been downloaded for free over 700 times. During a free day on Halloween over on Amazon, it was in the Top 50 for free books in paranormal books. That’s pretty awesome and yes, I am proud of that. But I am not hugely famous and my book is not selling like hotcakes nine months after its release. Granted, I need to get it’s sequel out to keep the momentum going, but working full time does not making novel writing easy.

Will I keep self-publishing all of my future books? I cannot say. In my wildest dreams, I will be successful enough to do so. But that is not very realistic. My plan is to publish my vampire trilogy on my own, and then have my next books published by a small publishing house. That works for me. Self-publishing is hard work and it is such a gamble. I don’t regret doing any of it at all, and I’m glad I can tell my grandchildren what I took part in during an historic time in literature and technology. I just wish it was a lot more easier for many reasons.

Blog Tour Stop: Darkest Sins

19 Wednesday Sep 2012

Posted by Megan in My Books, The Dark Proposal, Vampires

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

blog tours, book promotion, indie authors, Indie books, paranormal, self publishing, self-published authors, urban fantasy

Another stop on my blog tour! Thanks to Silvia Paoletta, her blog Darkest Sins is featuring an excerpt of my book, The Dark Proposal. It is part of Chapter 1, the excerpt making its rounds in the book blogosphere.

So, stop by Darkest Sins to show your support!

Many thanks to Dark Mind Book Tours – you ladies are the best!

And don’t forget to check out my newly released debut novel, The Dark Proposal. It already has a 4 out of 5 star review on Amazon!

 

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