LOL love that… very true

Like Dara Joy, you mean?
If said author wants to become a publisher, fine. The expense of a shopping cart, a suitable website, managing funds, cover art, finding an editor (the person who has himself for an editor is employing a fool), and most of all, driving traffic to the site, then that’s fine.
For people who want to write, letting someone else do all that seems to be the better choice.
I’m not the entrepreneurial type, and having gained an MBA, I’m even more sure I’m not one!

Stumbled across this topic and wanted to throw another two cents in.

A dropped mid-list author can satisfy their readers (mid-series) and still turn a profit by taking control of the distribution of their future works and selling online.

Even better – distributing their books online for free – and still earn from it! After all – a writer deserves to be paid for their efforts (and as publishers squeeze the margins – it seems that it’s the authors that suffer).

I’m testing the waters with some freeconomics – the ability to give stuff away but also make some cash for the writing. Have a looksee at fengshuiassassin.com.

Ady

I do think this isn’t really a new thing publishingwise. I mean I still have books by Elizabeth Lowell I will never get cuz of market.

A Nicole Jordan I will prolly never see cuz westerns… ::sniff::

same with Lorraine Heath

sadness

But to tell the truth those three up there are big reason where I am not shocked if something isn’t finished and a big reason to wait. Of course it is also why I wonder why series are SOOOOOOo popular.

But I will say that, of all those original debut program authors who didn’t get subsequent contracts, many are now happily writing for different publishers.

I guess I’m just an optimist, but I feel like, in an economic depression, that escaping into some ‘happy place’ in a book is something a lot of people will want to do, and the price of a mass market paperback is still relatively low, compared to other forms of entertainment that folks might cut back on (movies, for example). That said, I *am* glad that my publishers (Kensington and Harlequin) also offer my books in e-formats, as well, offering a slightly lower-price option for those with e-readers.

Anyway, that’s just my two cents!

I say I don’t feel badly for myself as an author because Kensington has treated me very well. They have awarded me the opportunity to fulfill a lifelong dream and introduced me to a wealth of new friends through readers who have bought and enjoyed my books. They also did their part to help market the release of my second contracted book with them, which for a new author is pretty flattering.

But publishing is a numbers-game even in the best of times, and I knew that going in, and I completely understand why my series wasn’t contracted further. “Dark Hunger” was contracted at the same time as “Dark Thirst,” and when I proposed the ending to my editor, he approved with a very clear caveat that a third installment may not be contracted. I was under no illusions about this possibility, hoped for the best and chose to take a gamble. Unfortunately for me — and more importantly, for my readers, my gamble didn’t pay off. I feel awful about this and assume full responsibility. While the decision not to continue the series wasn’t mine, the choice to end the book in the way it does was mine alone. (For anyone who is following the series, you’ll find my outline for the third book on my forum: http://sarareinke.activeboard.com. I’m a firm believer in happy endings and hopefully this will demonstrate to readers I hadn’t planned on leaving things so open-ended and dire!)

As far as options go, like Lynne, I’m going to write the stories I enjoy telling. Always have. Always will, even if no one reads them but my mom, LOL. Would I like to hit the NY Times list someday? Sure — I’m not going to lie to you. But the truth is, I worked so hard promoting the Brethren books over the past year, investing time, effort, energy and money into trying to make them successful, and really came close to burning myself out. Authors have to wear so many different hats sometimes, and it can be all too easy to forget the one we enjoy wearing the most — our Writer’s Hat.

So I’m glad for this chance to get back to the fun stuff, telling my little stories. I’ve got my feet pretty firmly planted on the ground, I think. Yeah, my agent is still going to pitch my stuff to bigger publishers, but I’m not going to pin all of my hopes on some big, fantastic advance and a multibook contract. I’ve had good experiences with e-publishers like Double Dragon Publishing and while I might not make a fortune off my books with them, I’d publish with them again in a minute.

Oh, yeah — my agent wants me to change my name. Which is just as well since I’m shifting into darker, gritter urban fantasy. I’m still trying to come up with one that doesn’t sound like a stripper or a James Bond character. Ideas are more than welcome…!

Sara

Authors are in no position to demand more for electronic sales, when they are effectively being laid off, and there is a long queue of new hopefuls waiting to take their place.

We might not be in a position to demand more, but I think that shouldn’t stop us from demanding. Just like publishers, we’ve got to look at the long range and not let ourselves get screwed.
Just my 2 cents.

The fallout in the midlist author could go several ways. The author could turn to the established e-publishing companies, which are now making reasonable money, or she could change her name, and maybe her genre, and start again. Or sell a new series. However it’s a real shame that the fans of the books won’t see the third book in the series unless she finds a new publisher for the last book. I hope the e-publishers step in, so the series can find closure.

And I agree. Except that I live in England and we haven’t been Kindled yet, but we have the Cybook, the Bebook and the Sony Reader over here (reports are that the Sony reader has been selling out fast). I use my Ipaq, but I’m itching to get a fancy new eink reader. The main thing that stops me is the lack of a backlight. With my poor eyesight the backlight is a real blessing.

I don’t know diddly squat about publishing but I have to say – as a reader – I love ebooks, ereaders and all things electronic about books. My horizons have broadened significantly since ebooks. I remember when (10 years ago or so) I thought ordering books online and having them delivered was amazing. Then ebooks came along and the immediacy of acquiring books blew me away and now, my Kindle boggles my mind. I live in a podunk town in Ohio and my library has a great website with downloadable ebooks and audiobooks…still for free! Is this a great country or what?

But I digress, I fervently wish/hope that authors can be profitable with ebooks as this is my future. As a reader, to have all these books at my fingertips is a luxury I can’t give up. When I think of the books or authors (big names and unknown) that I’ve found here online and enjoyed, I know my reading experience is far richer than pre-electronic or computer. Would I have ever found m/m fiction or science fiction romance by wandering the aisles of my pitiful local bookstores? Um, probably not.

I have to believe that the e-format is going to grow stronger and that readers will seek out good books/authors. Do you think that the el cheapo marketing that is the internet will help with this? That the viral nature of the internet/blogs may somewhat equalize the hype & marketing for some print authors? Using my own experience , I have to say that ebooks seem to be the logical progression. And instead of book store appearances and signings that blog interviews and recommendations may have more value for book promotion in the very near future.

I see the glass as half full – that due to economics more books will be pushed to e-formats and that I will have even more access to more books of all types. Many more good books will be just a click away…a dream come true for this reader.