What the new middle-men in Publishing will look like

Taking a break from the Kindle 3 to talk about a really interesting example of what the new middle-men in Publishing might look like. First, let’s jump into what we mean by middle-men and how they’re different from enablers. Enablers vs Middle-men (aka Stealers) Let’s start with a rather simplistic model - Author.  Enablers or Middle-men.  [...]

What if Publishers are right about eBook prices?

In the last few days have run into a lot of books priced at $1 and $3 that are worth $10 in my eyes. It’s quite puzzling as we seem to be diverging to two extremes in Publishing – The independent authors and self-publishing established authors who sell their books too cheap and Publishers who price their books [...]

Casualties due to Kindle and eBooks

Tired of writing about the Kindle 3. Went through a list of interesting articles from July.  There’s an overwhelming sense of destruction. If you step away from 70% royalties and readers reading in large fonts and the good Kindle and Nook are doing there’s a train wreck - players in the current publishing world are becoming casualties. Bookstores are closing down.  Libraries are struggling. Perhaps the most [...]

So, why do authors need publishers, then?

As the Kindle gets a 2 year exclusive on 20 excellent books from Andrew Wylie we are seeing a variety of reactions and outcomes. Perhaps the most important is that Mr. Wylie’s move sets a huge precedent and helps Authors realize that they too can ditch Publishers.  Additionally, it gives authors courage since they only have to follow and not lead. It also [...]

Updates to Wylie Kindle + eReader, eBook hypocrisy

The reactions to the Andrew Wylie + Kindle deal have been amazingly swift and harsh. Who would have guessed Publishers,  used to taking a year or two to bring a book to market, would be able to respond this quickly? In fact, Random House has gone so far as to say that it won’t be doing any more business [...]