Alisa Valdes has learned some hard lessons from her quite successful run with traditional publishers. She felt since she was the one meeting with her readers she knew their needs better. Her publisher thought otherwise so she's in the process of self publishing a third installment of her Dirty Girls Club books. It took her two days to learn how to do it. Read the inspirational article here.
If you continue reading the comments, there's some interesting bits there as well. The warning from the agent that not all books should be published. This is the traditional attack on self publishing, that it's sub-par but I don't think that applies here. Alisa Valdes has sold over a million copies for traditional publishing houses. I also think the comment from the small publisher who instead of fighting the change embraced it by helping her authors self publish and then assisting them in marketing is interesting.
It really doesn't need to be either or, it actually can be both.
What do you think?
Very interesting article Lauri.
ReplyDeleteI think the power balance in publishing is starting to shift as e-books and technology make it easier for authors to manage their own careers and reap the rewards of their own hard work. I'm not sure whether traditional publishers and agents have realised that yet. Or maybe they have and that's why self-publishing has such a bad rap (although that's changing too!)
Judy (South Africa)
PS I'm having people over the weekend so may not get chance to pop in before you leave on Monday 14th. So GOOD LUCK for your talk in London - I hope we'll get to see a vlog on it?
I love this fluid time, such a great time to be a writer.
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks for your good wishes both here and at your blog!!
Lovely link, Lauri. And like Judy said, the shift of balance is becoming more obvious. Nice article.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting post but I am stunned that she doesn't seem aware that the situation is different for a million-selling author. She "only" sold 10,000 copies of one book? I find it hard to engage in a conversation with someone for whom that is a small amount! I do wish her luck - but I don't think she needs it!
ReplyDeleteWhen I read that about the disappointment of selling 10,000 copies I thought how terrible it must be at the big publishers if 10,000 copies puts you in a position where no one cares about you or your book.
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