Updates and Whatnot

I've added some links in the margins to some blogs I follow on a regular basis. You'll notice there are no author, publishing, or agent blogs yet. It's mainly because I haven't found an author, editor or company blogging on self-publishing without a) trying to blatantly sell something, b) giving their whole sad story of how it didn't work for them, and c) touting their ability to help make your book "A Bestseller!" It's no secret in this business that many self-publishing companies overpromise and underdeliver. They play on authors dreams of glory then happily take their money. It makes me queasy.

You'll find what seems to be a lot of hip marketing and/or technology blogs. We chose those because the represent some companies we feel "think like us". The future of publishing is hybrid models where authors have more control over how their content is sold and packaged. The future of publishing is digital, online, paper, color, black and white, web, bricks and mortar and more -- all those things, not just a plain traditional picture where a reader walks into a bookstore and finds your book on the shelf. It just doesn't work that way anymore.

Tim and I attended a meeting in New York last week where publishers were still lamenting that "digital was a dirty word." Are you kidding me? Some were aghast that outsourcing was a better option than editors in house, that B&N doesn't love them, and that Google is taking over the world! Well, hey, if Google can help me and my authors sell their books (in their programs that don't completely steal copyright), I'm happy to participate.

The future is coming and it's going to change the face of publishing. Many small presses aren't going to go easily, but they'll have to go in some way or face extinction. We believe that authors today have more options than ever as long as their content is good. And while we may be further out in front than we thought, we like it just fine out here. (And if you can recommend any blogs, please feel free to post them in the comments section.)