|
Electronic Publishing Workshop - April 26, 1999
|
Cissy - Well, perhaps
we should go ahead and get started.... I'd like to welcome you all to the
Electronic Publishing workshop. You're probably all familiar with our hosts
for the evening. Pauline Jones, is a critically acclaimed writer. Her e-book,
Pig in a Park, garnered lots of attention when it was released. Her latest,
I believe, is The Last Enemy. Hopefully, Linda will be able to make it
this evening as well. She and best friend Bobbye Terry write together as
Terry Campbell. Their second book MR. WRONG will be released in May 1999.
Cissy - With that,
I'm going to turn things over to Pauline and let her make a few opening
statements before she begins responding to questions...
Pauline - Hi, everyone.
I just got back from a trip today, so forgive my mistakes. My brain is
a tad scrambled. <g>
Pauline - I'm excited
about electronic publishing, for a variety of reasons and excited to be
here tonight to talk about it. :-)
pipen8'magnlia' -
logged on, framefree. - Mon
Apr 26 9:32pm EST
Pauline - I'm excited
because I think it is a good thing for authors and readers.
Pauline - Hopefully
when all the kinks are shaken out of the system, we'll all have more options.
Pauline - I have
the questions that Cissy sent me and unless people would rather I started
answering questions, I'll just start with them.
Pauline - Ann and
lindass1, feel free to chime in. :-)
Pauline - Most people
ask three basic questions:
Pauline - What are
author rights in e-pubbing?
Pauline - ow much
money are we making?
Ann Bachman - Will
do.
Jean - logged on
- Mon Apr 26 9:34pm EST
Pauline - And questions
about promotion and finding an audience?
Tari - logged on.
- Mon Apr 26 9:34pm EST
Pauline - Does that
sound about right to everyone? <g>
Cissy - btw, you
all might want to just send a blank post every now and then (or an actual
question, of course!) so the room doesn't time you out.
Tina - yes
Cid - Yes, those
are good questions to start with
Barb - logged on
- Mon Apr 26 9:36pm EST
Pauline - Yes, please
do. It feels odd just shooting stuff out there. <g>
davidson - Okay,
here's one for you. How long did it take you to write your first book?
snorkeljul - Okay.
The questions are similar to mine.
Pauline - Oops. <g>
Pauline - davidson,
it takes me about six months to a year for a first draft, then longer to
polish. :-)
Pauline - Okay, author
rights.
Pauline - I was hoping
Linda C would be here to talk about that, because its her "thing" but I
will try to do it justice.
Pauline - every book
that is written has about six to seven "inalienable" rights. <g>
Pauline - There are
several print rights, hard cover, large and small print, mass market or
paper rights.
Pauline - There are
also audio, film, and electronic media.
snorkeljul - do tell
pipen8'magnlia' -
how long do you think it will take for e-pub to get into full swing enough
so that authors will publish at least half of their books on it?
Cissy - lol, snorkel...way
to stay online *g*
Pauline - Typically,
an author who contracts with a print publishers assigns or leases ALL of
the rights for a work to them to exploit.
Tina - I hear thunder.
May get bumped offline
Pauline - An e-author
ONLY assigns or leases the electronic rights. Which leaves the author free
to exploit the other rights.
Pauline - For instance,
I have also contracted for my audio rights.
Cid - That's great!
Tina - which book,
pauline
davidson - How do
you go about getting a copyright. Must you be entirely finished before
you can apply?
snorkeljul - sounds
like this has advantages
Jean - What's the
"shelf life" of an ebook?
Barb - Does that
mean we could sell to an e-pub and later to a print editor?
Pauline - How long
for e-pubs to get into full swing? Many e-publishers are already publishing
authors books are a pretty fair clip.
Pauline - I'm trying
to keep track of questions.
Pauline - I have
contracted audio rights for both my books, one to books in motion, the
other to Fiction Works.
Cissy - Have you
heard rumblings of any "mainstream" publishers moving into e-lines?
Barb -
Pauline - Copyright
question . . .
Cissy - If it gets
too busy, Pauline, just yell and I'll start copying the questions and lining
them up for you.
Tari - Hi all. I
just logged on. I don't know how this works so I'll just ask a question.
Basically about how to promote and market e-books? Are there e-bookstores
on line?
Pauline - Any work
that is complete is copyrighted upon completion.
Pauline - Usually
the publisher registers the copyright in the author's name, but the work
is already copyrighted.
Pauline - E-book
shelf life: from one year to as long as you want.
Pauline - Selling
print rights: Yes, you CAN market your print rights. I currently have four
print editors looking at my books.
Cid - May be ask
who?
Pauline - The Bertlsman
companies are already moving into e-publishing with the rocket ebook.
Jenel - logged on.
- Mon Apr 26 9:46pm EST
Pauline - That would
include Bantam and I'm forgetting who else. <wg> Sorry, but their companies.
Cid - Sorry for the
typo, sb, may WE <g>
davidson - How do
you make money if you e pub?
Tina - can you tell
us which print pubs are willing to do this
Jean - That's fantastic!
Do you know what percentage of the market epublishing takes? Is it more
saturated in a certain genre?
Pauline - Well, I
have had interest from Avon, Berkley, Dutton/Signet and . . .
Tina - buy already
pubbed e-books, I mean
Barb - Pauline, about
your e-books being considered by print editors: Did you tell them they
were already e-pubbed?
Pauline - trying
to remember the last publisher. <g>
Pauline - Money is
the question on everyone's mind. <g>
Pauline - Basically,
the royalties are similar to any small print press. which is not a lot.
BUT
snorkeljul - Do you
have an agent helping you promote, Pauline?
Tina - yes, money
:-)
Pauline - Barb, yes
I did. In fact, I pitched the books using the reviews I've received. When
I spoke with one editor, it was the reviews that caught her interest.
Pauline - No, I don't
have an agent, though I may try for one if I get more than one editor interested
in my books. now about money. <g>
Pauline - Many pundits,
not just the e-interested, but others, are expecting electronic publishing
to be big.
Barb - Am I correct
to assume the print editors considering your e-books are the ones you earlier
mentioned?
Pauline - Plus, an
e-author gets a higher royalty percentage than a print author.
Pauline - Barb, yes,
you're right. :-)
Pauline - Okay, I've
lost track of the questions now. <g>
Barb - I mean, are
Avon, Berkley, etc. the print pubs. willing to consider the e-pubs?
Pauline - Obviously
they are, since they are considering my books at this time.
Cid - you were telling
us about money:)
Cissy - Actually,
Pauline, by my notes, you haven't missed any questions yet.
Pauline - The really
cool part of it, I pitched the books in a query letter, but pointed them
to my web site to read the first three chapters.
Pauline - They read
the chapters from my web site, cutting about three months out of the submission
process.
Cid - wow
Pauline - Even the
two editors that passed on considering my books, read my chapters on my
web site.
Pauline - Cissy,
whew! <g>
Jean - I see definite
advantages here :)
Pauline - Okay, money.
<g>
Tina - You're doing
great
Pauline - I've only
had one royalty period, myself, so I can't speak with much certainty, but
I know authors who have made a thousand dollars or more on their books.
Pauline - Tina, thanks!
:-)
lindass1 - I've made
quite a bit more than that.
Pauline - I was hoping
that I would have my rocket ebook royalty statement by this class, so I
could give you some idea of how much they are selling.
davidson - Approximately
how long are your writings?
Cissy - *making a
mental note to hang out with lindass1*
snorkeljul - Do you
think authors like Stephen King will get into this and create competition
for the midlisters?
Pauline - lindass1,
why don't you tell us about it. :-)
lindass1 - Okay,
my first book has made slightly over $2000.
Pauline - cissy,
LOL!
Barb - Can you multiple
submit to e-pubs? I've had one ms. under consideration with one e-pub as
long as some print pubs take.
Tina - lindass1,
how long was your book out before you made that amt
Pauline - Stephen
King is already a rocket ebook author. they released one of his books about
a week ago?
Ann Bachman - Terrific,
lindass1!
Pauline - davidson,
my books run from 300 to 500 pages.
lindass1 - Between
18 months and 2 years.
lindass1 - And the
best part is that it's still available and it's still selling.
Pauline - Barb, yes,
you can multiple submit, though e-pubs are getting less open to it. typically
they edit as they read, so they lose time if they author goes elsewhere.
pipen8'magnlia' -
Are e-pubs looking for certain length books now or do they vary a great
deal?
Jenel - logged on.
- Mon Apr 26 9:57pm EST
Pauline - Like print
pubs, they like to know if you're multiple submitting.
Pauline - The best
way to find out what e-pubs are looking for is to visit their web sites.
davidson - I'm at
338 pages at this point. I think I am about the halfway point. Out of curiosity,
I did a word count yesterday, 216,000.
Cissy - Pauline,
how do you go about separating the "wheat from the chaff,"--finding reputable
e-publishers, or e-publishers that are beginning to make a name for themselves.
Jean - Who does most
of the marketing of these books? You, the e-publishers, both? Would you say
you do more of your own publicity or less than print authors
Pauline - And the
great thing is, length isn't so much an issue as with a print publ.
Pauline - Like print
pubbing, you need to do your research to find reputable pubs, though AEP
is helping us.
Barb - Cissy, good
question. Tell--tell.
Pauline - AEP is
the Association of Electronic Publishers.
Pauline - And most
e-publishers post their contract on their web sites, so you can review
it before you submit.
charlotte - logged
on. - Mon Apr 26 10:00pm EST
snorkeljul - Sorry,
what is AEP?
Pauline - Publicity.
It depends on your publisher.
Cissy - Welcome,
charlotte!
Pauline - My first
publisher did some, but I did all my own submitting to reviewers.
charlotte - Hi there!
sorry I'm late.
davidson - Is it
easy to for a person to pirate a copy of your work off the net and have
it spread around?
Pauline - Like print
publishing, the best promotion is good word of mouth.
Pauline - I focus
most of my promotion online, because if someone doesn't have a computer,
they can't read my book.
Barb - What's the
word on agents submitting to e-pubs? So far my agent and I have agreed
to keep it separate.
Pauline - Davidson,
the e-publishers are working on encryption to protect their authors work.
Pauline - Barb, I
understand agents ARE submitting work to e-publishers--usually stuff that
has reverted to the author.
Cissy - hadn't thought
of that Pauline...does that mean that the demographics of your audience
is somewhat different that the demographics of the traditional print romance
reader? Has anyone done a study?
Pauline - Did I miss
anyone questions? I feel like I have.
Tari - Lindass, how
did you promote your book?
Pauline - cissy,
I know a lot of people are talking about demographics--which is a good
sign. For a long time, the subject was just dismissed.
Cissy - None of the
ones I've cut out, Pauline. If anyone's question has been missed, please
speak up! :-)
Kris - logged on.
- Mon Apr 26 10:04pm EST
Pauline - I don't
have statistics, though I know there's something like a million people
a month moving onto the internet?
Barb - I asked about
agents working with e-pubs. What's your experience with that or what have
you heard?
Pauline - Or is that
a year? lindass1?
Cissy - Hi Kris,
welcome.
lindass1 - By having
a really good web page, word of mouth, and a lot of local promotion.
Tina - Since RWA
seems to be taking e-pubbing more seriously now is PAN recognizing the authors
davidson - Do you
believe the day will ever arrive where e pub will pretty much replace hardcopy?
charlotte - That's
how I plan to do it when I finally publish
Pauline - Barb, in
*my* experience, agents aren't willing to take on an author who is ONLY
e-pubbed. There's just not enough money in it yet.
snorkeljul - Do most
readers of ebooks read on their computers, or buy the little disks?
Pauline - I believe
that attitude is short sighted, because the other rights are there to exploit.
for instance, film rights are much more valuable than, say, print rights.
Barb - Sorry I repeated
my question about agents. After I typed it, the answer came up to the original.
It takes a bit to get used to this lag time.
charlotte - I buy
the disks, because I still like to hold it in my hand!
Pauline - davidson:
I believe there will come at time when e-books will dominate. there are
so many advantages--environmentally, as well as in ease of use.
Cid - And The Last
Enemy has such a nice cover!
shy - logged on -
Mon Apr 26 10:07pm EST
Cissy - wb, shy
charlotte - Especially
once the hand held readers finally get it right.
Pauline - back to
agents: there are also foreign rights, that can be quite valuable. I know
an author who has been able to sell her books to a foreign publishers.
and I received an offer to publish from a danish publisher.
Tina - what about
e-book readers, are the selling well
Ann Bachman - THE
LAST ENEMY is such a great read. So is PIG IN A PARK.
Pauline - Cid, thanks!
:-) That's another bennie of e-pubbing. You get a LOT of say in your cover.
Pauline - Thanks,
Ann! :-)
charlotte - There
was an article in the RWR about Rocket e-book. Some bugs, still
Pauline - I use a
Palm Pilot to read my e-books. I took it with me on my trip with eight
books loaded on at a total weight of under ten ounces.
Jean - logged on
- Mon Apr 26 10:09pm EST
pipen8'magnlia' -
Do all discs have only one down load for a hard copy? Do you always have
to download the hard copy at one sitting? How long before they have a good
"reader" for the discs? That is one that isn't heavy and balky?
Pauline - I was tester
for a rocket ebook. I had a totally positive experience. I want one so
bad I can taste it. <g>
charlotte - Also,
- this was from one of my questions - if you buy a book and want to keep
it, you have to store it at the electronic "house" you purchased it from,
otherwise delete it from your reader
Jean - What are they
retailing for (rocketbooks)?
Tina - are e-readers
compatible with all e-books
Pauline - I didn't
find the rocket ebook at all bulky. i predict it will soon be used by students!
it was so, well, Star trek. totally cool. ,g>
Cissy - Pauline,
I snagged all those questions, if you need any repeated *g*
Pauline - for the
rocket ebook, you can store your books on your computer or at their site.
charlotte - I can't
remember the exact rocketbook price. Wasn't it around $400-500?
Pauline - I believe
rocket ebooks are still at $499, but I expect they will come down with
the Millennium hits the market for $199.
charlotte - Tina,
some ebooks require that you buy ebook from only one place. That's what
I don't like. I want universal access.
Pauline - Tina, no.
right now they each have their own proprietary software, but they are working
on a universal format.
Pauline - Cissy,
did I miss some? <g>
davidson - I find
that sometimes I wake up at 2 or 3 in the morning with a new idea to add
to the book. I cannot go back to sleep until I have it written. Do any
of you have similar experiences?
Tina - it seems foolish
for them not to have universal access
Tina - format
lindass1 - davidson,
all the time!
Tari - Do you all
have your own web site or is it associated with RWA's?
Cid - davidson, of
course<g>
Cissy - Tina asked
"Tina - are e-readers compatible with all e-books" but it may have been
covered by discussion...
Pauline - tina, yeah,
but they are trying to protect their investment, too. time will smooth
out the kinks.
Barb - Are we on
a time limit here? I'm having such fun with this.
Pauline - Tari, I
have my own web site, but am linked to the RWA site.
Cissy - pipen asked
"Do all discs have only one down load for a hard copy? Do you always have
to download the hard copy at one sitting?"
Pauline - Also, someone
asked about PAN membership. I was just accepted this month.
Tina - P
charlotte - Accepted
from your e-publishing, Pauline?
lindass1 - I was
lucky. I was one of the first e-authors to be accepted into PAN back in
1996.
Cissy - The time
limit is up to Pauline, Barb. *g*
Ann Bachman - So
was I.
Pauline - pipen,
you can download the book or order a disk. some publishers are also offering
them on CDs. I predict books will also get more interactive.
Pauline - charlotte,
yes, from my e-publishing. I'm not print published yet.
tina - logged on.
- Mon Apr 26 10:15pm EST
charlotte - So, the
PAN requirement of 5000 books of one title sold - is there only one e-pulisher
that's made it to that?
Pauline - I understand
Fiction Works in considering offering books on CDS where you can print
or listen to an audio. There is also the print on demand technology that
will let the customer choose what form they want a book.
snorkeljul - Interactive!
Oh, not, not another ending!
Pauline - One of
the things that I have learned from e-publishing, that I so want authors
to know, too is,
Pauline - you start
by owning ALL the rights to your work. Don't give them all up too easily.
Be careful of the contracts you sign. With the advent of e-publishing,
all books may NEVER go out of print.
Jean - Hey, interactive
sounds cool. Kinda like those Encyclopaedia Brown children's books :)
tina - I think I
managed to log on twice, my computer just went whacko
Pauline - But that
doesn't mean that your publisher will continue to exploit your rights--they
may just hang on to them.
Pauline - It's my
hope that authors will eventually be in the position to put time limits
on ALL their contracts, not just e-contracts.
Cid - I second that!
charlotte - I thought
that was one of the most attractive things about the e-pub contracts -
time limits!
Pauline - Interactive
can mean a lot of things, but the cool part is, we're limited only by ourselves.
:-)
Julie - logged on,
framefree. - Mon Apr 26 10:19pm
EST
Pauline - It boils
down to choice! To having the power to negotiate. We will only get that
with competition!
charlotte - Pauline,
about PAN - is it by e-publisher - as to which is allowed membership?
Pauline - right now
authors are in the coyote position pretty much--howling at the moon. <g>
Pauline - It is my
hope that e-publishing will change that. :-)
Jean - Sounds like
it's a wide open frontier that's about to become a whole lot more accessible.
The demographics could be staggering in a few years.
Pauline - Charlotte,
I'm not quite sure what broke open PAN. One month we couldn't get in, the
next we could. They say its by books sold, but it doesn't seem like that.
Ann, did you get in to PAN?
Robin - logged on
- Mon Apr 26 10:21pm EST
lindass1 - You have
to sell 500 copies of one title.
Pauline - Jean, exactly!
No one really knows what will happen. But the print publishers are positioning
themselves to take most of the pot. Right now they are offering authors
LESS for e-rights.
davidson - I find
that I spend hours sometime doing research trying to insure that everything
is accurate. That is for only 1 item. I have a stack of paper I pulled
off the Internet a foot high. Am I doing something wrong
lindass1 - At least
that's what I was told at the time.
Ann Bachman - Yep,
I sure did, and my book doesn't come out until July. Had no problem. Associate
Pan Membership.
davidson - or is
this a common thing
Pauline - lindass1,
I haven't sold 500 copies yet. Book hasn't been out long enough.
charlotte - okay.
That's do-able, I think. 500
Tari - Did you have
a clear vision for your cover art or did your pub help come up with ideas?
Pauline - lindlass1,
are you a full PAN member? maybe that's the difference.
lindass1 - It's a
common thing. <g>
lindass1 - Yes, I
am.
Cissy -
Jean - Less?!? Other
than PAN is there an organization out there specific to ewriters to look
after there rights
Pauline - Tari, I
had NO vision. <g> Art isn't my strength. <g>
Ann Bachman - We're
associate PAN members.
davidson - How long
can a message be before it is to long to post on the board?
Pauline - Jean, most
writer organizations are running to catch up on the issue. But they are
trying to protect ALL of author rights, not just the one.
charlotte - Okay,
Associate membership for less than 500, full member for >500
Cissy - Pretty darn
long, davidson. I've posted huge chunks before
Pauline - Tari, when
I moved my first book to Hard Shell, I did suggest they look at the cool
new avon covers for inspiration. <g>
Pauline - That's
what I'd like to urge authors to do, is look at their rights and learn
how to exploit them to the fullest.
charlotte - Pauline,
catch me up. Moved it to Hardshell from where?
Robin - logged off.
- Mon Apr 26 10:25pm EST
lindass1 - Once a
publisher hits the 5000 mark all it's authors will automatically become
full PAN members.
pipen8'magnlia' -
logged off. - Mon Apr 26 10:25pm
EST
Pauline - Each right
you contract, makes the rights that are left more valuable.
Cissy - with a single
book, lindass1? Or total sales?
Julie - Doesn't mentioning
the competition get THEM mad?
Pauline - I started
out with New Concepts, then moved Pig in a Park to Hard Shell (who had
already published Last Enemy).
lindass1 - The publisher
has to sell 5000 copies of a single title.
charlotte - Why did
you chose to do that? What benefits?
Jean - I dunno, I
kinda got an image of huge publishers swooping in and skimming the cream
right off the top, money wise. Sobering image, and hopefully preventable.
After all, one of the key attractions is flexibility and innovation.
Pauline - Julie,
missed something. Make who mad?
davidson - Is it
permissible to publish our e-mail address here?
charlotte - That's
what I was remembering, Lindass1. Thanks
Pauline - Jean, I
think everyone is worried about what big publishing will do when they wake
up and realize the threat.
Cissy - Yes, davidson,
just type it in and it should show up as a link
tina - big pubs,
I'm afraid are going to jump on the bandwagon
Cid - maybe pay the
authors what they're worth?
Pauline - But the
sad fact is, while print publishers will happily contract for ALL your
rights (while only paying you initially for print) they usually won't exploit
them unless you hit it big.
Jean - If you sell
to an epub, who can you turn to regarding advice about the contract? Where
do newbies turn? RWA?
Pauline - For instance,
they will rarely aggressively market your film rights.
Barb - When checking
out an unknown e-pub, should we be asking how they get their link out there--what
brings buyers to their site?
Pauline - Jean, I
haven't HAD to turn to anyone. The contracts are so simple, you don't need
a law degree to read them.
davidson - My e-mail
address is m.davidson@usa.net I would like to hear any and all anyone has
to say about writing and publishing. I answer all my mail, but because
of time constraint it could take a day or two at most.
Julie - Pauline,
if you suggest that the epublisher take a leaf out of the Avon example,
I would think they would be "hurt"
Pauline - Barb, it
doesn't hurt to look at how high profile they are, but the good news is,
there are several e-book stores springing up on the internet.
Pauline - Julie:
I meant for those fun, cartoon kind of covers they are putting out. PIG
is a quirky comedy that would suit the funny cover.
charlotte - Jean,
I would think that any publishing contract attorney could help you compare
and contrast to what's out there
tina - Isn't Amazon
offering e-books now? or not?
Pauline - The ebook
stores are collecting the books from various publishers into one place
for easy shopping.
lindass1 - Amazon
has been offering ebooks for quite a while.
charlotte - Pauline,
could you compare and contrast Hard Shell and your previous e-publisher
- as to why you moved?
Pauline - tina--they
do, as does b&n, though ebooks on b&n are listed as other media
to keep them separate from the rocket ebook editions.
Julie - How does
one move from epub to epub?
davidson - When will
be the next date you come on line like this? I want to be sure I jot it
in my calendar.
Tari has timed out.
Pauline - charlotte--who,
i really loved new concepts and am grateful for them giving me my first
chance to be published. It was a career decision. Hard Shell was already
positioned to exploit the various readers and NCP wasn't at that time.
Jean - Yeah, I realize
that Charlotte, but I was wondering what resources authors themselves are
coming up with. I mean I know discussing one's contract can be uncomfortable,
but logically, isn't in everyone's best interest that you get the best
contract you can? Show standards sort to speak. Although the fact that
epub contracts are so simple is very intriguing. I wonder if it will remain
the case in the future, as cash becomes a big factor.
Pauline - I felt
like and feel like, that at this time, that's where the money will be--in
the e-readers. I could be wrong.
charlotte - I wondered
that, too, Jean.
Pauline - Julie,
most e-contracts have a simple "out" clause. You write, severing and then
hope another one will pick you up.
Barb - logged off.
- Mon Apr 26 10:34pm EST
charlotte - Would
you court another e-publisher before severing from one?
Pauline - jean, we're
all wondering if contracts will get complex. for instance, some e-pubs
hope to or are already considering print publication, too.
Pauline - But since
I'm dealing with only one right, it hasn't been a problem for me yet.
Julie - Thanks.
Pauline - charlotte,
I had reason to believe that I wouldn't have trouble shopping PIG. It had
been nominated for an award. The hard part for me was severing.
charlotte - The guilt
of severing?
Pauline - I think
as women we want to be nice and I hope I am, but at the same time, I need
to make money at my writing.
Pauline - I had to
do what I thought would best help me to do that.
Cid - Did Hard Shell
help you set up your website, Pauline?
Cissy - I want to
officially thank Pauline for talking with us tonight. She (and all of you)
are welcome to stay as long as you like to talk, but an hour in the hot
seat is a long time. :-)
Pauline - I did my
web site myself. I'd done a bit of web writing for my local chapter.
Pauline - LOL! ssssssssssss!
Cid - Thank you:-)
davidson - Pauline,
it has been a pleasure learning from you. Perhaps we will meet again out
here in cyberspace.
charlotte - I agree.
We need to think more about the business aspects, because we're the only
ones who will - for ourselves.
Pauline - charlotte,
I felt very guilty. <wg>
Jean - Thanks Cissy,
you were a great moderator
Ann Bachman - Great
job, Pauline!!
Pauline - davidson,
I hope so! I would have talked more writing, but that wasn't the main subject.
:-)
Cissy - Cid, shameless
self promotion here, but of course Writerspace would be glad to help you
with a website if you ever need it *g*
Cissy - Thanks, Jean.
You all were a great group.
Jean - Thanks for
going into detail Pauline. You made it come alive.
Pauline - charlotte,
exactly!
Cid - Thanks, Cissy!
Pauline - Cissy,
thanks for inviting me here! I had a great time. :-)
Barb - logged on
- Mon Apr 26 10:38pm EST
tina - enjoyed the
chat, Pauline. Great job!
Pauline - and Cissy
does great web work. :-)
Cissy - Pauline,
I'd love to have you back any time to talk about writing issues...
davidson - Cissy,
next time you host, drop me a line if you would. See you soon. m davidson
Pauline - Jean, thank
you! I love talking about e-publishing. :-)
Pauline - Thanks,
ann! :-)
Julie - Thank you
for the lively discussion, good night all.
charlotte - One thing
I've noticed so far is that epubs seem to be more personable - like they're
trying to put that element back into it.
Barb - Pauline, thanks.
I really enjoyed doing this.
Cissy - Thanks, Pauline.
As I said, you're all welcome to stay and talk as long as you like. I'll
let you know about any upcoming workshops if you'd like.
Pauline - Cissy,
any time. :-) This was fun!
Ann Bachman - logged
off. - Mon Apr 26 10:39pm EST
tina - logged off.
- Mon Apr 26 10:39pm EST
leecfrw - thanks,
Pauline, learned a lot!
Pauline - Thanks,
Tina! :-)
davidson - logged
off. - Mon Apr 26 10:39pm EST
charlotte - Cissy,
will we get a copy of this via email?
lindass1 - See you,
pauline!
Jean - Thanks Cissy,
I'd love that.
Pauline - thank you,
leecfrw!
Cissy - Thanks everyone,
for coming!
Pauline - Barb, it
was great talking with! :-)
Kris - logged off.
- Mon Apr 26 10:39pm EST
leecfrw - logged
off. - Mon Apr 26 10:39pm EST
Cissy - charlotte,
I'll post a transcript of the session here at Writerspace.
Pauline - lindass1,
thanks for the help!! :-)
Julie - logged off.
- Mon Apr 26 10:39pm EST
lindass1 - You're welcome!
Cid - logged off. - Mon Apr 26 10:40pm EST
charlotte - Who's going to stay?
Jean - logged off. - Mon Apr 26 10:40pm EST
Pauline - My thanks to everyone who asked questions, too. :-)
lindass1 - I can for a little while.
Pauline - I'll stay a few more minutes, but I'm pretty hammered from my trip. <g>
Cissy - Thanks, Pauline. Tell Linda she missed a good one. Now she *really* has to do that humor workshop. *g*
charlotte - Does anyone have any feelings/thought about other epubs - which are the ones to publish with right now etc.
Cissy - Pauline, I have a question, but it's perhaps a little controversial
lindass1 - Where did you do, Pauline?
Pauline - lindass1 is a GREAT resource for e-advice, let me tell you. :-)
Robin - logged on
- Mon Apr 26 10:41pm EST
proxy-426.public.paix.webtv.net
Pauline - LOL! I'll tell her! <g>
charlotte - LIndass1 - what is your email address?
Pauline - I went to see my daughter. :-)
charlotte - Let's here the question, Cissy!
Pauline - cissy, ask away. :-)
lindass1 - lindass@ipa.net
Cissy - When RW-L revamped its posting guidelines, it created a separate heading for epublishing issues. I understand the move, but I wonder if that sort of thing doesn't increase the perceived gulf between print and epublishing.
shy has timed out.
charlotte - Mine is pera2@worldnet.att.net
Robin - logged off. - Mon Apr 26 10:43pm EST
lindass1 - Thanks!
Pauline - I think it does a bit.
Pauline - I don't see it as a separate issue, myself.
charlotte - Does anyone have any opinion on Awe Struck?
Cissy - I wondered about that. I didn't see why epublishing questions needed to be considered separately from other publishing/marketing questions. And there were already headings for those issues.
Pauline - I'm with you. I think its a spillover reaction from the RWA-Link.
lindass1 - Pauline, who is it in Epic that publishes with Awe-STruck? I can't remember.
Pauline - There was a certain amount of . . . acrimony . . . in the early debates. <g>
Pauline - Kathryn Struck?
Cissy - RWA-Link?
Pauline - I think Miriam Pace also contracted with them?
charlotte - Pauline, did you attempt to negotiate a higher royalty with Hard Shell? NCP doesn't have a contract online, so I don't know what their royalty is. But I've seen them from 15-55%
lindass1 - What authors?
Pauline - The RWA email link.
Cissy - ahhh, gotcha
Pauline - My royalty with Hard Shell is 30%, except in certain special circumstances, such as special promotions. NCP is a flat $1 per book.
charlotte - And $1 per book can work out to be about 25%, I guess.
Barb has timed out.
Pauline - I didn't attempt to negotiate, because I felt like it was fair.
Pauline - Once they've earned out their investment, I might consider renegotiating the next contract.
Pauline - Yeah, the nice part is, I got the dollar whether it was a download or a disk. the price varied about a dollar.
charlotte - And how do you know when they've earned out their investment?
Pauline - Yeah, the nice part is, I got the dollar whether it was a download or a disk. the price varied about a dollar.
Cissy - I wondered about that, Pauline. I started reading The Last Enemy the other day and got completely sucked in, but I wasn't sure whether it was better to download or request the disk. I already like the hero and heroine a lot. They're very "real."
Pauline - LOL! I guess I'd look at what *i'd* made. I think someone figured it takes about $1,000 for them to break even.
Pauline - Cissy, that's a toughie. My first buying was as downloads, but I like having the disks with the covers.
charlotte - Pauline, do you feel you're earning more on the book you moved to Hard Shell, than you did with NCP?
Pauline - Thanks, btw! I loved writing that book. :-)
Pauline - charlotte, I just don't know yet. I should be getting my first royalty statement any day now.
charlotte - Royalty statements - that's an exciting concept!
Pauline - I'm not sure it can be compared even then. The books are different and PIG got a boost from the RT nomination.
charlotte - Pauline, have you done a tone of local signings?
Pauline - Charlotte, yet another bennie from e-publishing. you don't have to wait two years to find out how many books you've sold. you get your statement every quarter.
charlotte - that's TON
Pauline - I'm hoping that Last Enemy will also be a movie. I have several producers looking at the script adaptation of it. :-)
Cissy - That's wonderful, Pauline! How did you swing that?
charlotte - Also, do you think that epubs will eventually become as cumbersome as print pubs - as far as lag time to get back to you, etc.?
charlotte - Also, do you think that epubs will eventually become as cumbersome as print pubs - as far as lag time to get back to you, etc.?
charlotte - A move!! COOL!!!!
Pauline - Getting a regular statement also helps with planning promotion. you can see cause and effect pretty quickly.
Pauline - I've just been pitching it myself. :-)
Pauline - It's a high concept plot, and the reviews have, believe it or not, helped me pitch.
Cissy - That's fabulous. From what I've read so far, it's a very active and visual piece. I can easily see it on the screen.
Pauline - lag time--yeah, its already taking longer to hear.
Cissy - "high concept" plot?
charlotte - So you called up Hollywood and said you have something they'd like?
Pauline - thanks, cissy. I could really see this one playing out in my head. i actually started out writing plays, then switched to novels, so it was easy for me to go back.
Pauline - high concept is something like pretty woman or star wars. it's quick and easy to make create a word visual.
Pauline - LOL! actually, i used the internet to pitch.
Pauline - I started emailing producers.
Cissy - lol...very cool
Pauline - some of them emailed back, asking to see it. <g>
charlotte - Now THAT makes sense, since it's epub'd!
lindass1 - I've been taking a screenwriting class and the main thing I've learned so far is that I should probably stick to novels. <g>
Pauline - surprised the heck out of me. <g>
Pauline - LOL! it is a very different medium.
charlotte - Lindass1 - why is that? (I'm chuckling)
Cissy - lol...very cool
lindass1 - It's such a different approach. I'm having a problem adjusting my long-winded ways to it. :)
Pauline - but I'm told Hollywood is VERY impressed with novelist. they consider them "real" writers. <g>
lindass1 - No kidding? Maybe there's hope for me after all.
Pauline - yeah, brevity is the order of the day. you're speaking to the ultimate in short attentions spans. <g>
charlotte - Pauline, have you been able to access Hard Shell's status page? They told me a week ago that it'd only be a fee days, and it says not available. I'm wondering if I screwed up the address or something.
Cissy - Ladies, I'm afraid I have to be heading out. Feel free to stay and talk. Pauline, thanks again for offering your time tonight.
Pauline - their status page? you mean their home page?
Pauline - you're most welcome, Cissy. :-) Thanks for having me.
lindass1 - I've got to run too. This has been great. Cissy, let us know when you're going to have another workshop.
Cissy - No problem. I'll be posting a transcript on the site in a day or two, would you like a copy of it?
charlotte - No, they have or are going to erect a new page for us to check the status of our submissions. The web page doesn't mention it, but they sent it to me in an email after I asked them the status of My sub. It had been 16 weeks then.
lindass1 - Yes, I sure would!
Cissy - I'll be glad to lindass1. .... You know, you're a published writer yourself, I'd love to have you host a workshop....
Pauline - Yes, I would, thanks!
lindass1 - That would be neat! I've never done that.
Pauline - wow, i go out of town for a few days . . . okay, here's the deal with hard shell. because every book is published in at least five formats, and mary had a family problem last week, they are WAY behind. but they are, IMHO, worth waiting for.
Cissy - Well, think of a topic you do particularly well *g* or know a lot about, and drop me an email. I'm completely open to suggestions.
Cissy - you can email me at cissy@writerspace.com
lindass1 - Okay, thanks! See you all later.
Pauline - she puts books out in rocket ebook, librius, softbook, pdf, hmtl and Palm now, I think.
lindass1 - logged off. - Mon Apr 26 11:05pm EST
Cissy - Same here. Bye all!
Cissy - logged off. - Mon Apr 26 11:06pm EST
Pauline - It took me three months to hear about enemy
Pauline - bye, cissy!
|
|
Author Sites:
Bulletin Boards:
Miscellaneous:
|
Email:
Contact Webmaster
© 1998-2006 Writerspace. All rights reserved.
|
|
Designed and hosted by
|
|
|
|
