Songs I've Been Listening to a Lot Lately

I indie-publish 'cause it's My Prerogative.

The Deadlines Are Coming! The Deadlines Are Coming!

Yeah, between GK's birthday this week and deadlines looming like the sword of Damocles, I'm late to the blogging party. I leave you with this adorably different take on the trailer to Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

Lessons Learned Part 8 - Refusing to Learn

Currently reading - Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris (HC)

Over the last couple of months, I've run into an interesting phenomenon.  People want to indie publish (I'm talking about some great stories seeing the light of day, which is terrific), but they don't want to take the time to learn HOW.

There's an old saying:  Give a man a fish, he eats one meal. Teach a man to fish, he eats for life.

I don't mind helping folks and getting paid for my time, but I'm also not going to screw people over.  There's LOTS of little fly-by-night operations who'd LOVE to take you and your wallet for a ride.

Which is why I truly believe you need to LEARN and UNDERSTAND some basics like cover art and formatting so you'll know if you're being screwed over.

I'm not against sub-contracting work if it cuts into your writing time.  I have a cover artist who does a hell of better job than me for a reasonable price. But know what the fuck you're actually purchasing.  Learn what needs to be done so you can ask the right questions of your sub-contractor.

Both your wallet and the person who has to clean up the mess later will thank you.

Songs I've Been Listening to a Lot Lately

I indie-publish because it's Human Nature.

RIP Borders

Currently reading - Dead Girls Are Easy by Terri Garey

Today begins Borders' Going-Out-Of-Business Sale.

The reader in me says, "Yahoo! Books on sale!"

The writer in me says, "Well, shit.  There goes more shelf space into the ether for all of us."

The former BGI employee in me knew this day was coming seven years ago, just shakes her head sadly and keeps her fingers crossed that the employees can find something else soon in this freaking' economy.

There're others who've analyzed the Borders'demise to death.

I can add very little, except to honestly say, "They're all right and all wrong at the same time."  Everybody in this publishing business has started turning on each other.  It's been ugly.  It'll get uglier.  Few will come out unscathed.

All we can hope for is to survive the blood bath and become better writers, and business people, in the new world order.

Status Update - July 2011, Plus More Real Numbers

Currently reading - Dead Girls Are Easy by Terri Garey (MMPB)

Since so many people are looking for my status updates, I added the month and year to the post title to make them easier to find.

July? Yeesh! I'm so far behind I can see my own backbone.

I hate to say this, but Seasons of Magick: Summer will not be out on July 25th. One of the great things about indie publishing is I can change a deadline when necessary. For those of you who are asking about it (and thank so, SO much for your interest), I promise it will be out ASAP. I don't want to be one of those writers who throws any old thing on the internet.  I want to make sure that you feel your money is well spent when you read it.

For those writers who want some real data on sales, here's the numbers (total sales) for me from April through June:

April (only last 2 days of month)
Amazon - 6
Barnes and Noble - n/a
Smashwords - n/a
XinXii - n/a

May
Amazon - 19
Barnes and Noble - 4
Smashwords - 5
XinXii - 0

June
Amazon - 16
Barnes and Noble - 5
Smashwords - 0
XinXii - 0

Total books sold in second quarter of 2011: 55

First of all, I so cannot complain about these numbers.  I'm a new fiction writer doing this solely on my own.  My reader base must be built from the ground up. 55 books in 63 days is effing marvelous!

The only thing I see as a potential problem was the Big 6's little pricing experiment the week of June 12th.  They cut the prices on a lot of their books to more reasonable levels.  I sold absolutely no books that week.  In fact, I originally chalked it up the post-school craziness most families experience as you switch from one schedule to another.  Or I did until a lot of other indie writers reported seeing a similar slow-down that week, and I started some investigating on my own.

My initial trepidation was not ameliorated when Bob Mayer reported that big publishers are starting to get a clue.

But if the big publishers start dropping their e-book prices, will they adjust their "25% of net" royalty rates for authors?

Maybe I won't have to really worry until they do.

Now I must go work on a few things so y'all have something new to look at soon!

The Golden Rule for Cover Artists

Currently reading - Kitty's Big Trouble by Carrie Vaughn

If you didn't see it last week, my buddy Joan Reeves wrote an excellent article on how to properly deal with work with your cover artist.  She writes the important points far more eloquently than I.

I've been lucky to have an excellent rapport with my cover artist.  She's strong enough to tell me what's doable and what's not.  Doesn't always mean I listen (like when she said one cherub on the cover of Zombie Love was plenty), but I'm learning.

Songs I've Been Listening to a Lot Lately

I indie-publish 'cause I'm Defying Gravity.

"Don't Apologize to Me for Pink Suede Pants"

Lady Gaga and Gwyneth Paltrow. 'Nuff said.

Burning Up on Re-Entry and Other News

Nope, I'm not talking about Atlantis on her last voyage (and I pray for the safety of the entire shuttle crew just like I have for the 134 previous missions).

But I realized I haven't posted a good links-you-must-read post for a while after I saw Jason Pinter's 9PM tweet with a link to the Wall Street Journal.

WSJ announced late yesterday afternoon that investorJahm Najafi's deal to buy Border Group Inc. collapsed.  Depending on how the hearing with the federal bankruptcy judge goes this morning, the loss of the deal may mean the end of Borders.  Wish I could say I was surprised.  [Edit to add: Judge Martin seemed peeved with the maneuverings during this morning's hearing, according to witnesses.  He postponed ruling on the current issues and extended the deadline for objections to the creditors committee's request for liquidation until 4PM on Monday, July 18th.]

If you haven't read Bob Mayer and Jenni Holbrook-Talty's summary of this year's Thrillerfest, go read Write It Forward.  Now. After hearing friends' opinions after returning from Romance Writers of America's national conference two weeks ago, it seems to me that some of the big publishers are trying to adapt, some are refusing to.  If you're intent on securing that NY contract, please pay attention to which ones are which.

Last month, Passive Guy addressed his thought on the enforcibility of Harlequin's attempt to alter writers' contracts by e-mail. Since a large portion of Harlequin authors are also RWA members, RWA's legal council sent a letter on behalf of the members basically saying "bad publisher." (Sorry, I can't link to it.  You must be an RWA member to access the page.)  It'll be interesting to see how that shakes out in the coming months. [Edit to add: The ever-resourceful Passive Guy has both a copy of RWA's response and an analysis.  Go read.]

And people wonder why I'm indie-publishing.  *shakes head*

To end on a good note, Mark Williams tells the tale of indie writing team Louise Voss and Mark Edwards signing a six-figure deal after indie-pubbing books that their respective agents gave up on years ago!

Don't you just love Happy Endings?