Penguin's Book Country - CrimeSpace2024-03-28T18:24:47Zhttp://crimespace.ning.com/forum/topics/penguin-s-book-country?commentId=537324%3AComment%3A322386&xg_source=activity&feed=yes&xn_auth=noThat's not a bad split if the…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2011-11-21:537324:Comment:3226762011-11-21T21:50:35.667ZI. J. Parkerhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Ingpark
<p>That's not a bad split if they also do some marketing. Congrats!</p>
<p>That's not a bad split if they also do some marketing. Congrats!</p> I'm referring to e-only publi…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2011-11-21:537324:Comment:3226692011-11-21T18:40:15.466ZBenjamin Sobieckhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/BenjaminSobieck
<p>I'm referring to e-only publishers. Self-publishing makes the most sense when you have an audience established. But then, I'm coming from a standpoint where my publisher and I split 75/25, with me taking the larger portion. Others may have it the other way around.</p>
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<p>The benefit for me having a publisher is that I focus exclusively on writing and marketing. They take care of all the formatting, editing and uploading. I still design covers, although only because I enjoy it. The…</p>
<p>I'm referring to e-only publishers. Self-publishing makes the most sense when you have an audience established. But then, I'm coming from a standpoint where my publisher and I split 75/25, with me taking the larger portion. Others may have it the other way around.</p>
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<p>The benefit for me having a publisher is that I focus exclusively on writing and marketing. They take care of all the formatting, editing and uploading. I still design covers, although only because I enjoy it. The publisher would handle it otherwise.</p> I don't care if the publisher…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2011-11-21:537324:Comment:3226432011-11-21T15:50:35.265ZI. J. Parkerhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Ingpark
<p>I don't care if the publisher makes money on electronic books. I want the money myself. Let the publisher deal with print.</p>
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<p>Of course, if the advances are huge, then there is no argument. The cost of putting a book on Kindle is minimal, while the potential earnings keep coming in. Whatever costs there are can be borne by the author. Many authors can do it all themselves; others pay for editing, cover, formatting. Even then, they are probably better off on their own.</p>
<p>I don't care if the publisher makes money on electronic books. I want the money myself. Let the publisher deal with print.</p>
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<p>Of course, if the advances are huge, then there is no argument. The cost of putting a book on Kindle is minimal, while the potential earnings keep coming in. Whatever costs there are can be borne by the author. Many authors can do it all themselves; others pay for editing, cover, formatting. Even then, they are probably better off on their own.</p> If you split e-royalties and…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2011-11-21:537324:Comment:3226412011-11-21T13:19:51.006ZBenjamin Sobieckhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/BenjaminSobieck
<p>If you split e-royalties and also don't pay anything upfront, how does the publisher make money? It's one or the other.</p>
<p>If you split e-royalties and also don't pay anything upfront, how does the publisher make money? It's one or the other.</p> The splitting of revenue depe…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2011-11-18:537324:Comment:3224702011-11-18T15:11:32.397ZI. J. Parkerhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Ingpark
<p>The splitting of revenue depends entirely on moneys realized over the lifetime of the contract (for e-pubs this may be forever) and the start-up money involved. It seems to me that splitting e-royalties is always a bad idea. </p>
<p>The splitting of revenue depends entirely on moneys realized over the lifetime of the contract (for e-pubs this may be forever) and the start-up money involved. It seems to me that splitting e-royalties is always a bad idea. </p> Because of the name recogniti…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2011-11-18:537324:Comment:3224472011-11-18T02:06:56.642ZBenjamin Sobieckhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/BenjaminSobieck
<p>Because of the name recognition Penguin carries, I think this is even worse than Publish America. People will be willing to pay money up front because it's Penguin.</p>
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<p>Like I always say, "Never pay for anything. Ever." Explicit costs upfront maximize risk. If you're splitting revenue, that's better, it minimizes risk. But money should never leave your bank account. Only go into it.</p>
<p>Because of the name recognition Penguin carries, I think this is even worse than Publish America. People will be willing to pay money up front because it's Penguin.</p>
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<p>Like I always say, "Never pay for anything. Ever." Explicit costs upfront maximize risk. If you're splitting revenue, that's better, it minimizes risk. But money should never leave your bank account. Only go into it.</p> Aghast--my feelings exactly.tag:crimespace.ning.com,2011-11-17:537324:Comment:3224242011-11-17T22:14:05.808ZEric Christophersonhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/datahog
<p>Aghast--my feelings exactly.</p>
<p>Aghast--my feelings exactly.</p> 50/50 was Col. Parker's deal…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2011-11-17:537324:Comment:3224172011-11-17T21:07:38.254ZJ W Nelsonhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/JWNelson
<p>50/50 was Col. Parker's deal with Elvis and look where the King ended up. Worth more dead than alive. </p>
<p>Like you, I want to see what all those folks do for the $, too. </p>
<p>50/50 was Col. Parker's deal with Elvis and look where the King ended up. Worth more dead than alive. </p>
<p>Like you, I want to see what all those folks do for the $, too. </p> Well, the point isn't that pe…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2011-11-17:537324:Comment:3224162011-11-17T21:04:10.733ZI. J. Parkerhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Ingpark
<p>Well, the point isn't that people shouldn't inform themselves. I'm really more aghast at Penguin offering such terms when they (of all people) know precisely how easily and how much more cheaply authors can do this themselves. They also know that Amazon offers 70 %. There are any number of tricks being played on the unwary. For example, I'm being told that 50 % is the most any publisher pays and that they only pay that to best selling authors. That 50 % is not 50 % of the book's price. …</p>
<p>Well, the point isn't that people shouldn't inform themselves. I'm really more aghast at Penguin offering such terms when they (of all people) know precisely how easily and how much more cheaply authors can do this themselves. They also know that Amazon offers 70 %. There are any number of tricks being played on the unwary. For example, I'm being told that 50 % is the most any publisher pays and that they only pay that to best selling authors. That 50 % is not 50 % of the book's price. It's 50 % of what is left after Amazon collects 30 %. In other words, 35 %. It's this sort of double-talk that fools the unwary. It's dishonest and meant to deceive.</p>
<p>Note that at the same time, some of these authors have agents who push them in that direction, or in the direction of other e-publishers who pretty much also like to take a part of your percentages. I know that happens.</p>
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<p>What I'd really like to see is what all those folks do for the money they collect. How many sales do they add that the author wouldn't have otherwise?</p> Contracts may not be easy to…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2011-11-17:537324:Comment:3223992011-11-17T18:54:08.208ZEDWARD C MORGANhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/ECMorgan
<p>Contracts may not be easy to read, and authors may not be well informed, but if you are undertaking self-publishing, should you, as the author, make darned sure you understand the agreement and that you know your options?</p>
<p>I don't know...maybe I'm being callous, but I have little patience for someone who has done no homework, legwork, or due diligence and then screams they were taken.</p>
<p>Contracts may not be easy to read, and authors may not be well informed, but if you are undertaking self-publishing, should you, as the author, make darned sure you understand the agreement and that you know your options?</p>
<p>I don't know...maybe I'm being callous, but I have little patience for someone who has done no homework, legwork, or due diligence and then screams they were taken.</p>