Little, Brown & Co. has a new imprint - CrimeSpace2024-03-29T09:41:18Zhttps://crimespace.ning.com/forum/topics/little-brown-co-has-a-new?feed=yes&xn_auth=noIf they (or anybody) had come…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2010-06-18:537324:Comment:2386072010-06-18T22:11:09.692ZBrianLindenmuthhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/BrianL
If they (or anybody) had come out and said the opening lineup was going to be books by the Edgar nominated Brian Evenson, Steve Finbow, Frank Turner Hollon, Jay Russell, Joe Meno, Theo Gangi, Jack O'Connell plus the acclaimed international writers Chris Womersley and Kenzo Kitakata (all real crime writers by the way) people would have met the announcement with a collective "huh".
If they (or anybody) had come out and said the opening lineup was going to be books by the Edgar nominated Brian Evenson, Steve Finbow, Frank Turner Hollon, Jay Russell, Joe Meno, Theo Gangi, Jack O'Connell plus the acclaimed international writers Chris Womersley and Kenzo Kitakata (all real crime writers by the way) people would have met the announcement with a collective "huh". As a current St. Martin's Min…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2010-06-18:537324:Comment:2385862010-06-18T16:21:24.265ZJon Loomishttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/JonLoomis
As a current St. Martin's Minotaur author, I can say the experience has been mixed. I think everything's based in expectations--they expected very little from my first two, and when things actually started to happen their response was flat-footed to nonexistent. That said, they did step up and fund my trip out to Cape Cod last summer when I was interviewed for NPR, so that was a good thing. I think they see my series as fundamentally problematic in a number of ways (I write about Cape Cod but…
As a current St. Martin's Minotaur author, I can say the experience has been mixed. I think everything's based in expectations--they expected very little from my first two, and when things actually started to happen their response was flat-footed to nonexistent. That said, they did step up and fund my trip out to Cape Cod last summer when I was interviewed for NPR, so that was a good thing. I think they see my series as fundamentally problematic in a number of ways (I write about Cape Cod but live in the midwest, I have this crazy teaching job that keeps me from writing as fast as they'd like, etc.), so they've been very cautious about really getting behind the series--at the same time they seem interested in continuing for another book or two, which ain't nothing. Also my editor is very senior now, which has helped (but not as much as you'd think). In all, would I have preferred a big contract and lots of publicity and attention from my publisher? Sure. Do I think I deserve more money and attention than I'm getting? Who doesn't? Am I desperately unhappy with my current lot? Absolutely not, but I've always viewed crime writing as a facet of a larger writing career. If the next book is a big hit--great! If it disappears and SM/M doesn't want #4, fine--I can finally get to work on the academic comedy I've been mulling for about a year now. Well, it's hovering around #1…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2010-06-18:537324:Comment:2385852010-06-18T16:11:41.044ZJon Loomishttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/JonLoomis
Well, it's hovering around #1500 in books on Amazon, two weeks prior to publication--so they're likely to do okay initially, at least. That said, it doesn't sound like my cup of tea. That said, there's already an audiobooks edition, a very thought-out Amazon page, and copious pre-pub reviews--so clearly St. Martin's is behind the book (unlike my first, ARCS of which went out with erroneous flap copy which was then quoted in reviews, etc.). Good for the author, and I hope it all works out for…
Well, it's hovering around #1500 in books on Amazon, two weeks prior to publication--so they're likely to do okay initially, at least. That said, it doesn't sound like my cup of tea. That said, there's already an audiobooks edition, a very thought-out Amazon page, and copious pre-pub reviews--so clearly St. Martin's is behind the book (unlike my first, ARCS of which went out with erroneous flap copy which was then quoted in reviews, etc.). Good for the author, and I hope it all works out for everyone. I'm a former St. Martin's aut…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2010-06-18:537324:Comment:2385752010-06-18T14:21:45.320ZI. J. Parkerhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Ingpark
I'm a former St. Martin's author and I can absolutely testify to the fact that they did nothing for me. In fact, I couldn't get them to set up a signing at a B&N. And B&N refused to let me have a signing unless the publisher okayed it. I blame SMP for the difficulties I've had ever since.
I'm a former St. Martin's author and I can absolutely testify to the fact that they did nothing for me. In fact, I couldn't get them to set up a signing at a B&N. And B&N refused to let me have a signing unless the publisher okayed it. I blame SMP for the difficulties I've had ever since. I can't remember which publis…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2010-06-18:537324:Comment:2385742010-06-18T14:03:22.626ZSandra Ruttanhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Sandramre
I can't remember which publisher it was offhand... one of the biggies in the UK decided not to resign one of their biggest authors. I'm pretty sure it was James Patterson. Instead, they took the money and invested it in newer authors they wanted to groom. That does happen, but I have to admit I am always leery when people seem to think new, unproven authors should be getting the red carpet rolled out for them.<br />
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Consider the big push book of the summer, Still Missing. Debut novel. Author didn't…
I can't remember which publisher it was offhand... one of the biggies in the UK decided not to resign one of their biggest authors. I'm pretty sure it was James Patterson. Instead, they took the money and invested it in newer authors they wanted to groom. That does happen, but I have to admit I am always leery when people seem to think new, unproven authors should be getting the red carpet rolled out for them.<br />
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Consider the big push book of the summer, Still Missing. Debut novel. Author didn't have a clue about genre when writing it. And it remains to be seen if they can match that with a second follow-up that's worthy of the price tag. Throwing six figures at new authors before their first book even hits the shelves is risky. When the book tanks, people are only too quick to point to the ridiculous, unfounded business decisions publishers are making.<br />
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But here's St. Martin's - who has a notorious reputation conveyed through loud whispers shared between authors at conventions, via emails and on discussion boards for doing minimal promotion for the majority of their authors (I'm sourcing my comment because, having never been part of the St. Martin's stable, I have no experience with them other than as a reviewer) - sending this woman out on a pre-publication book tour. The money invested in this one book is considerable, and it's still a gamble.<br />
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Only time and sales figures will show whether or not the investment was justified, and if it doesn't meet sales expectations, it'll be considered idiocy. If it does, it'll be genius. We can only validate or invalidate investment after the fact, so publishers take a roll of the dice.<br />
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(And if you want my take on the book you can read it <a href="http://www.spinetinglermag.com/2010/03/31/the-new-six-figure-torture-porn-industry/" target="_blank">here</a>. I think a new imprint for cri…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2010-06-17:537324:Comment:2385112010-06-17T22:59:27.028ZJude Hardinhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/festus
I think a new imprint for crime fiction is fantastic. Go Mulholland!
I think a new imprint for crime fiction is fantastic. Go Mulholland! The more the merrier, if you…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2010-06-17:537324:Comment:2384832010-06-17T18:36:53.440ZJon Loomishttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/JonLoomis
The more the merrier, if you ask me. It's never a bad thing to have another decent imprint around, especially when it's time to shop the next project.
The more the merrier, if you ask me. It's never a bad thing to have another decent imprint around, especially when it's time to shop the next project. While I agree with you, Sandr…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2010-06-17:537324:Comment:2384732010-06-17T17:59:34.045ZB.R.Statehamhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/BRStateham
While I agree with you, Sandra, that publishing is a business and publishers rely on the big names to fill their coffers, nevertheless the counter-point to your observation is this; publishing houses who make no effort to find, sustain, and groom new writers bascially are only treading water and living in the past.<br />
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Yes, a few new writers come out from the big publishing houses. Ocassionally. But I doubt there is a writer in here who would say that the biggies take the time or effort to groom…
While I agree with you, Sandra, that publishing is a business and publishers rely on the big names to fill their coffers, nevertheless the counter-point to your observation is this; publishing houses who make no effort to find, sustain, and groom new writers bascially are only treading water and living in the past.<br />
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Yes, a few new writers come out from the big publishing houses. Ocassionally. But I doubt there is a writer in here who would say that the biggies take the time or effort to groom and sustain a new author and establish a name for the new voice. Its kinda like one-shot-and-you're-done. If the first book doesn't blow the windows out of a book store in demand, then it's just too bad.<br />
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That's the maga-corporation thinking pattern. Let me make it clear that I h…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2010-06-17:537324:Comment:2384722010-06-17T17:44:57.875ZI. J. Parkerhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Ingpark
Let me make it clear that I have nothing against Mulholland. More power to them. My statement was really a general comment on current publishing practices. Too many books are being published without the least intention of promoting them.
Let me make it clear that I have nothing against Mulholland. More power to them. My statement was really a general comment on current publishing practices. Too many books are being published without the least intention of promoting them. But it costs a lot of money t…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2010-06-17:537324:Comment:2384712010-06-17T17:41:47.106ZSandra Ruttanhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Sandramre
But it costs a lot of money to promote someone who's new, whereas someone who's established can sell off their name. You have to have money in the bank to get that rolling.<br />
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I completely disagree about the value of the imprint. You need only look at Hard Case Crime to know that people WILL buy a branded imprint that's demonstrated quality, as opposed to buying for the author. I know people who subscribe to HCC and just get the next book in the mail - they essentially pre-order whatever's signed…
But it costs a lot of money to promote someone who's new, whereas someone who's established can sell off their name. You have to have money in the bank to get that rolling.<br />
<br />
I completely disagree about the value of the imprint. You need only look at Hard Case Crime to know that people WILL buy a branded imprint that's demonstrated quality, as opposed to buying for the author. I know people who subscribe to HCC and just get the next book in the mail - they essentially pre-order whatever's signed through their membership. So that's proof people don't always buy based on the author name, but also can consider the imprint.<br />
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Just because I buy books one way doesn't mean it's true of everyone, and how you buy your books doesn't hold true for everyone either. As publishers are struggling to get ahead of the changes in the industry and remain viable, they have to reconsider their approach to marketing. That's what I see Mulholland Books doing.<br />
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And, like them or loathe them, ready to read the first offerings or ready to dismiss them as a celebrity publisher (biggest load of crap I've read in ages) nobody can deny Mulholland has already made a name for itself. People are talking about them, in multiple venues. And that's without a single book on the shelves yet.