Sunday, April 13, 2014 spring "looking ahead" event

My assertion has always been that there will always be readers and readers will always want good stories, but how they consume those stories is the question. Listen, 10 years ago, we were all calling for the death of network television. Then along came the prestige TV series like Boardwalk Empire, and then Netflix changed the game with House of Cards and Arrested Development. I think it's not unreasonable to think the same could happen to books. The stories--the novels, the memoirs, the poetry--can continue to live, but we have to find a way of delivering it that speaks to how people expect to have their entertainment (instantly delivered, online) while keeping the integrity of the forms we're working in. No one would say that Orange is the New Black is a bad show on level with the Kardashians, but it has been delivered to viewers in a way that speaks to the contemporary way the Kardashians have been using social media and the online world.

Now my brain is tired!

I was talking to a traditionally-published author yesterday who is publishing her own backlist. That seems like a great way of keeping sales coming and taking control, rather than allowing yourself to be sidelined. So, self-publishing is really an option for everybody these days. The Writers Union of Canada has just voted to allow self-published authors to join the union, as long as they meet a few criteria.

I know a friend of mine (Children's Author, traditionally published) has a few book trailers, but I don't think it was her publisher who created them. (Actually, one was created by a fan, which is awesome.)

I don't even think about Indigo as a place to sell my books. An author I just edited was upset about not being able to get in there with her third book. I did a search to set her mind at ease, and told her that of the 17 Chapters/Indigos in the greater Edmonton area (where my press is), there was one copy of my book in one location and two in another. And that was it. I think it's to our benefit (oddly) to not think about them as a viable place to sell our books. But I'm lucky in that I have a local independent who hosts all my launches and carries multiple copies of all my books. I know everyone doesn't have that.

I get what you're saying. The gatekeepers - should they be the readers, maybe? If the publishers drive, say, a whack of vampire novels, wouldn't it be nice if there were an alternative? I like the idea of "independent" proposed above. If I think of it in terms of music, it makes sense. There's room for independents-imagine the possibilities in terms of books. Noise Trade is one of my resources for finding music I like, and now they're getting into books. Yeah, some of it is crap, but some of it is really great. I'd miss out on that if I only went with what the big record companies were pushing. (Autotune, anyone?)

I'd love it if someone did that for me. I have no interest in doing one myself.

Yes! They do this at the Kingston writers' festival too. Great to listen to, and also soooo much fun do! That was one of my favourite events ever.

No, no! Your book is a dream! You know how much I loved it. I was totally referring to your editing experience. And I truly think I hit the editing jackpot. Frankly, I don't know how I got so lucky.

Hi, Georgie. Do you mean you can see how many were sold after a particular reading, or that you can see the purchaser's name, or whereabouts?

Do any of you authors have really strong e-book sales? Stronger than print? My two novels Conceit and Muse are both available in e-book, but they sell so many more copies in print. Just wondering what other people's experience is.

How about those book trailers. Anyone have experience doing one themselves (or having them done for a book ...)?

At the same time, I think of my Mother-In-Law. I had a story published in an anthology, and she wanted to buy a copy. There are no independent bookstores in her neighbourhood. There is an Indigo. But it wasn't available there.

I always wanted to be a writer and I grew up believing that the road to publication was long and winding, the apprenticeship never-ending, which I still believe. In my own life I am torn between keeping a'pace with all of the trends, jumping on the cyberspace bandwagons, and the ilk, but the other part wants to retreat from technology completely and return to a more contemplative life. True confession: I still write my first drafts long hand.

I go online to check my dashboard and it tells me daily if anyone buys an e-book, but it doesn't tell me who. I wish it did though. That would certainly be fun. I sell few e-books, many more in print.

I haven't seen my royalty statement for this year yet, Mary, but I can tell you that my first statement indicated that every one of my sales was print. Mind you, the book had only been out a few months at that time. I'll see what the statement says next month. I'd ask my publicist, but I'm hoping she's not at work answering emails!

Yes, exactly. Readers, and perhaps other writers (since we're all readers too.) It's always interesting to hear a writer breakdown a book.

Funny you should mention that! Yes, having different types of artists together at the same event creates a very special atmosphere that isn't quickly forgotten.

This is from that festival (Woody Point)...

We haven't talked about money yet, but traditionally published authors I know say they get $2 for each $20 book sold. If that is so, does everyone have a day job?

My publisher certainly has. I think most do. In the past my experience has been the youtube interview. A bit static. Again, we need more imagination on this front and, of course, its out there. I would love to just have fun with this one. Play, dive into humor. Just need a book that would lend itself to that.

I have a friend who does that as well. A couple of them in fact. I've jumped on the social media bandwagons, but I think of myself as pretty traditional in terms of my process. Though I compose on a computer, I edit on paper, always. Can't see it on the screen. Pencils will never be obsolete.