First up: the link that sent listservs on fire and had everyone pulling that old manuscript out from under the bed. Bella Andre, kicking ass and taking names.
I wish the headline were a little less “Anyone can do this!” because I don’t necessarily believe that anyone can make a $100,000-go at digital self publishing. I think Bella Andre was a perfect example of Seneca’s definition of luck: when preparation meets opportunity. It’s not as if it’s as simple as tossing your self published work up on the wall and having spaghetti and hundred dollar bills rain down on you – but regardless it is an epic opportunity for those with the preparation and the opportunity. Way to go, Ms. Andre. Go on with your bad self.
So we know that money can be made by some – but what else don’t we know? A lot, according to Jennifer Crusie and Barbara Samuels.
To add to the conversations happening in other genres, Cruise and Samuels are talking digital self publishing (which I tend to call DSP) in a two part blog conversation this week.
Jenny: So now all of a sudden, e-publishing isn’t just viable, it’s taking over the place. Half of the sales of my first week hardcover sales were e-sales. That settled down to about 20% later, but that’s still a huge chunk. We were surprised (g).
Barbara: That’s an amazing percentage, and illustrates how fast things are changing.
Jenny: The thing is, we still don’t know if those who bought the e-version that first week are people who dropped the hardcover purchase to buy, or people who would have bought the paperback and went for the lower price, or people who just like e-books. Which is why this so fascinating. NOBODY KNOWS ANYTHING.
Barbara: Absolutely. Nobody knows ANYTHING. Which makes it all terrifying and scary and exciting and confusing, especially for people who have been in the business a long time and don’t have any other marketable skills.
Oh, the opportunities, the possibilities. There’s a lot of options – and a lot of scary potential for not as much of a success as has been reported by so many.
So here’s my question: have you thought about digitally self publishing? Do you have a book with rights reverted or a book you couldn’t sell that you’re thinking would be a good test case for self publishing? Readers, are you finding more self-published books by romance authors that you love?
