“We felt the smell was wrong, but in the end, we decided he knew more about the law than we did.”
– Andrew Young, former campaign aide to John Edwards, talking about pressure to funnel campaign donations to Edwards’ mistress.
Do You Really Need That Publisher?
In the brave new world of digital and self-publishing, Lisa Buchan, CEO of Sparkabook, poses a question that few dare to ask – do writers need a publisher? It’s most certainly a query that traditional book agents and publishing houses loathe. But, as authors take greater control over their work, it’s an inevitable discussion that needs to be had.
Previously, creative types labored in the name of their art. If they encountered someone who had enough money and power to commission them to complete further works, then they were truly blessed – and ultimately so was the rest of society. The first publishers actually were benefactors – people who sponsored a writer they liked. And, the books these writers cranked out would go almost immediately into the patron’s personal library. In other words, all the sculptors, painters and writers were at the mercy of these affluent individuals. The patrons weren’t making an “investment,” since they didn’t need to generate income for themselves. Art was done purely for art’s sake.
Contemporary publishing isn’t quite so paternalistic, but it’s close. When a publisher accepts a manuscript, they truly are making an investment in the author – in both time and money. They work with the author to polish the final product; have someone design the book jacket and any illustrations inside the text; and engage in marketing and advertising. Consequently, for their efforts, the publisher lops off a certain percentage from the profits. Book agents do basically the same, except the actual printing. If the writer is foolish enough to relinquish all rights, then that means the publishing house can sell movie or TV rights to the book, and the only benefit the writer will see is his or her name in small print beneath the term, “Based on the book by…”
As with any investment, it’s always a risk. An agent or editor may fall in love with a particular book, but – even with heavy marketing – that’s no guarantee it will sell. Every publishing house wants to discover the next Stephen King or Anne Rice. But, they won’t know if they don’t take a chance with the writer. King, for example, couldn’t get any of his horror short stories published when he began his writing career. So, porn magazine purveyor Larry Flynt, of all people, published them. Ernest Hemingway endured almost a hundred rejections before he got his first story published. If a publisher doesn’t accept someone like John Grisham – only to see him go with another company and start making millions – then obviously that first publisher starts kicking themselves. Therefore, publishing is filled with more regrets than glory.
But, as self-publishing gains more respectability and becomes the norm, agents, editors and publishers are squirming. They’re akin to the British Empire seeing power slip from its grasp, as millions of people in India refuse to bow to their authoritarian rule. It’s frightening to them, but exciting to the rest of us.
Read the rest of Buchan’s editorial here.
May 2, 2012 – 232 days Until Baktun 12
Survivalist Tip: In keeping with my combating allergies theme, I suggest adding lemons to your stockpile of food stuffs. People often mix lemon juice with honey and tea to help fight a colds, flues and nasal and chest congestion. But, even by themselves, lemons are a healthy food item. They contain unique flavonoid compounds that have antioxidants and anti-cancer properties. The main element is flavonol glycoside, which has been shown to stop cell division in many cancer cell lines. These same flavonoids help boost the immune system. Lemons are also a good source of Vitamin C, which (as I’ve discussed before) is one of the most important antioxidants in nature. Although it has a rather strong taste and is bad for teeth enamel, lemon juice (when mixed with water) helps to cleanse the body of dangerous free radicals (which can damage the body’s cell structure) and reduce fevers (which can ruin a really good day).
Lemon juice is also effective against malaria, cholera, diphtheria, typhoid and the heartbreak of psoriasis when it’s mixed with water. With so many people likely to be mobile at the start of the new Baktun – either scrambling to safety, or trying to find abandoned chocolate bars – these ailments could be all around you. On top of all that, a well-aimed lemon half can take out the eyes of an intruder or an unruly child.
Filed under Mayan Calendar Countdown
Today’s Notable Birthdays
If today is your birthday, “Happy Birthday!”
Singer Engelbert Humperdinck (After the Lovin’, Release Me, There Goes My Everything, The Last Waltz) is 76.
Organist Goldy McJohn (Steppenwolf) is 67.
Singer Lesley Gore (It’s My Party, Judy’s Turn to Cry, She’s a Fool) is 66.
Singer Larry Gatlin (Gatlin Brothers) is 64.
Singer Lou Gramm (Black Sheep, Foreigner) is 62.
Filed under Birthdays
On May 2…
1729 – Catherine the Great (Catherine II) of Russia was born in Stettin, Prussia.
1887 – Hannibal W. Goodwin of Newark, NJ applied for a patent for celluloid photographic film.
1903 – Dr. Benjamin Spock, author of The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care, was born in New Haven, CT.
1941 – The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) agreed to let regular scheduling of TV broadcasts by commercial TV stations begin on July 1, 1941.
1972 – J. Edgar Hoover, leader of the FBI for nearly 50 years, died.
2011 – Osama bin Laden, mastermind of the 09/11 terrorist attacks, was killed by a team of U.S. Navy SEALs in Pakistan.
Filed under Birthdays
Picture of the Day
Scientists at De La Salle University in Manila and the Senckenberg Research Institute in Germany announced recently that they discovered 4 new species of freshwater crab off the Filipino island of Palawan. One of them is this bright purple specimen, Insulamon palawanense. Unlike the other 3, however, it’s endemic to only a handful of islands in the Philippines.
Filed under News
Quote of the Day
“Every single member of my family on both sides was exterminated. Both of my parents were in the Warsaw Ghetto uprising. And it is precisely and exactly because of the lessons my parents taught me and my two siblings that I will not be silent when Israel commits its crimes against the Palestinians.”
– Norman Finkelstein, American political scientist and author, whose parents are Nazi Holocaust survivors.
DOJ Files Antitrust Suit Over E-Book Pricing
Last month the U.S. Department of Justice filed an antitrust suit against Apple and 5 major publishers – Hachette, Harper Collins, MacMillan, Penguin and Simon & Schuster – alleging collusion in e-book pricing and sales models. U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, acting Assistant Attorney General Sharis A. Pozen and Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen made the announcement at DOJ headquarters in Washington, D.C. It’s surprising to see that digital publishing – a truly 21st century technological phenomenon – has fallen under the glare of the nation’s top law enforcement official. But, it’s equally serious – and perhaps even warranted – as the number of publishing outfits diminishes. It appears the 5 publishers named in the suit most feared the Amazon giant.
According to the suit, filed in the Southern District of New York, the 5 publishers “feared that lower retail prices for e-books might lead eventually to lower wholesale prices for e-books, lower prices for print books, or other consequences the publishers hoped to avoid.” It also mentions “deflating hardcover prices” and charges that the “Publisher Defendants were especially concerned that Amazon was well positioned to enter the digital publishing business and thereby supplant publishers as intermediaries between authors and consumers.”
When the 5 publishers couldn’t force Amazon to stop selling e-books at such sharply discounted prices, they conspired to increase those very same e-book prices and thereby limit competition in the sale of digital books. To accomplish their goal, the publishers teamed up with Apple, which had the same desire to restrain retail price competition over e-books.”
The lawsuit further alleges that Apple wished to raise the profit margin for e-book retailers above what Amazon and its competitors had been making. The suit also claims that prior to negotiating with Apple, executives with the 5 publishers engaged in a series of meetings, telephone calls and other communications where they “agreed to act collectively to force up Amazon’s retail prices and thereafter considered and implemented various means to accomplish that goal, including moving under the guise of a joint venture.” One e-mail stated that “without a critical mass behind us Amazon won’t ‘negotiate,’ so we need to be more confident of how our fellow publishers will react…” It also charges that publishers sought to destroy evidence and conceal their communications, showing they knew their activities were illicit.
This conspiracy would make the Enron scoundrels proud. And, the 5 publishers almost sound like the “five families;” a.k.a. the mafia. It’s distressing for writers, whose first love is the written word, to see the creative world run smack into the brutality of corporate politics. There are mixed feelings. On one side, no decent writer wants to see their publishing choices limited to just a handful of conglomerates. On the other is the leeriness of government interference in the arts. But, there’s a reason it’s called show business. It’ll truly be interesting to see how far the DOJ will go with this case.
Filed under News
May 1, 2012 – 233 days Until Baktun 12
Survivalist Tip: It almost goes without saying that honey is one of the healthiest things you could consume. Obviously, I said it anyway, but what the hell! For thousands of years, honey has been used to treat everything from arthritis pain to yeast infections. I don’t have arthritis and the closest I’ve come to a yeast infection is bad breath; so I can’t speak for these claims. But, honey also can be used to aid the body in healing from cuts, burns and wounds, as it possesses natural anti-bacterial properties to prevent infection and reduce inflammation. It’s probably best known for easing the symptoms of sore throat, but it also helps to limit the effects of a hangover. Here are some other health benefits:
- It’s a great source of natural carbohydrates which provide strength and energy.
- It boosts endurance and combats lethargy better than caffeine.
- Its natural sugars help reduce muscle fatigue.
- It keeps levels of blood sugar fairly constant compared to other sugars.
- It helps to boost the immune system.
Honey is truly a universal health aid – next to chocolate and a dog. Just don’t call anyone “honey bear” at the start of the new Baktun. You’ll likely end up worse off than anything honey can cure.
Filed under Mayan Calendar Countdown
Chief Writing Wolf 