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Wednesday, February 22, 2012

John Locke and publishing

Today, at the supermarket, I saw one of John Locke's self-published ebooks now in paperback. I looked inside and saw that he owns the copyright, it was published by his own publishing company, and a statement that he'd sold over 1.5 million ebooks. He has set up some kind of marketing and distribution deal with one of the bigger publishers to publish his ebooks as paper books, apparently without giving up his rights.

This shows the kind of evolution the publishing industry is going through. People who self-publish ebooks certainly have a future in paper books as well. And the business models are changing. John Locke's deal is one model, maybe the best. Who knows at this point? But I think it shows that self-publishing ebooks is a viable option for many of us.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi, Richard. It's certainly true that publishing is changing, and changing, and changing. Print books will always be around, I'm convinced of that. And ebooks also. I've been reading a lot about this lately on the Internet; on Bloggers' blogs, as you no doubt have too - that self-publishing is definitely gaining respectability. As you saw on my last post, Shelli Johnson's Small as a Mustard Seed is a spectacular example of the quality of many self-published books. Let's get your book in the lineup also!!
Ann Best, Memoir Author of In the Mirror & Imprisoned

Ciara said...

This is one more good example to the changing publishing model. Who know where it will end up in a few years, we'll just have to wait and see.

Tanya Reimer said...

Yay for change. This is a great post to remind writers that we should be in the power seat. We are the artist after all.

Elizabeth Varadan, Author said...

There are so many changes going on, it's really hard to keep up with them. I'm trying to slow down and analyze them. Just like everyone isn't going to have the J.K. Rowling experience by writing fantasy, not everyone is going to have the John Locke experience by self-publishing. And not everyone is going to have the Jack London experience by giving away their first book. What I keep coming back to is this: Writers write. Then they try to get published, or the self-publish, or whatever. But they keep writing.

Anonymous said...

I am working with a few grocery store chains and it can be done. Thanks for the post. Always good to hear what other people are doing that's working for them.

Anonymous said...

My one question is who prints his books? Can he use CreateSpace (who can produce a copy of my books for around six dollars) and claim he owns his own publishing company? I'll have to go to Amazon and look at his more recent books and the info listed.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Richard .. I had seen the John Locke deal - he's created his own world hasn't he .. but he had a background in the publishing world - and had all those novels ready to go - with a little sex in them ... still he's used his knowledge very effectively .. he's grasped what he can and run with it - and been successful .... without compromise.

Cheers -Hilary

Lydia Kang said...

I find the changing publishing atmosphere so fascinating, particularly because it's happening right now and affecting me and so many of my writer/blogging friends.

Peggy Eddleman said...

It's amazing what kinds of leaps and bounds self publishing has made in the last three years alone! I think it's going to come a long way still.

KamilleE said...

Publishing is changing but it's also sort of worrying. Now when I pick up a book I have no idea what it's going to be like (if it's self pubbed).

Deb Shucka said...

It seems like every day there are new options for us. I think it's hopeful and freeing that publishing is becoming such a different entity.

Talli Roland said...

Wow - good for him. Yes, things are changing and fast.

KamilleE said...

Hey I tagged you on my blog!

KamilleE said...
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