Absolute power corrupts absolutely
For many that know me, they know that I often speak of the weather. I beg your forgiveness because I grew up in an area where the weather channel was the most watched TV station. This newsletter is a little delayed in part due to the fact that the snow has melted, the sun is high in the sky and the temperature has risen significantly. Summer has arrived and I intend to get as much Vitamin D as I can.
That's really no excuse for the delays, but when Winter comes and I'm complaining about the weather, remind me of this article.
There is a saying out there that goes something like: "The only guarantees in life are death and taxes." I believe we should add one more to that - change. Everything is changing: climate, the work life balance of the Western world, the environment, all sorts of industries with publishing in particular.
As a self-employed publisher who does this in the evening and on weekends, it's sometimes challenging to follow everything in the industry. Publisher's Weekly does a great job of keeping me up to date as do the recently discovered Google Alerts (thank you Debbie Elicksen!). There are some things I pay particular attention to.
Canadian publishers, Amazon and most things technology based (sorry, it's my day job and I can't seem to shake it off). The recent news about HarperCollins buying Harlequin Enterprises still gives me concerns. I've always believed that no matter what business a person is in, they should act with integrity and honesty. I haven't seen any evidence that Rupert Murdoch (owner of HarperCollins) follows the same philosophy.
Amazon and Hachette Publishing are nowhere near burying the hatchet (did you see how I did that??? :) ). Amazon recently offered Hachette a deal where the authors could have their work posted on Amazon and Amazon would generously pay them 100% of the revenue. Except...it's not 100% and it's a deal that is good for no one but Amazon. The authors are still left in the middle of this mess and the readers have fewer options available to them.
HarperCollins (ugh, I know...again!) has recently decided to sell printed books off their website, which is meant to be a kick in the pants to Amazon. HarperCollins - I think - has totally underestimated Amazon's delusions of grandeur.
I bring these examples up because I believe each individual running these companies (Harlequin, HarperCollins, Hachette and Amazon) believe in a world of lack and that one must not play fair in order to win. They believe that in order to win they must take from others - but they miss the point. You win by giving to others.
Traditional publishers didn't run a successful business model and that allowed Amazon to come along and take a piece of the pie. While each of these ruled their dynasties, they allowed their minds to become corrupted to change and growth. Traditional publishers believed that they only had to stay the course and the world become right again. Amazon believes that they can force companies and authors to their way of thinking without realizing they are totally delusional. Each of these (traditional and Amazon) believed that they were impenetrable and this absolute power allowed them to become corrupt - absolutely.
But there is good news! Change must occur and as a result a new industry of independent publishers is emerging - some with better business models than other. Some only provide a platform to get the eBook out there and others offer a more of a co-op approach. The good news is that authors aren't restricted to traditional publishers or Amazon, and readers aren't restricted to the bland formulaic approach traditional publishing likes to push on the main stream reader.
Between independent publishers and independent book sellers, the future is bright for those that are creative thinkers and writers and those that are creative readers. If we want our imaginations to soar, then it is our responsibility to go looking for and provide literary works that are unique and entertaining.
I believe it is uniqueness that will inspire creativity and imagination. You don't know where ideas come from and where they spread to, but it is everyone's responsibility to share a good story.
I hope you share yours today.
Take care and happy reading!
Darlene Poier
Publisher
Ficta Fabula
Inspiring Creativity and Imagination
www.fictafabula.com
www.pagesofstories.com
That's really no excuse for the delays, but when Winter comes and I'm complaining about the weather, remind me of this article.
There is a saying out there that goes something like: "The only guarantees in life are death and taxes." I believe we should add one more to that - change. Everything is changing: climate, the work life balance of the Western world, the environment, all sorts of industries with publishing in particular.
As a self-employed publisher who does this in the evening and on weekends, it's sometimes challenging to follow everything in the industry. Publisher's Weekly does a great job of keeping me up to date as do the recently discovered Google Alerts (thank you Debbie Elicksen!). There are some things I pay particular attention to.
Canadian publishers, Amazon and most things technology based (sorry, it's my day job and I can't seem to shake it off). The recent news about HarperCollins buying Harlequin Enterprises still gives me concerns. I've always believed that no matter what business a person is in, they should act with integrity and honesty. I haven't seen any evidence that Rupert Murdoch (owner of HarperCollins) follows the same philosophy.
Amazon and Hachette Publishing are nowhere near burying the hatchet (did you see how I did that??? :) ). Amazon recently offered Hachette a deal where the authors could have their work posted on Amazon and Amazon would generously pay them 100% of the revenue. Except...it's not 100% and it's a deal that is good for no one but Amazon. The authors are still left in the middle of this mess and the readers have fewer options available to them.
HarperCollins (ugh, I know...again!) has recently decided to sell printed books off their website, which is meant to be a kick in the pants to Amazon. HarperCollins - I think - has totally underestimated Amazon's delusions of grandeur.
I bring these examples up because I believe each individual running these companies (Harlequin, HarperCollins, Hachette and Amazon) believe in a world of lack and that one must not play fair in order to win. They believe that in order to win they must take from others - but they miss the point. You win by giving to others.
Traditional publishers didn't run a successful business model and that allowed Amazon to come along and take a piece of the pie. While each of these ruled their dynasties, they allowed their minds to become corrupted to change and growth. Traditional publishers believed that they only had to stay the course and the world become right again. Amazon believes that they can force companies and authors to their way of thinking without realizing they are totally delusional. Each of these (traditional and Amazon) believed that they were impenetrable and this absolute power allowed them to become corrupt - absolutely.
But there is good news! Change must occur and as a result a new industry of independent publishers is emerging - some with better business models than other. Some only provide a platform to get the eBook out there and others offer a more of a co-op approach. The good news is that authors aren't restricted to traditional publishers or Amazon, and readers aren't restricted to the bland formulaic approach traditional publishing likes to push on the main stream reader.
Between independent publishers and independent book sellers, the future is bright for those that are creative thinkers and writers and those that are creative readers. If we want our imaginations to soar, then it is our responsibility to go looking for and provide literary works that are unique and entertaining.
I believe it is uniqueness that will inspire creativity and imagination. You don't know where ideas come from and where they spread to, but it is everyone's responsibility to share a good story.
I hope you share yours today.
Take care and happy reading!
Darlene Poier
Publisher
Ficta Fabula
Inspiring Creativity and Imagination
www.fictafabula.com
www.pagesofstories.com
