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Book Nook provides readers with insights into the world of books. Vick Mickunas takes you into the center of the publishing world with the latest book buzz, book reviews, and exclusive chats with authors..Home > Blogs > Book Nook > Archives > 2011 > June > 24 > Entry
Amazon vs. independents vs. self-publishing
It is a brave new world out there in book publishing. There are so many things shaking out. You have independent book stores struggling to survive. Amazon.com keeps expanding their reach in the book industry. Amazon’s Kindle eReader is leading the surge into eBooks. Amazon has also created their own publishing imprint. It was just announced that Amazon has signed a deal to have the rights to publish 47 novels by the late Ed McBain (a pen name for the writer Evan Hunter).
Some independent booksellers are fighting back. One bookseller in Seattle (where Amazon is based) has refused to carry books with the Amazon imprint and they just got into it over a request to have an Amazon author do a book signing in their store. They refused.
Then there’s the whole changing scene in self-publishing. Some authors are making boatloads of cash by spurning traditional publishing houses.
It’s a brave new world….
Vick Mickunas
p.s.And you can follow me now on Twitter: @BookNookVick
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Comments
By jatfish
June 28, 2011 5:04 PM | Link to this
I like to hold a book—-I like the feel of it. No thanks to an eBook. My local library or 1/2 Price Books are my two favorite places. I guess I am a dinosaur and that’s okay with me.
By American Made
June 28, 2011 12:58 PM | Link to this
A very close family member of mine was just ‘published’ thru Amazon/Kindle. Check this book out. It’s his first and it is really great. It’s called, ‘I-32’ (I minus 32) and the Author is Don Tompkins. It’s a murder mystery about the new president elect with the inaguration (sp?) being in 32 days. That’s how long they have to figure out who’s killing and why and keep the new pres safe. Ooh! :)
By William Firestone
June 28, 2011 11:37 AM | Link to this
Vic, Count me among those who have decided to strike out on our own. Every time I sell a PDF download from redeftmedia(dot)net I receive 8x the return I would have gotten with a traditional book publisher. It is time for writers and artists to stop giving away their intellectual property. It is worth the struggle… William Firestone
By HJ
June 27, 2011 9:35 PM | Link to this
Welcome to 15 years ago when all of this started happening. I’m sure the independent book seller will overtake Amazon. (that’s sarcasm)
By Caroline
June 27, 2011 4:45 PM | Link to this
What I want to know is, what effect is the e-book/self-publishing movement having on positions in publishing houses? Even without the need for book production and transportation, authors who seek to be published through e-books still need to go through an admissions editor, right? They still need their manuscript improved. There is still a place for marketing folks to advertise the book. We need someone to design a digital jacket. I want to work at a publishing house, but I fear for where things are headed. Does anyone have any insight, or can point me to some good articles?
By Anon
June 27, 2011 3:55 PM | Link to this
I’ve had a Nook for a little over a year, and have found many online resources for free and $1.99/$2.99 books. I don’t think I’ve paid for more than 10 books. My local and surrounding county libraries (as well as the state library) are always free as well…
By Joanie
June 27, 2011 3:16 PM | Link to this
I read about 3 books a week. I suppose at some point I will have to get an ereader, but I really like actual, physical books, though I LOVE direct deposit and automatic bill paying. I read a wide variety of books, especially history and mysteries and get almost all my books from the library. I reserve them online, so I’m not a complete techophobe. I’ve been hearing about “Founding Gardeners”, by Andrea Wulf. It sounds very interesting. How about a review? (I am on the reserve list for it at the library.)
By Mark from St Paul
June 26, 2011 9:48 AM | Link to this
e-readers aren’t overpriced, content is. Even at paperback prices if you’re buying a book a week, you spending enough to buy at least three Kindles a year. But publishers are using ebooks to subsidize print books. ebook prices are simply too high in many cases. Indie authors not bound to publishing houses are making good money charging a few dollars per book. The technology is affordable, but old media is fighting the migration to e-everything.
By slightly Right
June 25, 2011 8:20 PM | Link to this
Vick, I probably read a book a week. Mostly fictional action type stories. I haven’t yet gotten into the Kindle ereader, but I know I soon will. People tend to be reluctant to change, but its on the way. The text book publishers are no doubt suffering. Like it or not, a paperless society is well on the way. It seems to have started with direct deposit of pay checks, social security checks, and disability checks from the government. It is sometimes frustrating how technology creates new electronic devices quicker than we can afford them.
By Mark from St Paul
June 24, 2011 7:20 PM | Link to this
Some of the people I read are saying that J.K. Rowling’s decision to publish the Harry Potter ebooks on her own website is the beginning of a movement that will kill publishing. It eliminates all the middle men, Amazon included. Of course this only works well for established authors, but it could blow the whole ebook thing apart.