I’ve had several recent posts about e-publishing phenomenon Ellora’s Cave, so I thought I’d even things up a bit by talking about Scheherazade Tales, the e-publisher of my first book, Yule be Mine, and the e-publishing revolution in general.
In order to understand the e-publishing revolution, the state of things in traditional publishing has to be understood. Namely, that there are fewer publishers today because publishing companies have been bought up by giant corporations with an eye to the bottom line. Wanting to make a profit isn’t a bad thing, because a business that doesn’t make a profit can’t stay in business. But condensing the publishing world to 10 options with an eye towards commercially viable proven commodities means that a lot of good books and good authors are falling through the cracks.
Consider, for instance, that traditionally good books have gone through as many as 30 rejections before finding a publisher. Books like Moby Dick, by Herman Melville. Books like A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine l’Engle. 30 rejections. 10 publishers. You don’t have to be very good at math to see what this means. I can’t even begin to guess how many good, well-written, important books are languishing in desk drawers and file cabinets for lack of more options.
Welcome to the revolution. E-publishing is stepping in to the gap and buying up those books. Electronic format means lower costs and the ability to take more risks without going out of business in the process. The internet provides a powerful medium for distribution. Print on Demand technology means that it’s possible to get a book into print without breaking the small, independent publisher’s bank account.
Everybody wins. Readers have more choices. Good books find markets. Writers are able to reach an audience even after the big 10 say no.
And for me, personally, it means that a wonderful story I’ve always loved is going to reach an audience this year because e-publisher Scheherazade Tales was willing to take a chance on an unknown writer. Yule be Mine is a book that had no potential market at all outside of e-publishing, because the three traditional publishers for short romance that exist had already turned it down and trying to sell a short single-title romance is harder than trying to sell thermal underwear in hell.
So thank you, Deborah, for your vision for Scheherazade Tales and your willingness to take risks. And for writers with good manuscripts that have no traditional market, what are you waiting for? Join the revolution.
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