Publisher Decisions and Boycott Fallout

[e_moon60]

So today the news came out that Simon and Schuster, a formerly independent major publisher now owned by CBS, has offered a $250,000 advance to Milo Yiannopoulos for his book on himself.   This is not a person I admire.  The thought of his getting a book contract doesn't please me, and the thought of his getting an advance so much higher than I've

Comments

[e_moon60]

Addendum: A writer's power (and yes, we do have power) comes from the effect of their works on readers--when something stimulates thoughts and reactions from readers. To do that, the work has to be available to readers (easier now with social media, but easier is there's an actual book on the shelves in stores and in catalogs of e-books and audio books.)

(And I need to go to bed. Just then momentarily confused a narrow, flat ink cartridge in its shiny wrapping with a forgotten chocolate bar in *its* shiny wrapping. Didn't quite take a bite out of it.)

[sheff_dogs]

I hope you slept well after that disappointment.

I have seen this sort of explanation from other writers over the years who got fed up of telling individual readers they had no control over the cover, the ebook price, the print size nor could they force a TV company to make a series out of their work, a film company to make a movie etc etc. It seemed strange at first, because I had assumed writers were like bands who do tend to have more control over things like the look of an album, and I suspect that that is where many peple get their ideas of how publishng 'must' work, but it's clearly a very different industry for all they are both supported at the bottom by creative people.

I hope you had a pleasurable and relaxing Christmas (not at all because I am pining for more Ky et al, and want you to be rested for work, no not at all, well ok, not JUST).

[e_moon60]

Christmas wasn't relaxing, exactly, but it was pleasurable. And I'm working steadily (if with unsteady progress) on INTO THE FIRE. Spousal first reader is about a third of the way through and brought up something I hadn't thought of (he usually does, which is what makes him a valuable first reader in addition to his being the best spouse in the world.) Things will need working on.

[livejournal]

Hello! Your entry got to top-25 of the most popular entries in LiveJournal!
Learn more about LiveJournal Ratings in FAQ.

Superstars

[anonymous]

I always thought you were one of these superstars.

I do not purchase your books because of the publisher, the picture on the cover, or the blurb on the back. Alright, I did for Sheepfarmer's Daughter, but after that your work sold itself.

Have a safe and happy New Years

Jonathan up in NH deluged with snow

Re: Superstars

[e_moon60]

I am one of the lucky writers whose trajectory is above average, but definitely not a superstar. I've watched some of the newer superstars go zooming right past me, and I've seen people who are every bit as good as I am, in my opinion, fall back into the atmosphere and disappear through no fault (that I can see) of their own.

Thank you for your kind comments on my work, and I'm happy to have given you pleasure with it. Having readers appreciate what I've done is a huge lift on those bad days that everyone has.

And I hope your deluge of snow doesn't put you in danger. We didn't have any last year and I don't expect any this year, but it's still possible. (One year I was in Australia over Easter and it snowed here. Not much, but enough for my husband to show me a picture of it. And some years before that, we actually had Seven! Whole! Inches! Which to you, I'm sure is "You call THAT snow???" snow. It was pretty, though.

RE: Re: Superstars

[gifted]

I understand now the reality of things, but I've always thought you a superstar too. That is aside from the fact you're my favourite, and whom I would consider "the best" (to my taste and mind).

[paulliver]

Reading this makes me wish I'd become a lawyer like my mother wanted.

[e_moon60]

But did you become what YOU wanted? I hope so. It took me quite a while to figure out what I wanted, but in the end...it's better than what other people thought I should become.

[draconin]

I wasn't even aware of the controversy but: well explained. Thanks.

I find it interesting; the only contact I've had with the industry is via the publication of a few maths & computer texts about a decade or so ago, and the dynamic/economics/business was/is very different. Perhaps because I was publishing in Australia, which is admittedly a very limited market.

[e_moon60]

From what I understand via a few Australian fiction authors, Australian publishing is indeed different from US/UK publishing. Textbook publishing is a different arrangement from fiction publishing in most markets. For one thing, I've been told (not sure the person who told me was an expert!) that textbooks have a more easily forecast market--not as large, necessarily, but easier for a publisher to figure out. But I have no direct experience with Australian publishers, so you already know more about it than I do.