Date: Wed, 03 Feb 2010 09:56:21 -0500
From: "Michael Walsh" <mjw at press.jhu.edu>
To: <wsfa-forum at yahoogroups.com>
Cc: "WSFA members" <wsfalist at keithlynch.net>
Subject: [WSFA] Re: [wsfa-forum] Over the weekend: Amazon vs MaCmillan
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at KeithLynch.net>

One of the ironies of the weekend pie fight is that under the Macmillan =
proposal Amazon would actually make money on each sale, rather than losing =
money on each $9.99 sale.

Anyway, generally speaking the eBook fans applaud Amazon, authors and =
fellow publishers applaud Macmillan. And yes, you'll find exceptions to =
what I just wrote, but I then did say "generally" not "all".

Here's another take on the pie fight:
http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/012156.html#012156

and http://www.tobiasbuckell.com/2010/01/31/together-lets-break-the-amazon-=
monopoly-on-kindles/

For me personally ... I really don't care: the selling points of any sort =
of eReader are of no interest to me.  I find dead tree technology just =
fine, thank you.  That said, I understand there are many useful things =
with eBooks.

As for someone working in the publishing biz .... oh my yes.  Watching =
closely.

In the long run, it will be the marketplace that will decide who wins.

mjw

>>> Eva Whitley <eva.whitley at gmail.com> 2/3/2010 9:46 AM >>>
Speaking as someone who relies on royalties as part of paying my
bills, and as a former small press publisher:

If you don't think $15 is a fair price for a book, then don't buy it.
No one's twisting your arm. But it takes the same level of effort to
write a book whether it's delivered on dead trees or live electrons.
The cost of paper and shipping is minor compared to the cost of
royalties, editing, development, promotion, etc. It's a financial risk
for a publishing house to publish a book, and good for Macmillian for
being brave enough to buck the trend.

Royalties are calculated as PERCENTAGE of cover price not as a flat
fee. I am of the opinion authors shouldn't have to take a lower level
of royalties just to make sure Kindle sales continue to be strong.
--Eva Whitley

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