skylarker

"But that model no longer works for TV. Now there are hundreds of channels. And it no longer works for books, either. If you look at the current Top 100 bestsellers on Kindle, twenty-seven of them are self-published. Many of those authors were rejected by NY. Yet consumers are showing us what they want to read, and voting with their wallets.

The "gatekeeper" model, where agents and Big 6 Publishers decided what would be fit for public consumption, is eroding."

...

"Barry: Right. And there’s more. What happened when digital sales became so big that even the Times recognized it was beginning to look undeniably foolish and antediluvian in pretending digital didn’t exist?

Joe: They said, “All right, we’ll include digital. But not by indie authors.”

Barry: Yes. Apparently, bestselling indie authors aren’t “real” bestsellers. Some sales are more equal than others."
...

Barry:... when authors start turning down half-million dollar book deals because they think they’ll do better in the long run on their own, it’s hard to argue “Nothing to see here, folks, just keep moving...

There’s no question that legacy publishers still add a lot of value on the paper side of the ledger. With paper, you need to actually make books, deploy a sales force, take wholesale orders, get the books on trucks, handle returns... there’s a huge amount of infrastructure, which is what’s given publishers the relative clout they’ve enjoyed for so long.

jgrouchy

Now that we are firmly into a New Year, 4^th Street Fantasy Society greets you with enthusiasm about the best of the tradition of our continuing conversation and excitement about some new offerings.  Check out the new face of 4^th Street at http://www.4thstreetfantasy.com , as always, the go-to place to find out what’s happening and who’ll be there, to offer ideas, to volunteer your help, to get answers to your questions, and most importantly to register!

Last June you were asked what you wanted in the coming year. You were heard.

Let’s get the answer to the most important question right now:

            The 4^th Street Fantasy Conversation continues

                     June 24-26, 2011

                  Doubletree Hotel

                  Minneapolis, MN

In response to frequent requests we are delighted to announce our first

           4^th Street Writers Seminar

              June 24, 2011

                   with Elizabeth Bear, Lois McMaster Bujold,

                        Patricia C. Wrede, and Elise Matthesen

We’ve changed the ConSuite to the Spring Room on the lowest level of the hotel.   Please contact us with specific requests and suggestions.

We look forward to:

•            hearing from you

•            working with you

•            creating with you the 4th Street we all want

•            adding your name to the Who’ll Be There

Never forget, the conversation will be better because you are there.