If you haven't heard, big six publisher Penguin bought a big vanity press. This isn't good for authors. Others have unpackaged this more eloquently than I have time to and I'm posting their links below, but what I will say is this: If you are self-publishing and don't want to do everything yourself, you can farm out the work (such as cover, editing, formatting) for low one time fees. If you don't know where to start, ask me or other indie writers. We have how to/resource information on the Indelibles site. There are also a lot of great marketing advice books out there for indie authors and you don't have to rob the bank to do it.
Please don't do any big moves until you read this post by Susan Kaye Quinn and this one by Jane Friedman.
And I have to steal Susan's cat video....just because....
What do you think about the Penguin/Author solutions acquisition? Are you concerned (as I am) about the blurring lines between legitimate (traditional and indie/self) publishing and vanity presses?
It's hard to fight the vanity press argument when E. L. James is making a million dollars a week off of just that.
ReplyDeleteNot that I would do it, but people are not seeing all of this with clear eyes.
I think it's horrible. Vanity presses are terrible. All they do is offer empty promises and take from authors. They can't do anything for us that we can't do ourselves cheaper and more effectively. To see Penguin jump on that bandwagon breaks my heart and further disenchants me when it comes to traditional publishers and how they treat authors.
ReplyDeleteI hope authors do their homework. There is all kinds of people out there waiting to take your money.
ReplyDeleteBut this is hitting below the belt, why would a publishing house like them want anything to do with a vanity press? It seems like they are just jumping on board to cash in on authors who see El James success. It's sad.
I get the feeling I'm the ostrich that needs to take my head out of the sand. I've been pretty focused on writing so some industry news has passed by like a flash in the pan. Honestly, I haven't fully unraveled the workings of E.L. James's success. But as Vera mentioned, it is important for authors to do their homework and follow the path best suited for them, whether self-published, small press or going traditional.
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