tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161612612541953601.post235078606196084699..comments2023-10-11T03:55:29.930-05:00Comments on Suzan Tisdale : Hatchette v. AmazonSuzan Tisdalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15448144413924439336noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161612612541953601.post-18438359790678048732014-07-09T05:26:47.018-05:002014-07-09T05:26:47.018-05:00Amen sister, Amen! Excellent points Ceci. Amen sister, Amen! Excellent points Ceci. Suzan Tisdalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15448144413924439336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161612612541953601.post-23091137013836197632014-07-08T19:38:11.947-05:002014-07-08T19:38:11.947-05:00I dislike how the traditional publishing houses ba...I dislike how the traditional publishing houses band together acting like a single conglomerate to keep "business as usual" so all e-book prices, yes Sue-Ellen Welfonder price point not quality is the reason for low sales, stay high operating on the assumption readers are idiots and authors are not business smart. I abhore how Amazon is the elephant in the room nobody wants to discuss because the have helped Indie authors. Amazon is great, when they get their way... The bulk of their profits derive from their supply chain folks! I would like other sources to be out there, business wise that is because I dislike this Amazon monopoly regarding self-publishing. I do not like the fact e-books are not available on all platforms... Just my business observations however I am proud of each of you fighting to work outside of traditional publishing and hope you remain successful in the future! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161612612541953601.post-50618900378002092332014-07-07T17:17:21.274-05:002014-07-07T17:17:21.274-05:00I feel the need to weigh in here. Like you, my sto...I feel the need to weigh in here. Like you, my stories would still be in my head were it not for Amazon. Yes, initially I was "traditionally published" but not by one of the big boys. My books were picked up by a small press who would not be in business were it not for the advent of e-publishing. I would also still be bound to that publisher were it not for the simplicity of publishing via Amazon. I have had the surreal joy of listening to my own words read to me because of ACX (an Amazon company) and I can hold a physical book in my hands because of CreateSpace (another Amazon company). <br /><br />I am all for competition, but it is out there. B&N, Kobo and Apple are all in the same space. The technology is simple enough that if Hatchette wanted to create and sell their e-books from an online store it would be easy to do so. However they didn't make that choice. The first Kindle was released in 2007 and technology rolled on from there. If they failed to embrace the technology and carve out their piece of the market, whose fault is that? For the last seven years they have been willing to sit back and let Amazon sell their books while holding steadfastly to their old publishing model (where they control what the public gets to read). During that time Amazon also chose to nurture the disenfranchised of the publishing world (like me), again changing the landscape.<br /><br />My heart is not bleeding for Hachette and I do not fear Amazon becoming a monster monopoly. Competition will come from visionaries.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10908925951802428378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161612612541953601.post-78401569559609712092014-07-04T08:28:45.122-05:002014-07-04T08:28:45.122-05:00And I like them clean too, tired of all the rampan...And I like them clean too, tired of all the rampant sex. Heck, when I read erotica because I like the story (and yes, there are a few), I skip over the sex scenes. And you're right, they are parting themselves out of business. I follow a lot of the indies (including you on FB) and follow the links for the books or my first stop is Smashwords as well. I'd rather buy the books from authors who are writing what I want to read.Cindyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06625996767547392831noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161612612541953601.post-62659060081293274932014-07-04T07:29:41.601-05:002014-07-04T07:29:41.601-05:00I agree that competition is a good thing and I don...I agree that competition is a good thing and I don't like monopolies either. I do think it would be great if there were other places like Amazon -- not just for authors, but for consumers as well. I know that my story is unique and not the norm -- a 'results may vary' thing, lol.Suzan Tisdalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15448144413924439336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161612612541953601.post-41941617194151163882014-07-04T06:59:32.174-05:002014-07-04T06:59:32.174-05:00I don't see this as a black and white situatio...I don't see this as a black and white situation. The Big Five don't like not being in control, and in many ways, they deserve what they are getting. But their authors do not, and I don't like to see Amazon targeting them in the effort to make Hachette say "uncle." Most of them are not blockbuster sellers like Patterson, and they depend on their royalties to pay the bills.<br /><br />Amazon is setting itself up as a monopoly…and not just on books. Monopolies worry me. Money and power corrupt, and all humans are vulnerable. Monopolies do not work out well for anyone but the monopoly itself. As long as they control everything, they don't have to care what anyone else thinks. The Big Five controlled publishing for decades. I don't see how passing on the power to Amazon will end up doing any favors for authors or readers.<br /><br />Suzan, I'm so pleased that things are working out for you. I have no doubt that you are a fantastic author and deserve your success. But I've heard that 2011 was the "magic" year for indie publishers. Those who started that year had a better chance of being discovered than in recent years. Since then, there has been such a glut in the availability of books that the odds of finding success such as yours are much lower. Not impossible, but much, much harder.<br /><br />I'm GLAD that there are options out there for authors besides New York publishers. I believe Amazon has done a lot of good for authors and readers. But I'm concerned that Amazon may be turning into Godzilla. I still think competition is a good thing.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17784072981923359956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161612612541953601.post-49802254659139900832014-07-04T00:08:45.965-05:002014-07-04T00:08:45.965-05:00I agree, Colene! Even I have a book budget and a l...I agree, Colene! Even I have a book budget and a limit to what I'll pay for an ebook. :DSuzan Tisdalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15448144413924439336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161612612541953601.post-18894981526276721702014-07-04T00:08:12.833-05:002014-07-04T00:08:12.833-05:00Amen, Cindy, Amen! According to NY/Traditional hou...Amen, Cindy, Amen! According to NY/Traditional houses my books won't sell because: 1. They're historical romance/fiction. 2. They're part of a series. 3. They're 'clean' or 'clean-ish'. HA! Tell that to my readers. Oh well, they're putting themselves out of business. And I'm glad you like historical romance/fiction!!! :D Suzan Tisdalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15448144413924439336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161612612541953601.post-22417649220271874462014-07-04T00:06:32.799-05:002014-07-04T00:06:32.799-05:00Oh, we do have cost associated with ebooks. We sti...Oh, we do have cost associated with ebooks. We still have cover artists, editors, etc. But, the actual cost of getting the book into the hands of the reader is nil. So many things about this irks me, lol. Thanks for your two cents and I LOVE librarians! :D<br />Suzan Tisdalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15448144413924439336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161612612541953601.post-1397193888534851132014-07-04T00:04:20.752-05:002014-07-04T00:04:20.752-05:00Just keep writing and focus on your indie books. Y...Just keep writing and focus on your indie books. You won't regret it! I love your writing and others will too! xoxoxoSuzan Tisdalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15448144413924439336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161612612541953601.post-35186441958043006232014-07-04T00:03:39.483-05:002014-07-04T00:03:39.483-05:00Hachette can charge as much as they want to. What ...Hachette can charge as much as they want to. What irks me is that they want Amazon to raise their prices to match Hachette's. I'm sorry, but just because you are pricing yourself out of the market doesn't mean everyone else should too. :D Thanks for your input! xoxoxoSuzan Tisdalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15448144413924439336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161612612541953601.post-18262155265003208462014-07-03T16:51:08.337-05:002014-07-03T16:51:08.337-05:00A non-price related point I'd like to make is ...A non-price related point I'd like to make is that I'm tired of publishers telling me what I want to read because readers are all alike. I have no desire to read the contemporaries with the tattooed bodied motorcycle club members. I love my historicals (particularly the Medieval and Western periods), I love my fantasy and paranormal romance. And I like romantic suspense with cops, p.i's, bodyguards etc. I read for escape. If I want contemporary, I can just look out the door.Cindyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06625996767547392831noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161612612541953601.post-7469473753880818612014-07-03T16:46:37.840-05:002014-07-03T16:46:37.840-05:00Am I crazy or did I actually read at the beginning...Am I crazy or did I actually read at the beginning of the conflict that Amazon would accept orders for Hatchette books that Hatchette left sitting in the warehouse and thus ruining Amazon's reputation of ontime delivery? Once I saw that, I formed the opinion that the problem was with Hatchette and not Amazon. So glad an author is speaking up in defense of them.<br /><br />As a librarian, if has always blown my mind that ebooks are priced so highly. When you get a print book, there are physical costs involved, paper, presses, ink, etc. And then once read, the book enters the secondary market and has a long life span. I've been appalled at the fact that once you purchase an ebook, that's it. The end of the road. If I die, my books die with me. How wasteful. What am I getting in return for those high dollar amounts? Until publishers can answer that question, I feel those high costs are unwarranted.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161612612541953601.post-36503376110788276462014-07-03T15:43:48.002-05:002014-07-03T15:43:48.002-05:00Excellent post, Suzan! You are an inspiration and...Excellent post, Suzan! You are an inspiration and I love your success story. <br /><br />As many midlist authors (trad) would likely say, my sales have fallen way off in recent times and I am pretty sure the reason is the high cost of the ebook ($8.) Even long-time loyal readers will hesitate to buy an ebook at that price. So I am really feeling the pinch. My writing income is it, my only income. So it is scary to see sales evaporate. But I have zero say in NY pricing. Different with my indie titles. I price them at reader friendly prices ($.99 - $3.99) and am hopeful to reach new readers along with keeping my long-time readers happy. It took me over four years to get a few out of print titles reverted. Most are still held firmly by NY. So I only have one e-book and two e-novellas currently indie pubbed. But more will come soon. I am working hard and am excited about the opportunities available to writers now. Everyone benefits from affordable books: readers and authors. Sue-Ellen Welfonderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17288792845669979642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161612612541953601.post-80925155837393528652014-07-03T15:24:28.938-05:002014-07-03T15:24:28.938-05:00I have wondered for many years why companies don&#...I have wondered for many years why companies don't realize that if their price is low, they will sell more and thus make more? And more recently, why do those not doing the hard work (CEO's, CHQ staff, etc) making more money than the people who are doing the hard work to make the money? It's never made sense to me at all.Cindyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06625996767547392831noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161612612541953601.post-6196363137178688422014-07-03T15:08:26.702-05:002014-07-03T15:08:26.702-05:00In any free competition, capitalism will win. Comp...In any free competition, capitalism will win. Companies who artificially game the economic system will lose if other choices are available. Shame on Hachette for trying to charge us more. The problem with economic policies that depend on such pseudo-socialist cost sharing is that, "Sooner or later, the other guy's money runs out."<br /><br />I'll keep my Amazon. Thanks for a clear post on this issue, Suzan. <br />LSUReaderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10551147044529756940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161612612541953601.post-38166447172742293182014-07-03T14:07:49.340-05:002014-07-03T14:07:49.340-05:00I love Amazon....The affordable prices lets me rea...I love Amazon....The affordable prices lets me read as much as I want without breaking the bank... I appreciate the prices and the authors that are on there I appreciate prime and being able to afford things at a reasonable price it's no different than HSN or QVC....Brick and Mortar stores are not like they used to be the customer service is just not there....Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11434334320313819431noreply@blogger.com