As an independent outfit it is interesting to see the response of the literary world to the announcement of three of the big six publisher's decision to try to fight back against the changes in the publishing world. How are they doing that you ask? Why they are getting bookish!
Hachette, Penguin and Simon and Schuster have decided to come together and create a website that "Aims to be 'a new digital platform for readers', including recommendations and links to e-book retailers. And apps?"
That sounds amazingly close to another website that has been doing this for years called ahem...AMAZON.COM or it could also resemble a brick and mortar bookstore with a fairly popular website that has been in business for years called Barnes & Noble. I believe this "new strategy" is a great indicator their is concern among the traditional publishers about their future in response to the increase in popularity and acceptance of indie authors via the ebook evolution. The onset of reader acceptance of indie authors and publishers that SOME literary agents, traditional publishing editors and other literacrats (literary aristocrats aka as the publishing industry gatekeepers) claim isn't a big deal or even happening. These literacrats say they are protecting the readers from "bad books" by reinforcing the need to keep the publishing industry the way it is. Sounds a bit condescending and insulting to readers, but that is just my opinion. They don't do this for their own personal gain mind you, it is done according to most of their blog posts and guest articles because of their love for words. Ahem, okay.
When I began to seriously pursue my writing career I was discouraged from going the self published route by several of my peers in my former writer's group. It will ruin your name, they said. People just don't read those books. I mean I heard it all. I'm so glad I didn't let other people's opinions keep me from doing what I know God wanted me to do. Whether or not my story is enjoyable and considered good should be decided by the people who matter most in the literary world. Who are those people? Not the publishers, publicists or market predictors or acquisitions council. The most important people in the literary world to authors are the readers.
Would it be more productive to actually change the way the industry works instead of entering the web content and bookselling race 10 years behind the current leader (shout out to Amazon.com again. Jeff Bozos, I love ya baby. You're alright with me I don't care what they say.) What do you think about this?
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