Discuss the Future of Publishing with Guest Blogger Daryn Cross

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Here's what she had to say...


Fumbling into the Future


Do I want to be published by a big named New York Publishing House? You betcha! But, writer beware. Reader, beware too, for the times they are a changing, and changing so fast, it’s hard to figure out where we’re even going. As a result, I will always keep my toes dipped in the waters of small e-publishing presses. For, when all the smoke clears from the changes in reader habits and modern technology, who will be left standing?

How did we get here and what will the future of the publishing industry look like? Should we say Amazon? Perhaps. After all, the big publishing houses courted and won authors over with 7.5% royalties on paperbacks and 15% on hardbacks. But as auctions on hot books grew and those auctions still survive today (for now), some authors, even one twenty-six-year-old first-time novelist, got million-dollar advances and the rest of the published authors who were good, providing entertainment to the masses for years, but not the bursting stars on the horizon, were left behind on a dusty street with no more contracts, turning their pockets inside out and wondering how they were going to pay the bills.

What about those who were trying to break into the market? Well, the big publishing houses decided perhaps there was a marvelous way to defer costs. Let somebody else decide if they were worth reading. The big five no longer had the same number of employees. Let’s face it, you have to cut employees when you pay too many million dollar advances, especially if those folks fizzle and don’t earn out the advances. So, how about not accepting writers who had yet to become agented, deferring the initial reading to the agents themselves? Now, that would slow agents down, not allowing them to represent too many clients and, therefore, making them less capable of bargaining frequently with the houses, thus, insisting on huge pay outs in advance for their clients.

Unfortunately, these giants of the publishing industry didn’t pay attention to the creeping takeover of the Internet and social media. As it consumed the younger generations, it spread, until everyone now is addicted to their computers, e-mail and the web. In fact, we’re so addicted, we need to carry it on our phones too. Why not read on the go? It made perfect sense. New publishers could produce electronic books without the overhead costs for printing and warehousing. Then one of those writers who had been standing by, begging for a chance to demonstrate her books were engrossing and reader-pleasing, could have that opportunity. And hey, she’d do it for no advance at all. And to boot, there were plenty just like her.

The world was rosy, so some thought. Then, the shadow of Amazon appeared and like the wizard behind the curtain, it said, “Hey author, after all, you’re the one who really makes this whole book reading thing work. You should get the biggest piece of the pie. Why not bypass even the e-publisher and do it yourself?” So Amazon worked out a great deal for a spiffy new reader: high tech, light, holds tons of books, portable and with applications for the phone and computer.

Others followed suit. Now, a writer could upload his work and get up to seventy percent of the profits. Sweet! But a few things were missing: the editing, the publicity the glamour and the security of making a living from writing alone without working a “day job” for steady income and benefits.

Some will go it alone and succeed, but only with deep pockets or other income to tap. However, for the reasons I just mentioned, I doubt publishing firms will cease to exist. Still in question: will their books continue to be in print?

A Note from the Book Boost: This is a great take on the future of publishing. I truly believe that as authors we are all responsible for our own book promotion efforts these days. So, I don't really see self-publishing as a bad thing. With all the small presses who are willing to take chances on unknown writers, I have no doubt that the real talent is still out there waiting to be discovered. Thanks for sharing with us today. Please do tell us about your book.


Blurb:

Can true love exist between a man who believes a woman is capable of sticking a shive in his heart while making love and a woman who is convinced men think with only one head?

Maxwell Magic, an eccentric mysterious matchmaker swears it can and he’s the man to provide the stimulus to make it happen. Kasey Bell, feminist writer, and Guy McLane, radio’s famous chauvinistic psychiatrist, are his targets. Even with carefully executed plans, the road to true love is strewn with mishaps, mirth and money-hungry nighttime talk show hosts.

Will Kasey and Guy risk their reputations by exposing secrets buried beneath layers of shame and self-doubt for a desperately needed big money pay-off? Or, will they claim what has evaded them their entire lives—a love that lasts forever?


Excerpt:

As Kasey followed the stagehand, Guy grimaced. Damn. Why’d she have to have sea-green eyes and be a natural, sun-streaked blonde? He was a sucker for natural blondes, she appeared to be one. Unlike his ex, Helen, he suspected Kasey Bell’s blonde hair wasn’t found just on her head.

His gaze took in her tight ass and long legs. God, what legs Some men were turned-on by big breasts. Others by asses. Not him. He was a leg man through and through.

And Kasey had the best set he’d seen in years.

Her dress clung in all the right places and was designed to make a man forget his own name.

Not that it had a chance with him.

Guy studied her the way a connoisseur would a fine wine. Vintage seventy-three. He took another long, slow perusal and shook his head. He was wrong. The body on this Cabernet Sauvignon came from a perfect year. More likely a seventy-eight or if he were lucky, a classic seventy-five.

He grinned as she smoothed the sides of her dress while continuing to cross the stage on her perfectly toned legs.

Definitely still corked. She hadn’t had a chance to breathe, yet. He inhaled sharply. There was no mistaking a good mellow grape when he saw one. And when squeezed just right, the grape was memorable. One to be savored, never gulped.

No question about it, Ms. Kasey Bell was premium sipping quality. First, he’d give her time to breathe. Then he’d taste her, a little at a time, a gentle swirl over the tongue, a teasing of the taste buds.

As he continued to examine her, Guy swallowed hard. From the way her dress moved and the lack of lines, she wore a thong and thigh-high hose. Her derriere was the perfect size for his hands to cup each cheek as he pulled her flush against him. He could feel her long legs wrapping around him. And then there were her delicate ankles. They were so slim his fingers could circle them.

The whole package was enough to bring a grown man to his knees. Especially one like him who’d been alone for last three years. God, help him. Because if he didn’t, Guy knew there was no way he’d maintain his cool while seated next to her on stage.

“Dr. McLane?”

Guy snapped to attention. Standing before him were two lanky young men. “Yes.”

“I’m Josh Bell. This is my younger brother Jacob.”

Guy thrust out his hand and greeted each boy. “I understand you want to take some photos.”

“Yes, sir,” Josh answered.

“You’re our hero.”

Jacob frowned at Josh’s sharp jab to his ribs and Guy laughed. “What does your mother think of that?” He grinned as the two boys looked at each other, shrugged, then turned back to him.

“She hates it,” they said together.

“Dr. McLane, you’ve got two minutes.”

“Thanks, Al.” He turned to the boys. “We’d better get those photos taken.”

Guy started to move, then grimaced, again. Damn. He hadn’t reacted to a female this rapidly since adolescence. Back then, much to his embarrassment, all it’d taken was a slight breeze to get a reaction out of him. And at thirty-eight, the last thing he wanted was to look like a coat rack in some kids’ photos. “Both of you stand here,” he said, positioning the boys in front of him.

As Al Mack took more than a dozen photos, Guy wondered what it was about Kasey Bell that rang his chimes. They’d never met, yet he’d swear he’d seen her before.

Ah, well, he’d remember eventually. He never forgot a pair of legs, especially ones as spectacular as Kasey’s.

Want More Daryn?

Visit her website here: www.DarynCross.com
Or her blog here: www.DarynCross-fantasy.Blogspot.com
Watch the book trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JirMSQmZns

Pick up your copy of her book today! Click here!

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