| The other day I came across an article online quoting | | | | writers than Burke or Parker, solely because of the |
| some ivory tower NY book publisher who said that | | | | quantity of books they have sold. |
| his firm would not even consider accepting a self | | | | You may recall reading several years ago about a |
| published book that had not already sold at least | | | | group of publishers who got together and bet that |
| 25,000 copies. I found this statement both arrogant | | | | they could take any unknown author's book, throw a |
| and asinine. | | | | pile of money behind it, and it would become a |
| In the first place, if I had a self published book out | | | | bestseller. Did it work? In the words of Sarah, "You |
| there that sold 25,000 copies I would not seek out | | | | betcha!" Not only did that book sell, but all |
| some big NY publisher. It doesn't make sense. Why | | | | subsequent books from that once unknown author |
| settle for 7% or less when I am already getting | | | | also sold well. Proving? Money can almost always |
| 100% of the profits of sales? Besides, what is the | | | | ensure quantity. Whether it is the sale of books, |
| big, bad publisher thinking when he accepts this book, | | | | movies, and, yes, even elected officials. But does it |
| knowing he can't sell it again to those same 25.000 | | | | guarantee quality? Hardly. |
| people? | | | | My cynical view may be due to my years spent in |
| Who can figure the corporate mindset of big NY | | | | the newspaper field, but if you take a close look at |
| book publishers? Mostly foreign-owned now, staffed | | | | big publishing today you will discover I am not that |
| with bubblegum-popping prima donnas and | | | | far off. However, my disdain against this particular |
| horn-rimmed bean counters who never heard of | | | | pompous NY book publisher is how his misguided |
| Maxwell Perkins and have no memory of the glory | | | | words may affect new writers. For instance, one |
| days of book publishing when a book manuscript was | | | | wannabe author made a remark in the comment field |
| judged solely on merit (quality.) | | | | that he was "glad of the advice" because now he |
| These Neanderthals of creative thought and talent | | | | was not going to self publish his book but rather he'd |
| look at a book submission much like Hollywood film | | | | submit his manuscript only to large publishing firms. |
| studio bosses who judge each script in terms of | | | | My response? "Good luck with that!" |
| potential ticket sales. Come on, can you say honestly | | | | In actuality, the chances of any unknown first-time |
| that Avatar is a much better film than Gone With | | | | author being accepted by one of these big boys |
| The Wind, Citizen Kane or even this year's Blind Side | | | | today is like being struck by lightning twice... on the |
| simply because Avatar sold more tickets? | | | | same day. Yes, it can (and does) happen. If you are |
| Well, that's the mindset of today's big book | | | | young enough and patient enough, give it a try. I |
| publishers. Much like Elmer Gantry, they are out | | | | mean, people play the lottery every day. But don't |
| preaching their sermon of "quantity equals quality" to | | | | kneel at the altar of this pompous publishing god, |
| the mesmerized masses. "Be like everyone else, folks! | | | | awaiting acceptance. Open your eyes to other |
| Put your money in the basket and buy this book." | | | | opportunities as well. And, yes, publishing your own |
| Just as in Hollywood, book publishing today is all | | | | book is one of them. |
| about hype and promotion. It's all the same, whether | | | | If you choose to self publish you will be following in |
| selling Avatar or selling the latest book, Bestsellers | | | | the footsteps of Mark Twain, Edgar Allan Poe, John |
| are picked and promoted with huge sums of money | | | | Grisham, L. Ron Hubbard, Walt Whitman, T.S. Elliot, |
| behind them. Big name authors like Stephen King and | | | | Carl Sandberg, Gertrude Stein, Upton Sinclair, D.H. |
| James Patterson sell millions of books each year, | | | | Lawrence, George Bernard Shaw, Henry David |
| much more than say James Lee Burke or the late | | | | Thoreau, Virginia Woolf, Margaret Atwood, Tom |
| Robert B. Parker. So does that prove King and | | | | Clancy, Stephen Crane, and many other great |
| Patterson are better writers than Burke or Parker? | | | | writers. |
| The quantity-equals-quality publishers expect you to | | | | And you better believe that the advent of computer |
| believe it. | | | | print-on-demand publishing and the growing |
| Hey, don't get me wrong. I enjoy both King and | | | | acceptance now of inexpensive e-books has these |
| Patterson. My home library contains nearly every one | | | | big-boy-bean-counter NY publishers shaking in their |
| of their books. But I wouldn't say they are better | | | | handcrafted Berluti shoes. |