Archive for the ‘books’ Category

30 Apr

Talent, a Truck, and a Good, Strong Back… and Reselling E-Books?

Posted by Jamie Brazil in romance novels, books, publishing, Romance Writers of America, Young Adult. Tagged: , , , , .

flamingo photo Jamie Brazil

My Smartphone is filled with songs.  Songs from artists I’ve recently discovered, songs from my youth, songs my mom used to play. I can’t think of a tune I haven’t been able to find on MUVE’s selection of 20 million songs.  Other than my monthly phone fee, I don’t pay for any of these songs.

Amazon has a similar program.  For an annual fee consumers can join a club that includes free shipping and loads of digital content delivered without any extra charges.

Last week, I read an article in Fast Company about a company that wants to help people resell the digital content they’ve purchased.  They maintain that there is no difference between physical goods and digital goods.  Two of the visionaries behind this idea are John Ossenmacher and Larry Rudolph of Redigi.

Redigi might just shake up the digital marketplace sooner rather than later.  They pay a 10-20% gratuity to the artist on the content they’ve resold. But there’s no law requiring them to offer this gratuity.  And whether or not they’ve infringed on copyrights is currently being reviewed by a federal judge. (They lost.)

Ridigi is not alone, either. Apple and Amazon both hold patents on technology that will allow their customers to resell digital content once they’re finished with it.

Since Amazon is already allowing their customers who are part of the above-mentioned program unlimited access to everything that falls under the umbrella of that program, it seems to me that:

    1. the Seattle retailer is probably one step ahead of the rest of the pack
    2. e-book authors like myself might be in  deep-shit trouble

Apologies for the profanity. I rarely use it. When I do, it’s to make a point.

Sure, experts claim a secondary marketplace only drives up sales overall.  On the other hand, even if Amazon has the technology to verify the buyer of the original content, there is zero difference between a new and used copy of my digital book. But will I be paid for the lower-priced “used” copy? (Probably not.) Who sets the price on the used copy? (Ultimately, the consumer.)  Will I lose control of my intellectual property if I publish with Amazon? (Likely.)

And what if one of the free e-books I’ve downloaded suddenly becomes popular? Can I resell it at a profit— cutting out the author entirely?

What if the popular e-book is mine?

Overall, I believe Amazon will protect authors who pledge allegiance to the company and publish exclusively with them. Hey, you can’t be king without a kingdom, right?  Plus, if history is anything to go by, Amazon has always paid their authors (other large digital content providers have fallen short).

I’ve been thinking about this resale digital marketplace a lot over the past week.  I love my unlimited FREE music.  I’ve downloaded my fair share of e-books.  I have yet to stream free movies or TV, but I certainly enjoy YouTube.  The future seems clear to me. A second life for digital books is a WHEN, not an IF.

As an author, this terrifies me.  And it also makes me kind of excited, too.

If everything in the future is virtually FREE, all the quick-buck artists hawking less-than-quality products will be run out of business.  Quality will rule the future (at least I hope so).  If everything is free, and readers enjoy what I write, they can read (AND REVIEW) my books into FREE bestseller-dom.

The only trouble with that scenario is that I still need to keep the electricity on, feed myself, etc.  Just like readers do.  Which brought to mind another possibility:

Printing my own books.  Exclusively.

Distribution: ME!

Why not?  Bands and comedians (Louis CK) are embracing direct sales to fans.  And my friend, Maggie Jaimeson (aka Maggie Faire), a true visionary in my opinion, launched Windtree Press as a way for her and other indie authors to engage and sell directly to their readers.  Why not?

So bring on the future!  In the meantime, I’ll be building my brand and searching Craigslist for a used Espresso Printing Press.  I mean, hey, the current model Espressos are already half the size and half the price of the original. By the time I get around to printing and selling my limited-edition print book, I’ll be casting about among my author friends to see who wants in.

I’ve got talent, a truck, and good, strong back… anyone have any extra space in their garage to set up shop?

 

 

14 Dec

The Next Big Thing

Posted by Jamie Brazil in books, publishing, romance novels, Romance Writers of America, women. Tagged: , , , .

nextbigthingLast Sunday, Maggie Jaimeson  , who also writes young adult fiction under the name Maggie Faire  ,tagged me in The Next Big Thing. Not only is she a fabulously talented author who writes with depth and creates memorable heroines, she is also a tech wizard. If it weren’t for Maggie, I might never have leapt into ebook publishing. She has a big heart, is a wonderful councilor, cheerleader, and lately,she talked me off a fashion-hoarding ledge before my closet exploded. I really hope you click the above links and check out what she’s up to these days!
Back to The Next Big Thing. What is it? It’s a terrific opportunity to talk about upcoming projects.  But the best part of all is after I answer the questions below, I get to nag… errr, tag,  the next authors who will keep this “Big Thing” going. 
So here goes:
1) What is the working title of your next book?
There’s what I’m working on and what I need to finish.  The next novel is part of my matchmaker series, but right now my heart belongs to rewriting That Sinking Feeling.
2) Where did the idea come from for the book?
Confession: it was originally published ten years ago. I got the rights back a couple years ago, but the story requires some serious updating.
3) What genre does your book fall under?
Humorous contemporary romance, of course!

4) What actors would you choose to play the part of your characters in a movie rendition?

Sigourney Weaver would make the most divine antagonist.  I’ve always adored Tom Cruise’s smile.  Finally, Rachel McAdams has that quirky sort of essence that makes for ultra-memorable romantic comedy heroines.  I even loved her in Midnight in Paris, where her character wasn’t all that likeable.

5) What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

After her houseboat sinks in a freak accident, a Seattle novelist juggles rewriting her lost manuscript, coaching her best friend through Lamaze classes, and staying one step ahead of her conniving literary agent… all while trying to raise her dream home from the depths of Lake Union and avoid the nerdy-but-cute billionaire who sank it in the first place.

6) Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

I’m open to self-pubbing, but I’m also hoping Soul Mate Publishing will take a  look (editor-in-chief Debby Gilbert bought my first matchmaker novel, Prince Charming, Inc.). Sometimes when a book has a “history” it is harder to place.

7) How long did it take you to write the first draft of the manuscript?

I wrote it over a summer.

8) What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

Stephanie Bond’s comedic romps raise the bar for everyone who writes humorous love stories.

9) Who or what inspired you to write this book?

The wild stories that came out of the dot-com boom made me think about the power of opposites.  There’s loads of conflict in this story!

10) What else about the book might pique the reader’s interest?

I have an ongoing theme of “friendship and the family you choose” in much of what I write.  It’s here, too.  

Now, this is the part where I get to pass the questions along to some of my favorite author pals.  

The first one to answer my call was my Soul Mate Publishing sister Connie Rhinehart who will be debuting her novel, Daughter of Phalon, in February of 2013. 

Next up: Deanne Wilsted Like me, Deanne simultaneously surfs the currents of indie publishing and digital-first romance. Her debut, Betting Jessica, has been a popular Amazon.com download and her next title, Untangling The Knot will be a March 2013 release. 

And finally… Susan Lute, my favorite Jane of the ultra-dynamic  See Jane Publish trio.      

Ladies, consider yourselves tagged in The Next Big Thing.  

13 Nov

The Un-Conference and the Power of Free

Posted by Jamie Brazil in 2012, books, publishing, skill building, writing conferences. Tagged: , , , , .

Are free conferences part of the new publishing frontier?  Over the years, I’ve spent thousands of dollars going to traditional writing conferences.  Between registration, hotel, and food (okay, who am I kidding here, by food I actually mean drinks), the credit card charges quickly added up. But I had a dream of being a widely published print author.  Back then I figured writing conferences were a way for me to get one step closer to that dream.  As it turned out, that wasn’t necessarily a realistic dream.

This past weekend my husband attended his first unconference hosted by the Northwest Film Center.  Indie film types gathered and shared their knowledge.  Freely.  As in for free.  No cost to attendees.  And just like a regular conference, it was fertile ground for networking with producers, writers, animators, and other creative folks.  There was even free coffee, power bars, and, later on, FREE beer provided by sponsors.  How cool is that?

Last May I attended my first FREE writing conference.  Compose was a day-long event put on by Clackamas Community College.  While there were no consults with editors and agents, the stellar line up of classes, authors, and educators were exceptional.  As if it could get any better, there was even a free vegan lunch served to the 200+ attendees.

A quick search online came up with a handful of free conferences– including a virtual writing conference I’d heard about through my romance writers group.  And I had to wonder, are free conferences a sign of our financial times, or are they gaining ground because of technological advances?  There’s a digital evolution going on, and I can’t help but wonder if the days of large-scale (costly) writing conferences are numbered.

What do you think?

6 Nov

I want to tell you everything, I mean EVERYTHING…

Posted by Jamie Brazil in books, publishing, shopping, women. Tagged: , , , , , .

The life of a writer is boring.  Wait, that’s not true.  Some writers lead exciting lives.  Mine equals a lot of staying home. Sure,

Can I teach him to type?

there’s walking the dog to break up the day, but overall, there’s not a lot to report other than slogging along. This past week was different.  Things picked up!  So this post is a recap of… well… everything.  The good, the great, and the completely vapid.  In no particular order.

  1. Last Saturday I attended my first Blue Stocking Salon.  Fifteen women ate, drank, and then gathered to discuss the issues of the day.  Healthcare, and our changing attitudes toward it, garnered the most attention.  Other topics included the economic recovery, purpose, and education. What I loved most about the salon was how our hostess, Hilary, gracefully guided the conversations.  From the start, she laid down the parameters.  No politics.  No phones.  No judgment.  This was to be a safe and open discussion.  It was.  I came away inspired.
  2. I’m so in love with Stiletto mascara.  Ever since the Prescriptive brand went south I’ve been searching for a great mascara.
  3. I. Got. A. Job.  (Squeeeeee!) It doesn’t start until January. It’s working on a TV documentary.  So while the gig is temporary (through March), it’s still a job and I’m very happy about that.  I can finally update my resume in a meaningful way.
  4. Plateaus suck.  I’m stuck gaining and losing the same two pounds I’ve gained and lost for the last month.  Time to kick start the next ten pound loss.
  5. I’m on page 551 of “The Fountainhead” and I think I’ll finish it tonight.
  6. My toenails are finally recovering after a brutal summer of pedicures.  The “healthy” polishes out there, which I’ve been using, are just as tough on nails.  I’m grateful for closed-toe shoe season.
  7. For $3. I bought a 33” tall animated, lighted flamingo to oversee my writing space. I’m casting about for names. Suggestions?
  8. I’m finally getting over a terrible cold and looking forward to restarting my love life with hubby.  Hacking up phlegm is not sexy.
  9. This Friday I’ll be guest blogging over at Books Amour.  Hope to see you there!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2 Nov

Novels: Top Five List

Posted by Jamie Brazil in books. Tagged: , , , , .

A couple days ago I began reading Ayn Rand’s Fountainhead.  For the very first time.  As much as I love fiction, and adore the classics, I have to admit there’s a long list of titles I’ve always meant to crack open, but never quite got around to.  While I flip pages, often recalling the quote about those who throw their lives away to find them (Lincoln Kirstein) , so far (as in page 291), Fountainhead hasn’t cracked my top five.  Not yet anyway.

What are my top five?  As in the five novels that seemed to become a part of me,  that I will always remember with fondness and awe, and in one instance, I threw across the room upon finishing the last page. In no particular order, as I am equally passionate about all of them, they are:

  1. Life of Pi. Note to would-be readers: bear with the first 125 pages.  The pace picks up after those first chapters and the story will stay with you for a lifetime.  BTW, Pondicherry, India is now on my bucket list.
  2. East of Eden.  Written by the master, Steinbeck.  Haunting.  Exquisite.  I lost myself in the passages.
  3. House of Mirth.  I’ve read everything by Wharton, but Lily Bart took up permanent residence in my heart.  Full disclosure, I was 19 years old and had PMS as I read that last chapter.
  4. To Kill a Mockingbird.  Enough said.
  5. Conspiracy of Dunces.  I laughed and cried equally hard, Ignatius is immortal, even if his creator checked out too soon.

Still, Fountainhead has left me in awe of Rand’s craft.  So, in parting, I’ll leave you with a short, descriptive paragraph:

He was 39 years old then, short, stocky, unkempt; he worked like a dog, missed his sleep and meals, drank seldom but then brutally, called his clients unprintable names, laughed at hatred and fanned it deliberately, behaved like a feudal lord and a longshoreman, and lived in a passionate tension that stung men in any room he entered, a fire neither he nor they could endure much longer.  It was the year 1892.

Masterful, isn’t it?

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