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30 Apr

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

Posted by Jamie Brazil in books, publishing, romance novels, Romance Writers of America, Young Adult. Tagged: Amazon, Apple, Espresso books, Redigi, Windtree. 6 Comments

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:

the Seattle retailer is probably one step ahead of the rest of the pack
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?

23 Apr

Shut Up and Roll the Dice!

Posted by Jamie Brazil in friendship, publishing, romance novels, Romance Writers of America, women. Tagged: advice, facebook, friends, girlfriends, gossip, world war II. 4 Comments

@A-Papantoniou-Dreamstime Stock Photos

Friendships with other women can be perplexing. My personal history is filled with both longtime relationships enduring decades, and foolishly choosing “friends” who, in the end, were anything but friends. When I was younger, the nature of my female friendships could be prone to drama. As I grow older, and watch my mother-in-law at 92 years old navigate her social circles, I hope I’m glimpsing my own future.

Like her, I’m social by nature — though with fewer quarter-ante card games, and more Facebook. The romance writing group I belong to has been a tremendous experience. Discovering a large and diverse group of writers (mostly women) who wish each other the best– even when their personal views are in deep conflict with each other — has been enlightening. Not that anyone in the organization is supposed to talk about politics, religion, etc. I’m just saying that when we gather, some opposing views are obvious. Like a steadfast Christian author sitting across from a writer who specializes in demonic possession erotica.

But guess what? It doesn’t matter!

We meet to find common ground, and that’s what I love about the Rose City Romance Writers. We’re all trying to navigate this new and shifting publishing landscape. We are sisters of the new frontier.

Which brings me back to my mother-in-law.

While many of my friendships revolve around writing, her core group is made up of World War II widows who remarried. Since the 1950′s, they’ve met several times a month to lunch, gossip and play pinochle, canasta, dominoes and bunco. Does her group have conflicts? Drama? Oh yeah! Once, in the 1960′s, one of the “girls” got tipsy and made a play for another’s husband. It’s still a hot topic. There are also spats over senior dating, their children’s sexuality, and score keeping. At least they all agree on one thing… the value of that quarter!

I guess when it comes to groups, conflict is always bubbling under the surface. It’s a gamble I’m willing to take. Like my mother-in-law, I’d rather play for long-term friendships than focus on passing disagreements and squabbles. We don’t all have to be the same to be friends. What’s most important is respect and trust… bonds than can last for decades.

So I’m going to take my own advice, be open to new friends and roll the dice.

3 Apr

Random Thoughts

Posted by Jamie Brazil in 2013 Resolutions, diet, fashion, publishing, women. Tagged: Commodore Perry, Costco, Donald Maass, Miss China. 5 Comments

Last week I was helping a friend with a creative project he’d been stewing over for months. It was fun, and a ton of work, and the people that I met through it was exhilarating.

And exhausting. My creativity is zapped, and I’m not even sounding all that articulate lately. But with the “Big Project” finally wrapped, I’ve decided this week is all about regrouping, reviving, and jotting down a few thoughts.

So in no particular order, here’s a random blast of semi-consciousness:

Miss China is tall. Really tall. I’m still learning to use my new camera’s settings correctly. I thought about turning my camera sideways and using panoramic mode to photograph her!

Last month I attended a Donald Mass writing workshop. He used an example of a four-dollar grapefruit. I didn’t believe such a thing existed. A grapefruit worth four clams? Alas, last Friday I actually laid eyes upon the four-dollar grapefruit. It didn’t look any better than the grapefruits Costco.

I gained four pounds. For once, I am not beating myself up over this. I’m too tired.

Currently reading: The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet. Great book.

Everything, and I mean everything, is blooming here. So are my allergies. So are my fuchsias — the ones I wrapped for winter.

I made peace with my wardrobe. There are still some blogs to post on the “Shrink My Closet” resolution. Eventually. But the upshot of the journey is I own approximately 120 pieces of clothing excluding accessories, shoes, pajamas. And I rotate about 25 pieces regularly.

Wardrobe update: Trying to cull my Spring and Summer clothes in a timely fashion and get “my number” under 100.

And finally, my next book is scheduled for release in May. The Commodore’s Daughter is the story of Jennifer Perry, the fictitious daughter of Commodore Perry who opened the doors of trade with Japan in 1853. Stayed tuned for excerpts coming soon!

14 Mar

Good Bra Karma?

Posted by Jamie Brazil in 2013 Resolutions, fashion, publishing, shopping, women. Tagged: boat shoes, bra, Famous Footwear, J. Crew, retail therapy, The Jockey Store. 4 Comments

cute spring 2013 boat shoes

When the going gets tough, the tough go shopping, right? To say this week has been challenging is an understatement, so when I had the chance to bail yesterday morning, I DID.

Hello, outlet mall!

Given my limited budget, my resolution to shrink my closet, and a ten-dollar coupon for Famous Footwear I figured I was safe. Right off the bat, a super cute pair of metallic boat shoes spoke to me. They’re almost identical to the $98 Sperry’s in the current J. Crew catalogue, and they were marked down to $10. With coupon: FREE.

Nothing like a little retail therapy to improve one’s outlook.

Emboldened by my great find, I set off for The Jockey Store. Now usually bra shopping ranks right under swimsuit shopping as my least favorite shopping activity. But bras are one of the most important pieces of any woman’s wardrobe, and FINDING a new bra is right up there with scoring a free pair of metallic boat shoes.

Since getting properly measured I’ve stuck with my true size. But the problem is the so-called bra experts tell me I can “cheat” into other sizes. For instance, my 32D equals 34C equals a 36A.

Ummm, not really.

I tried those 34s and 36s on yesterday and, yes, some of them functioned, but they didn’t feel like they really fit. With a hundred or so 75% off bras to choose from, I was tempted to buy a couple extra $4.99 cheaters. In the end, I chose one high-impact, cotton sports bra in size medium.

Sure, it would have been nice to have a couple extra bras in the drawer, but I’d like to think there’s such a thing as good bra karma. By leaving those bras behind perhaps another woman will walk in and find her perfect fit… yet I’m still thinking about the deals I passed on.

What do you think? Would you have purchased the extra bras as backups, or put them back on the rack? ~ Jamie

PS: The true highlight of this week, even better than metallic boat shoes and a bra, was Christy Carlyle sending over the cover to my next novel: The Commodore’s Daughter. Stay tuned! Cover reveal via Facebook on Monday!

24 Feb

The Future Mrs. Elton John

Posted by Jamie Brazil in 2013 Resolutions, author discoverability, publishing, romance novels. Tagged: David Furnish, Elton John, literary life, sunglasses. 9 Comments

Recent upheavals in my schedule made me regroup recently. My publishing dreams are evolving, and “the plan” I started 2013 with isn’t the plan I have today. Balancing digital and print aspirations, along with social media and life (as in having one) is harder than ever. It made me think about my guest post on Linda Mercury’s site last month.

So I’ve reposted here. Because I needed the reminder! Because I need to see some new possibilities.

The Future Mrs. Elton John

As a kid growing up on the Canadian prairies with no cable television and six-foot-high snow drifts surrounding our home in winter, I obsessed over Elton John, the writer of the greatest rock and roll song ever written, Crocodile Rock.

Elton always wore sparkly outfits and his trademark wild sunglasses. He was the man of my dreams, and at eleven-years-old I knew, and I mean KNEW in an absolute and certain way… in my hearts of hearts… in the very depth of my soul… that I would marry Elton John.

I was the future Mrs. Elton John.

You can imagine how devastated I was when he married Renate. When I saw the photo of her sitting on Elton’s lap I wept. I bawled like a baby. He was supposed to be mine.

Turns out, he wasn’t Renate’s either.

Years later, I take solace in the fact that Sir Elton married fellow Canuck David Furnish and I wish them all the happiness in the world. Even if there’s now little chance of my childhood dream coming true. Some sunglasses, once removed, cannot be put back on.

My vision of creating a literary life has been permanently altered, too. The writer I wanted to be when I began writing is not the writer I am today. I had some success with my Renate (nonfiction), but Renate was not my true love. Fiction was. Yet the world of million-dollar advances for first novels doesn’t exist anymore. A digital landscape exploding with possibilities took its place.

So what’s a girl to do when her old dreams bite the dust, when she accepts there is no going back to the way things were? I’m taking a lesson from Elton. I’m buying new sunglasses and reinventing myself. I want my new shades to have frames as large as my dreams, and rose-colored lenses to see the wave of digital opportunities in the best light.

And Crocodile Rock is still the best song ever written!

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JAMIE BRAZIL Contemporary Romance and Young Adult fiction

Archive for the ‘publishing’ Category