Comments on: Indie publishers ask for less and win http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2007/02/17/indie-publishers-ask-for-less-and-win/ musings, thoughts, and writings of Barbara W. Klaser Sun, 12 Oct 2008 17:37:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5.3-beta1 Comment on Indie publishers ask for less and win by: Acenet http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2007/02/17/indie-publishers-ask-for-less-and-win/#comment-13365 Sat, 15 Mar 2008 20:58:47 +0000 http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2007/02/17/indie-publishers-ask-for-less-and-win/#comment-13365 test test

]]> Comment on Indie publishers ask for less and win by: Reenie http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2007/02/17/indie-publishers-ask-for-less-and-win/#comment-6191 Sat, 24 Feb 2007 15:33:19 +0000 http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2007/02/17/indie-publishers-ask-for-less-and-win/#comment-6191 I’m afraid I’m sorta, kinda, a lot unsophisticated on this subject… but because of your post, I will now be paying more attention to small presses. Thanks! I should add that I might represent many readers. I choose books to read by reviews and word-of-mouth. I don’t pay a whole lot of attention to publishers. Mea culpa.:) It’s kinda like, when I watch a TV program, I don’t give a whit about what station it’s being aired on. In addition to Indie publishers, I am a huge huge supporter of Indie bookseller’s – a struggling breed if there ever was one. I’m afraid I’m sorta, kinda, a lot unsophisticated on this subject… but because of your post, I will now be paying more attention to small presses. Thanks!

I should add that I might represent many readers. I choose books to read by reviews and word-of-mouth. I don’t pay a whole lot of attention to publishers. Mea culpa.:) It’s kinda like, when I watch a TV program, I don’t give a whit about what station it’s being aired on.

In addition to Indie publishers, I am a huge huge supporter of Indie bookseller’s – a struggling breed if there ever was one.

]]> Comment on Indie publishers ask for less and win by: violetismycolor http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2007/02/17/indie-publishers-ask-for-less-and-win/#comment-6152 Fri, 23 Feb 2007 02:59:21 +0000 http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2007/02/17/indie-publishers-ask-for-less-and-win/#comment-6152 I love it that there are small, independent companies out there. I used to work for Timber Press, which is local and publishes gardening books... I love it that there are small, independent companies out there. I used to work for Timber Press, which is local and publishes gardening books…

]]> Comment on Indie publishers ask for less and win by: Beverly Jackson http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2007/02/17/indie-publishers-ask-for-less-and-win/#comment-6008 Mon, 19 Feb 2007 14:36:16 +0000 http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2007/02/17/indie-publishers-ask-for-less-and-win/#comment-6008 When I had Lit Pot Press, we tried (unsuccessfully) to get distribution from all the literary distributors. It was an ARDUOUS task to even approach them, they required copies of of our books ($$$)(not returned of course), catalogs, marketing plans, reviews, bios of the officers, etc etc. The bottom line, when all was said and done, was that we didn't have enough of our OWN marketing money to make it worth their while since poetry and literary fiction were not big sellers. (THIS from LITERARY distributors). In other words, if we had had an advertising budget that would get our titles in the media, then they would fill the orders for us. It was most disheartening to go through this process time after time after time. These were not mainstream distributors either, but those supposedly dedicated to the small press. Feh. When I had Lit Pot Press, we tried (unsuccessfully) to get distribution from all the literary distributors. It was an ARDUOUS task to even approach them, they required copies of of our books ($$$)(not returned of course), catalogs, marketing plans, reviews, bios of the officers, etc etc. The bottom line, when all was said and done, was that we didn’t have enough of our OWN marketing money to make it worth their while since poetry and literary fiction were not big sellers. (THIS from LITERARY distributors). In other words, if we had had an advertising budget that would get our titles in the media, then they would fill the orders for us. It was most disheartening to go through this process time after time after time. These were not mainstream distributors either, but those supposedly dedicated to the small press. Feh.

]]> Comment on Indie publishers ask for less and win by: Barbara http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2007/02/17/indie-publishers-ask-for-less-and-win/#comment-5996 Mon, 19 Feb 2007 05:12:12 +0000 http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2007/02/17/indie-publishers-ask-for-less-and-win/#comment-5996 Eric --- The distribution network is a mystery to me, too, and that is fed by the fact that distributors are mostly so secretive about who their clients even are. It's difficult to tell, visiting the website for National Book Network, whether they're a small one-man operation, as PGW started out (<a href="http://radiofreepgw.blogspot.com/2007/01/publishers-group-west-1976-2007.html">see a little about its history here</a>), or a huge conglomerate. It appears you don't get behind the front page of most book distributor websites without being a publisher willing to first disclose who you are along with lots of other information. The company that PGW is being dragged through this mess with, their recent parent company Advanced Marketing Services (AMS), has an office in San Diego (Sorrento Mesa). They're under investigation by the feds for fraud, which started all this. I used to attend computer classes in the same building sometimes, for my job as a technical writer, and (I assume it was AMS since it was the same street address, on the same floor) had a floor all to themselves, to which one only gained access by using a card key on the elevator. At some point in each class I attended someone always asked what they did on that floor, so I knew it was a book distribution company. The reason I was given (second or third hand) for the secrecy was that if people knew where they were, they'd be hounded all day by people wanting them to sell their books. I'm not sure I believe that, but who knows? They were the ones who got books into places like Costco. In any case, I still consider book distribution a huge mystery, and I think it's a shame that it's that way. I'm a little suspicious of any business that requires that much secrecy. But since I know nothing about it . . . what do I know? I did notice, in researching this blog post, that PGW in contrast is quite open about who its publisher clients are. Which makes me happy as a reader because I like to support good small publishers --- just as I prefer to support good independent businesses of any kind when I can. (Poison Pen Press is also a terrific one to support.) In any case, it appears AMS sold out to Baker &#38; Taylor, and its San Diego employees look about to lose their jobs, if they haven't already. The PGW employees are hopefully better off with this decision. AMS-related news items: <em>Inside Bay Area</em> --- <a href="http://www.insidebayarea.com/oaklandtribune/ci_5231956">Berkeley bankruptcy jolts indie publishers</a> <em>SignOnSanDiego</em> --- <a href="http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/business/20070213-9999-1b13ams.html">Auction ordered for division of company</a> <em>San Diego Business Journal</em> --- <a href="http://www.sdbj.com/industry_article.asp?aID=426470902.186825.1435564.1677166.4422658.404&aID2=110419">Sale of Assets Could Close the Books on Lengthy AMS Scandal</a> <em>The New York Times</em> --- <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/17/business/media/17book.html?_r=1&ref=business&oref=slogin">Perseus to Take Over Publishers’ Contracts</a> Eric — The distribution network is a mystery to me, too, and that is fed by the fact that distributors are mostly so secretive about who their clients even are. It’s difficult to tell, visiting the website for National Book Network, whether they’re a small one-man operation, as PGW started out (see a little about its history here), or a huge conglomerate. It appears you don’t get behind the front page of most book distributor websites without being a publisher willing to first disclose who you are along with lots of other information.

The company that PGW is being dragged through this mess with, their recent parent company Advanced Marketing Services (AMS), has an office in San Diego (Sorrento Mesa). They’re under investigation by the feds for fraud, which started all this. I used to attend computer classes in the same building sometimes, for my job as a technical writer, and (I assume it was AMS since it was the same street address, on the same floor) had a floor all to themselves, to which one only gained access by using a card key on the elevator. At some point in each class I attended someone always asked what they did on that floor, so I knew it was a book distribution company. The reason I was given (second or third hand) for the secrecy was that if people knew where they were, they’d be hounded all day by people wanting them to sell their books. I’m not sure I believe that, but who knows? They were the ones who got books into places like Costco. In any case, I still consider book distribution a huge mystery, and I think it’s a shame that it’s that way. I’m a little suspicious of any business that requires that much secrecy. But since I know nothing about it . . . what do I know?

I did notice, in researching this blog post, that PGW in contrast is quite open about who its publisher clients are. Which makes me happy as a reader because I like to support good small publishers — just as I prefer to support good independent businesses of any kind when I can. (Poison Pen Press is also a terrific one to support.)

In any case, it appears AMS sold out to Baker & Taylor, and its San Diego employees look about to lose their jobs, if they haven’t already. The PGW employees are hopefully better off with this decision.

AMS-related news items:
Inside Bay Area — Berkeley bankruptcy jolts indie publishers
SignOnSanDiego — Auction ordered for division of company
San Diego Business Journal — Sale of Assets Could Close the Books on Lengthy AMS Scandal
The New York Times — Perseus to Take Over Publishers’ Contracts

]]> Comment on Indie publishers ask for less and win by: Eric Mayer http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2007/02/17/indie-publishers-ask-for-less-and-win/#comment-5973 Sun, 18 Feb 2007 03:01:44 +0000 http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2007/02/17/indie-publishers-ask-for-less-and-win/#comment-5973 Interesting. Thanks for pointing this out. I don't think Poisoned Pen Press actually deals with a distributor but rather with wholesalers. (The entire distribution network is hard for me to understand.) However, as you say, any choice to look beyond immediate profit is to be applauded. God forbid any of us suggest it isn't all about money all the time. That's enough to get you commited. Interesting. Thanks for pointing this out. I don’t think Poisoned Pen Press actually deals with a distributor but rather with wholesalers. (The entire distribution network is hard for me to understand.) However, as you say, any choice to look beyond immediate profit is to be applauded. God forbid any of us suggest it isn’t all about money all the time. That’s enough to get you commited.

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