Caution: Your eyes may glaze over...
October 18, 2012
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| Fiction: Women's/ | Samantha Young's bestselling self-published ON DUBLIN STREET, said to have sold over 150,000 ebooks in a month, a sexy contemporary romance set in Scotland, about an American woman who left her tragic past behind to start over in Edinburgh, whose carefully guarded world is shaken to its core by her new roommate's sexy older brother, to NAL, already republished in ebook form, with a trade paperback on December 31, and a second book for publication in 2013. | ||||
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October 16, 2012
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| Fiction: Women's/ |
NYT bestselling author Teresa Mummert's first three books in her self-published BEAUTIFUL series, starting with WHITE TRASH BEAUTIFUL, about a young woman living in a trailer park with her mother and abusive boyfriend, and the lead singer in a band who walks into her diner
Film: Joseph Veltre at Gersh
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October 12, 2012
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| International rights: UK Fiction |
James Oswald's self-published thriller NATURAL CAUSES, to Alex Clarke at Michael Joseph, in a good deal, at auction, by Juliet Mushens at PFD(UK/Commonwealth, excl. Canada).
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October 12, 2012
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| Non-fiction: Cooking | Creator of food blog Macheesmo.com Nick Evans's untitled cookbook, featuring hundreds of inventive and refreshing ways to use common leftovers in new dishes, with photos, and based on author's self-published book, CORNERSTONE COOKING, to Lara Asher at Lyons Press, for publication in 2014, by David Dunton at Harvey Klinger (World). | ||||
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October 11, 2012
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| International rights: UK Fiction | Mark Sennen's self-published TOUCH, the first book in his Charlotte Savage series, a police procedural set in Plymouth and Dartmoor, a Kindle bestseller said to have sold over 73,000 units, to Claire Bord at Avon UK, in a three-book deal, for republication in January 2013, followed by a paperback in April 2013, by Claire Roberts at Trident Media Group (world, excl. NA). | ||||
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October 10, 2012
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| International rights: Fiction |
James Oswald's self-published crime bestseller NATURAL CAUSES, to Andrea Best at Goldmann, in a good deal, by PFD for German rights
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October 5, 2012
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| International rights: UK Fiction |
Abbi Glines' self-published THE VINCENT BOYS and THE VINCENT BROTHERS, to Emily Thomas at Hot Key Books, by Caspian Dennis at Abner Stein, on behalf of Lauren Abramo at Dystel & Goderich Literary Management (UK/Commonwealth, excl. Canada).
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October 5, 2012
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| International rights: UK Fiction | Nick Spalding's self-published romantic comedy novels, Love... From Both Sides and Love... And Sleepless Nights, to Charlotte Hardman at Coronet, in a good deal, for republication first in ebook and then in paperback, by Jon Elek at AP Watt (UK/Commonwealth). | ||||
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October 4, 2012
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| Children's: Young Adult | Abbi Glines' SEABREEZE "new adult" series, including the successfully self-published BECAUSE OF LOW and WHILE IT LASTS plus two more books, about the goings-on in Sea Breeze, Alabama and the to-die for romances of its beloved inhabitants, again to Bethany Buck at Simon Pulse, in a major deal, by Jane Dystel at Dystel & Goderich Literary Management (world English). | ||||
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October 4, 2012
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| Children's: Young Adult |
Tammara Webber's self-published NYT and USA Today bestseller EASY, about a 19-year-old grappling with both the aftermath of a sexual assault and the excitement of a new love interest, to Don Weisberg at Penguin Children's, in a two-book deal, with the ebook publishing on October 9, 2012, and a paperback to be published by Berkley on November 6, 2012, by Jane Dystel at Dystel & Goderich Literary Management (NA).
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October 3, 2012
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| Fiction: General/ | Richard Bard's self-published BRAINRUSH and BRAINRUSH II: THE ENEMY OF MY ENEMY, and the new BRAINRUSH III: FINAL JUDGMENT, an adventure series featuring a combat pilot, to Alan Turkus at Thomas & Mercer, in a good deal, for all to be republished and published in 2013, by Scott Miller at Trident Media Group. | ||||
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October 2, 2012
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| Fiction: Women's/ | USA Today bestselling author Molly McAdams' debut, self-published novel, TAKING CHANCES, in which a girl leaves home and her rigid, career Marine father to go to college and live life her own way, finding friendship, unexpected love from two men and finally the true meaning of family, to Tessa Woodward at Harper, in a significant deal, in a three-book deal, by Kevan Lyon at Marsal Lyon Literary Agency (world). | ||||
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October 1, 2012
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| Children's: Young Adult |
USA Today bestselling author Rebecca Donovan's self-published THE BREATHING series, about life-changing love, unspeakable cruelty, and one girl's fragile grasp of hope, to Tim Ditlow at Amazon Children's, in a good deal, with REASON TO BREATHE for publication in January 2013; BARELY BREATHING for publication in March 2013; and OUT OF BREATH for publication in June 2013; in a three-book deal, by Erica Spellman Silverman at Trident Media Group.
UK and Commonwealth rights to Razorbill, in a good deal, by Alexander Slater on behalf of Erica Spellman Silverman at Trident Media Group.
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That's just in October ALONE!!! What is happening here, folks? It seems pretty obvious. Agents aren't just reading queries in the slush. They're trawling the self-published bestseller lists and rushing to sign up those books who have built a following. In effect, self-publishing has become an alternative slush pile, except those who are cherry-picked from it have already gone and made a bunch of moolah. Why do these authors want to go the traditional publishing route after being successfully self-published? My theory is that being traditionally published gives them validation. (UPDATE: See the comments for some great thoughts about other positives.) Despite all their self-earned success, they still can't resist the fact that a "big" publisher wants them. And I don't blame them in the slightest. One never knows what the future will bring, but I have a strong hunch we'll see an ever-increasing number of these stories. Until, one day, this will be the way the system works. The times are certainly a-changing. After all, next year you won't be able to get your hands on a printed copy of Newsweek. Screen, baby, screen. How do you think this is going to shake out? Have you read any self-published authors who "turned" traditional? What did you think? | |||||
I don't think it's all about validation. No matter how successful an e-book might be, many writers still dream of seeing their books on a shelf in a bookstore -- of signing copies -- seeing their books in a window display or spotting somebody reading one on an airplane. (Or, if you're a children's author, seeing your book in the Scholastic catalog.) And it is ridiculously difficult for self-published authors to get their physical books into stores. I know. I've been there. I am one of those self-published authors who turned traditional (although not because of sales like that, unfortunately!).
ReplyDeleteFor me, it's not validation. It's part of me still following a dream.
I was actually going to say much of what you and Mark below said, but I thought the post was long enough as it is!
DeleteYou make great points as usual, Dianne. Thanks for adding to the conversation.
I am one of the authors you've mentioned above. Validation is part of it, true. Also, as Dianne says, getting beyond Kindle while you're self-published is almost impossible. Can I walk into Tescos with a pile of paperbacks and ask them to put them on their shelves? No. I might be more lucky in a local bookshop, but I'd have to sell at a loss to keep the price at a level comparable with commercially published books.
ReplyDeleteI also appreciate the guidance I receive. A self-pub author can get their book professionally edited (I did), but the process is not the same as having people who can help you develop and improve your ideas. Networks of fellow authors may work for some people; not for me.
There's also the 'best of both worlds' aspect. Just because I am going to be traditionally published does not mean I can't still self-publish too. I'm working on another series of books at the moment. I have to offer these to my publisher, but I am under no obligation to accept any deal. This is the real crux of it: we are free to choose now, whereas five years ago there was only one option and that too often resulted in good books never seeing the light of day. In another five years time...? Who knows where we'll be at!
Excellent points, all. I'm glad you are being so successful in both worlds, Mark!
DeleteGood point about the guidance, Mark! I have learned SO much working with my agent and editors. I don't know if I could have grown as a writer, working essentially by myself.
DeleteI recently decided to writing a New Adult novel and self publish it (but this won't happen for another year). As soon as I made that decision, all these deals happened. Which means, you know how many more self published books are going to be popping up soon???? Which means it will be even more important that I do things probably by getting my book professionally edited and have someone else with talent create the cover (aka not me).
ReplyDeleteI know someone who is not on the list. I'm not sure if she did the right thing, but she is happy (kind of) about her decision. At least she is when she's not freaking out about the deadlines.
I think you're early enough to catch the wave, Stina. Good luck with the project!
DeleteAnd now I understand why when I downloaded Rebecca's book the other day, the download didn't work. Fortunately I got a refund. :)
ReplyDeleteI think that trend is awesome for those who do become really successful self-published authors. It is encouraging and shows everyone in the industry is recognizing that there's no right way to break into publishing. I can see wanting a traditional deal if you can get it for the editorial support and the marketing help. That's one reason why self-publishing doesn't feel right for me personally. I could not handle all the hats required with a full-time job and family.
ReplyDeleteI think there are excellent points made above. Without an agent, it's also very difficult to access foreign territories. I mean, of course it's validating to plow through the gatekeepers and into traditional publishing, but there are also new channels of revenue. And anyone who is able to successfully self-publish like the authors above is likely a savvy business person interested in accessing all possible means to success--and to distributing their work. Very interesting post and great discussion!
ReplyDeleteI'm still angling for the traditional route but self-pub is looking very attractive. The big thing for me has already been mentioned - the thrill of seeing my book in a bookstore, or spying someone reading it. It's a powerful dream.
ReplyDeleteThanks for contributing to the conversation, Botanist. It is a powerful dream indeed.
DeleteMichael, grazie for this informative post; the comments are also illuminating. We just need to write and revise and submit and see which road is best for our own comfort levels. Aloha!
ReplyDeleteJust to chime in...self-publishing is a lot of work. Everything (basically) is handled by you--the author/editor/graphic designer/marketer (unless you pay someone else to do these things. There's something to be said for just writing.
ReplyDeleteI wonder at what point the market will be so flooded with self-published books that being picked up that way by an agent/publisher will become more difficult (I'm not saying it is easy now, just that it is a new influx).
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ReplyDeleteI've been wondering about this. Thanks for putting it all in one place for me.
ReplyDeleteI need to check why your blog isn't popping up on my dashboard--I feel like I keep missing it!
Hope you're doing well :)
I've noticed this as well. I can't say that I like it, but then I can't say that I hate it either.
ReplyDelete