Time for a moan – and a note of caution to anyone hoping to make money from books. In a word, Amazon. I had this naive idea that I would buy books from my publisher at 50% discount then sell them for a bit of a profit, attracting buyers with the extra lure of the DVD about my field studio work. Mmmm… that’s a bit tricky when Amazon is selling the book for the same price as I buy it from the publisher. It then starts to make my DVD look a little pricey (even if it is worth it..!) Royalties? Nope: I went on a no royalties deal to save myself from earning about 50 pence per book on a tiny advance.
The lesson is simple and irrefutable: if you want to publish a paper (rather than electronic) book, publish and distribute it yourself AND/OR have a reason other than a wish to eat for doing the project. Me? Well, I’d like to welcome some of you on the super-duper workshops we are to start running later this year in Scotland. More of that soon.
This pretty much echoes an email I’ve just had from a client regarding the convoluted process we have been going through to get a licence for him to disturb the bats while the roof of a cottage they (and he, part-time) live in is replaced:
“As an animal lover I must say this process does nothing to promote the concept of conservation, in fact I would suggest it acts a positive deterrent for those with little or no interest, no, I suggest it positively encourages some to flout the law and puts species at greater risk!
Fortunately we are made of better stuff – but what a pain!”
I’m looking forward to the autumn when, just maybe, I can attend one of your super-duper workshops – paid for from the proceeds of going through so much red tape during the summer.
Must admit I was pretty surprised at the discount too – got a pre-order offer through from Amazon last week. Are they selling at cost, or have they muscled a bigger discount out of the publisher?
The DVD sounds well worth the extra, so I’ll be going for your offer anyhow. On your ordering page, is the ‘contact form’ the comments box?
What are your thoughts on ebooks? Not a great fan myself (spend enough time on the pc as it is) but seems like you can name your price, and have very low distribution costs.
Niall,
My sympathies and I thought that perhaps you had ‘cracked it’ and had a slightly better model than some I have suffered at the hands of those with the financial mores of the proverbial Levantine userer. You and I know the way and it does not include this sort of thing – the technology for doing it oneself is getting better all the time. I think the ebook with some hard copy ‘in addition’ is a way. You are entitled to moan – we work for peanuts..it’s that misplaced vanity of feeling you have something to say and being stupid enough to choose to be a writer again! I mistakenly thought at the end of last year that I had discovered ‘a way’ when I paid off an advance with three months sales of a re-write in the US. That got the legitimate sales out the way and thereafter the Amazon and book club stuff kicked in..up a ladder and down four snakes! Nice of the publisher to let you think you might have had a better than Amazon rate, though…
As they say…we have the technology!
Paul
I thought that after my continual efforts to gain a copy of your new book, and DVD, directly from you that I would have heard from you by now? Are the books available yet?
Maybe a push to get them out into the public might help, I don’t remember seeing the advertised ANYWHERE?
Kind regards,
Bruce
Ah well Bruce, there’s the rub: the production people for the video haven’t delivered on time, by a long way so I am in the embarrassing position of having orders but being unable to dispatch them. Believe me, if you haven’t got fed up and gone home long before, you will get in. But It my be fairer to you if you simply buy it form Amazon right now and I will send you the DVD f.o.c. when it is ready. It was published last week yet I heard nothing from the publisher’s marketing department until I call them a few days ago to find out what the plan was. What plan? Even Outdoor Photography magazine (same publisher) won’t feature it until the October issue. Nice joined up marketing…
Best
Niall
I always said that I would prefer to buy a copy from you with any chance of any profits going to . . you.
My order stands and I wait. . .maybe now with more patience than before.
Bruce
Niall,
The author/photographer is incidental to all this as far as so many publishers are concerned…after all, we KNOW they do ALL the creative work. As a writer you are the assembler of elements called words and the pictures are your free gift to them…The fact that many designers cannot design any better than a six year old, editors cannot spell or punctuate and marketing people walk the walk, talk the talk and munch the lunch… is neither here not there.
Shamateurism is what characterises publishing in the UK: joined-up thinking, ha bleedin ha. The only consolation is that many of them are so way behind with ‘modern technology’ and the way self-publishing is going that they will not be able to fit in. Innate arrogance will drive many to the wall…or am I just fanstasising? They are trying to get a foothold by demanding unrealistic levels of royalties given the much-reduced workload there is when we provide finished script and images tweaked to go. What we can usefully do is acquaint readers with just what goes on and that being an ‘author’ might have a certain caché but when it comes to ‘beans’ in recompense…say no more.
Paul
Picking up on Adam’s ebook comment; from what I’ve seen of the Apple iPad we may be on the verge of a revolution for certain types of published material – the use of pre-production iPad for a couple of weeks has me seriously considering (and researching) my maiden voyage on the sea of photographic publishing.
The potential kudos associated with handing my very own book to clients, colleagues, friends and family is very alluring until it is contrasted with the stark reality of producing such a paper-based ‘loss-leader’. Having perfected the art of losing money to the insatiable beast that is the ‘photography project’ the prudence (seemingly) inherent in e-publishing is appears reasonably palatable. Okay, I concede, aesthetically nothing matches the experience of interacting with a crafted piece of paper-based publishing, however I also contented that the using an iPad is a pleasurable experience in its own right. For the ‘photo media-rtist’, the ability to deliver audio and video in ‘photo-books’suddenly opens up creative possibilities that transcend what paper can offer.
Who am I kidding? I’m just another ‘wannabe’ photographer flailing around looking for (cheaper) ways to try and compete. Does that realisation give me an edge? Maybe? Within the confines of my own little photographic ‘career’ and the expenditure I’m willing to throw at it, if the iPad and its inevitable clones prove successful, then maybe I have a route-to-market (in a limited way at least).
Picking up on your earlier comment, do you have a revised deadline for when the DVD will be ready?
Hello Paul
I had the rough cut DVD in the mail this morning – smashed. So assuming the replacement comes before the end of the week, I make my comments earrly next week, I should think (knowing how these things drag out) mid July. Good job nature photographers are so patient – but I would never take that for granted.
Hmm, sounds frustrating!
Niall, if I was to go with the Amazon offer now, would you sell me the DVD for the difference when its ready? If I’ve read the above right, you’d end up with a bit more cash due to the saving in posting a DVD over a book. I wouldn’t mind waiting normally, but I’ve been experimenting a lot with the flashes this year, and the seasons keep on ticking on…
Adam
Having said that, I’ve checked and Amazon are not expecting to ship before July anyway. So will have to wait a while either way.
For Chris O’Reilly
We have published our local bird atlas via http://www.lulu.com. A black-white publication with colour cover is reasonably priced and the photos have come out well. I’ve seen this company recommended in a photo magazine, and got the feeling the quality is good for full colour. The idea is that they publish only the number you want (anything from one upwards!). We had 100 printed, of which we’ve sold enough to cover costs, and then another 20 or so have been ordered directly off the lulu website (and they will link to Amazon too), giving us more profit without the hassle – lulu.com takes care of it all.
So if you want to publish something yourself without speding an arm and a leg, they are worth looking at.
Well Adam – and this goes for other folks who have pre-ordered from me up to this date – since you have been disappointed by things at my side, I will send you the DVD free of charge and supply the book at cost plus shipping. Ever the ruthless business man me, but I hate even more to let people down…
Well I don’t feel let down! I’m in the early stages of a book project myself, so its interesting to get an insight into the process. Don’t feel you need to give anything away, I’m still quite happy to pay the cover price.
Annie: Thanks for the information; I’ll check ‘Lulu’ out.
Cheers,
Chris
…oh well, I can join the moaning. I have been making books for publishers for some years now and although the author & photographer (that would be me…) has the major part of the work and expanses, he receives the minor part of the profits. And if my publishers are right the big profits stay with the book sellers (these are the ones who didn’t do anything to actually make the book).
Self publishing on the other hand would be more profitable for me. The only downside here is that the author & photographer (still me…) would have to fork out costs for printing, shipping, distribution, promotion, … Not to mention the time needed for all that.
Maybe it’s just nature, we (the photographers and authors) are just at the lower end of the food chain. Maybe in my next life I become a book seller…