Lori here~
As you know, I write erotic romance under the name Lorelei James. I write for Samhain Publishing, which puts the books out in multiple ebook formats first, then in trade paperback ten months later. Since 2006, I've had a foot in both the traditional publishing world, and with a digital publisher, so I've got some experience and an opinion.
I've built up a backlist fairly quickly as an erotic romance writer, which was intentional, albeit left me with a grueling writing schedule. The thing is, I'm just as proud of the contemporary erotic westerns as I am of the mysteries. I laugh when the uninformed sniff that ebooks aren't "real books" because you can't get a paper cut when you read it. I know there are digital houses out there with shitty editing, shitty covers, and those places give all digital publishers an undeserved bad rap. However, I'll point out, after 13 books with Samhain, my covers consistently rock, and my editorial process with them is more intensive with each book than the process I went through with any Medallion book.
For content, I get that explicit sex isn't everyone's cup of tea. It's just like everything else in life: if you don't like it, don't buy it. But if you don't buy it, don't diss it -- because you don't know what the hell you're talking about.
And that statement includes the phenomenon known as kindle.
I've watched my digital sales increase dramatically the last year -- a large portion of that is due to kindle. But an even larger reason nearly all the Lorelei James books are consistently under the 1000 sales ranking mark for ALL books in the kindle store, not just the romance section, is because of price point. The books are a bargain, so readers who might not ordinarily pick up a contemporary erotic western, see it's not going to break the bank if they decide to download a Lorelei James book. And then they're happy that it's a damn good read.
Win win situation for me, for my publisher, for amazon.com because they set the discount prices, but mostly it's a win win situation for readers.
I'm not as gutsy as Joe Konrath, who posted his kindle sales numbers yesterday. But this is easily one of the best/smartest/most informative articles on digital publishing I've come across. Take the time to read it. Seriously.
Lori, I'm so glad that authors are starting to make decent profits from ebooks. In fact, how could authors and booksellers NOT make a good profit, since ebooks don't involve a print run and associated costs.
I'm an avid ebook reader and download from Kindle, eReader, Stanza & Barnes and Noble to my iTouch. Before I got my iTouch, I was downloading to my computer through Mobipocket, eReader, Adobe and eSony.
I now only buy print copies when I'm at an author's booksigning, when a book is only sold in print and when I want to give a book as a gift. It's so much easier to carry around 25 books on my iTouch than in my arms, and it's easier on my pocketbook too. ;-D
Posted by: Becky Hutchison | October 15, 2009 at 01:46 PM
Becky, I guess it's just you and me, eh?
Funny how when I put thought into a blog post I get no responses, so thank you for yours.
I have an ebookwise and a sony reader...I like both for different reasons. I bought a kindle but had to return it, only because the whispernet feature doesn't work here in the wild west, as we have no Sprint provider. I was bummed, but I wanted that instantaneous access to books and immediate download ability, especially since I already have two e-readers that I have to transfer the books to.
Before the sony I bought lots of books in Adobe pdf and read them on my computer. I don't mind that, since I'm used to reading on the computer. I think one of the issues is lack of information about all the available formats for ebooks. I was thrilled when Books on Board was one of the first vendors to sell I-phone apps and a Lorelei James title was one of the first titles they offered.
Thanks for jumping in~
Posted by: Lori Armstrong | October 16, 2009 at 08:14 AM
The one concern I have with Joe's argument is where he says he thinks he wants his books to go out of print. I have to think that some of the ebook success - for him specifically - is tied to the fact that his books - and hence his name - are still circulating in the book world. It the traditional forms of his books aren't available, I wonder if there would be a change in the numbers.
But its hard to argue with the trend and the numbers. It makes sense.
Posted by: Jeff Shelby | October 16, 2009 at 09:27 AM
Since I bought my Kindle a year and a half ago I have expanded who and what I read. I am more willing try a new author when I can pick the book up fast and inexpensively. I buy more books and yes, I have started to read Lorelei James. Thanks for your post. ...Mo
Posted by: Mo | October 16, 2009 at 04:57 PM
Lori,
Congrats on the Shamus!
Stephen
Posted by: Stephen D. Rogers | October 16, 2009 at 09:46 PM
Holy SHIT Lori. Congrats on the Shamus. Wish you were here.
Posted by: Wilfred Bereswill | October 17, 2009 at 06:53 AM
Congrats on the Shamus Lori.
Posted by: Dru | October 17, 2009 at 07:10 AM
Hey Lori -- Congrats on the Shamus! (Is it just you and me not at B'Con too?)
My first PDA was a Palm, and I started reading books from eReader on that about five or six years ago. I don't mind reading small print, so I enjoyed it. But only a few titles were available then. About two years ago I discovered Books on Board. Wow, they are awesome, usually have the best prices and have wonderful customer service. And I've bought a few of your books from BoB too.
My favorite format from BoB was Mobipocket PX because I could download the original book covers (in color). Lately their Mobipocket format is in the OD format which doesn't include the cover in the download. No way could I miss Karen's colorful book covers for her Brett Kavenaugh series. So I've switched to Kindle and Barnes & Noble for my iTouch reading fixes, where I can download book covers in color and change the font and background colors and the font sizes through the Kindle, B&N, eReader and Stanza apps.
And what a bummer you can't get service for the Kindle where you live. I have to be at a wi-fi spot to download all of my ebooks, so I can sympathize. But since I'm usually either at home or B&N, that's not too much of a problem...yet.
And if I didn't say it before, I'll say it again:
CONGRATULATIONS on your Shamus!! Awesome recognition for your writing!
Posted by: Becky Hutchison | October 17, 2009 at 03:44 PM