Since next week is “Read an Ebook Week,” I decided to sit down and talk to a woman who has been in the ebook publishing business from the start.
Ebook publication wasn’t on my radar when I submitted Touch of Fate to Twilight Times in 2005. I wanted to see my book in print, and indeed, I did, but by the time The Immortality Virus came out in 2011, I sold more ebooks than print books. Times are definitely changing. These days, I would be nervous about going with a publisher without a strong eye towards ebook sales.
So, without further ado….here is Lida Quillen of Twilight Times Books
Thank you for taking the time to talk to me. In honor of “Read an eBook Week” my focus will be on electronic publishing, although I know you run a traditional press that sells both print books and eBooks.
First, could you tell me a little bit about yourself, especially why you decided to start your own publishing company?
When I first discovered the Internet in 1997, I was amazed at the number of highly talented and yet unpublished writers I kept meeting online. I could feel their anguish and frustration at not being able to break into print. I decided to do something about it and created Twilight Times ezine in July 1998 to showcase great writing and to give these writers an outlet.
I started listening to writers who could not get their novels published. In January 1999, I started Twilight Times Books to present the works of talented, but under-published novelists. I am committed to providing an outlet for brilliant authors with books that deserve to see print.
Why did you decide to publish in both print and electronic format?
I was perfectly happy as an epublisher. I was publishing well-written, interesting books in a variety of genres from talented authors. But I realized to maintain the quality of the submissions I wanted, I needed to offer print versions.
My ebook authors were clamoring to see their books in print.
When I researched going to print in 2002-2003, the most affordable short run printers were located in Australia and Canada It was cheaper to have an Australian company print and ship the books, than it was to do business here. It wasn’t until 2004 that the per book cost from U.S. short run printers (digital printers) became affordable.
At this point, how many of your sales would you say come from eBooks vs print books?
From 2004 to 2010, about 70% of sales revenue was from print book sales. In 2011 about 55% of sales revenue was from print books and 45% from ebook sales..
Do you see a point in your future where you would go all electronic?
I started publishing our titles in ebook format first in order to garner review blurbs to use on the back of the trade paperback books and to add an extra edit prior to going to print. These days I am moving toward publishing ebook and print simultaneously since most of our titles have won awards. For some awards, publishing in ebook format first prevents the book from being eligible. But in answer to your question, no, I have no plans to go all electronic.
Due to the simplicity of publishing eBooks, many authors are going solo, rather than working with a publisher. What do you feel you have to offer these authors?
It is important to make certain the ebooks are available in popular formats and available for purchase via the major ebook distributors. At Twilight Times Books, we have ramped up promo opportunities via our ebook distributors such as Amazon Kindle, Apple iBooks, Barnes & Noble Digital, eReader.com, Fictionwise, Kobo Books, OmniLit, Sony eBookstore, etc.
Our titles are highly competitive with other trade publishers,large and small. By that I mean the quality of the writing in the books. We have always been highly selective as to what books we choose for publication since inception. Books by the major publishers may be on the shelves for a couple of months. Our titles will stay in print for decades. Of 21 titles published in trade paperback in 2004, 19 are still in print.
We provide new authors with practical promotion plans that include no-cost and low-cost promo ideas as well as a step-by-step marketing plan. The marketing plan outlines what the author needs to be doing several months prior to the release date, three months prior, one month prior, etc.
We provide literally dozens of tips, marketing advice and promo opportunities each month in email newsletters to all Twilight Times Books authors.
What do you look for when deciding whether or not to publish a particular book?
The book needs to be highly polished and ready for publication. If I have a choice between two submissions,one needs work and the author has no concept of book promotion, and the other is highly polished and the author seems to have a few feasible ideas regarding book promotion, which author do you think I will place under contract?
What are your most common reasons for rejecting a manuscript?
I can sometimes overlook the fact that an author completely ignores the submission guidelines. I will, however, reach for the rejection slip when a submission reads like a first or second draft.
I know you publish books in most genres, but is there any particular type of book you like more than the rest?
We have openings for three or four SF or fantasy novels each year. We also like to publish three or four mystery and/or suspense novels each year.
And finally, could you give us your vision of the future of publishing? Are there any changes coming, and if so, how soon?
A couple of industry professionals have a few interesting predictions.
“Ten Bold Predictions for Book Publishing in 2012” by Jeremy
Greenfield
http://www.digitalbookworld.com/2011/ten-bold-predictions-for-book-publishing-in-2012/
“On the Future of Books: A Discussion with Seth Godin” by Leo
Babauta
In my opinion, the publishing arena is changing quickly so we do need to stay abreast of any and all innovative developments. Several of today’s established small press publishing houses started as epublishers in 1998-2000. At that time we knew ebooks were the wave of the future. We had no idea it would require over ten years for ebooks to take off. In my opinion, the ebook revolution just took off within the last year.
In an interview in 2004, I said,
“…authors on the web are acquiring new skills. We are starting to think in terms of multi-media effects due to the influence of surfing experiences. The manner in which the words appear on the page (HTML coding), non-linear (embedded hot links), visual (graphics, borders, backgrounds), music (wav, mp3 files) and so on, have an almost subliminal effect. We spend hours in front of a computer screen, researching and interacting with literally hundreds of people worldwide on a daily basis. All these experiences cannot help but affect the way authors will write in the future.
I foresee there will be incredible advances in technology. In two or three years, you will never be lost because your cell phone will have a built-in GPS (global positioning system). You will be able to download info to your cell phone, PDA or other hand-held device from the Internet at DSL speeds. Continued advances in technology will open up the ebook market to millions of new readers. The publishers who are able to stay the course will reap the benefits.”
At this point in time, I can say that book publishing will undergo major changes in the next few years, ebook sales will have phenomenal growth, the big NYC publishing houses will ultimately adapt and a number of self-publishing authors will achieve major success.
Thank you so much for taking the time to talk to me today!
Don’t forget Touch of Fate is FREE until March 10, 2012!
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