Comments on: Losing The Backlist Battle http://booksquare.com/losing-the-backlist-battle/ Dissecting the publishing industry with love and skepticism Mon, 21 May 2012 06:15:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Kirsten http://booksquare.com/losing-the-backlist-battle/comment-page-1/#comment-136802 Kirsten Wed, 02 Aug 2006 02:00:34 +0000 http://www.booksquare.com/archives/2006/08/01/2074/#comment-136802 <i>Possibly The Infinite Jest would make a good villain — it seems to grow in size every week or so. </i> LOL Possibly The Infinite Jest would make a good villain — it seems to grow in size every week or so.

LOL

]]> By: Booksquare http://booksquare.com/losing-the-backlist-battle/comment-page-1/#comment-136791 Booksquare Wed, 02 Aug 2006 00:39:14 +0000 http://www.booksquare.com/archives/2006/08/01/2074/#comment-136791 POD technology isn't geared toward mass production yet. It's getting there. Until then, it's not cost effective to print very small runs of books to meet demand. As I mull over your comment, I'm also thinking that there might a reluctance to use this technology due to pricing as well -- a POD book will likely be at a higher price point than the original version. As I think about it, pricing POD books in general might be something that publishers are just now starting to think about seriously. Amazon's acquisition of BookSurge will certainly change the dynamics of POD (and I think that Amazon is the dark horse in the book digitization race for this very reason), and as they develop their market there, you'll likely be seeing more publishers embracing POD as a way to regain control of their backlist. Of course, as I noted in my article, you're also going to see authors who realize they can simply go it alone. BookSurge's product is produced much faster than other POD suppliers and is excellent quality (I have a sample on my desk). POD technology isn’t geared toward mass production yet. It’s getting there. Until then, it’s not cost effective to print very small runs of books to meet demand. As I mull over your comment, I’m also thinking that there might a reluctance to use this technology due to pricing as well — a POD book will likely be at a higher price point than the original version. As I think about it, pricing POD books in general might be something that publishers are just now starting to think about seriously.

Amazon’s acquisition of BookSurge will certainly change the dynamics of POD (and I think that Amazon is the dark horse in the book digitization race for this very reason), and as they develop their market there, you’ll likely be seeing more publishers embracing POD as a way to regain control of their backlist. Of course, as I noted in my article, you’re also going to see authors who realize they can simply go it alone. BookSurge’s product is produced much faster than other POD suppliers and is excellent quality (I have a sample on my desk).

]]> By: renee http://booksquare.com/losing-the-backlist-battle/comment-page-1/#comment-136790 renee Wed, 02 Aug 2006 00:23:52 +0000 http://www.booksquare.com/archives/2006/08/01/2074/#comment-136790 At this point, because the technology for e-books and POD are still pretty basic, I think there is a perceived loss of value there to many people. E-books don't appeal to those who like the feel and heft of a book, and POD books can't match traditionally printed books in color quality, paper quality, or binding quality. I do agree, thought, that as technology advances, these will both become viable alternatives and publishers should definitely be prepared. At this point, because the technology for e-books and POD are still pretty basic, I think there is a perceived loss of value there to many people. E-books don’t appeal to those who like the feel and heft of a book, and POD books can’t match traditionally printed books in color quality, paper quality, or binding quality.

I do agree, thought, that as technology advances, these will both become viable alternatives and publishers should definitely be prepared.

]]> By: domynoe http://booksquare.com/losing-the-backlist-battle/comment-page-1/#comment-136779 domynoe Tue, 01 Aug 2006 22:01:30 +0000 http://www.booksquare.com/archives/2006/08/01/2074/#comment-136779 I don't understand why publishers can't do something similar to LuLu.com. Store the books virtually, print according to order, send along with all the new books they send out to stores every month/week/whatever. How is this more expensive than storage? Is it the initial cost of the POD technology? Or is that traditional publishers are entrenched in the old ways of doing things? I don’t understand why publishers can’t do something similar to LuLu.com. Store the books virtually, print according to order, send along with all the new books they send out to stores every month/week/whatever. How is this more expensive than storage? Is it the initial cost of the POD technology? Or is that traditional publishers are entrenched in the old ways of doing things?

]]>