e-book publishers

[Shwenn]

Okay, I know nothing about e-books or publishers of e-books or how any of this works.

I started writing erotica because I really thought there was no market for it (it's heavy bdsm, NC). I had published some stuff before, dirty realism, and getting published in that genre is very much a phyrric victory. I have a folder full of rejection letters. It's tough. It's a gauntlet. I didn't want to put myself through that again.

I put some stuff here. Then this man at understories.com asked if he could put it on his site. Because he requested it for a site that is picky about what it puts up, because it wasn't just me throwing my work into the ether, I gave it a good polish before I sent it to him.

Now a third gentleman saw it on understories and wants to publish me in an e-book company he is just starting. He gave me links to what he has for sale on Amazon and mobipocket.

So, for those of you who have published e-books before, how does it work? What should I expect? Any and all advice is desperately wanted/needed.

Thank you in advance.

 

[Svenskaflicka]

When Aspen Mountain Press bought my novel, both parties signed a contract detailing what each one could and could not do. Some e-publishers require that you don't publish the same work in any other place or post it anywhere to be read for free. Yet I see that atleast two other sites also sell my books, and since I haven't contacted these sites, I can just assume that they are working together with AMP.

You should ask both your publishers for the rules, so you don't end up being sued.

 

[Shwenn]

Yet I see that atleast two other sites also sell my books, and since I haven't contacted these sites, I can just assume that they are working together with AMP.

You should ask both your publishers for the rules, so you don't end up being sued.

Thank you.

So, does it not work the same as print publishers in that you get an advance and, once you've sold enough to pay for the advance, you begin to make money per sale?

I imagine it wouldn't but how does it work?

 

[sr71plt]

Thank you.

So, does it not work the same as print publishers in that you get an advance and, once you've sold enough to pay for the advance, you begin to make money per sale?

I imagine it wouldn't but how does it work?

No, I've never heard of advances used in e-books. The only possibility I could think of would be like the experiment Stephen King did of launching a book first as an e-book. But as he did this himself, no advance was connected with that.

 

[Selena_Kitt]

Thank you.

So, does it not work the same as print publishers in that you get an advance and, once you've sold enough to pay for the advance, you begin to make money per sale?

I imagine it wouldn't but how does it work?

Nope, no advances with e-pubs. But with most you get 35-45% royalties.

If you want to check out a specific publisher, check out Piers Anthony's site.

Usually, you submit your work and if it's accepted, you sign a contract. Read the contract carefully. Make sure you're not signing anything you will regret later. If you do a little digging, you can find sample contracts of epublishers online.

Many epublishers will ask you what you're going to do to market your work. Do you have a website? A blog? A yahoo group? Are you willing to do chats? Virtual book signings/tours? Marketing yourself, as an author, takes up a great deal of writing time, unfortunately.

 

[Shwenn]

Nope, no advances with e-pubs. But with most you get 35-45% royalties.

Holy frijoles, that is high!

 

[Selena_Kitt]

Holy frijoles, that is high!

Yep. But remember, the numbers of copies you're going to sell aren't anywhere near what they would be in the print market. Usually. The e-market isn't as big as the print one.

 

[Vermilion]

And some of us publish with a nifty little site that allows us to keep 100% of our profits.

See if you can guess which one - at least two of the previous posters in this thread are affiliated, as well as me :-D

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[Zeb_Carter]

And some of us publish with a nifty little site that allows us to keep 100% of our profits.

See if you can guess which one - at least two of the previous posters in this thread are affiliated, as well as me :-D

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*snerk*