Publishers play it safe
Source: Agencies |
June 27, 2010, Sunday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THE slow rise of electronic books is paving the way for more safe-bet fiction blockbusters and serial-type books, at least in the short term, according to book experts.
With book sales stagnating in recent years, the nascent e-books market has thrown the industry into turmoil. In response, large publishers are taking fewer financial risks and betting more of their dollars on established authors, said Eileen Gittins of self-publishing company Blurb.com.
"In the face of these economics, publishers just cannot take the risk," said Gittins. "They need some sure wins."
Gittins said publishers want to market more blockbuster authors writing serial books to lure repeat readers, as was seen with the success of late Swedish author Stieg Larsson, or crime fiction writers such as Michael Connelly.
With prices on the e-book market still being battled over among publishers and makers of electronic readers, publishers have yet to profit much from e-books.
Most of publishers' costs are developing and marketing authors, not printing and shipping. Such costs don't lessen with e-books even though they sell for less than paper books.
With book sales stagnating in recent years, the nascent e-books market has thrown the industry into turmoil. In response, large publishers are taking fewer financial risks and betting more of their dollars on established authors, said Eileen Gittins of self-publishing company Blurb.com.
"In the face of these economics, publishers just cannot take the risk," said Gittins. "They need some sure wins."
Gittins said publishers want to market more blockbuster authors writing serial books to lure repeat readers, as was seen with the success of late Swedish author Stieg Larsson, or crime fiction writers such as Michael Connelly.
With prices on the e-book market still being battled over among publishers and makers of electronic readers, publishers have yet to profit much from e-books.
Most of publishers' costs are developing and marketing authors, not printing and shipping. Such costs don't lessen with e-books even though they sell for less than paper books.
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