The More Publishing Changes...

My first Romantic Times Convention was in 2001. Back then, RT was always in Oct. and so, this particular RT was memorably sombre because it was right after Sept. 11. There were almost no New York editors in attendance and many authors canceled too.

I went because I had a chance to room with Cherry Adair. I mean, me, a nobody aspiring-to-be pubbed writer, had the chance to pick the brains of a very wonderful writer...how could I refuse? So I went and in spite of the quieter-than-normal atmosphere (which I didn't know then, since I had no previous experience with which to compare), the RT party went on.

In 2001, there were very few e-published authors or publishers in attendance.  Ellora's Cave wasn't the power house we know today, and everyone was just getting excited about erotic romance and erotica. Also, at that time, small publishers were still viewed with caution because those of us who wanted to be published viewed them as a last option because of course, everyone wanted to have his or her first book picked up by a big publisher, one which offered an advance. 

There were a few writers who took the risk and contracted with these little known small publishers. There was barely any advance money and the books were trade-sized, which were more expensive and often not popular with readers because of size and price. Still, for some, it was a chance to get one's work in book form without going the vanity route.  At that particular RT, I remember talking to a few writers about this new "wave" and possibility of maybe one day electronic books being another way to read. We felt rather adventurous, wondering what the future would bring for us, and I was dreaming of being a successful author.

Ten years later.  Yes, this coming RT Con, now renamed RT Booklovers Convention, will be my tenth.  How things have changed, eh?

Today, I am published, with eight books under my belt. I've tasted the ups and downs of the publishing world and witnessed the rise and fall of genres, mass market books, trade-sized books, and new ways of being published.


Today, ebooks is not just a new wave of publishing, but a viable way to make a living. Recently, a very well-known author, a friend of mine, Barry Eisler, walked away from a $500,000 contract with St. Martin's Press to self-publish because he felt he could make more doing it himself. You can read about his decision at his blog.

This news caused a buzz through Twitter, FB, and all of Internetdom because it wasn't a big surprise to many that a national-selling author had decided to step out. Many of us had talked about it among ourselves and speculated on who the first Big One would be. Because, you see, doing-it-yourself and ebook publishing have lost their stigma since 2001.  Especially when the reading public is embracing it by buying these works. Just ask Amanda Hocking, self-published, and whose ebooks had made her seven figures without any major publisher involved. Today, she's the face of success to authors who want to get their works out. She's also added a wow factor because of her recent contract for seven figures with a publishing house.

You can bet the above two items will be two main topics of private conversations between writers at RT next week! It's amazing how the options have changed, yet not. Watching a best-selling traditional-published author changing places with a best-selling self-published author because of personal career-based decisions is not only interesting, but also very empowering, to us writers.

For the last few years, many authors have lost their contracts or big advances as traditional publishing houses lost money because of fewer sales due to the Big Depression (no, it's not a Recession, it's a Depression). Many have given up and gone back to their previous jobs before they wrote full-time. Many, like me, have lost much writing time as we work longer hours or took up other kinds of work to help pay our bills.

Ebooks sales have been going up since 2007 but I think the turning point was the introduction of the Kindle, and then came its competitors.  Also, Amazon has the $$$ to buy TV ads and thus get the attention of the layperson, those who aren't always keeping up with the latest e-gadget. Amazon's self-publishing business--print and ebook--became the new market place for many writers, both new and experienced, as readers started to try new books that are so easily accessible.

Now, a few days ago, Connie Brockway, another famous name among romance readers, has also announced her intention to self-published a few historical romances. Everyone is suddenly feeling very adventurous. And wondering what the future in publishing will bring.

And I'm still wondering whether I'd be successful in this crazy business.

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