3 p.m.: How the internet helps small presses publish books / Derby / Scott Edelman(M), Mike Walsh, Elaine Corvidae, M.T. Reiten
Scott Edelman: Is it helpful? It’s actually damaged one aspect of small press magazine publishing because it’s replaced the zine niche.
Mike Walsh: A book that was refused by the big sale chains; SCIFI did nice review, but it was BoingBoing that really drove a sales spike. Also, while not being in a big chain used to be a horrible thing, Amazon now offsets that.
Elaine Corvidae: Growing up in small town, if a book wasn’t on a shelf, you really couldn’t get it (or not know about it). The benefit of the internet is that sites get exposure. Points that she’s publishing her books for free on her site, which fuels sales of print edition.
M.T. Reiten: Internet helps with reach, but challenging aspect is marketing.
Scott Edelman: Seeing authors give away review copies of book or magazine to see if it leads to a buzz.
Scott Edelman: Locus is our New York Times. Everyone wants a review there. Joe Hadleman’s always going to get a review there; how do you get one as a small press.
Should you distribute your first book online?
M.T. Reiten: Depends on what you want? Who is your readership? Are you happy with a small group, or a brick and mortar store?
Scott Edelman: If someone picks up a book that’s self-published, there’s still stigma of “why is this being self-published? Is it not good enough to get a publisher?” But some can overcome that stigma — John Scalzi for example.
Number of comic publishers getting tertiary sales from folks reading their online comics.
Elaine Corvidae: Comics are easier to print as small press because they’re “indie”. Folks don’t refer to small press as that.
Mat Walsh: Before diving into promoting your book, find out what the rules are — how to promote product, or promoting yourself.