Understanding E-book Sales Trends

Very interesting article by Erik Sherman April 25 on e-book business trends in which he concludes that " E-books may actually be growing at a far faster rate than even those who are bullish on the subject think."

Sherman's breakdown of the available data reveals that it is woefully inadequate: it quickly becomes obvious that methods and databases established to track traditional book sales are based on assumptions that no longer apply. For example, AAP represents the 300 top American publishers, so it used to be the database to analyze -- but only 16 of those 300 members are reporting their ebook sales to AAP, so those figures are clearly a completely inaccurate representation of even trends within the AAP-- even if the AAP members were still relevant for ebook sales which they may well not be! Given that the whole point of the emergent ebook tech is that one can go to press without a publisher, analyzing ebook sales from legacy publishers may be missing the boat. Given the hundreds (thousands maybe?) of small presses springing up in response to the new POD and ebook technologies (and in response to the legacy publishers increasing tendency to 'play it safe' by publishing only mainstream, lowest common denominator, processed cheese product) many of whom have been selling quite well on the ebook market, it may well be that self-publisehed authosr and 'small' presses have a significantly -- but completely unreported - larger share of the ebook market than AAP members.

Sherman also points out that even if one accepted the currently available indicators, inadequate as they are, they often compare apples and oranges -- when someone says ebooks sales are up x%, are they talking $ figures or numbers of titles sold. Because comparing $ figures between a $2.99 ebook and the same book in paper for $22.99 may seriously misrepresents the comparison if we are talking # of copies sold. The more one looks at the numbers the more confusing, or ludicrous, it becomes.


(See also Flying under the radar)

On Critics (Salon's Laura Miller)

Interesting essay on role and pandering of modern reviewers here (brought to my attention by poet and publisher Sandra Kasturi). I think it speaks more to mass market phenomenon in general than decline of reviewing as an art form. I think great reviews and great reviewers can be found servicing their niche markets, if one is prepared to look around for a voice one can trust.

The Editor is Not You Enemy

I have a guest editorial on Writer in Residence today (Sunday, March 27). Brief discussion of acquisition editors; Tuesday I expect to do a second editorial on development and copy editors.

Story in Tesseracts 15

Was pleased to learn that my short story, "Split Decision" has been accepted for publication in Tesseracts Fifteen: A Case of Quite Curious Tales, edited by Julie Czerneda and Susan MacGregor, (from EDGE Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishing, ISBN 978-1-894063-58-6; $15.95).

The Tesseracts anthology series has always been considered the top market for Canadian SF, so I'm pretty pleased that I got in the first time I submitted. I am trying to find time to do a bit of my own writing, rather than just always editing other people, but most of that energy has gone into my novel. This was the first short story I've sent off in years, so getting a sale right off is very encouraging.

It was especially encouraging given that this year's editorial team are editors whose work I have always admired. Julie Czerneda is mostly known for her own novels, of course, but she has also become a top editor of anthologies and texts for the school market. And Susan MacGregor is not only one of the driving forces behind On Spec magazine (the longest running Canadian SF magazine), but the editor behind the Divine Realms anthology of Canadian spiritual SF. (Not, as it turns out, an oxymoron!) I have to say, one of the things that keeps Tesseracts on top is Edge's ability to choose first rate editors for each annual; that, and choosing interesting themes. This year's them was YA SF, and choosing someone like Julie Czerneda, who is so active in the promotion of science and SF in schools, and Susan MacGregor, one of the editors behind the first On Spec special Youth issues, is just genius. So it is pretty exciting to be part of it all.

Tesseracts 15 is available for pre-order from Amazon.ca for $11.48. Official release is Sept 2011.

Another article on e-publishing

http://www.canada.com/entertainment/book+dead+long+live+ebook/4385033/story.html

Nothing much new here, but interesting to see mainstream press starting to catch up with phenomenon.

gaiman on Copyright and Piracy on the Web

Very interesting interview with Neil Gaiman about copyright, piracy and the web.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Qkyt1wXNlI&feature=player_embedded

Gender Gap in Book Reviewing

Interesting post today at Society Pages (a sociological site) on gender gap in book reviewing -- major review outlets feature more book reviews by males, and more reviews of books written by males. I'd be interested to see how that breaks down in SF and Fantasy fields -- anyone look at Locus reviews or SF Horizons or etc?