Over the years I have acquired a very diverse skill set. The list may be wide and varied but one central thing is books. I read them. I write them. I publish them. I sell them. I love them. As I heard my brother tell his wife while calling her from my new house, "Books are everywhere." Heck I even have a prefab shed in my backyard for 6,000 of 'em. Open a vein and out flows ... you get it.
Originally, from Gutenberg to the Victorian Era, people wrote pamphlets, articles and books to explain their mission, promote their point of view, share their imaginings. May I invoke Margaret Sanger? However today, like most media in the US, most books are published and controlled by a small handful of corporations. The industry has become as overbearing, disrespectful and narrow-minded as is the rest of our corporate-defined society.
Even if you are picked up a publisher, you turn over your manuscript, they format the contents, create the cover, insert the blurbs; your input is not welcome. They decide the price, the distribution, the advertising campaign. You pay for the marketing, the travel and, in some cases, the initial print fees. You get your book in their seasonal catalog but its life-cycle is out of your hands. They will carry it as long as there are supporting sales. Then they backlist it and even let it go out of print and at that point, you are SOL. A great author recently sent an email looking for any copies floating around of her "out of print" autobiography. She had no copies. It was backlisted. Legally she could not print more. (need I mention that the publisher no longer wanted her book in circulation? duh)
Although I can only offer my opinion, it doesn't come lightly. The term, "vanity press" should disappear with the last century. This century, publishing is going to find new legs in Independent Presses, much like independent films. AND, just as we may look at large studio films with a touch of suspicion, Independent Press books will ascend to a place of genuine respect. Oh to an equivalent to Sundance for books.
My business partner and I are launching Eclipse Books Services for many reasons, not the least of which is teach people how to take their books from DREAM-TO-HAND. We have published several books, founded an independent press, and believe in the distribution of information. We want to advance independence in business, in books and community.
It is our dream that entrepreneurs, foundations, communities and individuals who have stories to tell and something to teach the world will make certain their work is in print forever with their own Independent Press. And should they need some help - we are in their service.
