Another Sky Press is an example of how print-on-demand, internet distribution and alternative payment models might be changing the face of publishing. First, all their books are free for download online. Sure, you’re thinking, but according to litfarm, that’s practically mainstream. Well, they also sell hard-copies of their books at cost, plus an optional “contribution”, and that contribution goes to paying the author. From their site:
We want people to read our books, even if they read them for free. This isn’t anything revolutionary – unless your local librarian is a subversive of the highest order.
To best accomplish this goal we release all of our books online for free. Because we know how good ‘real’ books feel in your hands, we also price our trade-paperbacks via a sliding scale system in which the base price is the cost for us to ship you a book (we don’t make a penny) and you set the final price by choosing what you’d like to contribute (if anything) to the creative team behind it (most of which goes to the author). You can’t ever be ripped off. We call this pro-artist, pro-audience system neo-patronage.
There are a whole bunch of reasons we are doing this. Some of them are idealistic (we trust people!). Some of them are economic (we want everyone to be able to afford our books!). Some of them are philosophical (we believe it is a better system!). Some of them are technological (flow with technology, don’t fight it!).
You can read more on their philosophy of publishing at their site, but in effect, they’re happy enough if someone downloads and reads their books. They’re even happier if someone orders a book at cost and they make nothing, since again someone is reading their books. If the person wants to pay more, it goes directly to the creative team behind the book–which they mention means mostly the author, but presumably includes the designer, editor, etc.
The whole thing reminds me of the 1,000 True Fans idea I blogged a while back, and could be a great way to establish a following that could take you into the mainstream. Or who knows, could support you outright.
I’m currently listening to a podcast of the first chapter of Ash Dogs by Justin Nicholes, a novel about a recently discharged marine, looking to get back the parts of himself that he lost in Iraq. Check it out.
(Thanks, Groundswell Collective.)
. I’d like to thank Steven for inviting me to the event, which featured a reading, a massive book signing queue, an open bar, a live performance of Abinoni’s Adagio, an open bar, amazing food by the Blue Water Cafe, a cake in the shape of a cello, and an open bar. I got home at midnight and decided to read the first little bit of the novel. One hundred pages later, I forced myself to sleep. Recommended by litfarm.