Wo! Amazon's new commercial publishing includes graphic projects?

What have we here?

S.G. Redling's FLOWERTOWN, after a chemical spill, a remote corner of Iowa becomes a long-term quarantine; seven years later, supplies are cut off, the Army is withdrawing and as the residents band together to search for answers, they learn the real terror is just beginning, to Terry Goodman at Amazon Publishing, for publication in 2012, by Christine Witthohn at Book Cents Literary Agency (World).
Dramatic & graphic: [email protected]

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“Dramatic & graphic”? Does this mean that Christine Witthohn sold those rights to Amazon? Or does it mean she’s the person to contact for buying those rights? Let's run with the former.

I'm aware that the POD component of CreateSpace isn't the best way to publish a graphic project because of quality issues, but if Amazon means to get serious about graphic projects in this new commercial venture of theirs -- do big print runs and use glossy paper and all that jazz -- I'm paying attention.

I'm aware of potential risks associated with Amazon Publishing -- limited distribution and the necessity of a color-capable e-reader -- but I'm not introducing that discussion here. (It's going on in a couple other threads here at AW.) I'd like to know what y'all think about approaching the new Amazon Publishing with your graphic project. With some trepidation, I'm about to ask my agent what he thinks of it.

P.S. It strikes me that graphic novels are particularly suitable for film rights sales. And what do you know? Amazon is partnering with Warner Bros studios for first-look deals.

Axler said:

Uh...I've had several black and white graphic novels published through Create Space...the quality was very good.

Don't know about color at the moment, but I will soon.

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Axler, I went to the CreateSpace forums and found some serious complaints about print quality, particularly with B&W graphics. There were also some authors who said they were perfectly happy, but I wasn't filled with confidence; the issue of the proper technical process was debated, but not settled. I also read there that the paper isn't up to the same standards that traditional publishers use for graphic projects.

I haven't tried CreateSpace so I can only go on what I've read.

I looked at threads from 2011.

Thanks, PH. But yeah, a graphic project would be a different matter.

I think this part of the discussion is getting more attention than it needs, though. As I think about it, I'm sure Amazon will use a different process for mainstream publishing. I'm more interested in the prospects for marketing, distribution, film rights sales, and then the mysteries -- what's in the contract, who are the editors, etc.


ETA: I contacted Publishers Marketplace and flat-out asked them what the "Dramatic & graphic" note meant (funny how you can just do that and get information) -- whether it meant 1) the rights had been sold or 2) were available for sale. It turns out to be the latter -- so maybe my frenzy of interest is all for naught.