Altruism?
It drives me completely Banana’s when I read quotes like the ones posted on this forum from the PAMB’s. Things like: “I don’t expect to make a lot of money..., I just want people to read and enjoy the book...” Give me a break! Geeze!!!
Okay, if that be the case, just go to Kinko’s and print-out, bind, and draw or copy cover art from the Web for the front and back - stand on a corner and give the dang things away.
Last time I checked, we are not living in a Star Trek 24th century world where money has no value. In addition, if a person has something that is worth marketing, spends countless hours writing, editing, etc, I would think that some sort of compensation, like PROFIT would be at least on the list of things that a person would like to achieve (Ferengy Style).
Who do these people think they are kidding? That is why there are “Intellectual Property Laws, Copyright Laws”, etc. After all expenses are deducted - PublishAmerica makes at least 60-80 percent profit on each book printed. The author gets only 8 cents on the dollar more or less in royalty payments.
People work all of their lives contributing to 401k’s, pension plans, Certificates of Deposits, investing in the Stock Market to make some Profit from their labors. Some people get to live maybe only 10-20 years after retiring, more or less - to enjoy the fruits of their efforts. Then, the remainder of their money is divided among the living when the person takes the eternal dirt nap. If they were smart, they also had “life Insurance” - I refer to it as Death Insurance.
Same thing applies to writing and publishing a book. Everyone profits from the product the author produces, Yet, under normal circumstances - the publishing house does make an effort to place the book in “circulation” and distribute the book. PublishAmerica relies on booksellers “Web Sites,” the author’s marketing plan, and “word of mouth“ as a distribution channel.
“Show me the book and the money!” Often, I do buy books from Quality Book Club, Crossings Book Club, History Book Club. I am very familiar with the books they have to offer - have seen the books in brick and mortar’s - leafed through them - and got a better price from the Book Clubs.
I do realize that the books that are selected are about to go out of print, and the publishing houses want to liquidate their inventory’s (thus, the low prices), who cares? I saved a bundle of money off list price! The author still gets paid (not as much - since the book is drastically reduced), the publishing house and the book club makes their money, and I am happy with the books.
What I am trying to say in my own “wind-bag” way, is that the books were in a distribution channel and marketed!
Humph!
Gary Rogers