Tony Horwitz: "I Was A Digital Best Seller!"

I read then skimmed the article. It said nothing interesting, just underlined the fact that publishing in any arena is a tough business.

I found it very interesting.

First, it's Tony Horowitz. It's not as if, in print, a book wouldn't have the support he noted, in addition to shelf space and/or promotional spots in a variety of bookstores. I'd guess my local independent would have put it up front; had I seen it with his name on it, I guarantee I'd have picked it up to look at, at the least.

Second, a bestseller can be had for 700 copies, apparently.

Third, were he not who he is, and was a regular person who'd signed with Byliner, that'd likely have been that. Also that Byliner, touted as something real, had no marketing or promotion beyond 'ask your family to write Amazon reviews.'

Finally, Byliner wasn't supposed to be a fly-by-night, and yet, lookit.

As JW notes, that can happen in any space, but it seems to be fairly fast and unpredictable in this one.