Nocturnal Press Publications

[veinglory]

http://www.npuniverse.com/

Genuinely curious here. If a press is using Lightning Source, via retailer like Amazon--is paying the author 50% of cover price going to leave the press enough income to cover costs? How would that work?

 

[michael_b]

it wouldn't work, Em. Not at all.

Also, if you look at the bottom of the page you see a link to 'investors' and on that page he calls the company 'a thriving independent publisher'.

Thriving? With a single self-published book? A book that's not even for sale?

 

[veinglory]

They are soliciting authors which is why I am wondering whether what they say their royalties are is 1) possible at all. and 2) sustainable given that it costs $117 to start each title on LS on top of whatever they actually invest in editing and art etc.

 

[michael_b]

They are soliciting authors which is why I am wondering whether what they say their royalties are is 1) possible at all. and 2) sustainable given that it costs $117 to start each title on LS on top of whatever they actually invest in editing and art etc.

Honestly? I don't believe this person has a single clue about the publishing business. I say this because that royalty rate is not sustainable by any means. He likely doesn't realize the cut a distributor takes is often 60%--or more--of the cover price. He would, at the very least, be operating at a -10% deficit just on the royalties alone. Here's the math: 100% of cover cost minus the distribution cut of 60% less the 50% given to the author leaving -10% of cover price. Then you get into the realm of paying for cover art and editing--at the very least--and you are operating at a constant deficit that cannot be sustained long term.

What I see is someone who couldn't get published--or didn't even try--deciding to start their own company to 'teach the greedy publishers a lesson' by giving high royalty rates to the authors. What they fail to grasp is publishing isn't a simple matter of 'put a book out and rake in the dough'. There are operating expenses involved--those covers and edits at the very least--and distributors take their cut of the book before you see a single dime back on your investment.

 

[James D. Macdonald]

...we take pride in the fact that we are a publishing house completely devoted to our authors and their books, which of course is what it should be about.

Wrong shoe, wrong foot. If they aren't completely dedicated to their readers the only question is when they're going to go out of business.

...is the already agreed 50% of book profits and competition winnings.

They aren't offering 50% of cover price, they're offering 50% of "profits," which are probably going to be zero.

 

[veinglory]

They aren't offering 50% of cover price, they're offering 50% of "profits," which are probably going to be zero.

I specifically asked about this, and they are in fact (according to them) offering 50% of cover price.

 

[brianm]

More here about the owners of NPP.

-brianm-

 

[James D. Macdonald]

I specifically asked about this, and they are in fact (according to them) offering 50% of cover price.

In that case they're selling five dollar bills for a buck-fifty each. Sure, they lose a little on each sale, but they'll make it up on volume.

 

[CaoPaux]

From the "state of the union" address currently on the front page:

4. Author Responsibilities:

All authors are required to adhere to the following expectations:

· Authors need to be able to reach 400 paperback sales to have their book released as a hardback.

· Authors must make contact with a member of the company at least twice a month to report on progress of book, promotion and sales. Failure to do this will result in two warnings given. After this if still no contact, the company has the right to remove the book from the website. If the author later makes contact they will need to be re-signed and on probation for 1 year to make sure the same issues do not happen again.

· Authors have the responsibility to do the marketing taught to them by Louisa. Failure to promote their book or achieve marketing goals could lead to a warning and possible cancellation of the book title.

Who's working for whom, now?

 

[CaoPaux]

In April '15, owner offered press up for sale because he wanted to focus on his writing (copy of announcement). Days later, Chief Editor resigned due to "questionable future" (copy of announcement). Site's gone, therefore I presume no buyer was found, and press closed in December as forecast.