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Has Publishing Gone Crazy? Well, Yeah That's the Point!

by Bob Nelson

So, I read yet another article about the changing publishing landscape, here, and I chuckle at the sense of doom and gloom.

The Point is, it's working. Love or hate Amazon, they are forcing change. Because they invested in the technology and capacity to allow individual authors, and small presses (for better or worse) release their own material and have removed the gatekeepers, the industry is in a state of panic.

At a conference earlier this month, I was approached by many authors looking to submit a manuscript- the point of my panels on the subject was simple and clear- everything I am doing, they could be doing- nothing but hard work stands between them and building a loyal reader base for their work.

That being said, the true value of publishers, and agents has been reaffirmed. That means that those who are willing to do that work should have say over who they do that for, I think too many authors are expecting publishers to open the doors of the loading ramp and let any 'ole author role up their wagon of words and unload.

It doesn't work that way, and it shouldn't.

The point is still just as simple, you, as an author, have the ability to still pursue your dream even if an agent or publishers pass on your manuscript- if you believe in your work, then you can still get out there- that's the point.

It's working for Brick Cave Books, as a small fish in a big pond. as our title count grows, our sales have expanded. As our sales have expanded, we have been able to promote better. It's an upward cycle that hopefully will continue to expand- but it's premise is built on quality work and carefully selecting the authors we work with. The true freedom is that you don't need my, or anyone else's, blessing to move forward.

I have recently had had to deal with someone that didn't care for us, or our authors, because we are not one of the big 6... Those are the people that motivate me to work harder, to reach more people, and to prove these technologies and processes are right, and have value. and as a small publisher, we have the tools now that allow us to do that.

The response to J.A. Giunta's Ascension Series and Sharon Skinner's The Healer's Legacy have proven to me beyond a doubt that this new publishing world is real, and has value. Both books have performed tremendously, and continue to improve as we reach more people with our message.

But the industry still cries foul... instead of siezing the opportunity to fill their stables with quality writers whose work they have a chance to sample in a real world setting, they are all aflutter about their percieved loss of power. That in the end is the biggest issue for the existing publishing structure, that they need a new brand of leadership- one that leads from a place of confidence and proactive efforts, instead of fear and reactive response.