I have recovered. I think. I may find myself in another state of panic (why didn't I become an investment banker for christ's sake?) but please, stick with me. It will all make sense soon... promise.
Our poor publishing guy, or gal-lets call her Sandy (cause she hides her head is in sand)- has invested a few million bucks of the companies money on digitization. Unlike the little guys, who are working hard to digitize and not go broke doing it, Sandy has everything wrapped up. Fast digi-workflow, big freaking server full of files, hell, even a team of e-experts on staff. What is sandy missing though? Come on, everyone say it together now... PROFIT!
Remember yesterday's scary half-assed show-me-the-money diatribe? I don't, really, have the intestinal fortitude to do it again, so try it yourself! The great river in Seattle (think. oh yeah!) says $9.99 is THE retail price. And they will NEVER take a short margin. So, call it 5 bucks-give or take 50 cents-for Sandy to plug into that nasty P&L. Guess what symbol and color are at the bottom? Try "-" and RED!
What is a publishing gal to do? Why, "let us keep our BEST books from the people! WE are the publisher! We have never thought of consumers before! Why start now? And hey! That e-book thing is a fad, anyway..."
Lunch time! next visit, find the solution!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I am enjoying your blog. Quite thought provoking! -Russ
ReplyDeleteI eagerly await the next instalment of excellent and prescient Sandy's Story. I look forward to her further adventures in digital publishing as she tries to manage fanchise authors leaving to self distribute, struggles to replace revenue from shrinking brick and mortar inventory carry, and solves the mystery of when an enhanced electronic childrens book ceases to be a book and becomes an animated cartoon.
ReplyDeleteSeriously an great blog!