Welcome back to another episode of the Self-Publishing Roundtable.
The weekly self-publishing news podcast, for indie authors, by indie authors.
We have some housekeeping news to take care of first and it’s big, so you won’t want to miss the beginning of the show. Be there at 7 PM PST / 10 PM EST to catch it.
We have less new stories this week, but hopefully we will be able to dig into them a bit deeper.
| A Library That Has No Books | shared by Crissy Moss |
“Patrons can check out eBooks, audiobooks, and software training databases, as well as eReaders. The library also hosts computer classes and patrons can use laptops, tablets, and desktops at the branch.”
Would you miss the books? Would you use such a library more than a paper-filled one? Let us know in the comments.
| 50% of Wattpad Content Written On Handhelds | shared by Crissy Moss |
The old saying of you can write anywhere you want, is now more accurate than ever.
From the Wattpad press release:
“Last year, more than 53 million connections were made on Wattpad and these connections sparked over 300 million messages, comments and votes. The Wattpad community spent 87 million minutes each day reading and sharing stories from their phones and tablets last year. Readers also created more than 4.4 million story covers and YouTube trailers to support their favorite stories and writers on Wattpad.”
| Wattpad & Smashwords Report Record View Surges | shared by Crissy Moss |
And they are both expecting even more in 2014! Check out the post for more details.
| Can Zola Compete With Amazon? | shared by Wade Finnegan |
Jeremy Greenfield discusses that article over on Forbes.
Zola has purchased Bookish. A site created by three big publishers. They have been touted for their excellent discovery engine. This is part of the the reason Zola has purchased them. They also hope to use things like e-book exclusivity (the article quotes The Time Traveller’s Wife as one) to convince people to shift over.
The article then goes on to talk about Amazon’s uber market share, the fact that B&N, Apple and Kobo struggle to push them.
I doubt this move will make any difference to the ongoing global book takeover of Amazon.
What do you think? Let us know in the comments.
| BookBub Blind Testing | shared by Trish McCallan |
This was an interesting blog post by Bookbub. They did some testing by showing one group of readers a particular cover, blurb and then a different group a different one, and then they measured the ratio of clicks. For example they found that if they mentioned a significant number of five star customer reviews the book got a lot more clicks, than the same book without the reviews being mentioned. They also found that a large volume of customer reviews had a higher click ratio than mentioning a single professional review. Lots of interesting data in this post.
They have another article on free books here, addressing some concerns about their pricing, plus their unwillingness to release data on their lists.
| The Darker Side of Subscription Services | shared by Trish McCallan |
This article takes takes a slightly deeper/darker look at these new sprung subscription services like Oyster and Scrib that we have covered a lot on the show.
One of the things it says is that these services are using different pitches for different audiences. Like with readers they are promising an all you can eat buffet at a low rate. What they aren’t telling them is the buffet is VERY limited and that their reading habits are being mined and shared with publishers and authors.
Authors are being told they will be making a large sum per book and that their audience’s reading habits will be made known to them. What they don’t tell authors is that most will sell maybe one book a month and the data they are collecting is virtually useless since it is being collected from such a small subset of readers. They also bring up the question of how this will affect traditional authors if publishers use any of this flawed data to make their buying or editing decisions. Traditional authors, btw, don’t get to see this data on their books. The publishers get the data.
What do you think about this? Let us know in the comments.
| Self-Pub Author Chosen To Co-Author Big Thriller Series | shared by Trish McCallan |
Self published thriller author Russell Blake, has been chosen to co author thriller series with Clive Cussler and his publisher. Russell was chosen for his speed or writing and self-publishing success. They will both have their name on the title due this fall.
From the article:
“The hours and miles are paying off. Mr. Blake discovered that one way to sell a lot of books is to write a lot of books. He says he has sold more than 435,000 copies of his books, at around $5 to $6 each, and under Amazon’s self-publishing program, he keeps 70%.”
Can you see more of this happening? Big publishers teaming up uber indies with mid-range or best selling traditional authors?
I personally can. The business sense, author connection and speed of production of indies is a bonus. Team that up with the power of a trad publishing house and their authors and we could see some interesting results.
Would you take such a deal? Why? Let us know in the comments.
Looking forward to good show.
This is the best episode yet! Oh wait it hasn’t started yet… Well the statement stands, best show yet… No pressure.
Hello mortals.
I’m learning so much
Carl SinclairTroll!!! Oh it’s just Carl. Hope you have a great show.
Hello all.
Hello everyone.
Evening SPRT-ers
My husband actually reminded me of SPRT because the alert came up on the iPad.
Good husband
We are about to go live, just waiting for one person.
crissymossI’m here you’re good to go. =)
writerwade I think he just got tired of the reminder popping up on his game.
I haven’t gotten an invite yet.
crissymoss It’s ok. We’ll wait.
thedavidwwright resent
maryeihla writerwade haha
writerwade I thought you were here for SPRT
Greetings!
Hello everyone!
xgranville Hey stranger!
BuddyGott Hey Buddy…liked your last episode even though Garrett was on it.
BuddyGottxgranvilleHow goes it, Mr. The Gott?
keithallenauthor BuddyGott Haha! Thanks.
WHAT!!! No more Dave what the what?????
What’s this? I sense a stirring in the SPRT universe…
What, well it’s been fun.
Dave will now announce he’s now going to be co-hosting Buddy’s Writing Show with me. The Buddy And Dave Show begins next week.
Yeah, I’m not down with Dave leaving the show. Lame! Dave, you need to stay.
So now who’s going to be the SPRT teddy bear?
Dave is leaving, worst show ever!!
xgranville BuddyGott Good, man. You?
John Ward is hilarious.
Well played John Ward…almost erupted water on my keyboard.
BuddyGottI like to think so.
keithallenauthorThanks. My work is done here. Now, I can leave the show too.
Dave is leaving to play Hodor on Game of Thrones. Confirmed.
BuddyGottxgranvilleBack on track now that the invasive holiday season has released its claws from around my festive Canadian neck.
melissadonovanTell me about it.
jlward keithallenauthor We live and dream.
I spy Spidey.
melissadonovanSnoopy makes his usual appearance.
melissadonovanJUST FOR YOU, melissadonovan.
That explains why I gain weight when I visit my daughters in Fort Worth.
So many skinny jeans up in that bookless joint.
keithallenauthor I own skinny jeans. What’s wrong with them?
Note to self: Book idea…hipster trap
Carl Sinclair keithallenauthor everything.
jlward Where’s Batman?
Carl SinclairkeithallenauthorThat you try to squeeze your body into them. That’s what’s wrong with them, Carl Sinclair
Carl Sinclair keithallenauthor Will you be modeling next week?
Lindsay Buroker has a good article about how to connect with readers on wattpad:
http://www.lindsayburoker.com/guest-posts/how-to-connect-with-readers-using-wattpad/
Carl SinclairThey are hyper trendy and impractical.
Daddy needs his ergonomic keyboard to make the magic happen.
I write on my iPhone when I’m waiting at the doctor’s office.
John Ward is just there to drop the epic one-liners
keithallenauthorThat’s a pick-up line if I’ve ever heard one.
keithallenauthorThat’s the only reason I show up.
maryeihlaThe only thing I can do on a phone is make epic spelling mistakes.
“Holding back the years….fighting the tears…of Dave leaving SPRT….la la la….”
Hipsters are adorable.
melissadonovan Thanks Melissa. Thanks for noticing.
BuddyGottSee I was trying to convey the idea of one of those 70’s montages with the soft lens and cheesy music.
melissadonovan In my day life, I am a hipster.
Carl Sinclairmelissadonovan
I wouldn’t have guessed.
I just learned that I cannot like my own comment on this system. Yeah, I went there.
melissadonovanI’ll like it for you.
maryeihla I have a notepad that uploads to the net so I can write on my phone instead of on napkins.
jlwardmelissadonovan
It was a comment to you about Batman.
jlwardBuddyGottSomething by Survivor, if possible.
Carl Sinclair HODOR!!
I’m still not over the news that Dave is leaving. This is just like when Luke Perry left 90210.
melissadonovanjlwardI don’t have a batman. Sorry.
BuddyGott
omg
BuddyGott No….its way…way worse
melissadonovanjlwardI am Batman. A very out-of-shape and mildly obese Batman.
keithallenauthorBuddyGott
It’s like the last episode of Friends.
Anyone notice Carl’s lips barely move when he talks?
melissadonovankeithallenauthorBuddyGott”… he won’t be there for you…”
maryeihla I’m a puppet.
maryeihla
Maybe it’s a hipster thing?
Carl Sinclair maryeihla Which one has their hand up your butt?
jlwardmelissadonovan
You’re Batman? Ha ha.
maryeihla #lifehacks
maryeihla Carl Sinclair Man, Mary just opened up a big can of worms…
melissadonovanjlwardGee… way to make a guy feel good.
Whats good for writers is also good for Amazon. While competition is great and necessary….long live Amazon.
jlwardmelissadonovan
I mean, “You’re Batman!? OMG. Will you autograph my body?”
BuddyGottSob sob sob…Luke Perry!
jlwardmelissadonovan
Or, “What a coincidence. I’m Catwoman. Meow.”
Nothing is more interesting than Batman!
xgranville BuddyGott Well, Luke came back to the show, so maybe Dave can too.
Hear that Buddy? David W. Wright on Buddy’s Writing Show, it’s a verbal agreement!
So….skip next week’s SPRT is what I just heard
keithallenauthorThat’s my plan and I’m one of the hosts.
xgranville BuddyGott But was it ever really the same?
BuddyGottxgranvilleOne can only dream…
Those are not tights. They’re leggings.
melissadonovan Some of them are tights.
Carl Sinclairmelissadonovan
Leggings are pants.
Why is Carl complaining about this? Women not wearing pants…helllllloooooo best fashion trend ever
keithallenauthor xgranville BuddyGott No, but I kept my Luke Perry-inspired sideburns throughout the entire run of the series.
BuddyGott keithallenauthor xgranville I still have them today.
melissadonovanCarl SinclairThen, what are shorts?
Well, it’s better than wearing pajama pants in public.
maryeihlaI completely disagree. Walmart is accepting of all people.
melissadonovan jlward Did anyone else just find that incredibly hot? Thanks, melissadonovan!
What’s up Carl’s butt?
What’s Up Carl’s Butt?
melissadonovan damn you!
What’s Up Carl’s Butt? Trifecta.
xgranvillemelissadonovanCarl Sinclair
Shorts: http://images.thenorthface.com/is/image/TheNorthFace/596×781/women-39-s-gtd-running-shorts-A1JF_F3C_hero.jpg
Posting a pic of me wearing a speedo at Walmart to show Carl that it’s sometimes acceptable.
melissadonovanxgranvilleCarl Sinclair Interesting read!
RolandDenzel Well, he said he’s a puppet, so it’s probably someone’s hand.
I might come over and argue with you Carl. Telling women what to wear… grrr…
I’m already preparing my comments for Carl’s ridiculous blog.
BuddyGottExactly, Buddy.
And I’ll be sure to wear my tights.
melissadonovan Yeah…especially when he’s arguing for MORE clothes…I mean really?
maryeihlaRolandDenzelHe’s Jim Henson’s best kept secret.
I think I recognize Carl from Footloose
melissadonovanPurple shorts!
RolandDenzel
He’s the dad! ROFL.
xgranvillemelissadonovan
I will wear tights under my purple shorts. And I’ll wear stuffed leggings on my head so I look like Loki.
Poor Wade, trying to keep this gang on track. He’ll begin drinking heavily once he signs off.
RolandDenzel No music!
BuddyGottIf you count cough syrup, he’s already drinking heavily.
RolandDenzel or dancing
jlward BuddyGott Mmmmmm! Cough syrup!
melissadonovan RolandDenzel Or grown men wearing skinny jeans
BuddyGottmelissadonovanjlward
I am here to oblige.
melissadonovan Hat. Top. Pants. Shoes.
BuddyGottjlward Let us know when your vision starts to vibrate.
xgranville BuddyGott jlward Just my vision, right?
Dress, tunic, robe, bikini. Catsuit.
Those puritanical Australians.
Skorts are in the aisle next to the skinny jeans.
melissadonovan Purple skorts.
keithallenauthor
I know. I mean, I never knew. But I know now.
Crissy, Carl asked me to talk to you about your bare arms…
Seriously…..best episode ever!
BuddyGottxgranvillejlward Sexy Playtime is over, Buddy haha
RolandDenzel Put your hood on crissy
BuddyGottBest comment feed ever haha
melissadonovan keithallenauthor There is a legitimate reason.
Carl SinclairRolandDenzelEveryone has the right to bare bear arms.
Carl Sinclair RolandDenzel You leave Crissy alone, Sinclair. She’s perfect.
melissadonovan keithallenauthor Pants…Australian for leggings
Carl Sinclairmelissadonovan
HAT? Are you living in the 1920s?
melissadonovan Carl Sinclair Hat’s are cool. Fezes are cool.
Everybody, take off your pants!
Pants off dance off?
I am wearing a leotard!
I’m not wearing pants…
With tights!
and the other people in starbucks are totally cool with it
Right now Dave is thinking, “Maybe I should come back next week.”
melissadonovan People can wear no pants all they want. Just not walking around in public. IT goes for men too, not just women. It just appears more women tend to NOT wear pants or skirts or dresses than men.
melissadonovan #trending
Carl Sinclairmelissadonovankeithallenauthor
A legitimate reason for dictating what other people should wear?
melissadonovan How can he possibly say no?
melissadonovan Right now, I’m thinking of moving to Australia!
“It just appears more women tend to NOT wear pants or skirts or dresses than men.” – Carl Sinclair
thedavidwwright melissadonovan You are more than welcome
thedavidwwrightmelissadonovan
I wouldn’t advise it. They make you wear pants down there.
RolandDenzel Some men wear dresses.
thedavidwwrightmelissadonovanI thought you were moving to Canada, Dave? Tsk tsk tsk.
Carl Sinclair thedavidwwright melissadonovan Don’t rule out Texas…they have that new hipster trap
In tribute to Dave leaving, which makes this a very special episode of SPRT, I think the show should be 2 hours long tonight.
RolandDenzel Kilts for example.
Carl Sinclair RolandDenzel down under
BuddyGott LOL
BuddyGott I will kill you Buddy Gott.
BuddyGottWe should start posting topics for them to toss around. Make them suffer for this betrayal.
Carl Sinclair BuddyGott Ah, if I had a dime for every time someone said that to me…
Russell Blake is pretty outspoken on Kboards…smart dude. Tells it straight.
Word of the day: freedom.
keithallenauthorI’ve heard that about him.
keithallenauthor I enjoy his postings there a lot. Very inspiring.
BuddyGottDon’t do that to me, BuddyGott
BuddyGottCarl Sinclair Carl, in this context you sound about as intimidating as a Scooby Doo villain haha.
keithallenauthor Outspoken but factual and honest. Unlike several people on KB who don’t have any facts to back up their opinions.
Indie authors connect better with their readership than traditional authors do but it’s only because indie authors don’t wear pants.
melissadonovan Man. You are driving this one into the ground. It’s not a women thing. It’s a human being issue.
melissadonovanMind = Blown.
melissadonovan This has, by far, been my favorite week yet on here for Melissa’s comments on here. 🙂
Carl Sinclairmelissadonovan
Sorry. Does it help to know that I’m heartily laughing?
melissadonovan Carl Sinclair that’s what she said
My face hurts from laughing. This is ridiculous.
Carl Sinclair
I’ll stop. Hee hee.
I’m tweeting the hell out of this episode the week that Carl’s books come out.
It’s only right that Dave’s last show is fully off the rails.
Carl Sinclairmelissadonovan
I love hats but you listed them like they were mandatory.
Carl doesn’t love me anymore.
I’ve never done a hangout or video. Ever.
melissadonovan That needs to change!
It’s time
melissadonovan You should come to the after party
BuddyGottmelissadonovanBob Dylan! The Times they are a’ changin!
Also, I’m nowhere near this funny when I’m talking.
BuddyGottmelissadonovanSounds like a good guest for you, BuddyGott
melissadonovan Don’t try and lower the bar now!
I have high hopes for Crissy and STP. Go Crissy
Sign here for entry to the after party
How many angels just got their wings?
jlward BuddyGott melissadonovan She already said she’d come on. 🙂
crissymossmelissadonovan
I am going to come next week or the week after. Right after this, I need to go eat.
BuddyGottjlwardmelissadonovan
I am true to my word!
Carl Sinclair Me.
decoy initial
David “Wang hunter” Wright
xgranvillemelissadonovan
I just write better than I speak.
Carl Sinclair Keep your pants on, Adolf.
Dave’s real middle name is Buddy. True story.
So long Dave, and thanks for all the fish!
See you here next week, Dave!
R.I.P David Wright.
Dave, say “Ooh, what a lovely tea party”
Dave the Sex Slave
melissadonovanxgranville Probably the case for the majority of us haha.
Invites going out now. If you want in the after party, let us know. Buddy is in.
Carl SinclairI’ll join in a few minutes if there’s room.
I just listened back to this. Ha-freaking-larious.