An Insider's View
This entry was posted on Monday, April 07. 2008 and is filed under Guest Blog.
Yesterday I received an email from Bill Snodgrass, the brains behind the Sword Review, now MindFlights, in which he discusses the need for readers to support Christian science fiction and fantasy. His views certainly support my call for action last week.
I want to repeat that challenge. Science fiction or fantasy fans, tell ten of your friends, either through email or in person, about three (or more, for those over achievers!) of the recent Christian science fiction or fantasy books you've read and enjoyed. No restriction on who published said books. After you've done so, post a comment here at Spec Faith so we can see this grass roots movement grow.
And now, Bill's note, posted here by permission.
I find myself in what might be the making of a fairly significant rant. The topic is Christian fantasy and science fiction, and the complainers.
At Double-Edged Publishing where I volunteer as President and Director, we have been working out the details to become a book publisher. After all, for over a year, I’ve been hearing writers complain that there aren’t enough companies willing to look at works that are both speculative and from a Christian world view. Starting last November, we began to roll out our first speculative book titles to follow our two earlier anthology releases.
The reaction to our efforts—admittedly under promoted—has been underwhelming.
My imagination, as I was poised to sign off on the projects, was that the many Christians who write speculative fiction would take a look, and that some percent of them would buy copies of the books. If I imagined correctly, there are way fewer Christians who write speculative fiction than I thought!
I’ll be the first to admit that DEP isn’t the kind of company that comes to mind when a person thinks about publishing, or even Christian publishing. However, we do have books and we do pay authors. Anyone in the world can order our books from Amazon and have it in hand at the same speed as if they ordered from one of the “big guys” most of the time. So from the book buyer’s point of view, we are no different from anyone else.
It has been said that getting editors interested in Christian fiction needs to be a priority. My reaction to that is that getting readers interested ought to be the priority. Certainly getting the large publishers involved is a worthy goal. But there are already a healthy number of small independent publishers out there producing quality books.
Many people are looking into the crystal ball and saying that small independent press will make a mark in the publishing world. From a writer’s point of view, we make a lot of sense.
Big publishing houses are out to make the most money they can. In March, I was at cons with representatives of some rather respectable (read “big guys”) publishing houses. I don’t have their permission to quote them, so I won’t name names. The gist of a myriad of conversations was that the big houses can’t afford to publish something that won’t sell. Therefore, they stick with tried and true motifs. It has been said that to say, “My book is totally new, unlike anything out there,” is heard by big publishers as, “There is no shelf at B&N on which to sell your book.”
Independent presses, with our low cost per title, can take some chances. Authors should see this as a great asset for their unique efforts!
With readers complaining that everything is a derivative of everything else, and with authors saying no one will give their works a fair look, it would seem that small presses would be a naturally popular alternative.
The ironic thing is that buyers—though they long for something new—don’t want to take a chance with new authors from small publishers. So, what’s to be done?
I don’t know. I know that I continue to hear the many voices of ambitious writers longing for to find a publisher who will consider their fantasy/science fiction that includes Christian themes. I also know that I hear the rails against what we do from Christians who just have no tolerance for fantasy or science fiction as well as from fans of fantasy and science fiction who have no tolerance for Christian themes! We get criticized from both sides.
All the while, I have books waiting for someone to give them a loving home. Can DEP continue to operate as a publishing company if buyers don’t buy books. Well, actually, at Double-Edged Publishing, we can. Did I mention we don’t operate out of a typical business model? The question is really whether we should. Are we doing the authors any favors by putting out books few people buy? I have no answer at this time.
For now, we are aggressively moving forward with our plans. Our Winter 2008 catalog includes three spec-fic books plus our two previously published anthologies. By summer’s end, our catalog will add at least three more titles, perhaps as many as six more. Will our efforts pay off for Christian spec-fic writers? For Christian spec-fic readers? We’ll see.
Comments
Display comments as (Linear | Threaded)
| Page: 1 of 1 |
-
Monday, April 07. 2008
Merrie Destefano wrote:
Bill,
I think marketing is still one of the critical areas here. I love sci-fi, but didn't know about your publishing house or your books. Even after reading this blog entry, I still don't know what books have been published by your house or where I can find more information about them.
I guess I wish that we all had at least ONE, but preferably more, centrally located and easily accessible databases that would list books like this (and old favorites, as well). And I wish this database would include first chapter excerpts, because I need to fall in love with the writing before I will buy a book.
Thanks for the post, though. We do have a bit of an uphill battle with Christian sci-fi (fantasy seems to be taking off, at least right now). I'd like to see some success stories and I'm hoping there will be some soon.
I also wish that this database would include a first chapter excerpt, because for me, I have to love the writing before I will buy a book
Reply to this -
Monday, April 07. 2008
Merrie Destefano wrote:
Sorry.
Part of my previous post got duplicated. Arrgghh. But, I guess I got my point across.
Twice.
Reply to this -
Monday, April 07. 2008
Bill Snodgrass wrote:
I am grateful for Rebbecca for passing along my remarks. I'm honestly looking for how better to connect to would-be-buyers and how best to provide for Christian fantasy and science fiction authors. In my post, I was talking in generalities applicable to all small independent publishers, so I intentionally left out the URL to our site. But since you asked...
http://www.doubleedgedpublishing.com
I really believe that the small independent publishers have an opportunity to make a difference in the Christian fantasy and science fiction landscape--and slightly differently, in the fantasy and science fiction for/by Christians landscape as well. Thanks for your interest!
Reply to this -
Monday, April 07. 2008
Merrie Destefano wrote:
Thanks, Bill, for posting the url to your publishing company. I, for one, am looking forward to learning more about what books you have to offer for readers, like me.
I'm still looking for that vehicle that will centralize all this type of information. I do believe there is an audience for this literature genre. We all just need to figure out how to reach the readers.
Meanwhile, keep fighting the good fight!
Blessings,
Merrie
Reply to this -
Monday, April 07. 2008
Pixy wrote:
Great points, Bill!
I think it would be cool to post the link to the first chapter of each book (at least the novel form ones) on the site. I know that Jane is super talented! And Michael's work is amazingly vivid. And that first story is just wonderful. Linking to the inital pieces already posted on Mindflights or TSR might be a really great idea.
I would desperately love to see this change myself. I love Merrie's idea of creating a site that gives us a list (and a sneak peek) of all the great stuff out there. I know there must be one somewhere. Does anyone know of one?
And put links on your blogs, too, guys! Make sure if you find a great book, or small press, that you're telling everyone you know!
Reply to this -
Monday, April 07. 2008
Nicole wrote:
While Merrie makes a valid point, particularly because of the "recognizable" factor, I think the majority of writers, be they SFF or otherwise, feel that if they choose a smaller press or do the co-publishing route, they are admitting to an inferior work. There is a stigma attached to self-publishing that spills over into small presses. It seems authors don't feel validated if all they can impress are those who operate at a "lesser" level than the big houses. More and more I think this is a fallacy based on the editorial processes of some small presses.
I think it's a golden opportunity for SFF writers to attempt to get their work in book form. I don't know your requirements for submission or your policies, but I think if you offer the possibility for publication of a hard sell product in the supposed big-leagues, why not?
(I apologize to all of you--I don't read or write SFF.)
Reply to this -
Monday, April 07. 2008
Sue Dent wrote:
I'm a published Christian author who writes for the general christian market. *waves at Bill* There are tons of ways for Christian SF/F authors to be published. Traditional small presses don't have the problem Bill does because they pay for distributors that help get the work out there. It's an expense many who'd love to publish just can't afford at first. You sort of have to pay your dues. The thing one has to remember about publishers is that there are levels. They go like this.
Bigger houses - Random House, Double-Day etc . . . They have a direct distributor relationship with Ingram and Baker & Taylor. They pay the big bucks and they get served.
Smaller traditional presses - also called Independent presses. These houses have distributors who have relationships with Ingram and Baker & Taylor as whoelsalers. Not as expensive but still ensures a bookstore prescense. They pay standard royalties and advances to their authors. Just like the big houses, only smaller.
Even smaller presses- These could be presses that use POD technology or other ways to print their books. They don't have the funds to get a distributor and so they try to do their own marketing. An undaunting task as Bill is finding out. :)
Vanity Press- 'nuff said. You pay to have your work in print. And usually you pay A LOT! All sales will be on-line. It's hard to even get a local bookstore to take one of these. :(
Some time the term smaller presses get mixed together with two seperate entities. It's always good to keep the distinction straight. :)
*hmmm . . . I wonder if that made any sense*
Reply to this -
Tuesday, April 08. 2008
Wayne Thomas Batson wrote:
Hi, Bill
Thanks for your post. The plight you have revealed has tentacles that reach into all levels of publishing, not just the small houses.
I'm with Thomas Nelson, one of the largest houses in CBA. If memory serves, TN is one of the top 10 publishers in all markets. Of course, that's due to a lot of Bibles and Nonfiction...moreso than fiction titles, really.
But seriously, if the specfic genre is so popular, and there are so many Christians looking for such materials, why aren't books flying off the shelf?
Sure, there's still some hesitancy to try fantasy in some farthings of the CBA realm, but really, I have to agree with Merrie that it's really about marketing.
I'm with a huge house, and they do more than most to get the word out about books. But being huge, they have a huge number of authors, so resources get spread pretty thin pretty fast.
I think Merrie's idea of a central hub where Christians could go to find out about additional Christian Fantasy Spec/Faith titles would be RIGHTEOUS. Tim Frankovich has a great review site for Christian Fiction in general...something like that but for SpecFic titles would work.
It could be an online vendor as well, specializing in our beloved genre. Not sure how something like this begins, but it really would help.
2nd, and I'm about to beat an old drum here, but I think we Christian Authors need try to storm the ABA market. Some segments of the CBA are still resistant to specFic, but not the ABA. If we are called to be light to the world, then we need the books where the world can find them--and not that little closet of a corner in the "Religious Fiction" section either!
And that of course leads to a number of other threads such as: quality of writing, methods of distribution, etc.
Reply to this -
Tuesday, April 08. 2008
Merrie Destefano wrote:
Wayne,
I completely agree with you, and I'm glad that you can see the need for this type of promotion.
Right now I'm thinking, and praying, about starting some sort of website/on-line Zine that could accommodate books, events, interviews, maybe even some short fiction. It could be a place where beginning writers could get started and where published writers could get promoted. It could be a place that would connect the reader with the writer.
Well, we'll see. It's a vision right now.
I'm really glad that you could see the benefit of it, though, Wayne. And I'm looking forward to your next Fantasy Tour!!
Blessings on all that you are doing in the Lord's name,
Merrie
Reply to this -
Tuesday, April 08. 2008
Rebecca LuElla Miller wrote:
For the record, WinePress is a self-publisher that works with distributors. I suspect there are others. I just talked with an author at Mount Hermon who experienced delay in the release of their (co-authored) book because their distributor went out of business, but their (subsidy) publisher inked an agreement with Ingram.
Manner and method of publication is not the issue in this push for awareness, as Wayne pointed out. Small, large, self-pubbed, POD ... all need to get the word out that fantasy and science fiction written from perspective that contrasts with much of what is currently in the general market is available.
Lost Genre Guild had talked about having a database of works. WhereTheMapEnds has a good listing, but primarily includes books published by ECPA members.
I thought Latest In Spec would be the perfect venue, since the goal of the newsletter is to serve as a sort of hub where readers can follow what's happening with the authors they love and discover new ones.
But if it is to work, quite frankly, writers and readers have to make it work.
Just like this word of mouth challenge.
Becky
Reply to this
| Page: 1 of 1 |