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Emanuel
Regular Poster
Username: Emanuel
Post Number: 301
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, June 14, 2007 - 01:05 pm: | 
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Looks like publishers are getting into the video business. They're always on the prowl for new ideas on selling books. What do you guys think of this Simon & Schuster video site:
http://bookvideos.tv/
Do the videos make you want to run out and buy any of the books? |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 8846
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, June 14, 2007 - 03:45 pm: |
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Not really, because it's all about the hype, - like the coming attractions for movies and I keep in mind that the object is to build expectations up for what might be a big let down. Boosting sales is the bottom line. A really good book can sell itself by word of mouth. IMO. |
Mzuri
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Mzuri
Post Number: 4963
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, June 14, 2007 - 05:16 pm: |
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The short answer is no. The long answer is I will not run out (or mouseclick) to buy a boring a$$ book because I saw a boring a$$ video. Or because Oprah told me to. But if Simon and Schuster can brainwash the masses into buying their books thru this "new" tactic, then more power to them.
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Nafisa_goma
Regular Poster
Username: Nafisa_goma
Post Number: 139
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: 
Votes: 13 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, June 14, 2007 - 06:40 pm: |
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They're copying Kola Boof but are not nearly as compelling or interesting.
What they need are better writers.
Then to have a great video you need larger than life charismatic people with natural glamour, so this isn't likely to become big in the book industry, but every now and then you will have eccentric, beautiful people like Kola who are hugely successful with it. Not often though.
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Urban_scribe
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Urban_scribe
Post Number: 439
Registered: 05-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, June 14, 2007 - 10:32 pm: |
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The link didn't work for me, Emanuel. I would've loved to have seen it. But, FYI, book trailers are nothing new. They've been around since the dawning of the "I want my MTV" era. People just aren't used to seeing them because they're expensive to produce, therefore, publishers don't do many and the ones they do are usually reserved exclusively for big name authors. Remember, in publishing, the bigger the author the more dollars are allocated for promotion. Also, as a marketing tool, it's been proven that book trailers don't have a significant affect on book sales. In most cases, the publisher breaks even as far as additional book sales generated by book trailers after costs of producing book trailers are deducted. In some cases, book trailers make a HUGE difference in sales; and publishers more that recoup the cost of production. Lastly, in other cases, publishers take a loss. So it boils down to book trailers really being a crap-shoot.
S&S has really been doing some cooky things lately: their First Chapters competition, (which turned out better than most thought it would, but it was a big gamble. It was American Idol for writers). Their recent copyright grab that had the whole publishing industry fighting mad. Now - book trailers, which may or may not be worth the investment. I don't know. With profit margins being what they are in publishing, it doesn't seem like a smart move to me, but maybe S&S can make it work. |
Schakspir
Veteran Poster
Username: Schakspir
Post Number: 1049
Registered: 12-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, June 15, 2007 - 12:25 am: |
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S&S reportedly has a boilerplate contract for its authors, so I will definitely try to avoid them in the near future. |
Urban_scribe
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Urban_scribe
Post Number: 440
Registered: 05-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, June 15, 2007 - 08:47 am: |
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Schakspir, yes AND no. All publishers have boilerplate contracts, but there's always latitude for negotiation. However, a first time author isn't going to question their publisher, especially S&S, and run the risk of blowing their book deal. So it's really the first time authors who get the shitty boilerplate contracts. This was the case with their First Chapters competition. The winners were offered a boilerplate contract for FULL RIGHTS that they had to sign and return within 5 days. So they had no time to go to an agent and say, "I have an offer to publish my book from S&S. What can you do for me?" It was a shrewd move on S&S's part, but some would call it the strong taking advantage of the weak.
Now, say, John Grisham signs with S&S. He ain't getting no boilerplate. He gets the best deal. His agent gets him a big fat advance and many other perks - all on Mr. Grisham's terms; because S&S knows the name John Grisham moves books and most of his books have movie options, which S&S gets a percentage of. (plus JG is a lawyer)
Ah, the wonderful world of publishing... |
Nafisa_goma
Regular Poster
Username: Nafisa_goma
Post Number: 142
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: 
Votes: 3 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, June 15, 2007 - 09:33 am: |
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Don't forget that the Author's Guild in New York will review author contracts for FREE and will explain to first time authors what the contracts mean and will advise them on how to proceed.
It can all be done with email over a matter of hours.
http://www.authorsguild.org/
There's a black woman attorney there named Anita Fore who is especially helpful with contracts.
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