Cathy's Journal --- PUBLISHING: Who's on first?

Authors who write or follow the romance genre have probably started to notice online discussions on their favorite loops, Twitter, Facebook and other places. Last weekend, I joined a group called "Romance Writers for Change." Well, okay—last week it was called something different, but it turned out it was a trademarked name, so we changed it. The fabulous agent/author Deidre Knight started the discussion and the group as well (presently a Yahoo group, but probably changing to another format).

For those who aren’t members of Romance Writers of America (RWA) none of this really matters. But for those who are members, it’s a HUGE issue . . . one which defines an author at their core.

After reading and posting on various sites, I think I’ve got the issue narrowed down to three points of contention:

1. Ebook authors who are members of RWA feel they’re being treated unfairly by the organization, because they’re excluded from certain events and contests sponsored by RWA. One is the RITA contest. For those who don’t read romance, the RITA is the equivalent of the Hugo or the Daphne in the genre. It’s the most widely recognized contest (by editors and agents) in the romance world. A book that wins a RITA (or is even nominated, like our own Yasmine Galenorn!) says the author is on their way to the big time. Doesn’t always HAPPEN that way, of course, but it’s one goalpost. Now, the major issue is that ebook authors are presently betwixt and between. They’re not considered "published" enough for the RITA contest, but too published for the unpublished RWA contest, called the "Golden Heart." It’s a long and complicated reason why. But obviously, to have a book that is excluded from BOTH published and non-published contests simply isn’t fair.

2. Many Ebook publishers are likewise excluded from RWA sponsored events because they don’t offer "national distribution" of their books (although I fail to see how the internet isn’t "national" for the definition. It’s worldwide, IMO) and most don’t offer authors an advance against royalties. That, unfortunately, means that a lot of the smaller ebook publishers aren’t allowed to participate at the RWA National conference. They can’t present workshops, talk about their company to entice authors to sign and, basically, can’t join in on the fun. Also seems not fair.

3. Ebook authors feel that RWA, even though the organization is founded on the concept of educating members about becoming published (which is really a LOT to learn) is failing them by not educating about electronic publishing contracts, the different kinds of methods of publishing and such.

This morning, I had one of those interesting insights into what part of the problem is—which is why I’m posting this here. Since ebooks came into being, they’ve been relegated to the position of a "secondary" or "subsidiary" right in a print book contract . . . similar to an audio book, or a foreign language translation or even a movie deal. But suddenly, it’s the PRINT book that’s the secondary right. Ebooks are on first base. They’re the primary right, and it’s confusing the hell out of everyone. Print authors are just blinking at the ebook authors and wondering why they feel slighted. I mean, simply sell the print rights and bingo! You’re entitled to all the marbles.

But what if the ebook author NEVER intends to go to print? "Um . . . well, but no. That won’t work. Readers READ books in their hands. They buy them in a bookstore." Not any more, and there’s the trick.

What occurred to me this morning was that I was watching an ad for the new iPhone. They were talking about apps to download music and I thought, "What will happen when an AUDIO book becomes the primary right?" Straight to audio download, with NO stopping at the print version of Go--not even as an ebook. Since the technology exists right this minute to take a DragonNaturally Speaking audio file and download it to a Word or WordPerfect (if I choose to), why shouldn’t it be able to compete for a RITA (or an Hugo or a Daphne) against print books?

So too are ebooks. The book is the first right, primary right and, in many cases, the ONLY rights sold to the manuscript. Does that make it less of a book? I don't think so.

To me, it all comes down to the money. No advance from a publisher doesn’t necessarily mean no money to the author. Yes, it’s the method used in the industry right now (and I’m grateful, as an author)—but how many PRINT publishers could handle the financial burden without a list of investors or a conglomerate in the background to pump out the money? I’d LOVE for ebook publishers to offer advances. But try as I might, I can’t figure out how they’d manage it until 5 or 10 years down the road when there’s sufficient capital.

The ebook publishing model is a new animal, like the Kindle or audio books or whatever next comes down the pike. I hope RWA will recognize that it’s time to start to look at, not the future of publishing, but the PRESENT of publishing.

Anyway, that’s my opinion. What’s yours? Where do you think the future of books is going? How many of you read ebooks? Do you read them EXCLUSIVELY or just buy those that are favorites?