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What a goof!

This lady is so out of it, she doesn’t have a clue - and never will.

Okay, you’ve presented a conundrum. If you don’t worry about who publishes them, how do you figure out which your favorite indie houses are?

Books are books. I just care if they’re good.

Well, that is a good point. I guess my biggest concern is whether or not people give the indies a chance to see if they have a favorite. I rin into more people who just don’t seem willing to try.

Who is your favorite Indy publisher? don’t be shy, tell us.

http://klsyed.com

Probably have to say Apex at the moment - reading Beauty and Dynamite, which I love.

Well I guess I’m one of those lemmings that always goes for the well known authors.  However I have read some rather unknown works over the years and they’ve all been good.  I get most of my books from a relative who has a voracious reading appetite and while she usually reads the more ‘famous’ authors I’m sure she’d enjoy anything as long as it’s good, as would I.  I’d have to look at a list of indie publishers to see who the writers are to see if I’ve read anything by them, as I typically don’t look at who publishes the book.  If the title, jacket or synopsis catches my eye, then I’ll read it and not really care who published it (Sorry if that offends).  But everyone has to start somewhere right?  We can’t all be giant bookmills right out of the gate?  Actually, who would want to be?  Other than the money wrought from it, I would imagine it would be a headache for an individual to undertake.

There is no offense taken here. I used to be one of those people who read all the big names and then I became the owner of a bookstore and realized just how many incredible new and indy published authors there are out there.

You are right though, I rarely know WHO published something. I do watch for authors names though. I HATE getting too far into a big names series or something and then realize they are recycling the same stories. New authors don’t tend to do that because they want their readers to keep coming back so they can build a name.

I usually stop at about books four with an author unless they are really good at their job! :)

My first response was, “This woman is clueless! (and rude),” but I’ve run into so many people with the same mentality.

Most readers stick with the books and authors they know. I guess they feel like, this way they’re not taking a chance with their $$. They are, however, missing out on some great books.

I won’t mention that my favorite indie publisher is Echelon. You probably know that!

http://www.cynthiasattic.blogspot.com

As I teach reading to 5th graders, I emphasize the importance of knowing the author and taking a little time to find out about them.  It’s always more fun and exciting for me as a reader when I know the author, either personally or through a little research.  It keys me into their motivation and unique perspective.  Not only that, I feel more connected to the story when I know who wrote it.  So, in keeping with that line of thought, knowing a publisher does the same for me. If I like a person that I meet, be it an author, publisher, or regular guy/gal on the street, I want to know more about them.  I want to read what they have written, or published! 
Now I’m thinking when I teach this fall, my students and I may want to delve in the publishing business somewhat!  It’s all about the people and the relationships…that’s my philosophy.  And for the loony in the bookstore?  Clearly, she wouldn’t be someone who’s work I would
read:-).  You were very polite, Karen.  Afraid I would not have been that generous with my time!

I, too, don’t normally bother about who’s publishing what, but I don’t always go for the big names either. Sometimes I do want someone specific - I get in the mood for a little Walter Mosley the way I get in the mood for Chinese food. But if I’m in a bookstore looking for “just anything good” to read, I’ll spend the time shopping for a cover & jacket blurb that catches my eye. Unfortunately, if a good little book is hidden among the shelves, I don’t always find it.

Frankly, I’ve become burned out of most of the big name series. They become predictable and disappointing. The only series I still read are Joe Konrath’s and Barry Eisler’s, although I want to read the Evelyn David books as soon as I clear my plate.

Gayle
http://gaylecarline.blogspot.com

I think it’s just a matter of time and work. Readers need to to be dazzled with new authors. They want hype, images, and something they can grasp on to when it comes to new authors. Rita reads because she likes what she saw on TV. In her mind if it doesn’t have a movie made about it, surely it can’t be a good book. The solution? Hype hype hype. It’s our job to show people that there are amazing books out there without having Peter Jackson direct a movie about them. How do we do that? Two things. 1) We as authors and publishers have to work our rears off… (Like we don’t already right?) It’s our job to present our works as blockbuster titles by reaching everyone possible with the most striking images, reviews, and advertisements for small press books. 2) As you well know the landscape of the publishing world is changing at warp speed. The internet is taking over. While I personally think the casual reader still prefers a hard copy book, this is beginning to change. People look to the internet more and more every day to get excited about something. (books included) So a massive online presence is imperative.  As time goes on you’ll meet less and less of these people.

http://nickvalentino.blogspot.com

It’s strange that I only noticed, AFTER publishing a book, how much cover art influences our selection of books. I think artists and illustrators deserve a big round of applause for books that sell well; no matter what anyone says, we do judge books by their covers, especially if we’ve never heard of the author. That said, Karen, I rarely stop to look at who the publisher is. No offense, but as a reader, that’s just not all that important to me. Cover art catches my eye and either intrigues me or puts me off. Then I notice the author’s name. At that point, I read a few pages (don’t shoot me - I usually read the first three and the last page) to determine if there’s an interesting journey or progression of ideas, an engaging style of writing, and whether I CARE how they got from point A to point Z (or whether the writing style itself captivates me to the point where I don’t care how they got from A to Z, but know I’ll be entertained reading it anyway).

I think people gravitate towards known authors simply because anything else is a gamble, and book prices are fairly high. I know it’s hard for some of us to imagine, but for some readers, books are a luxury - not a NEED. (Some of us might go without a meal or three for a good book, but not too many people I know would.)

>>>He played in that Tom Clancy movie The Bourne Crisis.

LMAO.  And I guess she probably never heard the word “mashup” in her life, either.  Unless it was applied to cooking potatoes!

This would be hilarious if it wasn’t so sad, so true, so discouraging.  It appears Rita has become the touchstone for a nation of followers who are unable to make independent choices or try new avenues.  I hear authors using the same flawed logic.  Some seem to believe their goal is to “make it” with a main stream publisher and the story is secondary.
I look around at my bookshelves, filled with books by publishers large and small.  Since I read your “interview” with Rita, I did a quick count of just two shelves.  Forty-seven publishers, large and small, independent and part of conglomerates are there.
As an author I’m far more interested in the story first, then the relationship with my publisher, the quality of their work and effort and then with readers.  As a reader I care most about the book, the story,then the quality of the product. I never buy a book just on the strength of the name of a publisher or of an author.  But I also know there are many more Rita’s out there than those of my persuasion.
Which simply means those of us in the alternative universe have to strive harder to be recognized.

The fact that someone reads does not mean they are not ignorant as this person so clearly shows. By the conversation she barely has any concept of what’s going on around her.

Never confuse fame and quality. It’s obvious she deals in fame (and barely that). All you can do is remind yourself that you create quality books and move on. People like her are only interested in one person, themselves. No matter what you said that wouldn’t have changed.

-Michell

My favorite Indy published author is J.R.Turner. No I haven’t read all of her books, just “Dead Friends Forever,” but I know her abilities and worked with her on my own book for the last three years.
Hadn’t it been for that, I would not have dared to pitch an opinion about any published author.

I don’t read a lot of books, but when I come across a great movie, one so emotional to draw me deep into the story, I go out and buy the book.

My book “Torn From Normal,”  might be the only book I will ever publish. The reason is that I don’t think I have the right to toss stuff out on people just because I’ve written one book. I may never again, accomplish a book as great as “Torn From Normal.”

J.R.Turner edited “Torn From Normal” into the final vision I originally sought to write. That to me was very unique because she couldn’t possibly have had the same vision of my book than I had—I thought.

My opinion is that book, whether it’s traditionally, Independently, or self published should not be judged by it’s publisher or author. There are great books out there and many don’t make it to the broad public or even the screen. In part this is because the author is not always blessed with all the concept trades needed to make it big. In other words, a great author may not be such great promoter of his/her own work. He/she may not be a great communicator and he/she might even be an outsider among his/her own peers.

Nevertheless, the book itself might be a great achievement

—Martin Bartloff
Author of “Torn From Normal

Carl,

You hammered the nail in the head, the book and the story should be the most important part, not the relationship with the publisher. And if I may add, that should go both ways, the relationship from publisher to author should be about the story, not whether or not the author wears pink pants with yellow shirts.

Each author, entertainer must be unique and authentic in his/her own way. Obscured and intervened by other influences and the project might be prone for failure. I’ve had my own vision of my work from day one. J.R.Turner helped me enhance that vision to near perfection while other factors halted the project and my spirit.

—Martin Bartloff
Author of “Torn From Normal”

Karen, when I’m quizzed I always quiz back.  I find that few readers, even avid readers, can even NAME 3 publishers so how can they judge which are handling “big name” authors.  Asked if my publisher handles any “big name” authors I just say yes.  If I name names and they look stumped I just say something like, “Well, if you were a REAL mystery fan you’d know who J.A. Konrath (or whoever I named) is.” 

Don’t let the morons get you down.  If they can’t tell Ludlum fron Clancy I don’t want them as fans anyway! ;-)

When it comes to “indie” anything, I find it’s usually the “thinking person” who takes the time to find out about and has an appreciation for somthing that requires more than that “familiar flash” of celebrity or name recognition to catch one’s attention. Some very popular authors—I can’t get halfway through one of their “best” books. Some major writers I love and never miss a new release. Some indie publishers and authors are awesome. Some aren’t. Like most things in life, it takes research and an open mind. Okay, assuming the person first HAS a mind, which clearly that person did not!
Oh, and did I mention, Echelon Press rocks!
Diana
http://www.woofersclub.blogspot.com

I like my name in caps, do you?  Not suggesting lights, ok? It’s hard to be jocular or even ironic in emails, but I keep trying.  I never meant to suggest that an author’s relationship with her/his publisher is not important.  I did mean to suggest that these relationships, author/agent/publisher/reader are all important to a book’s success.  This biz runs on personal relationships.  But the glue, or the thing that links all of them/us together is the book, the product.  Without that, we are all mere wisps of smoke on the errant breeze.
Going about randomly disparaging any of the elements without saolid reason, is useless and only detrimental.  When pointing an accusing finger, we should all remember four fingers point back at us.

So I read Karen’s post that started this thread.  I haven’t a favorite publisher.  But after a few years kicking around this business I know about a few that do consistently good work.  Herewith in no particular order:
Top Publications, Beaver Pond Books, Nodin Press, Echelon Publishing, Wild Child, Uncial Books, Salvo Press, Tyrus Books, Bleak House, Five Star Mysteries,  St. Martin’s,  Wolfmont, Mundania, Fictionwise, Tor.

You are all quite welcome.

Wow.  That woman is…. something else.  I’m with others here that I don’t think I would have been that generous with my time—your patience with her is commendable!

In response to your question, I never used to notice who published what until I started writing and seeking publication myself.  I just read and read and read, be it chapbook novellas, novels, short stories, etc.  (And I still do.)  It’s far more the cover art and the back matter that gets me.

Best,
Heather Ingemar
http://ingemarwrites.wordpress.com/

I second Austin’s comments!  And Rita can be glad I wasn’t shopping with you that day. Your patience is amazing - probably just the sort of trait that keeps you doing such great work as a publisher.

Echelon is #1 for dedication to the industry and the devotion to real readers everywhere, while maintaining unsurpassed integrity in business.

Regan
http://www.regansrealm.blogspot.com

My favorite: Echelon Press, of course. But also, I’ve always held a high opinion of Grove Press, as it was before Barney Rosset sold it. The man had exceptional courage and should be honored for the battles he fought.

Jeff Sherratt
http://www.jeffsherratt.com