Comments on: From the Book Expo America Trenches (Part I)

By: Matt

Matt — Sat, 27 May 2006 07:31:03 +0000

Look around you, just about everything progressive is squeezed out or remarketed to a watered-down version of ideas that are picked up by conservatives and ridiculed on right-wing am radio and on the Fox network.

I believe that over the past 10 years the corporate icons have tangled up into a knot anything the progressives have done or said.

It’s going to take years to untangle. But, hopefully, the process has begun.

By: Robert

Robert — Thu, 25 May 2006 21:41:14 +0000

I am the publisher of Ig, an independent press based in Brooklyn. We recently published an anthology, Proud To Be Liberal, and just last month published Confessions of a Former Dittohead by Jim Derych, the story of a Rush Limbaugh “dittohead” and his journey to the left. Confessions was originally a diary series on Daily Kos. Markos called Confessions “one of most important political books of the year.” (Hope he is right.)

Having been in the publishing business for close to four years, with national distribution, I understand the “in’s and out’s” of publishing better than I care to. It is a very frustrating and hard business, as there are quite simply too many books published each year, most of which are crap.

However, I agree with Jennifer about the blogosphere being a hidden gem in progressive publishing. Confessions was our first “blog-based” book, but we have already signed up several others that we will release over the next year or so. Our foray into the blog world was as much by necessity as design–as a small press with just two fulltime staff, we cannot afford to pay the big advances that “name” authors require.

I think what is happening is that presses like ourselves and Working Assets and Chelsea Green are mining the turf so to speak, and eventually, when enough of these books sell, the major review sources, who are always five years behind the times, will wake up.

By: BeninSC

BeninSC — Thu, 25 May 2006 18:24:16 +0000

I deeply appreciate your insightful comments and critique. I read your original challenge to progressive authors to utilize the power of publishers like Chelsea Green to publish progressive material. I did not know if your departure from that firm meant there was a problem that you had not foreseen. I spoke very briefly with Markos during his book tour, and he assured me that there was no such problem. The content of your posting made that even more clear, which I was really really happy to hear, because with Lakoff’s book and CTG Chelsea Green remains, for me, the most interesting publisher out there.

Godspeed in your continued career objectives.

By: janinsanfran

janinsanfran — Wed, 24 May 2006 22:57:11 +0000

Thanks for this. Many years ago I did some marketing for an independent press. Our owner believed you would get it done if you just played by the rules. If I’d stuck with it, I’d have tried to figure out how to break the rules to break through the embargo on our work. Believe it or not, I think it may be a little easier now with the internet and possibly through direct sales as a larger percentage of the whole.

Will do my bit for Glenn’s buzz — that book is going to move, so far as books can still.

By: boadicea

boadicea — Wed, 24 May 2006 22:39:17 +0000

Shit, Jennifer, I’m impressed.

Clearly, we need to clone you.

By: Jabari Asim

Jabari Asim — Wed, 24 May 2006 16:35:28 +0000

Hi, I just wanted to clarify that I said I read blogs all the time, but primarily out of genuine curiosity. I don’t turn to them for editorial judgment–not because I have no respect for their judgments (quite the contrary)–but because I feel an obligation to base my judgments on my own reflections. I didn’t use the word amusement at the panel on which I spoke and would not presume to. I’ve helped bring a number of bloggers to the Post’s book pages, including Davey D, Maud Newton, Jessica Crispin, Mark Anthony Neal (NewBlackMan) and Lester Kenyatta Spence (The Black Slate). The more the merrier, as far as I’m concerned. I enjoyed talking with you afterward, Jennifer, and I do wish we could have had that cup of coffee. I didn’t mean to discourage you and I regret having done so.

all best,
Jabari

By: Jen Nix

Jen Nix — Wed, 24 May 2006 16:12:34 +0000

Bookish–I met Glenn Greenwald in January. Asked him if he wanted to do a book in mid-February. We signed his contract March 1. He wrote the book from then until about April 15, when editing started and went on until April 26 when book went to printer. I was also launching this book as a first book, from a first time publisher–so all biz end matters had to also be handled as well. There were 3 of us at Working Assets working to make this happen, and a freelance editorial team. With one book, it was nearly impossible to get a distribution deal, and when it looked like we might not, I put the book up for sale on Amazon, because I could do so as an individual.

I also called around to independent bookstores, but no one would list the book. They said I had to go through BookSense, which we eventually could do, after we signed the deal with Publishers Group West in late April.

It took a few weeks to get the book fully into PGW’s system, but as quickly as humanly possible (having to rely on antiquated publishing systems), we got the book listed on Powells, B&N, BooksWeLike, BookSense, etc. Please see our website at www.workingassetspublishing.com.

The book has been ordered by stores all around the country, and has begun arriving and selling. In fact, I saw my first copy of How Would a Patriot Act? on a bookstore shelf at Kramer Books in DC, while at Book Expo.

There may be room for improvement in my model, but there’s also plenty of room for improvement in all of book publishing, selling, reviewing and reporting. How would you propose that I could have better gotten the word out on the two instant books I’ve done? In the end, the early online buzz drives more sales and lifts all boats. If I’d been able to drive all early sales to independents online, I’d happily have tried, but no one took me seriously–with Lakoff, or with Glenn’s book–until they saw sales on Amazon.

And I believe that the online community, and particularly blogs, may be a savior for the book industry as a whole, so I’d just like to see them recognized.

By: Bookish

Bookish — Wed, 24 May 2006 15:34:40 +0000

Jen-
For me, so much of the blog world is preaching to itself, without the “open hearts and open minds” needed to connect with fellow voters and change minds. As a former organizer, I have to agree with the comment re: leaving the computer & doing something. As a bookseller who has survived the shake-out, I cannot celebrate a book that relies on Amazon for the vast majority of its sales. Re: “which literally was the announcement to stores and the public that the book even existed”–that’s why my first comment requested title info-apparently, you chose to leave independents out of the loop. My store’s original location was on a busy retail block that has been devastated by online competitors who have contributed nothing to the local community or economy.

Although I do not defend the media conglomerates & multinational publishers, I see lots of room for improvement in your model. Seeking validation of your work from these sources appears to be a contradiction. Blogs regularly receive MSM recognition–why the need for validation? Your publishing efforts may be motivated more than most by the social good, but perhaps reviews would improve the bottom line?

By: Jen Nix

Jen Nix — Wed, 24 May 2006 14:58:21 +0000

Bookish–Couldn’t be happier that Book World has a diverse staff, and particularly editorship of Book World. What is still frustrating, though, is that mainstream papers like WaPo and USA Today could be validating the exciting, online discussions and events relating to books–particularly because they seem to have dwindling staff and space to discuss books. But they seem not to want to recognize this sea change, and are resistant to working with blogs. Why be amused by blogs, rather than see the passion, talent and commitment behind most of them? Identifying and working with various blogs. Have the debate, chastise blogs when they are off-base. But don’t ignore them! Blogs represent the people “formerly known as the audience.” Work with us. Recognize and tout the success stories, like blogs taking an instant book to number one for 4 days, which literally was the announcement to stores and the public that the book even existed. There are so many new ways to publish and talk about books. Let’s celebrate that, and not stick to the same old ways! As Bertrand Russell wrote, “The world needs open hearts and open minds, and it is not through rigid systems, whether old or new, that these can be derived.”

By: Bookish

Bookish — Wed, 24 May 2006 14:15:34 +0000

Clarification: Maria Arana is the editor of Book World and could not attend the panel. Her deputy editor, Jabari Asim, participated in her place. Book World is an anomaly: #1 slot a Latina, #2 an African American.