tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7398250293312747643.post6888406414875394357..comments2024-01-04T02:15:58.834-05:00Comments on Matt's Musings: Goodbye, Hukilau: why I'm no longer running a digital publisherMatt Kellandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04544385872579718596noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7398250293312747643.post-63794583235418408822012-04-01T08:50:31.533-04:002012-04-01T08:50:31.533-04:00Brilliant, Matt - this is by far the best analysis...Brilliant, Matt - this is by far the best analysis of digital publishing I've seen anywhere. I suggest that Hukilau could profitably repurpose as a consultant to those print publishers who definitely do need digital divisions, but in most cases have no clue how to go about it!Dave Morrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14468228790874490693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7398250293312747643.post-74727028331206446462012-03-31T11:13:15.354-04:002012-03-31T11:13:15.354-04:00M.P. - absolutely, we only hear of the success sto...M.P. - absolutely, we only hear of the success stories. It's the same few names that come up over and over again as "proof" that you can make it as a writer. The reality, however, is very different. <br /><br />Even in print, 75% to 85% of books lose money for their publishers, depending on who you talk to. The overwhelming majority of writers - by which I mean 95% or more - will be lucky to see even $100 for their first few novels. For every Kerry Wilkinson, J.A. Konrath, or Michael Prescott who have made it into the best-seller lists, there are a hundred or a thousand authors still waiting to make enough to see their first $10 royalty check.<br /><br />For the likes of Amazon and Smashwords, that's not a problem - a million writers making them a few bucks a month each in sales adds up to a healthy revenue stream, but for individual authors, it's hard to see it as anything more than a hobby.Matt Kellandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04544385872579718596noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7398250293312747643.post-15822333248299821802012-03-31T08:45:42.393-04:002012-03-31T08:45:42.393-04:00I'm sorry to hear you're getting out of th...I'm sorry to hear you're getting out of the business but thank you for sharing your numbers. It seems like we only hear about the success stories. I'm doing pretty well, falling into the number three category (and hopefully, #2 as well) and I get people asking me how to do it, but I can't really put my finger on what works. I think like you mentioned, authors being passionate about their book/s is the first ingredient to success, but not the only one. Timing is another factor and one that is harder to control.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13267066733031149882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7398250293312747643.post-83303095221118434182012-03-31T01:27:07.869-04:002012-03-31T01:27:07.869-04:00Although I'm sorry to see you move out of eboo...Although I'm sorry to see you move out of ebook publishing (industry needs people with class like you), it makes complete sense. I enjoyed your breakdown of the current state of ebook publishing and have been hearing much the same ideas from other sources. <br /><br />I'll pass this post around to my friends. And good luck to you, Matt.Ricky Lee Grovehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03588565441793716202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7398250293312747643.post-13011985559049983782012-03-30T23:50:43.406-04:002012-03-30T23:50:43.406-04:00I'm sorry to hear this, due to the fact that I...I'm sorry to hear this, due to the fact that I know how much you were enjoying this business, but you're reasoning makes total sense.J.R. LeMarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13060796760117717968noreply@blogger.com