Interesting Press Release, Speaking of POD
A tremendous amount of stuff crosses my (virtual) desk — press releases, especially — that I just don’t have time to chase down. Usually, a quick glance is enough. This one caught my eye:
Wheatmark, Inc., an industry leading self-publishing service focused on helping authors “break through,” today announced that effective July 1, the company will double the royalty rate it pays authors on sales through its online storefront at www.wheatmark.com/bookstore. From that date the company will pay its authors an unsurpassed 40% of receipts on book sales — the highest among top-tier self-publishing and print-on-demand companies. This royalty increase will apply to all Wheatmark-published books including those prior to July 1, 2006. Book sales through third party channels affiliated with Wheatmark will continue to pay authors a 20% royalty on receipts.
“The popularity of self-publishing has increased exponentially in recent years, having become a viable mainstream option for aspiring authors,” said Sam G. Henrie, founder and president of Wheatmark and president of the Arizona Book Publishing Association. “The Internet and print-on-demand book manufacturing have fostered a new generation of ‘do-it-yourself authors’ who not only want to circumvent the hassle and protracted timeline inherent with traditional publishing houses to bring a title to market, but can also readily market books on their own, or with the help of marketing and PR contractors, online. Indeed, self-publishing is among the fastest growing sectors in the publishing industry today, and our industry-high royalty rate will help foster the burgeoning popularity of this modern-day publishing option.”
Reminder: it’s only 40% through their store, but still, an interesting move. As I’ve been discovering in recent weeks and months, the possibilities POD bring to the table are huge. I’ll be curious whether this is just a splash or the start of something larger.
