The fact that Thomas Nelson Publishing has partnered with Author Solutions (who owns AuthorHouse, Xlibris, Trafford Publishing, etc.) has been big news this week. Below are just a few of the blogs about it.
Should You Consider Self-Publishing? (blog by Thomas Nelson’s CEO)
Thomas Nelson Forms Self-Publishing Partnership With Author Solutions
Thomas Nelson Adds Self-publishing
The New Thomas Nelson Self-publishing Initiative; More Questions Than Answers
Major Publisher Opens Subsidy Division
So…Is Self-publishing the New Black?
Thomas Nelson and Self-Publishing
I would like to address one comment that Michael Hyatt made regarding the manuscripts the Thomas Nelson imprint will publish with Author Solutions. "No, they [the manuscripts] will not be vetted for quality. They will be given a candid assessment of the quality and offered various editorial services that will make the manuscript better. But in the end, we are providing a service to the customer. He or she will be the final judge of quality."
And therein lies the real problem with self-publishing. The author of the book is the customer and therefore has final say on all aspects of publishing: cover, layout, title, editing, marketing plan… the works.
How many authors are qualified to be in this position?
I’d say maybe one in a 1,000.
Yes, the world of publishing is changing. And I think overall that’s a good thing. It had become too restrictive and too ingrown. But I believe something is needed beyond having authors become customers and publishers become packagers of self-published books.
Stay tuned as I continue to muse about what I feel a better solution might look like.
Meanwhile, do listen to this podcast:
Or read some of my earlier blogs on publishing.
