As the success of 50 Shades of Grey makes clear, the book business has made piece with the self-published author. Now one of the best-selling authors in history, E.L. James first made her work available to readers via non-traditional, self-publishing routes. James is hardly alone, however, as not a week goes by without word of authors making their names and their livings without resort to publishing contracts.
“For me, the dominant message is that it’s a great time to be a writer. And depending on how much you like some of the self-published work, it might be one of the greatest times to be a reader,” Jeremy Greenfield, Digital Book World editorial director, tells CCC’s Chris Kenneally. “As for the publishing industry, there’s new competition from these self-published authors to sell their books to readers. I think most publishers, though, are looking at what’s happening in self-publishing as more of an opportunity than a challenge.”
As part of the annual Digital Book World Conference & Expo, several programs throughout the day on January 17, 2013, will examine self-publishing, including the results of a DBW and Writer’s Digest survey of authors. On Tuesday, January 15, Copyright Clearance Center presents a pre-conference workshop, Understanding and Managing Copyright in the 21st Century.
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