At the Frankfurt Fair, it was widely reported a leading publishing figure lamented that publishing was now all about the big name authors. And in this article, non-celebrity writers discuss the challenges of trying to publish and sell their children's books in a fame-dominated business.
The issue is complex, which is why BSPG asked some famous big name writers to lend their acknowledged nous to our CrimeBits project, and we are most grateful to them.
But, in the wider context, the fact is, smaller press publishing has become dominated by larger press publishers - and since publishing is primarily a business (unless it is fully-funded by patrons or governments, maybe as a charity) - this means the 99% of writers without agents, and without superstar brand names, will struggle to get publishing deals, and sell many books.
Millions of self-published writers have added their books to the world, and Amazon, in the past few years, to the extent that, they too have complicated the market, for themselves, and other, curated writers, from established small indie publishers. It is estimated most writers sell 200 books on average, or less, per title, depending on the genre.
It is in this world, of competition against some of the richest companies on the planet, and some of the most famous people (usually actors, and popstars), that very small presses like BSPG find themselves now - seeking to publish genuinely talented, often un-agented, writers, with vision and great stories to tell. It is not enough to market a bit, and hope for the best, a stray review, a prize, some buzz - because, sadly, not all genius, talent or quality is recognised in a saturated market. Authors must understand that the role they take on must involve a certain relentless (and arguably tiresome) promoting of their own books - expecting small presses to compete against juggernaut budgets for advertising from the Big 5 is unrealistic.
We repeat our common refrain: what we do is publish curated, genuinely talented writers - this is neither self-publishing or Big 5 publishing. It is indie small press publishing, which came of age during the modernist period of the 1910s and 1920s, and in the past century, has discovered many great authors and books. But not without great struggle and cost.