This week, Kevin Duffy of Blue Moose Books took a session based around literary fiction, independent publishing, and contracts within fiction publishing. I was unfortunately absent for this session as well so conducted some research around Blue Moose Books and literary fiction.
We had already met Kevin in a previous session for a separate module which was fortunate as I already have a good understanding of the work that they do at Blue Moose. I find interest in his work as I am particularly interested in literary fiction – character based rather than plot based – and independent publishing.
As an independent publisher, Kevin knows the issues associated with the breakdown of the Net Book Agreement, allowing booksellers to sell a book for as cheap as they like. This in turn makes it harder to compete with larger publishing houses who can offer the bookshops higher discount on their books. Additionally, the present issues involving the demise of the high street make it problematic for publishers, competing with online platforms, mainly Amazon. It seems that Amazon is a big issue for many publishing houses – big and small. I find it fascinating hearing about the outcome for publishers following big events such as the Net Book Agreement as there will surely be events that will have a major effect on publishing in the future such as Brexit and other technological advances.
Kevin has also spoken previously about the ‘risk averse’ nature of the Big 6. An article he wrote for the Guardian in 2015 outline his experience of the work indie publishers put in to new writers to the be swooped upon by the major publishing houses as soon as the author wins an award. If all publishing houses were risk averse, consumers would be getting the same regurgitated book year after year. Therefore, it is the independent publishers who are beginning the trend, and then the big 6 who latch on and make the profit. It is this reason that draws me to independent publishing – having the opportunity to take risks and find new and exciting books that the big publishing houses would avoid.
Resources:
https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2010/jun/17/net-book-agreement-publishing
http://northernfictionalliance.com/publishers/bluemoose-books/
https://www.wiley.com/legacy/authors/to/TOA2/cllps.html
https://www.booksandsuch.com/blog/how-risk-averse-publishers-kill-trends/
Abby's Publishing Skills Log 