New Margaret Clark interview

[GaryH]

Visionary Trek podcast has a new Margaret Clark interview discussing the year's books.

No new New Frontier planned, but a few nuggets of info:

http://www.thetrekcollective.com/2016/02/trek-lit-editor-maragaret-clark-details.html?m=1

 

[Sto-Vo-Kory]

Thanks for the link, GaryH.

I get a sense of foreboding with the bit about ebook exclusive releases in the interview's blurb.

 

[GaryH]

She basically said in the interview that she commissions more when told to, but that they did not sell as well last year so she has been told to commission less.

 

[Csalem]

It might be a good opportunity for them to get the ebook rights at least for the German Prometheus trilogy since those books are already written. They might sell a bt better.

 

[JD]

That is a little concerning about the e-books.
I like the idea of a follow up to The Corbomite Maneuver, I've been curious to learn more about the First Federation for a while now.
I hope that Prey is more of a Destiny style trilogy with characters from all of the series appearing in all of the books. I like that a lot better than the Typhon Pact and The Fall style crossovers with each book devoted to a different group of characters.

 

[Christopher]

That is a little concerning about the e-books.

They're not dead yet. If more people buy the ones that are coming out, there will be more in the future. (Oh, and be sure to review them on Amazon and the like. The more reviews they get, the more publicity they get. Which goes for books in general, by the way.)

I like the idea of a follow up to The Corbomite Maneuver, I've been curious to learn more about the First Federation for a while now.

"The definitive First Federation novel" has been on my dream-projects list for a long time now. I was going to do one as a Titan novel for Marco Palmieri, but I got sidetracked onto a different project and then Marco was laid off in the economic crash, so it never came to fruition. The Face of the Unknown incorporates a number of ideas from that abortive project, though it's 5-year-mission TOS. The title is from Kirk's line to Bailey upon inviting him to beam over to Balok's pilot vessel -- "The face of the unknown. I think I owe you a look at it."

 

[ryan123450]

I almost never go for 5YM but you have me sold on this novel already Christopher.

 

[Jedi Ben]

Those Prey titbits sound great.

 

[Serin117]

Titan recalled and Ent E involved.
Am I the only one really very bored with that happening every single time there's a series of novels? I mean I really enjoyed everything about the 3 or so times its happened already but I feel as if the concept is getting a bit worn.

 

[Avro Arrow]

She basically said in the interview that she commissions more when told to, but that they did not sell as well last year so she has been told to commission less.

That's unfortunate. I like having the eBook exclusives as a supplement to the 12 paperback slots we get each year. I'm pretty sure I've bought all of them from The Struggle Within onwards.

Actually, I'm a bit surprised, too. I thought eBooks were much more popular these days? Is it possible that the shorter format is putting people off? Would exclusive full-length novels possibly sell better?

 

[GaryH]

I personally prefer full length paperbacks. I like to read stories away from electronic devices so I mentally switch off from twitter, facebook, Google etc. on my iPad. It allows me to concentrate on the story more and lose myself in it.

 

[The Wormhole]

Titan recalled and Ent E involved.
Am I the only one really very bored with that happening every single time there's a series of novels? I mean I really enjoyed everything about the 3 or so times its happened already but I feel as if the concept is getting a bit worn.

I'll admit, so soon after The Fall when there's only been one Titan adventure in the interim seems a bit soon for the mission to be cancelled and the ship recalled. Oh well, we'll just have to trust it works out well in the end.

Actually, I'm a bit surprised, too. I thought eBooks were much more popular these days? Is it possible that the shorter format is putting people off? Would exclusive full-length novels possibly sell better?

There've been reports in the past year that physical books have been regaining their popularity over e-books.

 

[Scout101]

I like having the physical book, in general. And dislike the pricing structure where the ebook isn't any cheaper. Hell, right now on Amazon, this month's release if 50 cents MORE EXPENSIVE as an ebook than it is if you want the dead tree version. How's that work?

Printing, distributing, all these things have a cost, no? Costs that don't exist with an ebook...

 

[Reanok]

That was a interesting interview. The tidbits about Prey and the other upcoming books was really interesting. I hope the Promethus book miniseries could be printed as paperback books. The sequel to the Corbomite maneuver sounds like a really neat story.

 

[Christopher]

Hell, right now on Amazon, this month's release if 50 cents MORE EXPENSIVE as an ebook than it is if you want the dead tree version. How's that work?

Printing, distributing, all these things have a cost, no? Costs that don't exist with an ebook...

Not anywhere near as much as people assume. Due to economies of scale, for a large print run, the costs involved with printing a physical book come out to only a few cents per copy. After all, it's not the paper you're paying for -- you can get reams of blank paper cheap at the local drugstore. You're paying for the content, and that means you're paying for the labor of the writer, editor, copyeditors, proofreaders, cover artist and designer, art director, sales and marketing staff, etc. Those costs are the same whether the book ends up on paper or not.

 

[bfollowell]

There've been reports in the past year that physical books have been regaining their popularity over e-books.

Well, I'm pretty sure they're talking about ebook exclusives, not ebooks in general.

 

[Greg Cox]

Not anywhere near as much as people assume. Due to economies of scale, for a large print run, the costs involved with printing a physical book come out to only a few cents per copy. After all, it's not the paper you're paying for -- you can get reams of blank paper cheap at the local drugstore. You're paying for the content, and that means you're paying for the labor of the writer, editor, copyeditors, proofreaders, cover artist and designer, art director, sales and marketing staff, etc. Those costs are the same whether the book ends up on paper or not.

Exactly. The cover price is not at all about paying for the paper and ink.

As it happens, I'm currently crunching the numbers and putting together a P&L (profit and loss) forecast regarding a prospective book project, and, trust me, the plant costs are not really the issue at hand. It's all about the estimated sales figures, royalty rates, the size of the author's advance, subsidiary rights (book clubs, audio, translation, etc), exclusive territories,, etc.

That's what really matters.

 

[DS9forever]

DS9 characters in Prey = Buy from me.