Re: Social Contract
On Fri, Apr 28, 2006 at 05:45:06PM -0700, Steve Lamb wrote:
>
> However when an author had the audacity to actually test the theory that
> releasing the books for free would increase sales that is exactly what
> happened. That author was Eric Flynt published by Baen. Since that day Baen
> has published books online, for free, because it makes them money. In fact,
> every book that David Weber (arguably their top author) puts out in hardcover
> includes a CD which contains, in four formats, every book he's published.
> I've bought 4 of his books in hardcover in the past few years. You think if
> they were taking a loss they'd continue to do it? In fact it has been so
> successful that they have recorded case where an author who consented to
> releasing a Baen book saw the sales of her books under other publishers go up.
> They've even published a book from an author who retained the electronic
> publishing rights though her print rights are still locked up with another
> pulp publisher.
If I recall correctly when I looked at the Baen site last year, they usually
release on book in a series online. Those that read the first book and like it
will have to buy the rest of the series. Has this changed?
I didn't know about the David Weber CD, though.
> Agreed on both points. Though I am always hopeful because of Baen's
> example and always cite it loudly when people say that it might not work.
> There's one example of it working now.
>
> --
> Steve C. Lamb | But who decides what they dream?
> PGP Key: 8B6E99C5 | And dream I do...
> -------------------------------+---------------------------------------------
>
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