I have a few points: 1. There is no disagreement that the authors, the creators have to benefit both financially and exposure. And the readers, who are also responsible for above also benefit if the cost are low. In the management language, the chain has to be kept short, removing the unnecessary links which pad up the cost. 2. I think percentage of people (in india) accessing books through electronic media must be insignificant as compared to those using traditional - book - method. Even among the compulsive torrent downloaders, less than 0.5% read or see what they download. 3. Take the case of lending libraries (both official and road corner). Despite the legend on the jacket that the book must not be lent or used for commercial purposes, libraries violate the rules and make money by charging. Of course, the book is read by about 10 people in a year but the author or publisher gets nothing. 4. There are books which are out of print, the copyright held by the author, his family or the publisher which are out of print, difficult to get and quite likely will remain unpublished for long. (tidbit: In the recent ramnujan and 300 ramayanas and delhi university removing the essay from the history syllabus controversy, Oxford university press, the publisher, has said that DU has used xerox copy of the essay without their permission, and has no plan to publish the book in the near future) 5. A viable solution is to be found for distributing novels in electronic format which will ensure that both the author and publisher will get their due share/ royalty and the user/reader gets it at an affordable price. The printed book route will also continue. 6. An electronic library maintained by a group of authors which will allow books to be borrowed on subscription, per read or time bound expiry will help in legitimising reading/borrowing and and ensure direct benefit to authors. I believe eswari library in chennai charges 35% to 20% of the cover price for new books for a 2 week reading. 7. Book publishing is an industry, and so their rules will be different - max return for the investment. And they take risks as well. sampath
Copy of a post related to publishing and cost! But this book is promoting a cause and people may buy it to support the cause. But novels are a different category. Sampath Subject: [RajivMalhotraDiscussion] Tamil edition of Breaking India - any sponsors?
The Tamil publisher sent us a note that its going to press. Many experts in Tamil Nadu politics feel that the Tamil version (over 700 pages) will create a huge thought revolution because it exposes many persons of that state.
He wants to sell the paperback for Rs 400. But if we place an order for a minimum of 1,000 copies as part his print run, he can supply copies to us for Rs 130 each (which is very low cost compared to the cost at which the various English books I have done have been available). The sponsor can do as he pleases with his copies - give away, sell them, or whatever.
I am open to sponsors who may want to take up this project. Our own funds and energy got depleted in the spread of the English edition and now there is heavy use of resources for my new book.