DOES LITERARY FICTION SUFFER FROM DYSFUNCTIONAL PRICING? A Conversation
by Levi Asher on Monday, September 3, 2007 08:09 pm
LitKicks has asked a variety of book industry professionals (including publishers, authors, agents, editors, distributors, sales representatives, booksellers, librarians, critics and bloggers) a question: "Does literary fiction suffer from dysfunctional pricing?" Below is the record of a conversation that took place in September and October 2007.
Introduction and Project Goals
• Levi Asher
Phase One: Primary Sources
• Richard Nash (publisher, Soft Skull), Mark Sarvas (author, Harry, Revised), Scott Hoffman (agent, Folio)
• Simon Lipskar (agent, Writer's House), Keith Arsenault (sales, PGW/Perseus), Dave Weich (marketing director, Powell's)
• First Week Summary by Levi Asher
• David Poindexter (publisher, MacAdam/Cage), Danielle Marshall (marketing/promotion, Powells), Kelly Nagle (librarian)
• Alan Sorensen (Graduate School of Business, Stanford University), John Freeman (President, National Book Critics Circle), Ami Greko (marketing director, Folio Literary Management)
Phase Two: Debate and Discussion
• The Case for Change by Levi Asher
• Sarah Weinman (book critic, blogger), Tao Lin (author, Eeeee Eee Eeee, Bed), Ron Hogan (author, The Stewardess is Flying the Plane!, blogger)
• Simon Lipskar (literary agent, Writer's House), Kassia Krozser (blogger, Booksquare), Doug Seibold (publisher, Agate)
• The Pleasures of Paperbacks by Jamelah Earle
Phase Three: Statistics, Estimates and Models
• Figuring Out the Book Business by Levi Asher
• Fantasy Publisher League, Part One (A Hypothetical Fiction Frontlist) by Mary Delli Santi
• Fantasy Publisher League, Part Two (Simon Collins & Random Day's Typical Year) by Mary Delli Santi
• Fantasy Publisher League, Part Three (Ups and Downs in Simon Collins & Random Day's Third Year) by Mary Delli Santi
Conclusions
• On Critiquing the Industry by Levi Asher
• Finale: A Plea From Paperback Readers by Levi Asher
Introduction and Project Goals
• Levi Asher
Phase One: Primary Sources
• Richard Nash (publisher, Soft Skull), Mark Sarvas (author, Harry, Revised), Scott Hoffman (agent, Folio)
• Simon Lipskar (agent, Writer's House), Keith Arsenault (sales, PGW/Perseus), Dave Weich (marketing director, Powell's)
• First Week Summary by Levi Asher
• David Poindexter (publisher, MacAdam/Cage), Danielle Marshall (marketing/promotion, Powells), Kelly Nagle (librarian)
• Alan Sorensen (Graduate School of Business, Stanford University), John Freeman (President, National Book Critics Circle), Ami Greko (marketing director, Folio Literary Management)
Phase Two: Debate and Discussion
• The Case for Change by Levi Asher
• Sarah Weinman (book critic, blogger), Tao Lin (author, Eeeee Eee Eeee, Bed), Ron Hogan (author, The Stewardess is Flying the Plane!, blogger)
• Simon Lipskar (literary agent, Writer's House), Kassia Krozser (blogger, Booksquare), Doug Seibold (publisher, Agate)
• The Pleasures of Paperbacks by Jamelah Earle
Phase Three: Statistics, Estimates and Models
• Figuring Out the Book Business by Levi Asher
• Fantasy Publisher League, Part One (A Hypothetical Fiction Frontlist) by Mary Delli Santi
• Fantasy Publisher League, Part Two (Simon Collins & Random Day's Typical Year) by Mary Delli Santi
• Fantasy Publisher League, Part Three (Ups and Downs in Simon Collins & Random Day's Third Year) by Mary Delli Santi
Conclusions
• On Critiquing the Industry by Levi Asher
• Finale: A Plea From Paperback Readers by Levi Asher