By K.A. Laity
The digital revolution continues unabated, or perhaps it's just the grumble heard round the world as writers feel their words devalued again.
Penguin started up their very own "self-publishing" business. The "self" is optional, of course. As the coverage in The Wall Street Journal describes it:
In a sign that major book publishers are now recognizing the potential of the digital self-publishing industry, Penguin Group (USA) on Wednesday is launching a service to help writers publish their own books. For a fee of between $99 and $549, plus a cut of any sales revenue, Penguin's subsidiary Book Country will offer an array of tools—ranging from professional e-book conversion to a cover creator—to help a writer make their work available through digital book outlets and print-on-demand services.
So, it's the kind of "self-publishing" that you actually pay for, between $99 and $549. This is the kind of thing that's generally known as vanity publishing, not self-publishing. It's fine—there are all kinds of reasons to pay for publishing like wanting to see your work in print even if no publisher wants to print it. It might be too edgy and revolutionary for them, or it just might be crap, but you're an adult. You can make choices.
The rather dubious side of this is the lure of the Penguin name. Like Harlequin's earlier foray into self-publishing assistance, there's the suggestion to starry-eyed would-be authors that they will have some of the luster of the big name, a move so reviled by writers that Harlequin changed the name of the press to the completely un-Harlequinned DellArte, where they currently offer self-publishing packages starting at $599.
As long as you know what you are paying for and apparently have large reserves of cash to self-publish (if so, why not start your own press?) I suppose there's nothing wrong with it, but surely people will be drawn by the illusion that somehow the Penguin name will be affixed to their mighty tome, ensuring fame and fortune.
Needless to say, it won't be.
You may be lucky and not get one of the worst covers of all time. But it's not entirely clear how much say you will get:
Our Innovative Features
A streamlined publishing process designed from the ground up, not just by techies but by passionate book industry veterans.
A single, simple publishing path to produce both your print and eBook.
The widest distribution available for both print and eBook.
No hidden fees or surprise costs.
Quality eBook conversion and printing services provided by skilled specialists who work with traditional book publishers everyday.
Tools, templates, and publishing systems tailored to the needs of genre fiction writers.
Publish into a built-in readership to jump-start your sales.
The only site that offers you the opportunity to workshop your book before going on to self publish.
Unparalleled discoverability tools to help you connect with readers.
I love all the marketing jargon: "discoverability tools" and "a single, simple publishing path" and of course, "a built-in readership." So you can pay to get those advantages from Book Country; or you could just upload the book yourself for free at Amazon, PubIt or Smashwords.
For the sake of all our eyes, please pay for a professional cover.