Now, That's Cachet In These Parts
Love how former New Yorker editor Hal Espen described my man Gregg in his very engaging Los Angeles Times story about Elmore Leonard's latest crime novel, Road Dogs
First came a commitment to research. In 1978 he got an assignment from the Detroit News Magazine for a story on Squad 7 of the Detroit Police Homicide Section. His 6,000-word feature, "Impressions of Murder," is a masterwork -- and a core sample of the uncanny voicing and reporting that infuses every book he's written since.Next, Leonard hired former autoworker Gregg Sutter as a researcher. Sutter, based in L.A., serves up what he calls "a big banquet of data" that enhances the "production values" of Leonard's books. Leonard has never owned a computer. Sutter is better than any computer. He produces exhaustive dossiers, photographs locations and shoots video interviews. He'll find out exactly how to break into a Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow. All this results in precisely rendered details and characters who sound real and know what they're talking about.
And yes, he really did work on an assembly line for a while. And right now, he probably knows more about the Somali pirates than most people on this planet -- in preparation for Elmore's next book, Djibouti. There's a lot I could say about Gregg, but I'll say only two things: He's the best person I know, and I sure lucked out.
Hey Amy I was asking amazon why the e-books are so expensive as in practically the same price as a physical book.
They said it was the publishers decision.
Would you get Gregg to ask Lenord to ask his publisher why I sould pay 15 dollars for an electronic file, when the phyisical book is only a dollar more
lujlp at May 18, 2009 5:23 AM
I do remember a time when the Music CD was sold 20$ apiece. Of course, there was a huge margin of that money taken by the retailer but I wonder why E-books can't cut that margin and also drop their prices.
The new E-Book wave is still in infancy but I can safely imagine what will happen when some authors will self-publish on an iTunes-like store, bypassing the giants of the printing presses. Then we will be left to wonder how cheap a .PDF file can go if someone is really interested to sell.
Toubrouk at May 18, 2009 7:00 AM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2009/05/17/now_thats_cache.html#comment-1649087">comment from ToubroukWe don't know why prices are as they are.
I'm currently pressing Amazon on an issue with Kindle book payments to bloggers. Awaiting word from their Kindle team. More after I hear back from them on this. They're a better source, and I'm in touch with them, met them at LA Times Festival of Books...they've been traveling and will get back to me soon.
Amy Alkon
at May 18, 2009 7:24 AM
I find the pricing odd, even within the same books by the same author.
Take Brook's Shanara series for example, the aniversery eddition of the the Sword, Stones, Wishsong omnibus is 20, individauly they are 5 each, they also have a Sword, stones duo for 4, and a kindle version of the first edition printing of Wishsong for 3.
Same three books 20, 15, or 8 depending on how you buy them.
And as long as your in touch wiht the kindle team find out if the Kindle3 will go back to removable SD chip expansion slots
lujlp at May 18, 2009 7:51 AM
Having an SD chip slot might cause problems for a company who wish to keep their works firmly controlled with a DRM code. I believe Apple's iPod line don't have any expansion slots for this exact reason.
Regardless of this, I am longing for the day E-Ink devices will reach the price of 100-200$ with the capacity of reading DRM-Free formats. This will be remembered as the day paper as a medium will turn obsolete.
Thank you Amy for keeping us informed on this.
Toubrouk at May 18, 2009 8:53 AM
You guys are joking right?
Its quite clear WHY the prices for ebooks are almost as expensive as physical books.
This is because the publisher is deathly afraid of stealing physical book sales and destroying their own business if they were to undercut the physical book prices. Duh.
Is this fair? Just? Accurately reflect the lowered "fabrication" costs of electronic copies versus real copies? No.
Face facts people...vendors gouge you for what they believe you will pay and not a penny less. This is true of your cell phone service provider, your local grocery, your mechanic and your online retailers.
peter at May 18, 2009 5:30 PM
> Is this fair? Just? Accurately
> reflect the lowered "fabrication"
> costs of electronic copies versus
> real copies? No.
I hate your blog comment.
> Face facts people...vendors gouge
> you for what they believe you will
> pay and not a penny less.
You're so bitter about the fact that people want to make as much money as they can...
But I'd bet you spend more time working to maximize your income than you spend lowering it.
Crid [CommentCrid@gmail.com] at May 19, 2009 9:19 AM
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