You’re danger junkies. Gluttons for punishment. Moths to a flame.
Such was the response from concerned family and friends when we announced our plan to launch a publishing agency.
And who could blame them? It’s common knowledge that the industry is in flux. We’ve been though layoffs, company closures, and mergers, and we’ve witnessed firsthand how the chaos is affecting publishers.
The thing is, the shift has galvanized us. We’ve seen authors reach hosts of new readers in unprecedented ways. We’ve witnessed acts of extreme creativity as agents and publishers adapt to industry changes. We’ve watched entrepreneurs build successful new marketing strategies around books they’ve self-published and businesses spin their corporate publishing programs into sophisticated multi-platform enterprises.
New models are cracking open new possibilities for authors, readers, and publishers. We’re entranced by this shift and we want to be a part of it.
The industry is changing, but if you ask us, it’s not for better or for worse. It just looks different. When it works, the traditional publishing model is brilliant: authors write and get paid to publish their books while publishers handle the details of editorial, design, production, printing, distribution, sales and marketing, ideally to very high standards. We’ve seen this process play out countless times and we know how successful it can be.
But that model doesn’t work for everyone. In a world of online sales and social media, authors are well positioned to build relationships with their readers and sell books to them directly. Self-publishing can be a great option for entrepreneurial authors who want to retain control of the publishing process and earn more money per book. And as digital production makes publishing more accessible, business leaders everywhere are finding new ways to develop and market their own content through books, ebooks, apps, and beyond.
There are more opportunities than ever, but the new publishing landscape is incredibly complex. So we founded Page Two – an agency designed to help you navigate all of your publishing options. We have no bias toward any particular model, and we’re passionate about books, authors, and innovation.
Are we moths to a flame? Maybe so. But can you blame us? Ask anyone who’s ever published a book: the experience is intoxicating and addictive.
We’ll be blogging weekly about digital publishing, how to self-publish effectively, writing and editing, and industry changes and innovation. If there’s anything you’d like us to cover, don’t hesitate to get in touch.