The Price of Independents

By Karen L. Syed

Nearly twenty years ago, I labeled myself a writer; ten years later, an author. I sold my book to a small press publisher. Five years after that, I bought a tiny bookstore. One year later, I became a small press publisher. Today, I proudly call myself an independent publisher. Why should YOU care about this? Well, quite honestly, it's your industry.

We began Echelon Press with a vision. We committed to introducing new writers with unique voices to readers. No cookie-cutter stories for us. We made an educated decision to print our books using Print on Demand technology. We knew the risks; higher cost per unit, but lower overhead, eliminating grotesque storage fees. Pleased with the quality of our titles, gloss covers, good paper, and perfect binding, we embarked on our journey.

We formatted, priced, and produced our books as closely as possible to the books we tirelessly researched with huge purchases from the stores to which we planned to sell. We offered "industry standard" discounts and resolved ourselves to the horror of returns by establishing our books as fully returnable.

Day after day, store after store, we achieved extraordinary levels of rejection. How proud our parents were. We battled against phrases like, "POD, you published in POD? Your books must be horrible quality." Soon we heard the endless chorus of "We won't order them because we can't return them." Why would anyone assume they would need to return them? We want to SELL them. We begged, we argued, we even bribed buyers to give us a chance. So strong was our commitment that we even offered to hand deliver orders to stores within our reach to defray the cost of shipping. Alas, the war was on. In the end, the most popular response was, "Call us when you aren't POD." What manner of disease do these POD books carry?

Five years later, Echelon has evolved into something much more spectacular (If I do say so myself). No longer small, we are INDEPENDENT! We no longer utilize POD technology. We make the financial commitment to produce them in print runs…as the "industry" organizations have dictated necessary to make us "legitimate." We established our potential empire as a Borders Group Inc. vendor of record, and we sold our way into high enough sales for acceptance by Ingram Book Group for their distribution program…international, no less.

Echelon authors have sold tens of thousands of copies of their books. They have garnered exceptional reviews by all levels of reviewers, including Booklist, ForeWord Magazine, and Globe and Mail. They've earned awards and recognition in contests such as Hollywood Book Festival awards, RWA's Desert Rose Golden Quill, Holt Medallion, and National Readers Choice book awards.

So where are we now? And what is my point? To date, we are calling, visiting, mailing, e-mailing–and any other manner of communication we can muster–the librarians, booksellers, and readers who offered their wisdom for us to grow into something more appropriate with the "industry standard." We did our part, so when do YOU start buying our books? We're not seeking something for nothing.

Most independent publishers around the country, even the world, are making every effort to give the buyers, whether retail or consumer, what they want. Echelon certainly is. We offer booksellers and consumers higher than average discounts on purchases, not because our products lack quality, but because you deserve it. We've got original stories, by talented authors. Yet, the industry continually holds us apart. What will it take to open the eyes of the industry to recognize that publishers outside of New York publish great books?

The economy (see note above about higher discounts.) That is the answer! The economy is too tight to allow readers to buy books by unknown authors. Bah! What happens when the top ten run out of ideas? Sadly, some have, and publishers have begun recycling old stories in new formats, with new covers. Consumers buy them, feed the industry to continue shelving them, and still complain, "The story is not fresh." Hello, we've got your fresh right here!

At Echelon, we have authors who just might rock your world! Years ago, Robert Goldsborough took the characters Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin, of one of the mystery genres most respected authors, and kept them alive after the death of the extraordinary Rex Stout. Now, Echelon has the privilege of keeping the writing styles of Goldsborough alive in the new Snap Malek Mystery series (Three Strikes You're Dead and Shadow of the Bomb). Robert W. Walker, who has thrilled readers for years with his books, especially his Instinct and Edge series and most recently City for Ransom (43 books in total) will see his newest cutting edge novel, PSI: Blue, a Psychic Sensory Investigation thriller in print in Fall 2006.

Let us not mislead you by dropping the names of only the well known. We have awesome books by, the potential best-sellers of tomorrow, like Linda S. Prather who has begun wowing readers with The Gifts, the first installment in the Jacody Ives Mystery series, with just enough psychic touches to push the envelope–the best part is her paranormal basis carries over from the author's real life. Then we have Luisa Buehler, the fascinating and charming author of The Grace Marsden Mystery series (The Scout Master and more). With book four scheduled for release in 9/06, this author has made an art of wowing readers and booksellers. Lest we not forget Michael A. Black (Melody of Vengeance, Echelon 1/07) who Jon Jordan of Crimespree Magazine says, "…has created a pulp action hero right out of the forties. This is a perfect homage to the work of Walter B. Gibson, Lester Dent, and Henry W. Ralston. Reading this book was pure fun." Would Jon lie to you?

Estimates state that nearly 70 million Americans chronically suffer from a disorder of sleep and wakefulness. Buy an independently published book and let us be the reason you're up at night.

About the author:

*This article was first published in the Special Bouchercon 2006 Issue of Crimespree Magazine.

The Price of Independents © Karen L. Syed For permission to reprint, please e-mail admin@echelonpress.com