Comments on: Horror NOT! Podcaster Scott Sigler snags $500K+ three-book deal with Crown http://www.teleread.org/blog/2007/04/14/horror-not-podcaster-scott-sigler-sells-to-crown-in-a-251k-deal/ News & views on e-books, libraries, publishing and related topics Tue, 06 Jan 2009 20:23:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Junkie status: complete « Andy’s blog http://www.teleread.org/blog/2007/04/14/horror-not-podcaster-scott-sigler-sells-to-crown-in-a-251k-deal/comment-page-1/#comment-376197 Junkie status: complete « Andy’s blog Sun, 13 May 2007 15:40:26 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/?p=6422#comment-376197 [...] There were tales of people screaming for the touchdowns, going wild for come-from-behind wins and generally acting like fans of their real football team.  I even heard one caller who doesn’t like science fiction at all but still enjoyed the story immensely.  It’s no wonder that when his Ancestor print novel was released the junkies pushed him so high on the Amazon listings that he landed a 3 book deal with Crown Publishing Group. [...] [...] There were tales of people screaming for the touchdowns, going wild for come-from-behind wins and generally acting like fans of their real football team.  I even heard one caller who doesn’t like science fiction at all but still enjoyed the story immensely.  It’s no wonder that when his Ancestor print novel was released the junkies pushed him so high on the Amazon listings that he landed a 3 book deal with Crown Publishing Group. [...]

]]> By: On Digital Media » Blog Archive » On Digital Media, Episode #30 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2007/04/14/horror-not-podcaster-scott-sigler-sells-to-crown-in-a-251k-deal/comment-page-1/#comment-320537 On Digital Media » Blog Archive » On Digital Media, Episode #30 Mon, 16 Apr 2007 00:43:44 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/?p=6422#comment-320537 [...] Scott Sigler gets a three-book deal with Crown Publishing (a Random House imprint). (John learned about it through Twitter!) We think this is another great example of the power of Social Media and self-publishing. Chia-Lin thinks this could be the first crack in the walls of book publishing. You heard it hear first, folks…  ;) [...] [...] Scott Sigler gets a three-book deal with Crown Publishing (a Random House imprint). (John learned about it through Twitter!) We think this is another great example of the power of Social Media and self-publishing. Chia-Lin thinks this could be the first crack in the walls of book publishing. You heard it hear first, folks…  ;) [...]

]]> By: Scott Sigler http://www.teleread.org/blog/2007/04/14/horror-not-podcaster-scott-sigler-sells-to-crown-in-a-251k-deal/comment-page-1/#comment-318635 Scott Sigler Sun, 15 Apr 2007 01:15:05 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/?p=6422#comment-318635 Just a note - all my books will continue to be free, ad-supported podcasts. That's a big part of this deal, that I get to keep engaging with my fans for as long as I do this. Now that being said, it doesn't mean that INFESTED is the same story as the one heard for free on the podcast. I've already re-written it, using a log of what I learned while podcasting it. The new version is much stronger, has new science, and sets up the sequel CONTAGIOUS. So sure, I gave it away for free, but if people really like the free version, they might consider paying the $ for the print version. We'll see how it goes over. Just a note - all my books will continue to be free, ad-supported podcasts. That’s a big part of this deal, that I get to keep engaging with my fans for as long as I do this.

Now that being said, it doesn’t mean that INFESTED is the same story as the one heard for free on the podcast. I’ve already re-written it, using a log of what I learned while podcasting it. The new version is much stronger, has new science, and sets up the sequel CONTAGIOUS. So sure, I gave it away for free, but if people really like the free version, they might consider paying the $ for the print version. We’ll see how it goes over.

]]> By: Chris Meadows http://www.teleread.org/blog/2007/04/14/horror-not-podcaster-scott-sigler-sells-to-crown-in-a-251k-deal/comment-page-1/#comment-318209 Chris Meadows Sat, 14 Apr 2007 19:11:13 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/?p=6422#comment-318209 If you're interested in freely podcast stories, check out <a href="http://www.secretworldchronicle.com" rel="nofollow"><i>The Secret World Chronicle,</i></a> a superhero series podcast whose authors include Mercedes Lackey. If you’re interested in freely podcast stories, check out The Secret World Chronicle, a superhero series podcast whose authors include Mercedes Lackey.

]]> By: Ron http://www.teleread.org/blog/2007/04/14/horror-not-podcaster-scott-sigler-sells-to-crown-in-a-251k-deal/comment-page-1/#comment-317656 Ron Sat, 14 Apr 2007 13:08:07 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/?p=6422#comment-317656 Scott is successful because he is a talented author and writes a good story. Podcasting worked for Scott because, in addition to being a good author, he's also a good entertainer - he reads his work well. Finally, the "free" part merely got his work into the hands of the public (because the publishing industry wasn't doing it for Scott). While thousands of people like Scott's work, many more probably listened and decided it wasn't for them. But it cost them nothing to try Scott's work out. Which leaves you feeling better: spending $0 and finding that you don't like the author's work, or spending $15 and finding that you don't like the author's work. If an author doesn't have a good product, it won't sell - no matter what. If an author can't read his work well, he should probably not try to podcast it (unfortunately, I've encountered a few of these). And "try before you buy" is an old, tried-and-true marketing technique. More authors should do this. John Scalzi posted chapter 1 of his new "The Android's Dream" on his blog. That allowed many, many people try try his work before spending the money. Scott is successful because he is a talented author and writes a good story.

Podcasting worked for Scott because, in addition to being a good author, he’s also a good entertainer - he reads his work well.

Finally, the “free” part merely got his work into the hands of the public (because the publishing industry wasn’t doing it for Scott). While thousands of people like Scott’s work, many more probably listened and decided it wasn’t for them. But it cost them nothing to try Scott’s work out.

Which leaves you feeling better: spending $0 and finding that you don’t like the author’s work, or spending $15 and finding that you don’t like the author’s work.

If an author doesn’t have a good product, it won’t sell - no matter what.

If an author can’t read his work well, he should probably not try to podcast it (unfortunately, I’ve encountered a few of these).

And “try before you buy” is an old, tried-and-true marketing technique. More authors should do this. John Scalzi posted chapter 1 of his new “The Android’s Dream” on his blog. That allowed many, many people try try his work before spending the money.

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