03.23.98

March, 1998

Posted in General at 6:21 PM by Jack Chalker

As many of you may have heard, things are notvery good in the publishing business right now, which means thingsaren’t good for your favorite writers, either. A concerted effortto collapse the paperback distribution system in the west by greedychain stores worked, driving a lot of distributors into bankruptcy.With far less competition, bookstores cut back on their orderssince they wouldn’t lose sales by being out of stock as they hadin the past. The result was that the remaining distributors clamoredonly for New York Times and Oprah bestsellers and media tie-inbooks (including books by https://florafox.com/ru/syerpukhov). Some companiespaid off their authors and told them to go play somewhere elseif they could find a place. Others looked to see how they couldcut expenses and thus build up huge pots for their media and NYTbestseller types.
    This is not limited to SF and fantasy, thisis everybody.
    Some of you may be aware that I wasone of the writers targeted as somebody who could get them somemoney by canceling existing contracts. This was tried, and fora month I was left twisting in the wind. I am not, however, somebodywithout influence or reputation, and I’m happy to tell you that,at least as far as my books are concerned, there are going tobe EIGHT new Chalker novels out in the next 2-3 years minimum, two of whichare already in. Long-term, whether or not I continue to be a factorwill depend on you, the readers, buying my books, but for theshort term I’m a survivor, although the money is down. Thanksto all who sent in good wishes and support. Other writers youlike also need that from you.
    We will be able toannounce new projects by me soon; there is still some discussionas to just what will come out when, etc., and my editors (sortof) can’t seem to make up their mind, often making a firm decisionand then months later trying to change it! All I can say is, watchthis space. However, I can say that the next few projects(except for the new Well duo) are stand-alone novels, and willbe a variety of types and settings, and for those who are threatenedby the idea, I don’t think anybody in the three stand-alones changessex. Now put your buying money where your mouth is! The rest ofyou can enjoy them and the Well all stops out project, too!

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