I need to ponder a bit before deciding how I feel about publishing books that don’t earn anything for the author and that cost the “buyer” only an unenforceable promise to make a donation to a charity.
I was discussing this with Asakiyume by e-mail this morning. She self-published the delightful Pen Pal and has often said she is more interested in getting people to read the book than in making a lot of money off it. But neither us feels that artists should be expected routinely to give away the fruits of their labors. (If they really want to, there are worthy groups like Artists for a Cause that can make it happen.)
Kathleen Burge describes the new publishing concept in today’s Globe. “When the Concord Free Press was just a radical idea with a one-title book list, founder Stona Fitch nervously pitched Wesley Brown, hoping to persuade the acclaimed author to let him publish Brown’s latest novel.
“ ‘You want me to give you this novel I’ve been writing for years,’ he recalls Brown saying. ‘You’re not going to pay me. And you’re going to give it away for free and hope that readers donate money to something else.’
“ ‘I said, “Wes, yeah, that’s pretty much it.” There’s this long pause and I’m waiting for something bad to happen. And he said, “I’m in.” ’ …
“Readers agree to give away money, in any amount: to a charity, a stranger on the street, or someone who needs it. Donations since 2008 total $409,250 — and that is just those reported back to the publisher. Readers are also asked to pass along the book once they are finished, so donations continue to multiply. …
“Gregory Maguire , who wrote Wicked, the wildly popular novel that became a Broadway musical, saw a chance to free himself from his reputation as only a fantasy writer — the way he is promoted by his publisher, HarperCollins — and try a new kind of novel.
“After the book, a tragic farce titled The Next Queen of Heaven, debuted with the Concord press, his publisher paid him a very welcome advance to issue a second — much larger — edition of the work.”
More here.
I can see how this rather Utopian approach could work for an established writer who wants to try a new genre. But the big hurdle for new writers is publicity. They can’t generate their own very well. How do they get into the right hands once they are published?
Photo: Lane Turner/Globe Staff
The Concord Free Press gives away books for free to readers who will donate to a charity or person in need.
Suzanne's Mom's Blog 
Boy, I don’t know about this . . . so many people already undervalue the written word. I can see some benefits but I will definitely need to ponder it more!
It would be an unusual artist who would be into this concept, and then probably only for one book. But I do like finding creative ways to encourage people to give to charity. My son is working on Meaningful Wins, an initiative to take some of the billions that Fantasy Football gambling generates to individuals and channel it to worthy causes. The novelty of these initiatives eventually wears off, and then we have to think up new ways to encourage giving.
I hadn’t heard of this. I’m wondering how they track “contributions” if people can just say, “I gave 15 dollars to a homeless man on the street” and don’t have to prove it. I don’t want to sound cynical, but I know that sometimes people mean, “I am planning on giving…” and then they never get around to fulfilling the intention.
Plus, I’m nervous about furthering the trend in which writers are expected to give their writing away.
Concord Free Press answered my tweet saying they have been clear that this is an approach only for established writers, people who have a following. New ones need publicity and other services. I personally don’t have a problem with people just promising to give. Some will fall by the wayside. Some will forget and then feel guilty when they remember and give more. And some will give a lot. The nice side of not being able to track givers may be that no one gets to show off.
I definitely like the idea of no show offs!
And it is a good venue for those who don’t need publicity; to raise funds for a good cause.
🙂