In this league, market position reigns, pipelines are sacrosanct, and distribution is king. Brand names carry the day, quality is often a relative concept, and middlemen are everywhere. Epublishing is a different animal altogether, although not necessarily of a simpler ilk. Epublishers typically range from tiny to miniscule in relation to their New York brethren. Swallowing up their competitors is not yet an option, usually because funding is, at best, marginal.
Authors are still a valued commodity among epublishers somewhat.
Market position is only a dream, pipelines are virtually nonexistent, and distribution is really a dribble. There are few brand names in epublishing, and they belong to the giant houses and a handful of authors. Product quality is getting better all the time, but still has a long way to go. Well, that s a curse yet to befall most of the epublishing industry. From an author s point of view, it s a true blessing, for as long as it lasts.