Charles Ardai, editor of HARD CASE CRIME books, sent this email message to readers:
Those of you who are tuned in to goings-on in the publishing industry may have seen the announcement last week from Dorchester Publishing that they’ve decided to get out of the business of publishing mass-market paperback novels (the main business they’ve been in for the past 40 years). Instead, they’ve announced they’re only going to publish ebooks and a limited number of larger trade paperbacks, using a ‘print on demand’ process.
What does this have to do with Hard Case Crime? Well, for the past six years, Dorchester has been the company that has printed and distributed our books. They’re a first-rate company run by good people, and I’m sorry to see them going through tough times. I’m also sorry to see them stop publishing books in our format. What does this mean for us? Well, either we’ll need to switch from the smaller “mass market” format to the larger “trade” format, or we’ll need to start working with another publisher, or both. (Most likely both, but we’ll see.)
I immediately went out and bought what is likely to be the last mass market format HARD CASE CRIME book: Murder is My Business with a great Robert McGinnis cover. Buy it fast! It’s the end of an era.
That realy does stink.
Down with Kindle!
Collectors (or investors) should be buying up all the HARD CASE CRIME books they can find, Jeff. My guess is that they won’t be reprinted in mass market format so whatever is out there will be it.
I honestly didn’t expect the transition of publishers to ebooks and/or POD only this fast. As Indy said so often, “I have a bad feeling about this…” Could this be a turning point in publishing? Are the books we book lovers to soon fall into the category of old media that only the book nuts care about? Or perhaps this has already happened with the loss of interest in book reading (why read when you can Tweet?), knowledge, classics, ah I’m gettin’ all depressed. Rats.
I took your advice, George. I bought this book and a couple other HCC ones I’d been thinking of getting. Of course I already have this book in an older edition. I’ll pu them side by side on the shelf. Might even reread it, it’s a pretty good one.
Okay, I’m cheering myself up by listening to Szell and the Cleveland play the New World Symphony. Great performance.
Yes, this is depressing news, Rick. And you’re smart to buy up the HARD CASE CRIME titles you want before they go out-of-print. I suppose traditional books, hardcovers and paperbacks, will go the way of vinyl records.
I just got in Westlake’s MEMORY but I guess I should look and see if any of the ones I missed are ones I want/need.
When the HARD CASE CRIME inventory is gone, Jeff, there’s little chance it will be reprinted. I bought MEMORY and I’ll scoop up a few more titles while they’re still available.
Dorchester is one of my favorite publishers. In addition HCC, I liked many of their horror novelists–Laymon, Keene, Garton, and others. They also put out a fair number of decent westerns.
Kindle or trade. Neither one excites me much.
There is a third alternative, Drongo. My son’s iPad has an app that translates Kindle ebooks into a format the iPad can read. But I know what’ you’re saying: the preferred mass market paperback is going to disappear eventually.
When will there be good news? About anything?
I suppose if you’re a fan of ebooks, this is Good News, Patti. But I’m not there yet.
Speaking of your son, how did his visit to Seattle go?
In the past month, Patrick flew to San Francisco to win that award, Drongo. Then he flew back to Pittsburgh. Then he flew to London, England to deliver a paper. Then he flew from London to Seattle (an 11 hour flight!) to deliver yet another paper. Finally, Patrick flew back to Pittsburgh where he slept for a week. Only young people can have schedules like this. On a completely different topic, Drongo, what do you think of Tim Tebow’s new haircut?
I wouldn’t wish that haircut on Phillip Rivers. That’s how hideous it is. Tebow is being a pretty good sport about it.
My respect for Tebow went way up after he coped with that hideous haircut with grace, Drongo. I think Tebow will be Denver’s starting QB by Game Four.
It looked like he was auditioning for the remake of THE NAME OF THE ROSE.
Ha! Good one, Jeff!
Yep. Tebow is a nice guy alright. Too bad he doesn’t have much of an arm, but maybe that doesn’t matter in football any more. As if.
Tebow will be thrown to the wolves by Game Four, Rick. The NFL is an impatient league.
Sorry about sending the wrong e-mail address. I’ve corrected it now. I don’t give it out much and haven’t for a while.
As you might know by now, Ardai and the little press Subterranean are doing the first hardcover Hard Case…dunno how much further that partnership might go…
http://www.subterraneanpress.com/
You know I’ll buy that Hard Case/Subterranean book with the McGinnis covers, Todd. I might even buy two.