Today on Romance Book Haven we have Louise Cusack sharing with us about how her print books are being re-released as ebooks! So over to Louise....
A decade ago my Australian agent Selwa Anthony was submitting the first novel of my Shadow Through Time fantasy trilogy to publishers, and at that time e-books were a curiosity. People ‘in the know’ were saying they were the future of reading, but they hadn’t taken off yet and weren’t on my radar at all. I was only interested in print books, in getting one of the big Australian publishing houses to buy my fantasy romance trilogy, after which I wanted it to sell across all the English speaking territories and have it made into blockbuster movies, hopefully directed by Baz Luhrmann (big dreams!). Five Australian publishers did consider the series, two bid on it, and we went with Simon & Schuster Australia who did a good job of promoting it. Shadow Through Time sold well in Australia and was selected by the Doubleday Book Club here as their ‘Editors Choice’. It garnered passionate reader feedback and good sales, but for some reason it didn’t sell overseas and much to my dismay, eventually went out of print.
A decade ago my Australian agent Selwa Anthony was submitting the first novel of my Shadow Through Time fantasy trilogy to publishers, and at that time e-books were a curiosity. People ‘in the know’ were saying they were the future of reading, but they hadn’t taken off yet and weren’t on my radar at all. I was only interested in print books, in getting one of the big Australian publishing houses to buy my fantasy romance trilogy, after which I wanted it to sell across all the English speaking territories and have it made into blockbuster movies, hopefully directed by Baz Luhrmann (big dreams!). Five Australian publishers did consider the series, two bid on it, and we went with Simon & Schuster Australia who did a good job of promoting it. Shadow Through Time sold well in Australia and was selected by the Doubleday Book Club here as their ‘Editors Choice’. It garnered passionate reader feedback and good sales, but for some reason it didn’t sell overseas and much to my dismay, eventually went out of print.
Flash forward a decade and Pan Macmillan Australia are contacting my agent to say they’re opening a digital only imprint, Momentum Books, and would I consider placing my backlist trilogy with them for a worldwide digital release. I had a Kindle by then and was reading e-books myself, loving the convenience of an instant download (read: instant gratification) and also loving the price which was often half that of a paperback. At last I was feeding my voracious appetite for reading with zero guilt. Momentum proposed listing my e-books at AUD$4.99 each, and even better, the novels would be repackaged in fresh covers that reflected the strong love stories within. I was thrilled, and now six months later the books are in every e-book store you can imagine: Amazon, iTunes, Kobo, and more.I’ve loved these characters all along, wanting them to have a wider audience than their first release allowed, and thanks to Momentum they’re finally achieving that potential.
Now, to work on the blockbuster movies dream…
Writing romantic adventures set in lost worlds
Hi Louise! I love the Shadow Through Time Trilogy and have already downloaded it onto my Kindle so I can fall in love with the hero, Talis, all over again. Mega congratulations on the re-release of these fabulous books :)
ReplyDeleteHi Louise. I can relate to the ebook thing. I was first published in ebook about 10 years ago too and most people just looked blank at me when i tried to explain. To them, unless it was in print i wasn't a real writer. But at last they get it.
ReplyDeleteJane Beckenham
Congratulations Louise! What an absolute thrill to see your stories come to life again in brand new clothes on a new brand new stage. What a difference a decade makes.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the lovely comments, Helen. And Jane I'm so thrilled that the eBook cringe is over and authors can just be authors no matter how their book is presented to readers. Lee I love your new clothes analogy! Wonder if I can stretch that to a 'new shoes' comparison? Shiny red high heels dancing on the world stage at last :-)
ReplyDeleteI have contacted Momentum - the books are not showing up anywhere that I can find in the states. I have searched Amazon, iBooks, Google books, and Kobo. Hopefully it will get ironed out. I would love to read this series!
ReplyDeleteIt's so cool to hear positive ebook stories. This is a series that really calls to me.
ReplyDeleteCongrads on the re-release of these excellent stories, Louise. This is so wonderful for you. And I can feel your smile inside your words. Beautiful! *waving*
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comments, guys. Dee I'm hoping the books will be up on the US sites shortly. They're available in every other English speaking territory. Just a glitch in the system that's being ironed out. But it will happen! And I'm so glad to hear the series calls to you Leslie. I re-read the first book recently (first time in five years) and fell in love with the hero Talis all over again. Sigh... Robyn, I'm pleased you caught my smile. I adore these characters and their stories, and I'm so thrilled that other readers are getting the chance to feel the same way. Now I just need to get Baz Luhrmann on board :-)
ReplyDeleteHi Louise! Welcome to Romance Book Haven! I love the covers of your books.
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to reading them fast! Hope the glitch clears soon....
Hello Helen, thanks for coming along!
ReplyDelete@Jane, Lee, Dee, Leslie and Robyn,
Thank you so much for gracing my blog! And you all are wonderful for keeping Louise company!
Nice to meet you, Louise! Your books sound amazing. I'm glad they're reaching a wider market. I'd like to get them for my mom. : )
ReplyDeleteThank you, Emily that's high praise! I've actually had emails from readers who've said their mum fell in love with Talis and they fell in love with his younger cousin Pagan (the hero of book two). So there might be something in there for both of you!
ReplyDeleteHi Louise,
ReplyDeletehope you get the dream realized to see your books as movies!
All the best,
Mx
I imagine new platforms for writers are always welcome, if a little strange to begin with.
ReplyDeleteThanks Maria. I hope they become movies too! I'm casting the lead roles in my dreams...
ReplyDeleteAnd new platforms are strange to start, Jabblog. I was very resistant to eReaders until I was staying overnight with a friend and she loaned me her Kindle so I could read in bed before I went to sleep. Within five minutes I was hooked. Taught me the valuable lesson of not knocking something until I'd tried it!
Thanks for dropping by the blog and for taking the time to comment. I appreciate that.
Congratulations, Louise! Thanks for sharing your story with us.
ReplyDeleteOooh, I love a good fantasy series and these look great! Must go check them out....
ReplyDeleteHope those blockbuster movies happen soon!
ReplyDeleteThanks Sharon! I'm still so excited that the characters' stories are back 'out there' that it's a pleasure to share their journey.
ReplyDeleteRachel, I'd love you to check them out! Even happier if you wanted to post a review on #AWW2012 Australian Women Writers Challenge in 2012) Being cheeky, I know :-)
And Deniz if they become blockbuster movies I think you and I should sit in on casting. Maybe Taylor Kitsch...?
I'm so pleased that people finally get ebooks! And wow, your covers are gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteHi, nice to meet you! :) I'm so happy to hear that your books are reaching a larger audience now with e-books. That's great news!
ReplyDeleteIt's difficult for Aussie authors to publish overseas because of the tyranny of distance, as they say. Ebooks take some of that factor away. Congrats.
ReplyDeleteThanks for popping by Talli, and I agree, it's a fabulous publishing environment now that readers are coming to love eBooks. So many fabulous new books at our fingertips saying "Buy me! Buy me!"
ReplyDeleteHey Shelley, I'm happy these characters are reaching a larger audience as well, although I still do have fantasies about blockbuster Hollywood movies and the size of the audience that would bring!
It can be a challenge to breach the US market in print, Lynda, but happily eBooks are promotable completely online, so reaching readers (the most important people in the equation for writers) has never been easier. I am loving that! And thanks for your congratulations. Much appreciated.
What cool covers. I especially like the first one.
ReplyDeleteIt's great to know that things worked out thanks to e-readers. :-)
ReplyDeleteHi Louise!
ReplyDeleteI completed reading the first book from the SHADOW OF TIME trilogy- DESTINY OF THE LIGHT and it was simply fabulous! It felt like watching a blockbuster movie. Wish I could see this story on big screen.
And now I'm reading Daughter of the Dark and it's like watching another movie again!
Hi Louise Cusask!! How brilliant to have your books available as ebooks too so it'll reach an even wider audience quickly!! Yay!! Blockbuster movies next! Take care
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Hi Theresa, thanks for the comment re the covers. I love them all (because I already know and love the characters) but you're right, the first one is particularly striking, and looks very much like the heroine of that book.
ReplyDeleteI'm thanking e-readers, too, Misha. It's such an amazing time to be an author. Feels like the Universe is just lining up even *more* ways to get my stories to readers.
Nas, I'm SO glad you're enjoying the series. People often comment that they're visual. Now I just have to convince Baz Luhrmann :-)
Hello Old Kitty (great name!) Thanks for putting energy into my blockbuster movies dream! If Walt Disney is right and wishing upon a star is the way to make dreams come true, I'm on my way! The big skies here in Australia are jam packed full of stars and there isn't a one I haven't wished on, wanting these characters to have a life beyond the books.
Lovely to be able to share those dreams...
YESSSS!!! That's the word! VISUAL!
ReplyDeleteReading through this trilogy is very visual, I actually feel I'm watching it unfold on a screen, Louise! You've got the knack for story-telling and especially that Show vs Tell we all struggle with!
Congratulations on the digital release.
ReplyDeleteI'm crossing my fingers for you about the movie dreams. :)
Thank you Nas (curtsy). I see it as visually as if it was a movie when I'm writing it, so I'm glad that translates into the book.
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks for your congratulations Medeia. With all of us crossing our fingers, how can Baz resist!
Oh! Baz Luhrmann...where are you? You've got to pick up this series!
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