The world of publishing is changing.
As I wrote several articles ago, the world of publishing has been evolving ever since Gutenberg’s printing press produced its first book. I polled readers where they buy their books and 17% of people said they buy mostly electronic books. That growing percentage has been the driving force of book evolution the last few years. Those readers are a powerful new constituency, one that will continue affecting change in years to come.
One way things are changing is through the short story. For years, authors wrote few short stories and novellas. There really wasn’t a market for publishers to sell to, not at levels that made it financially viable. But with the creation of the eReader, authors and publishers are able to reach their readers in a split second at virtually no cost.
Bestselling author Robin Hobb and Subterranean Press are taking advantage of this new found ability to sell a new short story. She has completed
Here is a bit more about Words Like Coins:
Sub Press is pleased to present their first ebook exclusive, Words Like Coins, a 10,000 word Farseer tale by Robin Hobb, featuring five new illustrations by Tom Kidd.
Mirrifen, a failed hedge-witch’s apprentice who has married to find security finds that threatened by a severe drought and the appearance of a pregnant female pecksie.
I asked Bill at Sub Press about the new story. Here is what he had to say:
NEW RELEASE INTERVIEW: WORDS LIKE COINS
Shawn Speakman: WORDS LIKE COINS by Robin Hobb is your first ebook exclusive. What made WORDS LIKE COINS the perfect story to do that with?
Bill Schafer: We had a great time working with Robin on he collection, Inheritance, and were casting about for other projects we could work together on. “Words Like Coins” first appeared in our A Fantasy Medley, which went out of print very quickly, and commands insane prices on the secondary market, in no small part because of Robin’s Farseer story. We wanted to make the story available to more readers, and an ebook seemed like the natural way to do so.
SS: You have hired Tom Kidd to do other wonderful projects in the past. What is it about his artwork that keeps you coming back?
BS: I love that Tom’s work is both delicate in its line work, yet so full of color. For Robin’s story, there’s a savage cast to it, an aspect I hadn’t seen in Tom’s work before, but which complements the tale perfectly.
SS: What else does Sub Press have up its sleeve for fantasy fans coming soon?
BS: This week, we’re shipping Lucius Shepard’s The Dragon Graiule, which contains the novellas he’s written about the gigantic serpent that’s been dormant for centuries, and the communities that live on — and in — it. Soon, we’ll be publishing our second Tad Williams collection, A Stark and Wormy Knight, which is great, because it allows Tad to show all of his sides, from epic to comedy, between the covers of one book. I should also mention we have an original Brandon Sandeson novella, Legion, that will be out this summer. I suspect it’s going to be a treat for all of his fans.
To learn more about and/or order Words Like Coins, click HERE!
More soon!
