Amazon Gets Into The Faith-Based Business
Can one be skeptical of this yet optimistic? (Image source.)
Someone has their ear to the ground and know what’s rumbling. From Business Wire:1
Amazon Publishing today announced the launch of Waterfall Press, a new Christian imprint that will specialize in faith-based non-fiction and fiction. Waterfall Press non-fiction will aim to provide spiritual refreshment and inspiration to today’s Christian reader[. …] Waterfall Press titles will be published by Brilliance Publishing, part of the Amazon.com group of companies, which currently offers readers self-help and personal growth books under the Grand Harbor Press imprint.
From “self-help and personal growth books” to evangelical “nonfiction.” Alas; this isn’t that great of a leap.
The best part was within the bracketed ellipsis in the above quote:
while fiction will include stories in the romance, mystery, and suspense genres
‘Cause Christians don’t read any of that fantasy, sci-fi, paranormal, or horror stuff. Why, those stories aren’t even popular …
- Thanks to author Kerry Nietz for the news tip. ↩
Amazing considering parts of Scripture read like horror, sci-fi, and fantasy. Cuz God, he rocks all the genres.
Anyway, Amazon Takes Over The World continues to play. Stay tuned.
(And I will stay tuned, because I find their willingness to experiment, innovate, and force change to be fascinating.)
I was told that the graphic novel editions of George R.R. Martin’s The Hedge Knight and the sequel The Sworn Sword would be getting a reprint.
What surprised me was that Amazon had a new imprint, Jet City Comics, and they’d be publishing it.
I was surprised, but it makes sense. Amazon really doesn’t have much to lose in a situation like this — and the news above. Consider: they are distributor, the distributor with the single greatest reach (in that their catalogue reaches the consumer directly and includes like everything ever). Already they are bypassing one element that takes money in the standard publishing model: stores.
Now they are bypassing another element: the actual publisher. Sure, there is a publisher involved, but they are the publisher. More money stays within the corporation.
They are publisher, distributor, and sales point all in one.
And the more I read, Ben, the better that business model seems. It’s a fascinating time for writers.
Oh, crud. No SF?
Is it okay to mock this imprint without feeling guilty about it? Because I want to mock it profusely.
Keep in mind, Amazon already HAS it’s sci-fi and fantasy imprint. It’s called North47 or something like that.
47north. Why haven’t I heard of this before?