A manifesto for author-publisher relations | The Bookseller

I get on well with my publisher. I have 100% control over my covers and my marketing. I choose my editor, and I decide my pricing strategy. Best of all, I keep all the profits. Does that sound unbelievable? It's not. My publisher is me.

Digital technology has made self-publishing a viable alternative to the traditional system, and it's not just for those who can't find a publisher. I'm one of an increasing number of authors who have abandoned the submission treadmill in favour of the freedom of producing our own books. And the more we do it, the more we learn about how publishing works and the more we realise that traditional deals are not author-friendly.

It's noticeable that the topics of discussion in my writers group have changed from "how to submit my manuscript" to "how to format an ebook". If that keeps happening, publishers will find their slush pile ceases to exist and so will their businesses. If they want to survive in this bright, new world, they need to improve their author-publisher relations, so here are a few suggestions on how to do it.