I was sitting around in a bar one day, as I am wont to do, yapping about the perils and foibles of publishing (most likely hoisting a shot glass or six) with my boon companion Ben Leroy.
I was waxing enthusiastic about his authors, and how I'm always surprised and delighted by what he publishes. (Two words: John Galligan)
Ben, said I, I'd love it if you'd just sent me one copy of every title you publish from now until the day I croak, or you start publishing crap, whichever comes last.
I heard a clicking sound.
Was it my phone?
Nope.
Was it Ben's?
Nope.
Had the octopus stowed away in my saddle bag; was she receiving a call?
No.
Then I saw a light.
Right over Ben's head.
Oh right! A light bulb went off! The clicking noise was the switch.
And what to my wondering eye should appear, but an amazing idea.
A subscription service.
Like a magazine, but for books.
We tossed around the idea for awhile. Then the topic turned to other things, and I forgot all about it.
Ben didn't.
He called me recently and said: take a look
Holy Moly! I said. That's your subscription idea, right there in click and white.
Yup, he said.
And as we talked on, I clicked, and subscribed.
(I'm hoping I was the Alpha Subscriber, cause that would be very cool)
Here's what I love about this:
I don't have to remember what to order. Lots of places make it easy to order if you know the title, or even the author. But with this, I don't even have to know what I'm getting. I just get it. That's a huge plus for me. I won't miss any Tyrus books whereas before if I wasn't paying attention I might.
I like the idea...no I LOVE the idea of supporting a small entrepreneurial press.
And mostly I love the idea that I'll always have something new and interesting on its way to me.
Think of it as Fruit of the Month Club for your eyeballs!
And think of Ben Leroy as a guy who doesn't sit around pissing and moaning about the state of the economy or the crazy ass world of publishing: he just does something new and interesting about it.
13 comments:
That's wonderful. I hope it pans out beautifully.
That absolutely rocks. Very inspiring. And it offers more anectdotal evidence to my theory that the best ideas happen in bars. It's karma to balance out the worst ideas, which also happen in bars.
My mom belonged to a mail order book club and they sent three titles every couple of months. Doubleday, I think. I still have a bunch of those books lying around.
Awesome! Autographed copies! I don't know of any book club that offers that! Sorry about all the (!)... but it's exciting!
That idea-light-switch is a fantastic sound, isn't it ?!
Your success is our success, all the way around.
Be well.
Do good.
All ways.
All days.
Stay true.
I'm sorry, I don't particularly understand the difference from current book clubs. Could you please explain? Is it because this is a small press?
Your last sentence sums up everything perfectly:
And think of Ben Leroy as a guy who doesn't sit around pissing and moaning about the state of the economy or the crazy ass world of publishing: he just does something new and interesting about it.
I don't know that I'd want to get every book a publisher puts out, but getting an idea and running with it like he did is inspiring, and provides one of the few bright lights I've heard in the current "woe is us" publishing environment.
Subscribed.
Bleak House Books, Ben's last house, put out fantastic books, and many of those authors (whom I've read) are on the Tyrus upcoming list. Doesn't seem like much of a gamble to me.
Thanks for the heads up!
What a great idea. I was always a die hard BOMC member. I loved my free book. And I still belong to ISO.
I LOVE seeing smart people working to make things better (or at least cooler and more convenient)! Hats off to Ben :).
Interesting idea. I used to be in several similar book-of-the-month-type clubs as a child, but not anything since I was an adult. It definitely seems worth it if you like the books the service puts out!
Not sure why this kind of service isn't provided by every publisher. They know what's coming out a year ahead of time. Why can't folks pick a year's worth of titles (one or two a month or whatever) and wait for their books to come. I'd much prefer that over the random titles showing up on my door that I may or may not want. I think as digital readership expands, we'll see more and more of this subscription based format.
THAT is a super cool idea. Simple. Elegant. It's hard to believe it hasn't been done before...has it? Well, nice job anyway. Hopefully more publishers will catch on...
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