Author Solutions Sparks Self-Publishing Debate

By Jason Boog 

In the YouTube video statement embedded below, Author Solutions CEO Kevin Weiss asked the leaders of the Mystery Writers of America, Romance Writers of America and the Science Fiction Writers Association (SFWA) to “engage in a direct conversation with me and some of the other folks at Author Solutions at their convenience.”

In recent months, members of some writing associations criticized major publishers for creating partnerships with Author Solutions–believing that the self-publishing company should not mix with traditional publishers. Weiss identified these three writers associations as “the three writers guilds who have expressed the greatest objections” to Author Solutions’ partnerships with major publishers.

On Twitter, SFWA president Russell Davis had this statement: “We will be responding in an appropriate manner as soon as possible.” Scores of Twitter writers have already weighed in for and against the video.

Here’s an excerpt from Weiss’ speech: “The 9.99 electronic book was not the creation of the traditional publishing industry. It was the creation of the world’s largest book distribution company, Amazon.com … with these and other publishing dynamics, traditional publishers are trying to figure how to change their business models so they can not only survive, but get back in the mode of thriving as business and not shrinking.” (Via Self-Publishing Review)