Waterstones, the book chain, is promoting a new series of ebooks it calls Brainshots. Is it just me, or does anybody else think that's an awful title? At least for anybody old enough to remember the Kennedy assassination...
Anyway,here's how they describe it:
BRAIN SHOTS: Byte-sized books for busy people
Brilliant ideas are at the heart of the books published by Bodley Head (part of the Random House Group) - but knowing that not everyone has the time to read all 400+ pages of each of their titles they've created Brain Shots: 'big idea' books in a byte-sized format.
The Brain Shots series covers a diverse range subjects - from international crime to medieval history; from what maths can teach you about winning the lottery to what listening to Bach, or Blur, does to your brain. Each Brain Shot captures the essence of the original, full-length book - but is now available in a concise and accessible eBook and audio format. Now for the first time, there is time to read the latest in contemporary thought.
Authoritative authors, original ideas, expert analysis and unique insight - there's a brilliant idea in every shot.
The titles available in this format include "Essential Things You Didn't Know You Didn't Know," "The Time Traveller's Guide to Medieval England," and "The Emperor's New Drugs." The prices range from £3.99 to £5.01 (not sure where they penny comes in...).
The original "Essential Things" book is actually called "100 Essential Things...", has 304 pages and costs £8.99 at Waterstones. The full ebook version costs £8.18--you don't save much even though you're giving paper, binding, glue...).
The Brainshot version is 60 pages long and costs £3.99 . Did you notice that the price hasn't gone down in the same proportion as the page count? Based purely on the page numbers, the Brainshot version should cost about £1.70. However, presumably we are getting the BEST 60 pages. It makes you wonder whether it needed to be 304 pages long in the first place.
I'm sure they are tracking carefully whether selling the abridged e-book versions stimulates or stunts sales of the hard copy or the full ebook editions.
Pearson US is doing something somewhat similar with chapters of my book, "Focus: use the power of targeted thinking to get more done," but so far I haven't received word of how the sales are going.
I suspect we're going to be seeing more of this--and authors need to check their contracts carefully to make sure they benefit appropriately.
I'm not suggesting that Random House isn't being fair to their writers in this regard, only that often the first contract you are offered skews too far in the direction of the publisher. If you can't get an agent or don't want one, hire a lawyer familiar with the book world to check the contract for you and negotiate on your behalf. Some will do it for a flat rate, others will charge you by the hour (be sure to ask the hourly rate in advance).
(If you're thinking of writing a book, see my book, "Your Writing Coach," published by Nicholas Brealey and available from Amazon and other online and offline retailers. You can also get a free "getting started writing your non-fiction book guide" at www.timetowrite.com.)
