Who is Further Beyond and Why Self-publish?
Further Beyond is an independent publisher who was forced into the business in reaction to an out of touch, conglomerate publishing industry.
Hundreds of people have read "Retrieved" by Morgan Chai and the general consensus is that she will be the hottest author since Hemingway . . . yet many publishers and agents have turned her down. Why? Because publishers are out of touch with what readers want. This is not a false accusation, it was stated at the Feb 2004 gathering of the 'Association of American Publishers.'
At the Feb 2004 annual gathering of the Association of American Publishers (AAP), publishers received some blunt advice on how to expand the market. They were told to get to know their readers. How true. But we don't think they can get to know their readers' wants when all they seem to be concerned about is what they, the publishers, want to print. Assumptions are probably the most dangerous things anyone can make.
At the AAP meeting, publishers were basically told that the reason for slow sales of general fiction and nonfiction books was because the publishing industry does not know what people want to read now. Kosmos Kalliarekos, a senior partner with the Parthenon Group, a strategic advisory firm and keynote speaker at the AAP, told publishers they are "too internally focused," and no longer look to consumers for what they want to read.
Even though we read the article, "Publishers out of touch with readers' wants" written by Hillel Italie of the Associated Press, we were still shocked when several publishers explained that they are seeking new ways to identify reader's wants based on what the readers are buying. Wake up, for Pete's sake. The readers are buying what the publishers publish. It's a vicious cycle.
Here's an excellent example of what Mr. Kalliarekos of the Parthenon Group was trying to tell publishers. Morgan Chai presented her manuscript, Retrieved, to countless agents and publishers for over two years. The return letters from the agents were startling. They had the manuscript for months, passed it around within their agency, then told Morgan that everyone loved it and how great it was, BUT, that they did not handle that genre (even though they advertised that they did). Publishers were quicker to respond to Morgan's queries and manuscripts, but the answer was always the same--they were not interested because that particular genre was not selling well, but that it was a well written book with interesting characters and fascinating plots and twists. It was disheartening to say the least, and chewed up precious weeks, months, and finally years of her time. But, since the February 2004 meeting of the AAP it seems crystal clear what everyone had been telling her for two years; 'that they were not interested in well plotted, well researched, interesting and intriguing books.'
Before Morgan queried agents and publishers, she sent draft copies of Retrieved to over 100 people from all walks of life, aged 16 to 82, men and women alike. Everyone loved it! Even teenagers who don't particularly care to read. They all raved about the story development, shocking plot twists, interesting characters and so on. No one could figure out what was going to happen next and they loved that it captivated them. They especially loved that they couldn't figure out the ending and that they had to stick with it to the last word. Shouldn't that tell the publishing industry something?
Most people we've talked to say how sick and tired they are of what is being published nowadays. What the average reader doesn't know is that publishers have 'writer's guidelines' which dictate what they, the publishers, will publish. For example, a while back Morgan was going to write a romance novel but all the 'writer's guidelines' dictated that the woman must not be stronger than the man, that she must be this way, cannot be that way, the man must be the strong one, and on and on and on. No wonder all the romance books are carbon copies of the same old plot scenario! How totally boring! That's not real life!
What's wrong with publishers? Are they tired of reading anything new and interesting? Are their editors not able to go beyond their own guidelines? Do they not realize that life does not follow WRITER'S GUIDELINES? Are the publishers really that out of touch with life? I hope that they are not, but if so, what in the world is wrong with them? And why is the public going along with their dictates? No wonder so many of our youth are not as interested in reading anymore.
As long as publishers THINK they know what the readers want, they will continue to block good writers. Good writers will never be able to scale the walls of the publishing industry's castle at this rate. Sadly, publishers are missing out on great writers wanting into the industry. We can't help but wonder if this ancient 'publisher's old way of doing things' is the reason behind the publishing company takeovers that have been destroying the industry.
Before long the publishing industry will be a monopoly in sheep's clothing force feeding us carbon copies of ridiculously boring books stamped with the caveat, "The names and places have been changed to protect the zillions before them."
Please read the Famous Self-publishers page and you will quickly realize that the publishing industry has been out of touch for a long time.
With all that said, please peruse this web site; we hope you like what you see.
