Barry Eisler’s John Rain Ebooks
Barry Eisler is the best-selling American author of two thriller series, one featuring anti-hero freelance assassin John Rain, and a second featuring Ben Treven a black ops soldier.
Barry Eisler - best-selling author of the John Rain series and fervent advocate of the power of ebooks
He has just published his latest novel in the John Rain series – The Detachment (John Rain) – in ebook form. Given his belief in the future dominance of the ebook format, he has chosen to publish his novel as an ebook first, before the print version becomes available (to be published on 18 October).
Eisler sold the rights to his debut novel, Rain Fall, at the age of 38 in 2002. Since then, his best-selling thrillers have won the Barry Award and the Gumshoe Award for “Best Thriller of the Year,” and have been translated into almost twenty languages.
He made news in March this year when he turned down a $500,000 advance offered by St. Martin’s Press and chose instead to go the self-publishing route. His main reasoning appears to be that he could make more from self-publishing his ebook for the Kindle and the Nook etc… than he would make by signing a contract with a traditional publishing house. Quite a bold decision, that could mark a turning point in publishing, as writers and publishers start to realize that the boot has changed foot.
The digital and audio versions of The Detachment, are available right now, exclusively through the Amazon Kindle Store and through Amazon’s affiliates, Brilliance and Audible. The paper and CD audio versions will be available on October 18 (you can however pre-order through Amazon. Mr Eisler will also be touring —see his website for details – Barry Eisler
The Detachment will no doubt be another best-seller and it already (after just one week) has 45 reader reviews on Amazon with an average 4.5 star rating. The majority have rated it 5 star, some 4 and some also didn’t like it, giving it 2 stars.
Barry Eisler has also posted a fascinating conversation on his blog with J A Konrath on the state of publishing – the following is a very short extract.
“Joe : …… publishers aren’t needed. Do you think publishers are aware of that?
Barry: I think they’re extremely aware of it, but they don’t understand what it really means.
Joe: I feel all writers need to be made aware that there is finally an option. Not just an option, but an actual preferable alternative to signing away your rights.
You’re on track to make $30,000 this year on a self-published short story. I’m not aware of any short story markets that pay that well.
Barry: Well, it’s early yet, but yes, The Lost Coast has done amazingly well in its first few weeks, netting me about $1000 after the initial fixed cost of $600 for having the cover designed and having the manuscript formatted.
Joe: ….. there are two major difference between virtual shelves and physical shelves.
First, a virtual shelf is infinite. ….. a virtual shelf, like Amazon or Smashwords, carries all my titles, all the time. And I don’t have to compete with a NYT bestseller who has 400 copies of their latest hit on the shelf, while I only have one copy of mine. We each take up one virtual space per title.
Second, virtual shelf life is forever. …. Someday, long after I’m gone, my grandchildren will be getting my royalties.
…….. If you had taken the (print) deal for The Detachment, when would it have been published?
Barry: The book is nearly done (it’s on Amazon now – Ed.), but it wouldn’t have been made available until Spring of 2012. I can publish it myself a year earlier.
Joe: ….. When big name authors start turning down major deals, the tides are truly turning.
Barry: I think it’s fair to say it’s probably a kind of milestone. “
Barry Eisler’s books in order of publication
Rain Fall (2003),
Hard Rain (2004),
Rain Storm (2005),
Killing Rain (2006),
The Last Assassin (2007)
Requiem for an Assassin (2008)
Fault Line (March 10, 2009)
Inside Out (June 29, 2010)
The Lost Coast (February 23, 2011)
Paris is a Bitch (April 22, 2011)
The Detachment(September 15, 2011)
You can see details of them all and download the ebook versions at Barry Eisler’s Amazon page – Barry Eisler Ebooks
