The Finalists for the Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off

The Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off (#SPFBO) began in March and you can read all about it here.

Phase 1 is due to end on September 1st, by which time each blogger will have selected the single book they have most faith in (as if they were literary agents) from their initial pile of 26 (or 27).

In Phase 2 over the course of 6 more months each blogger will read the finalists and rate each out of ten. The book with the highest score wins and all ten bloggers/blog sites will post a review of it.

I will announce the finalists on this page as and when they're selected.

The first to announce their champion was Tyson from The Speculative Book Review.

1. A Soul For Trouble by Crista McHugh - reviewed on The Speculative Book Review.


Second was Ria from Bibliotropic.

2. City of Burning Shadows by Barbara J. Webb - reviewed on Bibliotropic.


Third was from the guys at the Fantasy Book Review

3. What Remains of Heroes by David Benem - reviewed on the Fantasy Book Review.


Fourth to be chosen came from Bob Milne at Beauty in Ruins

4. Shattered Sands by William G Saraband (book link to come) - reviewed on Beauty in Ruins.

Fifth to call their choice was Mihir Wanchoo on Fantasy Book Critic

5. Under a Colder Sun by Greg James - reviewed on Fantasy Book Critic.


Sixth to call was Sarah Chorn from Bookworm Blues

6. Bloodrush by Ben Galley - reviewed on Bookworm Blues.


Seventh came Lynn Williams from Lynn's Books

7. The Weight of a Crown by Tavish Kaeden - reviewed on Lynn's Books.


Eighth to come in were Elitist Book Reviews

8. The Thief Who Pulled On Trouble's Braids by Michael McClung - reviewed on EBR.


Ninth in were Fantasy-Faction

9. Priest by Matthew Colville - reviewed on Fantasy-Faction.


And lastly, Milo at The Fictional Hangout

10. Sins of a Sovereignity by Plague Jack - reviewed on the Fictional Hangout.

Legends II

Every year the good people at the Gemmell Awards hand out axes to needy authors. Now, axes don't come cheap, so every year there's a drive to raise funds so that should your favourite award-wielding author be subject to a zombie apocalypse he, or she, will stand a fighting chance.

This year I have a Broken Empire tale in the second Legends anthology, profits from which support the Gemmell Awards:

Currently you can pre-order the ebook for a mere £1.99 (limited time only).

However, the true collector and supporter will be wanting the limited edition signed hardcover version!

I'm currently signing the pages to be bound into the books:

Most people are unaware that the Legend Award comes with built-in biro. 

 When I'm done the pages are going to Stella Gemmell, then on to four other great writers including Gemmell Morningstar Award winner and Legend Award short-lister John Gwynne. 

So buy one, put more axes in the hands of irresponsible fantasists, and get yourself a great read.


Remember - voting on the short-lists for the Gemmell Awards is happening right now. Just click

THIS LINK

and click the voting tab to place your votes. There's no registration. It'll take you 30 seconds.

What price an e-book?

I was asked today to 'have a word' with my publishers as The Liar's Key ebook is £9.97 on Amazon.

I don't have any say in setting the price for my books, and while my publishers would listen politely if I were to talk to them about it ... they would do exactly what they think is right for the company, to maximise their chances of earning back the sizeable investment they have already made.

£10 is not an insignificant amount to me - I would have to want something quite a lot to put down a tenner for it. Even if it was a book that could entertain me for a week. So I'm not dismissive of people's concerns about cost.

However, here is the breakdown of that cost as I understand it:

£9.97  ----   Amazon take 20% of the price as Value Added Tax. You might imagine this is then paid to the government, and I understand from the news that bad press has finally convinced Amazon to do that in the near future - but certainly until recently they were registered in a tax haven and kept the bulk of the VAT for themselves. This leaves:

£8.31  ----  For all self published books over £1.99 Amazon takes 30% of the sale price (after VAT) for themselves. I'm assuming it's similar for everyone. This leaves:

£5.82  ---- As with all big publishers Voyager take 75% of the money that Amazon hands over from the sale of ebooks. This is standard and much better than the deal on paper books. I'm not complaining. This leaves:

£1.46  ---- My agent takes the standard 15% from all my royalties. He's a good hard working chap and I wouldn't be an author if he hadn't risked his reputation on me. This leaves:

£1.24 ---- The tax man takes 20% of my income. Given that I benefit from free healthcare for my very expensive disabled child, I can't complain. This leaves:

99 pence.

99 pence to buy (on publication day) the longest book I've ever written and one that I laboured on night and day for 12 months.

If you're prepared to wait a year the kindle price will be considerably less. Prince of Thorns is now £1.99 on kindle.

So, when I look at it as a brief window where I can put 99 pence in my pocket for each copy sold ... I don't think it's too outrageous a price.



And, thanks to author Jason M Hough I have his understanding of the breakdown for US Amazon:

Consider a $9.99 ebook.

The split is based on retail price, regardless of what Amazon decide to sell it for.

$9.99  ----  Amazon and the publisher split this 50/50. Amazon give the publisher $5. They can sell the book for $1.99 ... they'd just lose $3 a copy. This leaves:

$5.00  ----  75% of which goes to the publisher. This leaves:

$1.25  ----  15% of which goes to the agent. This leaves:

$1.06  ----  on which Jason pays income tax, leaving in his pocket:

85 cents.


Edit - a word on why I have no problem with my publishers taking the share that they do:

Publishers (often) pay advances - which aren't in addition to royalties - they're royalties 'in advance'. However, if the book doesn't sell, the author doesn't have to return the advance - so the advance is a financial gamble for the publisher and a guarantee/surety for the author. All this helps take the sting from the division of the sale price. The publishers invest significant sums in the advance and in production, and potentially in advertising, and this risk taking is why they're rewarded with the percentages they get.

My publishers have paid me advances that I was very happy with and that allowed me to plan ahead with security, risk free.

The Gemmell Awards: The Ravenheart Award

Here are the 5 covers in the short-list for the Ravenheart Award in the Gemmell Awards:

You can vote for them HERE.

I was surprised that the Mirror Empire cover didn't make the short-list. A very good one!

Of these, discounting my natural preference for Jason Chan's excellent work on Prince of Fools, I like the Half a King cover best.

The Gemmell Award Short-lists!

The Gemmell Awards short-lists were announced this morning, and these are they:

Legend (Novel)

• Half a King by Joe Abercrombie (HarperCollins)
• Valour by John Gwynne (Pan Macmillan/Tor UK)
• Prince of Fools by Mark Lawrence (HarperCollins)
• Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson (Gollancz)
• The Broken Eye by Brent Weeks (Orbit)

Morningstar (Debut)

• Traitor’s Blade by Sebastien de Castell (Jo Fletcher Books)
• The Mirror Empire by Kameron Hurley (Angry Robot)
• The Godless by Ben Peek (Pan Macmillan/Tor UK)
• The Emperor’s Blades by Brian Staveley (Pan Macmillan/Tor UK)
• Age of Iron by Angus Watson (Orbit)

Ravenheart (Cover)

• Laura Brett for The Slow Regard of Silent Things (Gollancz)
• Mike Bryan for Half a King (HarperCollins)
• Jason Chan for Prince of Fools (HarperCollins)
• Sam Green for Words of Radiance (Gollancz)
• Jackie Morris for The Fool’s Assassin (HarperCollins)

Congratulations to everyone!

Thousands of votes were cast in the first stage and you can vote in the final stage here.

I was sorry not to see Robin Hobb on the Legend short-list with the excellent Fool's Assassin. The five selected include four previous Gemmell Award winners: Sanderson, Weeks, Lawrence, and Gwynne (won the Morningstar award in 2012) along with Joe Abercrombie (short-listed for the Legend in 2009, 2010, and 2012). So in terms of the Gemmells there are no new faces here.

I've not read any of the other four works on the list so I've no strong basis for voting. I've read the débuts of Weeks and Gwynne. It's probably healthier for the award if an author who hasn't won before wins this year - which would mean Gwynne or Abercrombie. Gwynne has won a Gemmell Award before though, albeit not the Legend, and it would be harsh for Joe to be short-listed four times and still not get the big axe ... so it's probably Joe's time to be an award wielding author!

As last year's winner I am invited to hand over the trophy to this year's winner at the Nine Worlds Geekfest, which would be a lot of fun to do. I do have an ambition to pass the axe to Joe on stage, with great reluctance, and then just point blank refuse to let go.

Sadly, I don't think I will be able to make it. My duties in caring for my very disabled daughter make that kind of travel very difficult, especially in the midst of the relentlessly long summer holiday. But it should be a great event!

All The Liar's Key reviews I know about so far

As is traditional I'm keeping a list of early reviews for my newest book:

In chronological order:

RT Magazine - Top Pick!

"The dialogue is a humorous, frightening lullaby that flawlessly depicts this dark, disturbing universe and its meticulously constructed characters, both friends and fiends."


Parmenion Books

"For those who have not read it, the Broken Empire series is an excellent fantasy series, one that take the reader right to the edge, page after page…. and yet I have found myself enjoying the Red Queen's War much more."


Pat's Fantasy Hotlist

"The Liar's Key is Mark Lawrence's most solid effort thus far!"


Lynn's Books

"This is a great second book in the series.  Lawrence takes what we already know and with his own inimitable style continues to layer extra goodness on top. "


Whedonopolis

"I dare you not to get hooked!"


The Bibliosanctum

"The Liar’s Key is the kind of sequel every reader dreams about."


Reviews from a book-obsessed Human

"I’m not sure how Lawrence does it, but everything he writes is amazing. I’m already counting the days until the next book in the trilogy comes out."


Fantasy-Faction

" Mark gives us a perfect second book that, just like Jalan, is far more faceted that most. I’m already looking forward to starting it again."


ATG Reviews

"The Liar’s Key is Mark Lawrence’s best effort to date."


The Fictional Hangout

"The Red Queen’s War Trilogy is quickly shaping up to be just as strong as the previous Broken Empire novels"



Kate of Mind

"[Prince of Fools] was quite a delightful read. So, I'm happy to say, is this second volume."


Starburst Magazine

"The Liar’s Key is a book that, once started, is near impossible to put down, immersing the reader in a world seen through a unique pair of eyes"


Impulse Gamer

"Mark Lawrence should be commended on another excellent book "


Beauty in Ruins

"early on, I will admit to a few shadows of doubt"


Sci-Fi and Fantasy Reviews

"If you haven’t read Prince of Fools already, do that first; if you have, then you owe it to yourself to pick up this scintillating sequel."


And the month is nearly up, so I'll stop here. Many thanks to these bloggers and all the bloggers to come who take the time to read my books and voice their opinions!

The Great Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off -- The Halfway Point

#SPFBO

On June 1st we will be half-way through the first stage of The Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off. Which feels like a good point for a state-of-the-nation catch-up.

By September 1st each of the ten bloggers/blog-sites will have chosen (and reviewed) their champion from the slush-pile of ~26 novels given to them. In phase 2 each blogger/site will read (and review if they like) the nine other champions and give each a mark out of 10. The book with the highest score will be our champion of champions from the whole selection of 267 novels. All ten bloggers will review the overall winner.

So far we've had:

Upward of 30 reviews, ranging from mini to fulsome.
At least 4 rapturous reviews.
Only 2 unfortunate author melt-downs.
36 blog posts from our bloggers and a good number of blog posts from observers and authors.
7 general blog pieces arising from the exercise.
9606 hits on the main blog page.
A bazillion tweets sporting the #SPFBO tag.
& 0 deaths!



So, how are they doing?

Officially 94 of the 267 novels have been cut (many with high praise). 18 more have been selected for full reads &/or promoted to local finals. Leaving 155 to be considered.

Unofficially the effort is closer to completion than these figures indicate.


Individual status reports:

1. Sarah Chorn of Bookworm Blues

Has considered 10 of 27 novels. A miracle considering her trials of pregnancy and ill-health. Help is available should the load prove too great.

2. Steve Diamond &co at the twice Hugo nominated Elitist Book Reviews

3 books left to consider. 

3. Mark Aplin &co of the award winning Fantasy-Faction

Has yet to start but feels confident that the sizeable team at Fantasy-Faction can meet the deadline.

4. Mihir Wanchoo of Fantasy Book Critic

Is down to six books to consider in more detail.

5. Lynn Williams of Lynn's Books

Is halfway through at the halfway point!

6. Milo of The Fictional Hangout

Has finished his degree work and will make the project his #1 priority over the summer. Shouldn't have a problem getting everything done before the deadline.

7. Bob Milne of Beauty in Ruins

Has considered 10 out of 26 and is confident of completing within the 6 months.

8. Ria of Bibliotropic

Is down to 6 books that need reading. Expects to make a big dent in this during June.

9. Tyson Mauermann of The Speculative Book Review

Has 8 titles left to decide on. Foresees no problem in completing before the deadline.

10. The guys at Fantasy Book Review

Are considering their last 6 titles.