The New Yorker has published Francis Hamit’s letter to the editor commenting on Ken Auletta’s “Apple, Amazon and the War for the E-Book Market” (in the June 25 issue).
Hamit points out why self-publishers are attracted to Amazon, including these reasons:
Having the ability to offer the e-book edition of a new book first allows them to test the market and get early reviews, for example. Amazon’s Kindle is the primary outlet for many small publishers, and its seventy-per-cent commission is an offer we can’t refuse, especially since the device allows for fast international distribution of e-books published by small presses or individuals.
So is it all sweetness and light? If you’re Twilight fan, possibly – the letter’s last two words are “vampiric embrace”…