Interesting, via the Bookseller.

US independent publisher Perseus Books Group has launched a distribution and marketing service for authors wanting to self-publish their own e-books, offering a 70% royalty rate to the author.

Called Argo Navis Author Services, it will be offered to authors represented by agencies that have signed an agreement with Perseus, with Janklow & Nesbit Associates the first to have done so.

So this is a new hybrid model – where agents have a finger in the game of ebook self-publishing.  One would have to imagine that the agent is taking some of the cut, so it’s not a true 70% royalty rate.  However, there are many, many writers who want someone else to do the work.  So this is similar to using a service like Ebookit, which costs money upfront to have someone else deal with formatting and distribution – except it’s done through an agent. If these books are marketed under the Perseus umbrella, this also has an advantage over Smashwords or Ebookit, which makes up for the agency percentage.

About Perseus Books Group.

The Perseus Books Group is an independent company committed to enabling independent publishers to reach their potential whether those publishers are Perseus-owned, joint ventures or owned by third parties. Member publishing programs include Avalon Travel, Basic Books, Basic Civitas, Da Capo, Lifelong Books, Running Press, Seal Press, Vanguard Press and Westview Press, as well as partnerships with PublicAffairs and Nation Books, and joint ventures with Weinstein Books and The Daily Beast. Through Consortium, Perseus Distribution and Publishers Group West, the Perseus Books Group is also the leading provider of sales, marketing and distribution services to independent publishers. For more information, visit our website at www.perseusbooksgroup.com.


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