Seminar: The future of publishing
Title:
The Future of Publishing: secrets from the first debut novelist to emerge
from the online paradigm
Teacher:
Ransom Stephens
“First author workshop I’ve been to that gave me useful information to go along with the ‘writer’s
world’….I was enraptured the entire time.” –Amy Feller
Description
As a particle physicist and Silicon Valley consultant Ransom Stephens has been a firsthand witness to the
development of the worldwide web, its technology, and e-commerce. As “...the first debut novelist to emerge
from the new paradigm of online publishing” (SF Chronicle, January, 2010), Ransom has the experience to
understand how the pieces fit together when new technology changes the game.
“Awesome, exhilarating… made everyone feel involved, hilarious!” -Sarah Reingold
Topics covered:
•
How and why the publisher came seeking The God Patent
o
What the agent said to do
o
Why the publisher sought out Ransom
•
How publishing works
o
The role of a publisher
▪
From acquisition to development to records to marketing
o
The essential instability: the blockbuster profit model
•
The next generation of publishing
o
Why the winner will come from left field
o
Introduction to algorithmic marketing
o
Copyrights and pirates
o
Dead tree books and e-books
o
The history and future of storytelling
o
Hardbacks, trade paperbacks and pulp
•
The future of the bookstore
o
Espresso and inventory explosion
•
The role of the agent
•
Conquering signal-to-noise problems
•
Where we are now and what’s next.
“I learned more in one hour than in I have in three day workshops.”
– Violet Moore, Trivalley CWC.
Details
A 50-90 minute speech customized to address the specific needs of the audience.
“Your style was intriguing and captivating, your irony and sarcasm was wonderful
and entertaining along with your overall personality that seemed to awake everyone
with excitement.” – Rebecca Donham
About the speaker
Ransom Stephens, Ph.D., writer, physicist, and speaker, has had a front row seat for three industry
upheavals: as a particle physicist he saw the established computer industry crumble under Apple and
Microsoft; he was one of the first 10 people in the USA to use the World Wide Web; and, as a Silicon Valley
technologist, led an engineering commando team in solving complex technological and marketing problems
that enabled the development of 4G technology. He understands how the publishing industry is responding
to disruptive technological change. Ransom’s first novel is the future of publishing incarnate, The God Patent
was a huge e-novel success prior to being acquired by a new order publishing company, Numina Press, LLC
(www.TheGodPatent.com).
“Very nice. Good voice, lots of humor, clearly spoken, clear
presentation.” - Wendy Bartlett
© Ransom Stephens, 2012.
Like a dragonfly - darting from task to
task and mastering every one.
Made with Xara
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