Did the earth move for you?

Yes. We all know what that is meant to mean in impolite conversation. But all around us there are geotechnical, geographic, geopolitical and geotrading shifts which mean that the old reference points and comfort zones are gone.

For instance, book marketing. The established system was a sort of cozy publisher, distributor, retailer tiered arrangement. What it meant was that the author ended up with 10% of 10% of something in the end.

Suddenly a distributor twigged to the new reality of Instant Print technology and the distribution wizardry of Amazon. A new paradigm had arrived. Now an author can self publish at minimal cost. They do not need a publisher. Take one link out of the chain. Global efficiencies of scale suddenly apply. Now authors can get at least a minimal income from a small run of books.

Publicity can be done through Twitter, Facebook and direct ordering is over the net worldwide. Goodbye retailers. Another link gone. More loot for authors.

Look at your own business as we have had to look at ours. The earth is moving. It is seismic and nothing will ever be the same.

Geoff Holt