Interview with Greg Albers, Publisher, Hol Art
Books
Thinking
outside the box in terms of the future of the publishing industry is one way we
can facilitate change. So, we were grateful to interview Greg Albers from Hol Art Books
and learn what this particular publisher is doing to change the industry and
learn his take on what the future may be.
1. Amongst
all the changes in the publishing industry, in terms of publishing methods,
what changes are Hol Art Books making?
We're
launching our first tiles this fall and though our focus is on visual art,
we've been developing a unique collaborative publishing model that is our
answer to what the future of all book publishing might be. Our model opens up
the publishing process and allows for title acquisition and development to be
driven by community participation rather than house rule. We aim to be a
facilitator rather than a gatekeeper for authors and readers.
2. How does
this system work?
In
our system, anyone can submit a relevant book idea or manuscript and we post it
on our website. There readers can review it and, if they think it's worth publishing, can apply to join the book's project
team. All project teams include a project manager, author, editor, publicist, designer,
and bookstore sponsor and once assembled, the members
collaborate online to develop the book. When their book passes a review process
by other project teams, Hol will print it, market it,
and get it on bookstore shelves. Everyone involved -- the author, the team, and
Hol -- receives a percentage of the book's sales, for
as long as it sells.
4.
Why do you think
this new method will be beneficial to the industry?
So
if the future is one of user-developed content (rather than simply
user-generate content). Book publishers, and other industries alike, need to
find a way to switch from being gatekeepers of cultural production to being
facilitators of it.
5. Are other companies following this method? If not,
should they be?
To
my knowledge, no other publisher has tried, or is trying, a collaborative model
similar to ours. And while I wouldn't say our way is the only way to do it,
whether it's a new press looking for a more financially feasible way to
start-up, or an existing indie wanting to continue publish out of the
mainstream material, or a major publisher setting up a new employee-driven
imprint, I think a form of collaborative publishing like ours offers a viable
blueprint for books in a new era of author- and reader-driven production. content, there's
no reason why they can't put together something as professional as a major
media company can.
6. What do you
think the future of book publishing will be?
The
last few years have seen an explosion of so-called "user-generated
content" -- amateur videos being made, posted online, and garnering
hundreds of thousands of views; bands mixing songs on
their laptops and selling directly to listeners; writers uploading their
manuscripts and barely moments later, having printed and bound copies of a book
available for order.
In
this ecosystem, traditional media companies -- television, music, and
publishing alike -- have assumed the role of developing the most promising of
this user-generated content into a more polished (or more consumable) mass
market product, and distributing it globally.
But
the Internet is a natural and effective tool for discovery and collaboration.
And if users can find one another and combine skills and effort on developing
one another's
7. How
does this benefit publishing?
In
this way, people will work on the projects they want, with the people they
want, in the way that they want. We're already seeing people pop from company
to company and project to project on an almost freelance-like career path. This
is only going to intensify as the line between vocation and avocation blur and
people find ways to make their living in a more decentralized way.
It will be interesting to see how this system plays out. We thank Mr.
Albers for taking the time to answer a few of our questions.
