For those who are still holding onto "paper" books, I suggest you read this article:
~ edited by Moderator SP. No links to blogs/websites. Read the rules please.
Yes, I wrote it. Professional writer, futurist, troublemaker, that's me. I'm also right often enough to have a lot of people paying attention to what I'm saying. I also have been talking to a lot of other writers about the contracts they are signing, and I'm convinced that the major publishers are a bunch of leaches sucking the life out of the writers they are signing.
If you don't believe me ask yourself why J.K. Rowling didn't bring her EBooks to market through her publisher? Simple. Money. J.K. has more negotiating muscle than most of us, but even she has her limits. By doing this herself she can keep 70% of the royalties. So could any average writer. I don't know how much J.K. could make through her publisher but average writers only make 14.5%!
Edited ~
And that is why publishers refuse to let writers retain EBook rights. It is easy money for the publishers, and so what if they rip off the writers, why should they care? It is profit for them, and they are responsible to their shareholders, not to the writers. If you don't believe me, read their SEC filings at:
Http://www.sec.gov
Wayne