Simon & Schuster has reached out to make a deal with one of the biggest eBook success stories in history.
John Locke, the bestselling self-published author of the Donovan Creed novels – has been offered a deal by traditional publishing house Simon & Schuster.
Writing eBooks only to be discovered by a major international publisher is the dream of many self-published authors. And this latest news proves that the big publishers are, indeed, interested in people whose work performs well in the digital realm.
“There are many paths from author to reader,” Locke said following the announcement, “and any path that puts the reader first will be successful. This agreement represents an exciting departure from the norm, and I applaud Simon & Schuster’s incredible vision, and their willingness to provide a vehicle that allows all readers traditional access to my books.”
Locke, however, is a shrewd businessman. He will retain the print and digital rights to his works and isn’t turning over e-book sales responsibilities to the publisher. He’s still a do-it-yourself kind of guy.
Shortly before Locke’s deal was announced, the eBook world was last buzzing on the heels of Amanda Hocking – a 26-year-old self-published author – signing a $2 million deal with St. Martin’s earlier this year.
