Thirteen members of Novelists Inc. have combined forces to form The Authors Studio (TAS). The association is composed of authors, many of whom are published by major houses, who also own their own small presses. The goal of the association, according to spokesperson Patricia Wynn Ricks, is to aid members with the printing, distribution and marketing of their books. Another objective of TAS, which currently has six publishing members, is to help authors maintain greater control over their intellectual property by retaining all rights, including electronic.
TAS is the brainchild of Julie Tetel Andersen, a Duke University professor and the author of 15 historical novels; her press, Madeira Books, is based in Durham, N.C. Other presses owned by TAS members are Belgrave House, San Francisco; Delphi Books, Lee's Summit, Mo.; KaliOka Press, Semmes, Ala.; Midsummer Books, Indianapolis, Ind.; and Ruby Moon Press, Irving, Tex. In addition to their own titles, the press owners publish works by other writers. Since TAS members are scattered across the country, they communicate with one another via the Internet, according to Ricks.
The association's first brochure was issued this spring and contained 17 titles in both trade paperback and hardcover. A second brochure will be released in the fall. To help market its titles, TAS has launched its own Web site (www.theauthorsstudio.org ), through which customers can order titles; the site also contains links to members' home pages.
The association has done a number of joint mailings, particularly to libraries and nontraditional book outlets. Orders are fulfilled through major wholesalers and Ricks said TAS is exploring the idea of forming its own distribution network. 'We're just reacting to the new developments in the business,' Ricks noted.
