paidContent » Ridley Scott

Podcast: How Hugh Howey’s Wool became a self-published smash hit

Laura Hazard Owen — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 11:30:15 +0000

Hugh Howey’s self-published sci-fi thriller, Wool, has sold hundreds of thousands of copies as an ebook. Last fall, Howey signed a seven-figure, print-only deal with traditional publisher Simon & Schuster, and Fox and Ridley Scott have acquired the film rights.

Our upcoming paidContent Live conference will highlight the changes in the book publishing business, and Howey exemplifies many of these trends. In this podcast, the second in a series featuring digital media creators who are successfully building their own independent empires, we talk to him about his success and what’s next.

paidContent Live takes place in New York on April 17.

(Download this episode)

Subscribe to the Podcast RSS feed

iTunes

Stitcher Radio

SELECT PREVIOUS EPISODES:
Why the digital age needs an effective content licensing strategy

T-Mo’s no plan, SummlYahoo and everyone’s a paparazzi

IoT: Why the Hue internet lightbulb is a bright idea

Call in podcast: T-Mobile iPhone and the best Android keyboard

Podcast: How IBM uses chaos theory, data and the internet of things to fix traffic

Podcast: How Indie Game stayed “indie” and became a hit

Call in podcast: T-Mobile iPhone and the best Android keyboard

Samsung Galaxy S 4 blasts off, RIP Google Reader

Electric Imp aims to make the Internet of Things devilishly simple

Call-In: Galaxy S 4 predictions, Chromebook Pixel cloud storage

Podcast: Facebook’s feedin’; Lean In’s meanin’; and everyone’s Hadoop-in

Byliner, Simon & Schuster strike print deals for a digital era

Laura Hazard Owen — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 20:34:08 +0000

Two separate announcements today reveal the interesting ways that print book deals are changing in an ebook world. The deals show print distribution is still important (print makes up 75 to 80 percent of trade book sales today) and that digital authors often find it easier to work with a partner rather than trying the print-on-demand route.

First, Simon & Schuster has bought the U.S. print rights to Wool, the bestselling self-published science fiction title by Hugh Howey. Howey retains the digital rights, but Simon & Schuster will release hardcover and print editions. “This is a modern twist on the old paperback license, but in this case Simon & Schuster will be publishing the hardcover and paperback editions simultaneously,” Julia Prosser, assistant director of publicity at S&S, told Digital Book World. “We’re thrilled to be able to help Wool achieve greater distribution at retail and bring this talented writer to a larger audience.”

Publishers Lunch notes that Howey “had already made a traditional publishing deal in the U.K. (with Century) and agent Kristin Nelson and her sub-agents have already licensed the book in over 18 territories” and also lists some other print-only deals publishers have made in recent months — including Simon & Schuster’s print-only deal last year with bestselling self-published author John Locke. And Fox and Ridley Scott bought the Wool film rights in May.

Separately, the San Francisco e-singles publisher Byliner signed a deal with distributor Ingram to distribute its titles in print. In the statement, Byliner publisher John Tayman said “we increasingly hear from our readers and writers that they would like our stories available in print as well as digital form,” and he believes the partnership with Ingram will provide “the expertise and unmatched distribution channel to deliver our writers’ stories to all of the great neighborhood brick-and-mortar bookstores.”

Fox, Ridley Scott nab film rights to self-published sci-fi series

Laura Hazard Owen — Mon, 14 May 2012 13:33:24 +0000

As traditional book publishers are increasingly signing up self-published authors, Hollywood studios are also looking to self-published books for their next blockbuster. Last month, Universal Studios and Focus Features acquired the film rights to erotic trilogy “Fifty Shades of Grey,” which was self-published before being snapped up by Random House’s Vintage. Now 20th Century Fox has acquired the film rights to “Wool,” a five-part science-fiction series by Hugh Howey.

Deadline Hollywood broke the news and reports “Ridley and Tony Scott’s Scott Free are partnering on the deal with Film Rites’ Steve Zaillian and Garrett Basch. Producer credits are still being worked out, but they will include Scott Free’s Elisha Holmes and Michael Costigan. Fox’s Steve Asbell will oversee it.” Zaillian was the screenwriter for “Schindler’s List,” “Black Hawk Down” and “Moneyball.”

“Wool,” a series of five short books each priced at $0.99, is set in a post-apocalpytic future. Humans have damaged the planet so badly that they have to live underground in a giant silo. The books have sold almost 140,000 copies this year, Publishers Weekly reported last month. Hugh Howey is represented by literary agent Kristin Nelson of Nelson Literary Agency, and United Talent Agency’s Kassie Evashevski sold the film rights.

“I still have to keep my expectations low because the chances of something actually being made remain slim,” Howey said in a video on his website. But “I munched a lot of popcorn watching Ridley Scott films….whether or not anything gets put together, it’s unbelievable.”

The art illustrating this post was created by “Wool” fan Jasper Schreurs.