According to novelist Ewan Morrison, the outlook for self-published authors is growing bleaker by the day. We’re heading towards a bubble, he claims, which will mimic other market collapses in the history of our fickle economy.

Like the dotcom bubble, the commercial real estate bubble, the subprime mortgage bubble, the credit bubble and the derivative trading bubble before it, the DIY epublishing bubble is inflating around us. Each of those other bubbles also saw, in their earliest stages, a great deal of fuss made over a “new” phenomenon, which was then over-hyped and over-leveraged. But speculation, as we’ve learned at our peril, is a very dangerous foundation for any business. And when the epub bubble bursts, as all previous bubbles have done, the fall-out for publishing and writing may be even harder to repair than it is proving to be in the fields of mortgages, derivatives and personal debt. Because this bubble is based on cultural, not purely economic, grounds.

I won’t pretend to be an expert in economics, but I can assure budding writers that there is no need to panic. Morrison’s attempt at labeling self-publishing services as some form of Ponzi scheme is silly. When you upload your novel or nonfiction book to Amazon or Barnes & Noble, you’re not investing any money - just time and energy. No returns are guaranteed, and the only thing writers risk losing is some confidence thanks to grouchy reviewers.

While Morrison’s bubble theory is flawed, his post does bring up some valid warnings for those thinking about joining the self-publishing movement. Here are the two most important things you need to know:

1. You are not going to become a millionaire from self-publishing ebooks. Don’t expect to even earn a decent living from them. Anyone who tells you that you can substitute writing ebooks for a full-time job is trying to deceive you. There are only a handful of true self-publishing success stories. Find a stable job and make writing your hobby, or else devote yourself to the craft of freelance writing and start finding some real clients.

2. You should not be paying anyone to publish your ebooks. Amazon and Barnes & Noble are running legitimate services, but there are plenty of swindlers out there trying to game the system. If you need help publishing your book, contact a tech-savvy friend or use the endless resources online before opening your wallet. During the publishing process, the only things you should even consider paying for are cover design and advertising space. Self-publishing is great because it lets you maintain control over your own work. Don’t give up that power because you’re too lazy or too scared to see your project through to the end.

Link: amzn.to/ypehPF

Grade: B-

L/C Ratio: 80/20
(This means I estimate the author devoted 80% of his effort to creating a literary work of art and 20% of his effort to creating a commercial bestseller.) 

Thematic Breakdown:
40% - Cultural exploration
30% - Investigation of the human condition
30% - Crumbling of society

When people ask about my favorite authors, Don DeLillo is always on the list (even though all that really means is that I read White Noise in college and thought it was awesome). Right now he’s one of the few writers who has earned automatic purchase status – meaning I buy every new book of his without thinking twice.

Nothing against the short story format, but I came into The Angel Esmeralda with limited expectations. The book is a collection of nine stories, spanning 30+ years of DeLillo’s career. There are no particularly memorable characters or plots to discover, as the stories feel more like sketches or vignettes than fully-formed narratives.

If you enjoyed 2010’s Point Omega, then The Angel Esmeralda is certainly worth a read. The combination of sharpness and depth distinguishes DeLillo’s writing and reminds you why he is one of the kings of contemporary fiction.

(This is a guest review by Heather. To submit your own, use the button in the column to the right.)

Link: amzn.to/w3X3hH

Grade: A-

L/C Ratio: 70/30
(This means Heather estimates the author devoted 70% of her effort to creating a literary work of art and 30% of her effort to creating a commercial bestseller.) 

Thematic Breakdown:
40% - Family
30% - Coming of age
20% - Nature
10% - Apocalyptic

Into the Forest is a beautifully written novel about two sisters and how they survive as their family, aspirations and entire society subsequently fall apart. The storyline is very realistic, which made me question various aspects of my daily life and consider how I would react if put in their position. I am not always a huge fan of the first-person point of view (despite the fact that it seems like that’s all I’ve been reading lately), but in this novel it was incredibly effective - making the emotions and situations that much more powerful.

As a biology major (and having taken a grueling Field Botany course in college), I also found the natural aspects of Into the Forest very interesting.

The reason the grade for this novel isn’t slightly higher is that some of the scenes were rather sensual and a little uncomfortable to read. Also, I could vaguely tell where the author was going with the conclusion of the novel, but it still was a tad unsatisfying; the decisions were understandable with everything the characters had been through, but as a reader, I questioned their choices. Other than that, this is an amazing, well-written story with relatable characters and a frighteningly plausible plot that will leave you questioning the world around you.

Link: amzn.to/ADylNS

Grade: C-

L/C Ratio: 40/60
(This means I estimate the author devoted 40% of his effort to creating a non-fiction work of art and 60% of his effort to creating a commercial bestseller.)

Thematic Breakdown:
40% - Overcoming tragedy
30% - Coaching
20% - Basketball
10% - Midwest community spirit

I consider Buster Olney to be one of the top sports reporters in America, so when I heard he had spent months writing a book about a Division-II college basketball coach, I assumed it was a story I couldn’t afford to miss.

And that’s where my disappointment with How Lucky You Can Be begins (the awkward title doesn’t help, either). Despite a devoted attempt by Olney to paint the life of coach Don Meyer as inspirational and magical, the book never managed to connect with me as a reader. Nonstop generic quotes from former players saying “he changed my life” and “I wouldn’t be where I am now without him” lose their zest pretty quickly. Then again, I’m sure my reaction to the book would have been different if the game of basketball had played a bigger role in my youth, or if I had a special relationship with a coach that was comparable.

Nevertheless, I took issue with coach Meyer’s prevailing philosophy and the way Olney treats it like gospel. In the book, everyone at Northern State University (which is ironically located in South Dakota) praises Meyer for the positive values he instills in his players. But then anytime Meyer’s wife or kids are mentioned in the text, Olney describes how Meyer’s overwhelming obsession with basketball led to him neglecting his own family for most of his coaching career.

Of course, the car accident that How Lucky You Can Be centers around gives Meyer a chance to reevaluate those broken relationships – but that moral conflict prevented me from buying into what were meant to be heartwarming moments.

(This is a guest review by Heather. To submit your own, use the button in the column to the right.)

Link: amzn.to/y8S8aX

Grade: B

L/C Ratio: 40/60
(This means Heather estimates the author devoted 40% of his effort to creating a literary work of art and 60% of his effort to creating a commercial bestseller.) 

Thematic Breakdown:
50% - Family dynamics
30% - Auto racing
10% - Terminal illness
10% - Legal battle

Stein’s novel is full of surprises – beginning with the narration style and perspective. His language is eloquent, and he crafts a story that tugs at your heartstrings from the start thanks to the very likable and realistic main character.

Although it should have been obvious from the title, The Art of Racing in the Rain contained more auto racing information, descriptions and analogies than I anticipated. At times this angle was effective and interesting, and other times it seemed to be forced and caused the narrative to drag. Other than that, my only complaint is that the ending was rather jarring and jumped from flashbacks to the real-time conclusion too quickly. Even still, it did not stop my tears from falling as I read the last chapter.