Selling What You Ain't Got
Someone sent me this link that sent me to the page on Barnes & Noble's site where my book is listed as "now available for pre-order and available on August 28". But I think we have us a little problem.
I have established no relationship with Barnes & Noble and don't intend to for some while--perhaps until the first run of books is complete or beyond.
So I'm wondering: is it prudent or even legal for them to do such a thing? Will it not cause ill will for the bookstore to have people pre-order the book in July expecting delivery in August, when there are no books to deliver? And how will that reflect on the author of the book, to seem to say it is or will be available and then have to apologize to potential buyers when they have to spend time getting their money back?
I have had the book for only two months, so I'm not ready to make any big changes in how I distribute it quite yet. I'm told that fall is the best season for book readings and sales, and I probably won't make any drastic changes until after the first of the year. But I need to have those changes in mind now, so I can start doing my homework. One option is to set up a relationship with a distributor that has access to many of the national bookstore chains. That would have me making one large shipment (the second printing in whole or part) which would increase the book's reach--and hopefully, volume--but seriously cut the profit per book.
The other thing I'll consider is the possibility of pitching the book to a publisher like John F Blair or Algonquin or one of the university presses. I'm not sure what that would buy me other than some respectability. On the other hand, the book seems to have met no first impressions that it is in any way inferior because it is self-published. Having it picked up by a trade publisher again would only grease the skids of getting it into distribution, and I think I can deal directly with a distributor for that purpose when I get ready.
Meanwhile, if you run across a webpage other than slowroadhome.com that offers the book for sale, please kindly give me a heads-up so I squelch the discounted prepublication imaginary sales before they cause problems.
And if anybody has any good experiences with a book distributor or knows of an author who has, do let me know. Finding a good one really seems a shot in the dark, and I hear far more sad stories than happy ones in this arena--lost or damaged books, exorbitant shipping charges, books discounted beyond the agreed amounts and such. I'd just as soon keep up my existing mom-and-pop (mostly pop) one's and two's distribution method as suffer that kind of aggravation.
Comments
How will you handle it with B&N?
Posted by: kenju | July 2, 2006 8:22 AM
I suppose an outfit like B&N is counting on a "small" book writer to be so grateful for such a connection that he won't think through the consequences or object to them if he did.
I worked briefly in the book trade, and I can tell you that most publishers and stores consider books a commodity, not a creative act. The writer is a factory to them, and if one factory starts giving them trouble, they can find a thousand others to replace it.
I think you're right to keep things on your own terms, at least for now. Maybe when demand burgeons to monster proportions, you can hand over the publishing and distribution worries to someone else, But for the time being, why give up control?
Posted by: pablo | July 2, 2006 9:34 AM
You got me curious, so I looked for my book "The Jim and Dan Stories" at Barnes and Noble online and found they are selling two used copies through private book sellers.
As far as your new book goes, do you have any idea how they even got it?
Posted by: colleen | July 3, 2006 8:41 AM
I would imagine that B&N got your book info from the ISBN registry and your placement in Books in Print.
I'm no lawyer, and no real fan of big-chain stores, but I don't see the problem of a bookseller advertising the availability of a book. It's a book, they sell books. Presumably they'll contact you once they start receiving orders, and -- extending Pablo's advice -- you can leap off that particular bridge once you get there.
Cheers to your continued success.
Posted by: lynD | July 3, 2006 1:16 PM
Hi Fred,
You may remember Netta and I visited you a year or two ago in your home with Trish Perkins.
I remember your blog as the one with the breathtaking photos and drop in from time to time but I haven't previously noticed mention of your book. I don't know how many times it has been referred to.
I just wondered if you have come across the publisher "lulu.com". I published a technical book there (www.lulu.com/UAT) some time ago and more recently I have published a diary with photos of our holiday in New Zealand in two volumes. Mentioning it to you in case you have never heard of that approach, although I expect you probably have.
If you should look it up you will see that the photos look rather grainy on the screen in the preview but we have been very pleased with the quality of the printed book.
Best wishes from England.
James.
Posted by: james windle | August 5, 2006 12:10 PM