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Message |
    
Stacy Anderson
Awareness Member
Post Number:
4
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, April 04, 2004 - 10:54 pm: |   |
Hello All,
My publisher informed me they are looking at a first printing of 100,000 books for me. I will have two books from my series out as well as a compilation book with other authors ( out around the same time ) so the 100,000 will be the first printing for each book. Can anyone explain to me how they determine how many books per printing?
I read publishers print how many they feel will sell for each separate printing. I also read that it is cheaper for a publisher to publish a large sum like this for new authors especially. Either way I am happy and will of course do all I can to sell as many books as possible. But please could one of you lovely folks clarify this complicated subject of print runs for me? |
Claudia Turner VanLydegraf
Mindsight Moderator
Post Number:
1061
Registered: 06-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, April 05, 2004 - 12:13 am: | |
Stacy,
Wish I could, but I am TOTALLY in the dark about this subject. Maybe some else more familiar with the subject might be able to give you the answers you need. Sure sounds like your publisher is doing you justice and has high hopes for the sales of your books. COngratulation.
Claudia |
Todd Hunter
Unity Member
Post Number:
1362
Registered: 02-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, April 05, 2004 - 05:24 am: | |
100,000? Wow!!!
I can only make guesses, as I (as well) am (almost) totally in the dark about print runs.
I do know that the cost per book is cheaper if the publisher runs more books through the offset printing process at once. If you go with 2,000 versus 1,000 copies, you get a per-book break (I would imagine)...I'd love to see what kind of a break is given for 100,000...I think the printer just broke out the champagne, though... :-P
However (and I can only speculate that your publisher has some sort of return policy...had you mentioned that before?), with a return policy, any copies the stores do not sell will get returned to the publisher...so if say, you only sell 70,000, the publisher will be eating the costs of the other 30,000 (unless they're hardbacks, I believe, in which case, they'll be eating those costs, plus the costs of storing 30,000 books in a warehouse somewhere). Hopefully, they'll make enough profit (after printing and royalties and other associated costs) to stay in business and come out with more books...
I would guess, then, a publisher would determine their print run from both: the amount they expect to sell (though a second printing would probably only take place if they severely underestimated demand, and ran out of books too quickly), and the amount of financial risk they're willing to take.
Sounds like your publisher is highly optimistic on both counts...
Congratulations... |
LaurieAnne
Unity Member
Post Number:
1320
Registered: 12-2001
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, April 05, 2004 - 06:22 am: | |
Stacey,
From one publisher who has to figure all of those things, may I edit 2 vulgar words: Holy Crap!
You got in at the right time and place with the right product, I'd say.
It is much more typical for a 1st time author to receive a fairly short print run, ranging anywhere from 500-10,000 copies. The 2nd novel will generally require a slightly higher run, allowing for word-of-mouth and gifting by those who have read the first and liked it, as well as total newcomers. Each novel after that will either increase or decrease based upon sales already achieved.
Overall, it is nothing more than a major guessing game. Dennis is correct in his above statements regarding profitability, etc. There is a base minimum cost just to start up the presses at all. The first 1,000 copies of any run are considered the most expensive copies. Which is why it is typical for offset printing to want no less than 2,000 copies for any one job. The more copies you order, the more copies you have to be able to spread that inititial cost. It is highly typical to request enough that there will be some in stock long after the "rush" wears off. This allows publishers to continue selling those off-time orders without having to resort to expensive digital printing for fullfillment.
LA
www.authorsinkbooks.com
LaurieAnne
|
Dennis Collins
Mindsight Moderator
Post Number:
786
Registered: 06-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, April 05, 2004 - 06:26 am: | |
100,000 is a huge press run, especially for a new author. I've always heard that for first time authors the 10,000 range was normal and if the publisher really had confidence in your work, it might go as high as 30,000.
I'd say that somebody really expects big things from you... |
priceless1
Hunger Member
Post Number:
53
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, April 05, 2004 - 08:48 am: | |
Hi Stacy,
There isn't much that I can add that hasn't already been answered. But, yes, publishers can have any print run number they feel they can sell. You are also correct that the higher the run, the cheaper the printing costs per book. Having said that, printing a high run just for the sake of having a lower per unit cost is dicey with a new author because the publisher has no way of knowing how the book will sell. Obviously, your publisher has great things planned for you.
Let me add my congratulations to you and my hopes that you surpass their wildest expectations.
Lynn
Lynn
lynnprice.net
|
Stacy Anderson
Awareness Member
Post Number:
6
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, April 05, 2004 - 09:50 am: | |
Thanks everyone for your help and congratulating me. I couldn't find one decent article or anything explaining print runs.
Thanks Lynn for wishing me good luck and it goes right back to you!
Todd, yes my publisher comes with all the fixings...reviews, return policy, promotion...everything. It's a traditional publishing company specializing in African-American self-help, non-fiction, cookbooks, fiction and biography books.
Dennis, my publishing company treats us all like family. That's the way publishers used to be years ago. Some have gotten away from that but there are still some out there. That's a good feeling. I don't know if I would be as excited with a company that treated me like a machine ( like a lot of them do ). I really hit the jack pot in terms of finding a company I truly enjoy...and that's traditional at that. Now I'm just nervous hoping I can fulfill my part.
So you all know I am very happy! I may be young but I did work hard. I've been writing professionally and trying to get published for seven years and finally it has paid off! I believe we all can accomplish great things. Thank you all so much for shedding light on this subject. It's funny to me how much we writers really don't know about the inside of publishing. I guess it's time for me to go buy another book on the subject...LOL!
www.stacy-deanne.net
www.amberbooks.com |
Victoria Strauss
Awareness Member
Post Number:
37
Registered: 11-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, April 05, 2004 - 07:55 pm: | |
100,000 is a very large print run for any author, new or established. It's not just a vote of confidence in you and your books, but also hopefully an indication that your publisher is willing to put some solid marketing behind them.
Sometimes a publisher will announce a large print run as a kind of come-on for booksellers and media people (who think "Wow, a 100,000 print run! This book must be hot!") but will actually print much less, going back to press as needed if/when orders come in. That way they get the media benefit of a big print run, but minimize the financial risk.
Print run size depends on a lot of things, including genre and format. Typical print runs for mass market paperbacks, for instance, are higher than for hardcovers, and print runs for romance tend to be higher than for other genres, even for first-time authors.
- Victoria
www.victoriastrauss.com
www.writerbeware.com |
Stacy Anderson
Awareness Member
Post Number:
8
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, April 05, 2004 - 08:53 pm: | |
Thanks, Victoria. You cleared up a lot. I feel good just knowing my publisher feels it will sell well. I asked him straight out if he thought it would do good and he told me " It will do fine, don't worry. " I believe in his word since he's pumped out a lot of best selling biographies and nonfiction books, etc. He has tons of media contacts and his avenues are endless. Amber Communications Group, Inc. is known as a " silent giant " it is the top African-American publisher dealing in all genres so I really hit a goldmine. Another thing I like is my publisher's enthusiasm for promotion. He is an ex-record producer and used to have his own record company so he loves promoting everything which is great because many publishers don't promote, let alone love to do it. The company works hard and I'm glad to be a part of it. It makes me really feel good to know they have confidence in me. It's all given me new confidence to tackle everything I've wanted to do.
I also believe that the large print run has to do with the places it will be sold at. The books will not only be at Barnes and Noble and Borders as well as online stores and in libraries but they will be sold in all the African-American bookstores and many music stores, airports, places like Walmart. Once I remembered that my books would be sold in more than the regular places other authors' books are sold in I realized the reason for a large print run. Thanks for your expertise, Victoria. You explained it well and cleared it up quite nicely. In this business we never stop learning. Boy am I excited!  |
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