A Publisher's Conversation with Authors: When a Book Gets Long in the Tooth



It is Tuesday. Monday's madness is over, and Wednesday will take us over the hump, so Tuesday it is--for some serious discussion with authors. Tuesday talks mean to address authors in waiting and self-published authors who would like to go a more traditional route or who would at least like to take their steps with a publisher by their side. 

Today's topic is books that have aged. Can you consider to market and sell an "old" book? Sure! Here are some suggestions:

  • First, really important, look at the content. 
    • Is it dated? Then, it is time for a second edition. Outdated books do not sell. New editions do. Make sure you bring it right up to date. Then, you have something to market.
    • Not dated? You might still want to consider a second edition. A second edition says "new," and "new" attracts.
  • Previous purchasers. Look through your records. Would they buy the book again? Many would, if there were a new edition.
  • New markets. How has the market changed since the book came out? Are there new places where you might find readers?
  • Backlisting. Your publisher wants to backlist the book.  What should you do?
    • Ask the publisher if there are options. For example, we will keep a book front-listed if the author pays the costs.
    • Go along with it (you may have no choice). Backlisting usually still keeps the book in the publisher's catalogue and on Kindle, so there are still options for sales -- all of the marketing will fall to you, though.
    • Find another publisher. If the book had good sales, approach another publisher to take it over. (You may need a new edition and even a revised title, but it is worth following the publisher's suggestions if you can find one.)
  • Take advantage of opportunities that you work to make happen. One of our long-in-the-tooth books became our bestselling book two years ago--three years after the author died. An Influencer discovered it. Be out there, where influences can find you.

Bottom line: Don't give up on a good book even if your publisher does. There are things you can do to bring it back to life.                                                                     

Lesson for today's Tuesday talk: Old books don't die unless you give up on them. Keep them new the same way you kept them exciting when they were first published.

See more Publisher Conversations with authors HERE.



 Learn more about publishing from an acquisitions editor -- how to get your book proposal accepted, why proposals are turned down/accepted, and how to find the right publisher for your book. On special sale for $5 while inventory lasts at MSI Press webstore.



The Tuesday talks reflect real discussions between the management of MSI Press LLC and our own authors or those would-be authors who come through our doors but don't make the cut--yet. If you have a topic that you would like addressed, leave the question in the comment section. Chances are, in our 18 years of publishing first-time and experiences authors, we have had a conversation with one of our authors that we can share with you.

                             

Sign up for the MSI Press LLC newsletter

Follow MSI Press on Twitter, Face Book, and Instagram. 

Interested in publishing with MSI Press LLC?
Check out information on how to submit a proposal.

Interested in receiving a free copy of this or any MSI Press LLC book
 in exchange for reviewing a current or forthcoming MSI Press LLC book?
Contact editor@msipress.com.

Want an author-signed copy of this book?
Purchase the book at 25% discount (use coupon code FF25)
and concurrently send a written request to orders@msipress.com.
Want to communicate with one of our authors?
You can!
Find their contact information on our Authors' Pages.




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

In Memoriam: Carl Don Leaver

Image
  1948-2021 It is with great sadness that MSI Press notes the death of Carl Leaver, CEO of the Press and typesetter and graphic designer par excellence . Many authors have expressed not only condolences but also a sense of legacy from covers he designed that they love.  Here is his obituary: On August 16, 2021, Carl Don Leaver of San Juan Bautista passed into eternal rest. A forester with the US Forest Service in Idaho and Montana, he turned to nature photography while working in the Bitterroot National Forest. His photographs graced national magazine covers and on a weekly basis the local paper of Hamilton, MT, the Ravalli Republican. He later worked on photography projects for the US Army (AFEES) and taught photography at the New York Institute of Technology in Amman, Jordan. His final career change led him to computer graphics and publishing as co-owner of MSI Press LLC; his many typeset books and book covers have helped MSI Press authors win a large number of awards over t...
Read more

A Publisher's Conversation with Authors: Book Marketing vs Book Promotion

Image
It is Tuesday. Monday's madness is over, and Wednesday will take us over the hump, so Tuesday it is--for some serious discussion with authors. Tuesday talks mean to address authors in waiting and self-published authors who would like to go a more traditional route or who would at least like to take their steps with a publisher by their side.  Today's post looks at the difference between book marketing and book promotion, two terms that are frequently confused. Leading to the confusion is that some of the same activities are needed for both. In fact, good marketing is dependent upon good promotion. Perhaps the essential difference is that marketing focuses on sales, and promotion focuses on awareness --  noting that without awareness, sales generally do not happen. Book Marketing Book marketing includes promotion, sales, and increasing awareness of the availability of the book. It generally starts with a marketing plan that identifies the target audiences and selects marketing ...
Read more