Three January Reminders
By Jerry D. Simmons | January 4th, 2006 | No Comments » (Click to add yours!)
FIRST — Publishers and retailers are examining the final December sales numbers, retailers are deep discounting those big hype books that failed to sell during the holidays, and the remainder of their bloated inventory is being returned. If you are an author and your book was published in the past two months, it would be a good idea to touch base with your editor, and anyone you have a relationship with in the sales department to get some hard facts about your books performance because in another thirty days it will be difficult to get your hands on those numbers.
SECOND — This is the time of year that publishers tend to be overly aggressive with the reforecast of their budgets and if your book is on the pub schedule anytime during the next twelve months, you must look closely for any changes being made that can have a negative impact on your book. An increase in a budget of anywhere above 10% should be closely scrutinized and you should demand answers before it’s too late. Once those budgets are increased it is extremely unlikely they will ever be reduced.
THIRD — If you have questions for your publisher that does not require an immediate answer let the post-holiday blues settle over the company. Give them a chance to get back into a routine before you make your call. Give the in-house folks time to reenergize themselves for the task at hand before you ask for assistance. January is the time when everything has to be done today and everyone is stressed. Publishers are always concerned because it is a new year and the pressure to exceed last year started the first day back from the holiday break.
Tags: Book Publishing, Book Sales, Booksellers, Hybrid Publishing Model, Self-Published Author, Self-Publishing
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