JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: I'm working on something new, but it's kind of tiny and fragile with sharp claws and needle-like teeth, so I'm not going to be talking about it for some time yet.
I can definitely talk about AT MIDNIGHT COMES THE CRY, and in fact, my publisher would love me to do so. We're at the stage where the book's publication seems both impossibly far away and also holy cow it's coming up fast. The quantum novel: it will never be on the shelves, it will be here practically tomorrow.
My agent and editor have sent out requests for blurbs and they're coming in (many, many thanks to Rhys, who took time she couldn't spare to say very nice things about the book) and there have already been a couple pre-ordering deals. St. Martin's is running a giveaway contest at Goodreads, the second ebook in the series is priced at $2.99 all month, and Steve, my really, really nice marketing manager, has been sharing graphics with me I don't even know what to do with.
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| This is a "short vertical." I bet Jenn knows how to use this. |
I was Zooming with my bestie in Colorado (Hi, Roxanne!) and her husband popped on to say he'd seen a promotion from Barnes & Noble and got all excited about the book being here soon and was shocked to see the pub date was November 18th.
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That's November 18, folks! Find it in fine bookstores everywhere!
I laughed and said 1) I would send them a book so don't worry and 2) the publisher likes to get way out ahead.
But why?
I've written about what pre-ordering means to the author before: it shows the publisher the amount of reader enthusiasm, and gets bookstores excited, and more likely to up their orders. However, there's another point of view to consider: the publisher's.
I think this version would look nice silk screened on a bolster cushion, what do you think?
Book publishing, you will not be surprised to hear, is a business with slim margins. The old joke goes, "How do you make a small fortune in publishing? Start with a large fortune." Like many businesses, the Big Five try to cut material costs wherever they can. The price for print-quality paper has been rising since 2021, and the looming trade deficits won't help that trend, since a considerable amount of it comes from Canada. (67% of the "uncoated" paper used in the US - that's the stuff you stick in your printer or copy machine, as well as what you find between the covers of your favorite books - comes from our friendly neighbors to the North.)
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| This is for my Instagram Story. I've never done an Instagram Story! I have a feeling I'm going to let Steve down. |
However, publishers have a limit to the amount of raw material they can save. Mars can sell you a mini Snickers bar, but no one is going to read a book that tops out at 87 pages because it's been printed in this size font!
In addition, the number of large-scale printing companies in the US have been shrinking over the past twenty years. Scheduling the when, where and most importantly, how many copies of of the book to be produced begins to look like another moon launch at times. 75,000 copies of THE WELL-LOVED DETECTIVE INVESTIGATES? Slot it in between the 25,000 run of AN MFA STUDENT'S STORY and the 200,000 copies of QUIRKY MILLENNIALS IN LOVE. God forbid two weeks ahead of time, AN MFA STUDENT'S STORY gets featured on Fresh Air with Teri Gross and you've got fourteen days to figure out how to double the print run. (I mean, that's a good problem, but it's still a problem.) .png)
Also for my Instagram Story. I'm going to have to call Virginia in De Haag and have her walk me through this.
Every book that doesn't sell, and that has to be pulped, is a waste of resources. Conversely, getting a book on the shelves and immediately having to go back to print is expensive and can lead to a lot of upset bookstore owners who have to send those Teri Gross listeners away. "Sorry, we can have it in two or three weeks, do you want to get on the list?" is not a winning commercial strategy.
So, dear readers, this is why we have pre-sale specials, and contests and publicity and all that other stuff: so when St. Martin's pushes the button for AT MIDNIGHT COMES THE CRY, the printing presses will chunder out exactly the right number of copies to meet the demand - the demand you, dear readers, establish. Fingers crossed I outsell QUIRKY MILLENNIALS IN LOVE...
Phew! Kind of makes you wonder how anything manages to get published . . . . Still, November 18th seems like an impossibly long time to wait for a book I am SO anxious to read! But I think it must be even more difficult for authors . . . .
ReplyDeleteBe a writer, they said. It'll be FUN, they said.
ReplyDeleteBut seriously, I've had my copy preordered from the moment I first learned it was available.
My next book release is scheduled for November 7, so I'm very aware of how far away AND how soon it is.
Excited anticipation here! I too have had the book preordered "forever." I did know about the slim margins but did not realize the other current pressures. Fun fact: GONE WITH THE WIND had 31 print runs in its first year. Since it was May, 1936 and the Depression, for the first run MacMillan printed a conservative 10,000 copies. They quickly realized their mistake. However the second print run of 50,000 in early June sold out on its first day. I have my mother's 1936 copy, bought when she was thirteen, which says "Published June, 1936. Reprinted June, 1936. July 1936 (Three times.) August, 1936. (Four Times.)" My guess is hers is from this fourth August printing. However they had to keep going back. GWTW sold a million copies in its first year.
ReplyDeleteFingers crossed for you, Russ, and Clare! I can't wait!
P.S. I agree about the silkscreen. It's a lovely graphic. (Selden)
Like Annette, my copy is preordered, and I can't wait. I know well the value of preorders. I hadn't thought about the problem (may I live so long to experience it) of appearing on Terri Gross (or Oprah...) and not having enough books available on release day. Fingers crossed for you.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you, however, on Instagram stories. Not a clue! I too would have to ask people much younger than I, but I think my son and his wife could help.
JULIA: I am sure your new book will out sell QUIRKY MILLENIALS IN LOVE!
ReplyDeleteI am crossing fingers that pre-orders and "want-to-read" on Goodreads help.
To9 bad 95% of giveaways are US only. I get it. It's waaay too $$ to ship prizes to Canada + Canada Post might be going on strike again soon!
And book prices will continue to go up due to our poor US/CA exchange rate. A hardback book costs over $40 CDN + tax. I heard 47 say the US doesn't need Canadian lumber and they will cut, cut cut more domestic trees. But he doesn't know that stat about print-quality paper, right?
Grace, this is all so wrong. But when one green pepper costs $2.35 and a box of Connecticut eggs costs $9.50...the madness is just beginning.
DeleteInstead of smuggling whiskey over the border, I'm thinking boxes of books.
I have to assume that that is 12 eggs, and not a flat. I could mail you a dozen, fresh brown and white eggs of $5, but I doubt Canada Post would carry them, and there may be tariffs at the border - and perhaps they would arrive scrambled. Better you should come and visit!
DeleteWow, I had no idea how complicated the process is. A real eye opener. Meanwhile, I love the title and want the book. And best wishes for fabulous sales.
ReplyDeleteEagerly awaiting the book and will pre-order with my women owned independent bookstore. This is my clue to re-read the others to refresh my memory of all things Russ and Clare.
ReplyDeletePre-ordered the instant I knew I could. Julila, your pub date of November 18 (almost) makes me look forward to summer being over and winter arriving...Bring. It. On. And best wishes with Instagram and other social media promos; so much young-person-help needed, so little time!
ReplyDeleteAs an avid reader, whose husband is a bit cranky about the piles of books stashed around the house, I nevertheless am a serial pre-orderer! So Julia, (and many other favorite authors), I do my part and hit those B&N pre-order sales with energy and purpose. My Kindle overflows with the newest one in so many series, ( or the anticipation thereof), and my new reading prescription sunglasses are ready for a serious summer of stories. I tell my librarian about authors I love and I send lots of books to my reading buddy in Florida who also shares them. I post about books I love and write reviews ( only for books I like) so my favorite authors get support from me. I know that I am very fortunate to be able to buy the books I want, but I also use my library a lot! They know me there!
ReplyDeleteTell us what you need us to do, Reds! We are your cheering section!
You are the best kind of fan, Judy!
DeleteYou betcha Judy! We are indeed!
DeleteCapitalism seems to be squeezing everything and everyone these days and publishing is just one more example. I'll check with one of my favorite independent bookstores about pre-ordering. I'm very much looking forward to reading this!
ReplyDeleteYou got me with this: "Mars can sell you a mini Snickers bar, but no one is going to read a book that tops out at 87 pages". I thought, "Oh I might read a book that tops out at 87 pages, depending" and then realized there was more--without my glasses and before 5 am, I could barely make it out. Thanks for the laugh
Is that Powell's, Gillian? Next time I'm out there, let's meet at Powell's. Allegiant just announced super cheap direct flights, so I will definitely be out there again!
DeleteI'm looking forward to your upcoming sci-fi rom-com QUARKY MILLENNIALS IN LOVE. (That was the title, wasn't it?)
ReplyDeleteInstead of a beach read, your latest is a curl up by the fire kind of read. Looking forward to it and of course, the Writers Who Kill blog would be delighted to host you.
ReplyDeleteJulia, I have had your book pre-ordered at one of my local independent bookstores since you said it was available for pre-order. November 18th does seem far away but we all know how time goes! I spent 11 years as a sales rep to independent bookstores for W.W.Norton so the woes are not unfamiliar. Every year it seems to get harder. I cross my fingers and say a little prayer that all of the JRW books get published and promoted and pre-ordered and sold.
ReplyDeleteWoohoo, Julia! Pub date will be here before you know it! Which comes first, the book baby or the grandbaby? Many blessings this year.
ReplyDeleteThe publishing world seems to have gotten more complicated, rather than less.
If you want a cushion made with that gorgeous graphic, there are a couple places online that will make custom-printed fabrics, including custom cushion covers. For fabric (or wallpaper--you could do a powder room wall, right?), https://www.spoonflower.com/ And this company will print on pillow covers of several sizes, plus cell phone cases, etc. https://fineartamerica.com/custom
Several things. This all went poof a minute ago, as the AI has overtaken my machine and is driving me nuts. Let me think my own thoughts and stop writing your gobbledygook! Argggh!
ReplyDeleteAnyway. Carrying on.
Paper. I was really surprised at your words about how much paper came from Canada, and when starting the conversation with the fellow in the chair with the newspaper, we questioned whether or why the northern states – Vermont? – does not make paper. They have trees. Maybe not south Dakota or Arizona, but maybe out west, although paper from redwoods would be a shame.
If I could read, I would pre-order, but definitely not in size 6 font. I will be quick to get the audio version. Does the printer do a large print run at the same time as the main run, or maybe at all?
As for number of copies – I wonder if a publisher thinks “oh, this author sold really well for the last book. I wonder if the gild is on or off the lily, and therefore should we print the same or more or less copies this time. I would imagine it would be a factor.
Printing – we had a wonderful printer for our monthly paper. There was no deadline, but they kept the entire last week of the month open for us. The copy went in electronically with the number of papers needed and that day or the next day, it was ready for pick-up. We started at about 250 copies of 8 pages and it went up to 500 of 44-48. It did not matter – it was instantly printed, stapled, folded and boxed. Colour cover and back? No problem. Colour centerfold, or colour pages somewhere weird – no problem. Tom pre-read the paper (he liked it) and reported things that did not work (rarely), and was even known to come in all evening to get it out in the morning for us. Wow! We were lucky.
Concerning the number of copies – how hard is it to do another run, should the first printing sell out instantly or perhaps was miscalculated? Is it a major event and therefore discouraged or refused? My father wrote a self-published memoir, and was told that to reorder a smaller run was doable, but costly.
As for “it's kind of tiny and fragile with sharp claws and needle-like teeth” I sure hope it is a cute little kitten or maybe a baby raccoon and not QUIRKY MILLENNIALS IN LOVE. Baby kittens are so much easier to love than quirky millennials, I think. Congratulations.
Margo, it's the species of tree that is important. Paper can't be made from just any tree, apparently.
DeleteCan’t wait Julia! Also excited about the new secret project 😁
ReplyDeleteI am already saving up for the price of the book. No idea how much it will cost by then, but some things (like your books!) are worth the price, tariffs or not. It's too early to put in a library request but I will talk to them about ordering it. Not sure how that works but I know they will want to have it.
ReplyDelete