Out of Print
I just got an email from lovereading telling me I was a featured author on their website and inviting me to link back, so I went to have a look, but unfortunately could not find me nor my books.
Since they invited me to ring them if I had a query, I did. A moment of puzzlement followed, eventually solved when it was realised my books were all out of print and so have been eliminated from their database.
It is a sad reality for an author today, especially one of the literary fiction variety, that a book is in print for a far shorter time than it takes to write (and in my case research).
However, the sun is shining and I refuse to be downhearted. My books had their day, and maybe my new novel will have its day too. The important thing is to not look back and keep going (and maybe try to persuade my publishers to look into print on demand).
And lovereading is a very good website....
Since they invited me to ring them if I had a query, I did. A moment of puzzlement followed, eventually solved when it was realised my books were all out of print and so have been eliminated from their database.
It is a sad reality for an author today, especially one of the literary fiction variety, that a book is in print for a far shorter time than it takes to write (and in my case research).
However, the sun is shining and I refuse to be downhearted. My books had their day, and maybe my new novel will have its day too. The important thing is to not look back and keep going (and maybe try to persuade my publishers to look into print on demand).
And lovereading is a very good website....
posted by Clare Dudman at 11:23 am
16 Comments:
And of course, when the new one turns out to be a worldwide bestseller, they'll be queuing up to reprint.
Ha, thank you Stu, a happy dream...
Out of printness really stamps on an author's ego. Do make sure they revert rights to you - I've made ebooks of my OOP books - not sold huge quantities, but the most popular has sold 126... every little helps, as they say!
Can I really do that, Brian? I shall look into it. Thanks for telling me.
Great to hear you sounding so positive, Clare, I like it! "Onward and Upward" every day! Can`t wait for the new one ("how much longer??!")(how`s your knee?)
Hi Ali, Knee bearing up, thank you:-)
I can't get into spinnin' though - you are just too popular!
But I have been at the gym! (Although obviously this is nowhere near as good).
Far too many great books are out of print and one can only hope that the publishing industry reinvents itself in some way so as to make this a less frequent hazard of the writing and reading life.
Agreed, Martin! It is not how I imagined it would be - but maybe POD and Brian's ebook idea are the answer.
Very frustrating, and a little stab at your heart, I'm sure, Clare. But great advice that I'll certainly try to remember. Thanks.
I think a lot of books last longer than mine did, Sue. I hope yours is one of them!
Good to stay positive Clare - and as such I'm glad I sent your '98 Reasons' back into circulation once I'd read it, via and friend and then onto Bookmooch, and that I've got your 'Ice' one biding it's time on my shelf, whereafter I will do the same.
Yes, great to circulate books, Jem, I really ought to do more of that...
While this will not bring you any royalties, I must mention that the excellent abebooks.co.uk came up with numerous copies of "One Day the Ice Will Reveal All Its Dead" and "98 Reasons For Being". However there was only one copy of "Edge of Danger" -- it is now mine.
Ah, thank you Pierre. I hope you enjoy Edge of Danger. It is a quick read, I should think. Yes, there are quite a few of my books around - although not in print any more, at least thanks to the web they are still available.
I should add that I did order the other two books as well...
Now those other two will take you longer...thank you very much for buying them!
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