Friday, March 20, 2009

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....

16 Comments:

Blogger stu said...

And of course, when the new one turns out to be a worldwide bestseller, they'll be queuing up to reprint.

Sat Mar 21, 12:48:00 pm  
Blogger Clare Dudman said...

Ha, thank you Stu, a happy dream...

Sat Mar 21, 01:00:00 pm  
Blogger Brian Clegg said...

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!

Sat Mar 21, 01:42:00 pm  
Blogger Clare Dudman said...

Can I really do that, Brian? I shall look into it. Thanks for telling me.

Sat Mar 21, 01:52:00 pm  
Blogger aliholli said...

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?)

Sat Mar 21, 04:58:00 pm  
Blogger Clare Dudman said...

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).

Sat Mar 21, 06:59:00 pm  
Blogger Martin Edwards said...

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.

Sat Mar 21, 10:45:00 pm  
Blogger Clare Dudman said...

Agreed, Martin! It is not how I imagined it would be - but maybe POD and Brian's ebook idea are the answer.

Sat Mar 21, 11:50:00 pm  
Blogger Sue Guiney said...

Very frustrating, and a little stab at your heart, I'm sure, Clare. But great advice that I'll certainly try to remember. Thanks.

Sun Mar 22, 11:42:00 am  
Blogger Clare Dudman said...

I think a lot of books last longer than mine did, Sue. I hope yours is one of them!

Sun Mar 22, 12:07:00 pm  
Blogger jem said...

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.

Mon Mar 23, 12:24:00 pm  
Blogger Clare Dudman said...

Yes, great to circulate books, Jem, I really ought to do more of that...

Mon Mar 23, 02:08:00 pm  
Blogger pierre l said...

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.

Tue Mar 24, 12:17:00 am  
Blogger Clare Dudman said...

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.

Tue Mar 24, 08:01:00 am  
Blogger pierre l said...

I should add that I did order the other two books as well...

Tue Mar 24, 09:59:00 am  
Blogger Clare Dudman said...

Now those other two will take you longer...thank you very much for buying them!

Tue Mar 24, 10:18:00 am  

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