LJNDawson.com, Consulting to the Book Publishing Industry
Book Publishing Industry Consultant

Caught Between Printings - Osnos on the Publishing Industry

Peter Osnos wrote a column yesterday about the contrast between the tightly-synched-up distribution of Harry Potter (any Harry Potter, frankly, not just this last one) and the rest of the book industry.

He'd read a review of the new Wilfred Sheed book - which was not a blockbuster bestseller:

My guess is that Sheed?s book was a ?mid-list? title, based on his sales track and the subject, which means that less than 10,000 copies were shipped based on initial expectations.

What happened is that those 10,000 copies were printed and shipped. The book was reviewed. But by that time, there were no more copies left for new customers to buy; the publishing house had to go back for a reprint, leaving customers waiting. Osnos notes that he is a participant in the Caravan Project, which explores alternatives in book distribution:

Had the Sheed been offered to me as an audio book, I might have bought it. Print-on-demand technology could have made the book available for shipping while a larger reprint was prepared. In any case, not one bookseller made a concerted effort to actually sell me the book and promise to send it to me as soon as possible and by the fastest means. The money that I was ready to spend?$29.95 plus tax, shipping, and handling?stayed in my pocket.

 

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