Out of print
My novel is to be remaindered; I will enter my thirties as an out of print author. I got the letter today. I suppose I've been expecting it for a while now, but it still hurts. At least my experience in used books has taught me to have some respect for out of print authors. And I can buy some of the remaindered copies myself, and try to do something with them. I take solace in the steadily growing number of teenage myspace users who list Suburban Aliens as one of their favourite books. Particularly the girl from Frankston, and the guy who says "I know books are 'gay', but ive read four in my lifetime and they were awesome as hell".Still, it's hard to deny that it was a flop when more than half of the copies printed remain unsold, and are to be remaindered - probably pulped, I suspect, I can't see that the remainder dealers would have much interest in it. And makes me feel like I probably should have written something better in the last six years.
posted by Nicholas @ 8:50 PM
8 Comments:
Any chance of them giving all the unsold copies back to you? You could give them away at the next Young Writers' Fest. Or I could pop them into the writers' goodie bags at the SWF. Maybe it'll become a resurrected cult hit? It's a shame it has to be pulped.
Your publishing company did nothing to promote your book, remember that when you're feeling down. It is hard to sell lots of copies when you're not promoted.
That letter had pretty bad timing.
Vanessa.
nah, no chance of them giving them to me. these days publishers deliberately overprint for the remainder market, and they even have value as pulp. i can buy them, though - at $2 each, which doesn't seem like much until you realise there's still 1900 unsold copies. i might be able to get a bulk rate, i intend to ask. i will leave them on trains.
yeah, vanessa, the timing sucked, but what can you do - i knew it was coming sooner or later. apparently when old j.d. didn't want his photo on the back of catcher in the rye, the publishers asked him did he want it published, or just printed? i got the latter. re: my birthday, so many of my friends are so completely absent that any sort of do would just be embarrassing, i can't even get past one hand when counting attendees, even with the pulling power of a round-numbered birthday. but i might do some sort of small drinks, anyway - will let you know. would like to catch up soon, and yes, would like to see more of you than i have in the last twelve months, generally.
Well Tim and I will come if you do decide to have some kind of do. Perhaps you and Tim can combine birthdays a la the legendary fireworks spectacular that F and I missed in favour of Jamie Oliver. V.
nicholas - its better than being 'out of print' in the other, far more common, sense of having never been published
i wish i could sign notes 'V' - so pynchonesque
when i turned 30 i had just moved to vermont where i knew nobody so i flew to chicago and had beers with a handful of good friends. it was great melancholy fun. i confronted the date with all the maturity and good humour i could muster - none.
Do you actually have any copies in your store, Nicholas?
I should pop in sometime.
can you keep a copy for me? i just went to press the y key and there was a z in its place. freaky.
Sorry to hear that, Nicholas.
Do you plan to buy them up?
When uni horrors finish I shall visit the shop, and finish that half-read copy.
Post a Comment
<< Home