Seeing two new books that I really like the look of emerge from the web (Cooking With Booze and How To Worry Friends And Inconvenience People) dragged up memories of my own adventures in publishing land, and I realised it was just about two years ago this week that I excitedly posted this picture of Egg, Bacon Chips And Beans on the big front table in Borders.
I remember excitedly following my sales rank on Amazon (though I can't remember how high it actually got, above is what it is now) and comparing them with a friend who's a real author. And there were all the nice reviews and interviews and the short-listing for the Blooker thing. And the occasional warm glow from an email from someone who'd actually bought one. Or from seeing one in one of the cafes I'd reviewed.
And then, nothing. No-one bought one.
It seems that year everyone bought bucketloads of Does Anything Eat Wasps and Is It Just Me Or Is Everything Shite? (especially in Tesco and Asda where it counts). And no-one bought EBCB. I got a statement the other day from my lovely agents. Harpers printed 20,000 copies and they tell me that gross unit sales were 7,428 and net unit sales were 4,702. (I'm not really sure what gross and net means in this context - does this mean there are about 3,000 books to be returned? Not sure.) So, not no-one, obviously. But it wasn't a hit. And very quickly after Christmas though there was still a bit of press interest in it, I realised that Harpers weren't bothered any more. Everyone who'd worked on it was now doing something else. That was it. EBCB (the book) was over.
And don't get me wrong, I loved doing it, I'd have done it if I'd only sold one copy. And I got a very generous advance, so financially it was splendid. But you know, it just seems sad that there are some 15,000 books in a warehouse somewhere. Not being bought. Not being remaindered. Not being pulped. (I don't think, do they have to ask me if they do that?)
Anyway, I was rather inspired by the stuff that James has done for Cooking With Booze, he's put it online, he's built a mobile version, he's done videos and everything. So I've decided I'm going to stop moping and face up to my long-tail status, and see if I can't do something to knock that sales rank up a little. Not sure what yet. Maybe more regular posting on ebcb would help. But I'm sure I'll think of something.
In the meantime if you'd like to buy a copy to help me out, you can get one from here, or maybe here. As my agent described it 'it's the ideal Christmas gift for the man in your life you don't know very well.'
Hiya Russell,
That's an interesting post.
I have written a novel that will now be published in February because of an online publicity stunt.
Have a look at my Next to Hemingway website, where my friends took photos of my novel and left it in bookshops next to Hemingway, which, give or take a few authors, is where I sit.
http://www.next-to-hemingway.blogspot.com/
Good luck with the book - I'll buy a copy.
Kind Regards,
Lee.
Posted by: Lee Henshaw | November 08, 2007 at 07:51 AM
you should distribute it in cafes. seriously.
Posted by: fran | November 08, 2007 at 08:19 AM
Based on practices in related industries, I suspect net sales indicates that the total revenue from the 7428 amounts to selling 4702 at full price - i.e the difference being giveaways and bogofs etc.
Posted by: John Dodds | November 08, 2007 at 09:54 AM
I’ve been meaning to buy my own copy of EBCB for ages, instead of continually referring to the communal copy in our studio. This is the kick I needed to make me go do so.
Is there any particular outlet (maybe online) that ensures you get a cut from the sale yourself? Or shall I just support my local bookshop?
Posted by: Tony | November 08, 2007 at 10:00 AM
Tony, that's very kind. If you buy from Amazon via a click from here I get a tiny percentage (I think). But get it from wherever suits you. A local bookseller would be good but I'd be very surprised if any had any on their shelves, so they'd have to order it.
Posted by: russell | November 08, 2007 at 11:39 AM
I'm with Fran on this one. Get it in the cafes.
You've done them a favour - now they can repay it.
Maybe they could bundle it?! "Eggs, Bacon, Chips and Beans, plus a book called Eggs, Bacon, Chips and Beans - £XX".
Might even work as a Xmas gift pack in supermarkets. Your book, a can of Branston beans (far superior, no argument), 6 free range eggs, and a pack of smoked back!
Interestingly, this would require putting the whole pack - book and all - in the fridge. Very eye catching!
Posted by: Rob | November 08, 2007 at 12:54 PM
Having worked in publishing. Gross is what was sold into bookshops and net is what sold thru. So yes, the difference between the two is potential returns and then any remainder is of course in a warehouse. In publishing terms, it doesn't mean the book is over period, but it does mean that it is doubtful there will be much more time/money spent on marketing/promotions (unless paperback is on the horizon?). At this point, it would be up to Special Sales and wholesale to see where they can unload copies so as not to lose too much of the cost of printing, marginal overhead etc. I would suggest (1) you be selling direct online and be your own retailer (there should be an ad and a link on every one of your pages), (2) continue to do a bit more flogging whether that be thru friendly bloggers or in setting up some of your own events at your favourite eateries. Do a crawl of eateries across London or something as a publicity stunt to drum up more visibility (maybe eat as much EBCB as you can in a day!).
Supermarkets are tough and lean towards proven bestsellers or proven names (and preferably paperbacks, it is all about volume with them). Cafes just don't deal in books much. So neither of those will be worth time.
I do believe working with special sales to come up with some cross promos with some sort of related company is a good bet. Could work with a gift company, a bundle that includes a can of beans would be clever (sell them wholesale and be done).
Posted by: Justin | November 08, 2007 at 02:51 PM
I was waiting for the Canadian version, but I think I'll settle for this one.
Posted by: Dino | November 08, 2007 at 04:02 PM
Sorry, I want the book next to it on the table, even if I don't recognise the two pandas on the cover.
Posted by: Stig Richards | November 09, 2007 at 05:07 AM
It's good that you like Leila's book, because I sent her my copy of EBCB and she really liked that too. Must buy another one. I also gave a copy to my brother and he's put on about a stone since then. Fine work.
Posted by: Rob | November 10, 2007 at 06:16 PM
If it's any consolation (which it isn't, obviously), those sales figures aren't bad compared to literary fiction: I was amazed by how low the sales of the Booker prize finalists were:
http://writersgroupblog.wordpress.com/2007/11/07/sales-schmales/
And those on the long list were really tiny - some of them no more than a couple of hundred, even by established writers.
So obviously supermarkets and cafes are the way to go - bookshops can't sell anything but Harry Potter...
Posted by: Emma | November 12, 2007 at 09:59 AM