Remainders

[bunsen_h]

Jo Walton's excellent alternate-history novels Farthing and Ha'Penny have been remaindered by the Chapters chain -- hardcovers for $6.  A number of the local stores have them in stock in the "Bargains" areas; you can check availability on-line.  (The third novel in the so-called "Small Change" trilogy, Half a Crown, has been out for just over a year in hardcover, and will probably be available in paperback soon.)

Later addition, per papersky 's comment: "There are no present plans for a paperback Half a Crown, at least not before this time next year."

Comments

[radargrrl.livejournal.com]

I'm waiting for Fifty New Pence, myself...

[papersky.livejournal.com]

There are no present plans for a paperback Half a Crown, at least not before this time next year. Also, selfishly, of course I don't want people to buy remainders -- get them from your library if you can't afford them, the library paid for them.

[bunsen-h.livejournal.com]

Huh. I was wondering why neither Amazon nor Chapters was showing an expected release of the paperback yet; Chapters is sometimes slow, but Amazon usually lists things for advance ordering well before the publication date.

I'd loaned my copies of the books in the trilogy to a friend of mine, and when I saw the remaindered books, I told her about them because -- from conversations I'd had with her about them -- I thought she might want to give copies of them to some of her family members as gifts this holiday season. (She's on a limited budget, the family's Jewish, her father likes history and alternate history.)

Obviously you'd prefer if people bought the books at full price rather than remaindered, but I don't see why you prefer that they borrow them from the library rather than buying them remaindered. Is there some mechanism whereby authors receive royalties from library books that are borrowed? -- I seem to recall hearing about a scheme like that. I suppose that sometimes a library book will be in enough demand that it will need to be replaced, or more copies bought..?

[beable]

Huh. I think of remaindered books - like used books bought at book sales and garage sales and the like as the possible hooks for books I would otherwise just not bother with at all.

I am far more likely to be willing to drop $5 or $10 on a book I have just come across by an author I have never read than I would be to drop $30.

Liking the book is more likely to make me willing to drop the $30 next time.

The library is awesome for if you know what you are looking for and have gone in to get it, but otherwise it's not a source of looking for anything recent - too much traffic with the new books actually be loaned out for it to stand out on a shelf.

[papersky.livejournal.com]

The library bought the book, the writer got paid for that sale. If the book gets borrowed, the library will feel more inclined to buy copies of future books. Also, libraries are just generally a good thing. There is a system where writers can get paid for library borrowing, but you have to register for it and it's complicated and I've never got around to it.

Writers get around 10% of hardcover prices and around 6% of paperback prices and zilch on remainders. Those books are in print in paperback.

[papersky.livejournal.com]

Yes, well that's why people do it -- if the remainders sell to people who have never heard of them, they're theoretically a free sample to entice a new reader. But that isn't the case when a fan is saying to other fans "Look, this book you want is remaindered, buy it!" I don't mind people randomly buying them, but hearing my friends encourage people to buy them is painful.

And paperbacks are $10, not $30.

And I get random newish books from the library all the time. Maybe Ottawa doesn't have such a good system.

[bunsen-h.livejournal.com]

Oh dear. A number of my friends aren't fans, or read some SF but aren't "fans" as I usually use the term. I wasn't trying to tell people about "this book you want", in the sense that I thought they'd already be familiar with the books, but more "you want this book, really you do, I've been telling you about it and offering to loan it to you, and now you can get your own copy". (I know one or two people -- my exgf, for one -- who aren't comfortable with borrowing books from the library, renting movies, even borrowing from friends. I don't know if it's the obligation to return things undamaged, or the obligation for future contact, or just *another obligation*.)

Yesterday, I was in the bookstore, and happened to encounter the friend I'd first mentioned the remainders to -- she was in the middle of trying to dig out her cell phone to call me to remind her about the titles. She bought two copies of Farthing and one of Ha'Penny as gifts for others: people who've never heard of them, but whom she's pretty sure will like them.

I'm sorry that I hurt you -- that wasn't my intention, of course; my intention was to promote the books. Would you like me to delete this thread? I don't see how I can remove the hurtful element otherwise.

[papersky.livejournal.com]

Don't worry about it.

[utsi.livejournal.com]

i have to say this post has brought you onto my reading radar. so it's been good in unexpected ways. i've also appreciated knowing more about the process of selling books as relates to authors. i worked for united church publishing house, but mostly in the selling end (out sales to UCW & the storefront). so i'm appreciative of the broadening of my horzons

thanks to both of you

[bunsen-h.livejournal.com]

Do try Jo's books -- G- should own copies, though may not have them immediately at hand. You will recognize a couple of the names in the acknowledgments of The King's Peace and The King's Name.

[henrytroup.livejournal.com]

Ottawa has what they call the "express shelf" - new stuff on a no-reserve short term loan basis. I was in the local branch and they had some of the same DVDs as the video outlet across the street.

Well, it's not New Year's and I'm not Jewish, but I guess I should make this my Rosh Hashanah resolution - I must visit the library more often.