I've got the rights reversion letters for six of my out of print books, three fiction, three non-fiction. Can anybody suggest a release strategy? Like, release all six at once? One a year? One of each a year?
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The authors I know of who are releasing their OOP backlists are doing so as soon as each volume is ready.
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I'm working with an author at Aurora who has contracted with us to release her backlist fromt he 80s and 90s. We are releasing one per month--it's an easily meetable release schedule, easy to promote and even easier to sell. I've found that this has built her a new readership and tapped into her already existing one very nicely. Because of the regularity of the releases, those readers show up loyally on release day and purchase her book as soon as it's released.
And every month, those release date figures are higher than the month before. Hard to argue with that.
And every month, those release date figures are higher than the month before. Hard to argue with that.
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Joe Konrath, (see his blog here: http://jakonrath.blogspot.com/2011/04/276112.html )
Makes the point that every day your book is not available is another day you cannot make a sale. It represents a lost opportunity cost.
That, for me, is a completely persuasive argument.
I would release them all as soon as they are ready. If they are ready on the same day, then release them the same day. I doubt that anyone is going to check the release date and make a buying decision based on that.
I would suggest releasing each/all as soon as they're ready. Make certain you have the formating right (takes a little practice to learn this); make sure you have a great looking cover (you probably can't use the original one); make sure you understand blurb-writing enough to come up with a good one. Once the package is all wrapped up neat as the original book was, put the ebook out every place you can get it uploaded.
Best of luck with it!
Best of luck with it!
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As a prolific writer of romance, I'v found two months apart is too long to keep backlist interest. But if they're a week apart it's too close. Somewhere between 2-6 weeks apart if you plan to do launch marketing for each piece. If you just plan to publish and keep writing, then don't worry about the delay and just put them up. But that's just what I've noticed with my stuff.
Eve
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I think staging the releases over time would help in a few ways. It would allow dedicated release date marketing, staged sending of review copies, and be less of a budgetary strain on your fans than buying them all at once. It will also allow more of a learning curve to avoid repeating of any mistakes from the first release for later releases.
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As a reader, I'd go with this. Not only the budgetary strain, but it's a bit overwhelming to suddenly have several books out there at once. I've had this happen, where I wasn't able to get the next book right away, and suddenly there are two more out there - maybe it's just me, but I went off the series for a while, figuring I couldn't afford (money or time) to 'catch up' anyway, so might as well wait. And yeah, I hit the library...
If they come spaced out, and you announce with each release when the next one's coming, there's an anticipation built in (and ability for the reader to plan for it).
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I'm releasing short stories (4k to 6K) individually this summer every two weeks or so. I would say that's the absolute minimum you should put between releases so that you don't drive yourself completely crazy.
Don't forget that each title will need its own promotion, emails, submitting for reviews, fixing any typos that crept in etc. I don't know how you could do it quicker without losing track of everything.
If it was novels, you might need more time (minimum). Some of the work is the same regardless of length, some isn't. Depends what you are doing yourself, and what you are sourcing out.
Don't forget that each title will need its own promotion, emails, submitting for reviews, fixing any typos that crept in etc. I don't know how you could do it quicker without losing track of everything.
If it was novels, you might need more time (minimum). Some of the work is the same regardless of length, some isn't. Depends what you are doing yourself, and what you are sourcing out.
I'm reading a lot of re-releases of backlists and about one a month seems to be their schedule, both the books being re-released by Aurora Regency Historicals and Belgrave House.
Too quickly and you flood your market. Like David said above, you want to market and promote each one individually without losing your mind. Too big a gap and you lose the momentum.
Too quickly and you flood your market. Like David said above, you want to market and promote each one individually without losing your mind. Too big a gap and you lose the momentum.
As a prolific writer of romance, I'v found two months apart is too long to keep backlist interest. But if they're a week apart it's too close. Somewhere between 2-6 weeks apart if you plan to do launch marketing for each piece. If you just plan to publish and keep writing, then don't worry about the delay and just put them up. But that's just what I've noticed with my stuff.
Eve
Um... I checked out your website and I don't think "prolific" is the right word for you. There has to be something higher than "prolific." GOOD GOD!! how do you write so fast? I'm bowing to you right now!
I was recently told by an editor at a rather large romance e press that it would be good if I had a release each month to keep readers interested.
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I think there is a fine line between interested and alarmed
Maybe. But ever author I know writing in the romance and erotica genre that's doing well, seems to have an extensive list behind them.
It's still new to me. I guess I will learn along the way.
Anyway, the romance and erotica e pubbing world is just that, a world onto its own
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Epublishing is what I like to call a "volume market". But you will start to get buzz questioning the quality of the material around very high output authors. Often unfairly for some are just blessed with the ability to write fast and well--but sometimes with good reason.
In print arenas I pretty rarely see more than 4-5 books a year from one author under one pen name.
In print arenas I pretty rarely see more than 4-5 books a year from one author under one pen name.
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LOL, I take my writing seriously-3-5k daily Mon-Fri. I'm very fond of novellas which sell well in the romance category. I aim for releases every 4-6 weeks. I get more bang for my writing at that spacing. Romance readers are voracious, always demanding more
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