So, I have written two books. One of them has been received very well by some. I am pleased at the reaction of some who have read my fiction, which includes historical fiction and women's commercial fiction.
Yet, I am not wild about the volume of books I have sold.
As we all know, legit publishers only deal with established agent unless your name creates interest by the reading public. I may have covered my expenses created in the writing and research of my two books. However, my dream was to have it on the shelves of bookstores. And so far, that dream still eludes me.
Except for the the trickle of books that have been sold through publishers, the selling of books by the author consumes more money than it generates.
An author can rent a booth at a flea market. It doesn't cost very much. Unfortunately, flea market customers are not primarily interested in books, especially new ones.
You can offer ten books to a bookstore on the same terms they buy them from major wholesalers. That is 40% off list, and 90 days to return them for credit. I have seen little interest by independent bookstores, and almost zero interest by the large chains.
Besides, space on dealer's book shelves is dear. They are always interested in the revenue per shelf foot. And an unknow author is very near the bottom of the interest scale.
I have no answers to these question. But, I am interested in gathering authors stories of how they sold book. I would like to create an author's primer unless some knowledgable writer beats me to it.
Send me your stories.
