Thursday, December 06, 2007
Booking Through Thursday: OOP
Do you have a favourite book, now out of print, that you would like to see become available again? (I have several…)
Again, I was going to pass on this one, and again, it was Karen! to the rescue.
Let's stop and pretend, because we all know I prefer to pretend than be bored by real life. *grin*
Well, maybe we don't have to pretend. Let's dream, instead. Of a future that, when a book's print rights expire, will include a way for those rights to be resold, maybe on a royalty-only basis (but a HIGH royalty basis. Like ridiculously high) to a system that is essentially digital and POD. Yes, I said the dirty word: Print-on-Demand.
Because let's face it: for almost every book on the planet, there's someone who'd like to have it. Maybe they can't or won't pay a collector's price for it. Maybe they don't want a collector's edition in the first place. What they want is an old friend they can return to, time and again.
If it's done digitally and with a POD format, people can have these books when they want them. Books can be available forever.
And authors can have the option to re-sell the rights to a publisher who might want to promote the book and make a really slick copy that would be sold through bookstores around the world. Yep, the POD option would go away ... until the rights expire again.
Let's face it: most of us readers may be willing to wait for it to come out in paperback. But how many times have you sat down to pick up a book you've really wanted and bought whatever you find at a used book site? I'll admit, I do it all the time (that's why I have this small trading problem).
This means I don't think that people would wait for a book to return to its POD status. And who said it'd be cheaper that way, anyway? Not if an author would get the stupidly high royalty that I personally think we're entitled to!
No, it's not a perfect model I'm putting forth here. Remember, I'm dreaming here. Because let's face it: most books go out of print because the demand's dried up. Maybe one or two would sell on my imperfect model. But maybe enough would that a publisher would sit up, take notice, and buy the rights and promote the book and earn a few bucks.
And maybe publishers will promote all their mid-list and new authors, too. I know. I know.
Like I said, it's only a dream.
Again, I was going to pass on this one, and again, it was Karen! to the rescue.
Let's stop and pretend, because we all know I prefer to pretend than be bored by real life. *grin*
Well, maybe we don't have to pretend. Let's dream, instead. Of a future that, when a book's print rights expire, will include a way for those rights to be resold, maybe on a royalty-only basis (but a HIGH royalty basis. Like ridiculously high) to a system that is essentially digital and POD. Yes, I said the dirty word: Print-on-Demand.
Because let's face it: for almost every book on the planet, there's someone who'd like to have it. Maybe they can't or won't pay a collector's price for it. Maybe they don't want a collector's edition in the first place. What they want is an old friend they can return to, time and again.
If it's done digitally and with a POD format, people can have these books when they want them. Books can be available forever.
And authors can have the option to re-sell the rights to a publisher who might want to promote the book and make a really slick copy that would be sold through bookstores around the world. Yep, the POD option would go away ... until the rights expire again.
Let's face it: most of us readers may be willing to wait for it to come out in paperback. But how many times have you sat down to pick up a book you've really wanted and bought whatever you find at a used book site? I'll admit, I do it all the time (that's why I have this small trading problem).
This means I don't think that people would wait for a book to return to its POD status. And who said it'd be cheaper that way, anyway? Not if an author would get the stupidly high royalty that I personally think we're entitled to!
No, it's not a perfect model I'm putting forth here. Remember, I'm dreaming here. Because let's face it: most books go out of print because the demand's dried up. Maybe one or two would sell on my imperfect model. But maybe enough would that a publisher would sit up, take notice, and buy the rights and promote the book and earn a few bucks.
And maybe publishers will promote all their mid-list and new authors, too. I know. I know.
Like I said, it's only a dream.
Labels: Booking Through Thursday, books, Susan's Book Talk
Comments:
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Sounds like a good idea to me. I hate it when I can't find/buy a book because it's out of print.
BTW: There's a present waiting for you at my blog (here). :-)
BTW: There's a present waiting for you at my blog (here). :-)
Michele sent me to say 'Hello.'
You've caught me off guard, I know I've wanted oop books before but I can't think of what they were. I'll probably think of it next week.
Your idea seems good, though.
You've caught me off guard, I know I've wanted oop books before but I can't think of what they were. I'll probably think of it next week.
Your idea seems good, though.
I love print on demand books. I actually bought two such books this year as gifts. I agree 100% with your dream of more out of print books becoming available from POD.
I wrote about one of my favorite books, Cats are Not Peas.
I wrote about one of my favorite books, Cats are Not Peas.
Now, that I call is a good idea. In India, we don't get access to many books. Bookmooch has come to my rescue. But that is not the option always!
reading room
reading room
I don't know why this isn't done already. When demand dries up, it doesn't necessarily go down to zero--just down to some level that makes them not profitable, and storing and organizing tons of actual books takes a lot of space and time and money. But storing them electronically is a different story.
I'd hate to see POD used on new releases, but as an alternative for when books go out of print, I think it's a great idea.
I'd hate to see POD used on new releases, but as an alternative for when books go out of print, I think it's a great idea.
Glad I was able to provide a spark.
Happy Friday!
(S, you just have to give in and join Facebook. I have this little pet on my profile and I just put a giant menorah in his little habitat. I have an elephant and the menorah is bigger than he is - I know if you saw it it would make you smile)
Happy Friday!
(S, you just have to give in and join Facebook. I have this little pet on my profile and I just put a giant menorah in his little habitat. I have an elephant and the menorah is bigger than he is - I know if you saw it it would make you smile)
Another good idea falls onto your keyboard, Susan.
Marcia (MeeAugraphie)
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Marcia (MeeAugraphie)
# posted by 
: December 09, 2007 2:38 PM
: December 09, 2007 2:38 PM << Home
