There are many kinds of good news an author can receive: good reviews, positive reader comments, new contracts, new translation agreements, award news, and so forth. But on Friday, I heard two of the best lines an author can hear.
News the first. We've had to go back to press on the new book. That is, the print version of The Daemon Prism has outsold expectations in the first two weeks.
News the second. We're taking Transformation back to press. Copies should be available by the end of the month.
This is a tough publishing environment. No one can really predict the impact of electronic publishing on a new release. The percentage of a new release bought in electronic form is increasing dramatically with every year that goes by. I'll bet thousands of readers are sporting new Kindles or Nooks since the holidays. Yes, authors get paid - in my case fairly equally - for both print and electronic books. But I still hold that new readers are more likely to find my books by running across them in bookstores. Either the cover art or the back cover blurb might attract them, or they will recall mention of my work by reviewers or my wonderful readers on Facebook or book blogs or at parties or writers events. It is always nice to exceed expectations.
As for backlist... Many of you notices that my very first published book Transformation has been pretty scarce for most of the last year. It is awful when the last two books in a series are available and the first one is not. Certainly an author's nightmare! But warehousing books is a huge expense for publishers and everyone is waiting to see if e-books really do replace the mass market paperback, especially for older works. Evidently my publisher has decided that the demand for Transformation is such that they can't wait and see any more. Hooray for that! Transformation holds a special place in my list. It's where many of my readers started out on a journey that's taken us all to some deeper and darker places.
So anyway, thanks to all of you out there for encouraging my publisher to this point of view! Now back to work on something new.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Good news!
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21 comments:
Excellent news and congrats on both counts! Transformation was indeed the first book of yours I read and is still one of my favourites period! All the best!
Emily
I'm really glad to hear that, Carol! The Daemon Prism is excellent so far. I love seeing the world through Dante's eyes (as it were).
the BIG question is, will it have a better cover?
I have to say that in both my art schooling and my library schooling I wrote a number of papers on cover art...and that one really needs replacing.
Alas, likely no new cover. (I'm guessing from the short timeframe.) Perhaps if it takes off again, my publisher will consider that.
Great news, congrats on it! I'm glad I've still got Transformation on my shelf...in fact, this year I'll read it again when it doesn't intimidate my poor ol' wip. Look fw to reading the Daemon Prism, too :)
That's wonderful, Carol. Your writing has earned it. How happy you must be.
Congratulations. Glad to hear both parts. I was lucky enough to have a very good friend insist I needed to meet Aleksander, thus introducing me to your wonderful work.
Yes, Julie, I couldn't bear the thought of Aleksander not being on a printed page. Existing in cyberspace just isn't quite enough. I don't think he would approve!
Thanks for all your good wishes!
I just got my copy of The Daemon Prism; can't wait to read it.
And good news the second--I haven't read the Transformation series...guess I'll have to add that to MY list :-)
That is wonderful news! Although I own a Kindle, I have all of your books in print form because I still love the feel of a new book in my hands. I do wish your US publisher could use the French cover art for Transformation. Now that was a hot cover!
Indeed, as Kitty said, French edition cover arts for all three Rai Kirah Books are awesome!
Here's a link for Transformation cover art: http://browse.deviantart.com/?q=slave&order=9&offset=24#/d1vhsg2
I find it much closer to Aleksander and Seyonne's story!
Oh, I agree totally about the French covers. They are gorgeous.
That's great news! I've been reading through your series in reverse publication order--The Spirit Lens was the first book of yours I read, which I followed up with the Lighthouse duet and then the Bridge of D'Arnath quartet. Transformation is the next one up, especially since I finished The Daemon Prism last weekend *mix of happy & melancholy sigh*.
Glad to hear this. I've been a fan since a friend first loaned me Transformation over 10 years ago. Wonderful stories like yours have staying power. Keep 'em coming, Carol. :)
Congratulations, Carol. I am an e-reader myself, but I have bought hard copies of some of your books like The Spirit Lens and Song of the Beast. By the by, I just finished reading that!
That was EPIC! You had me weeping for poor Aidan. I loved it (I think you hear me saying that a lot, but it's true). I can't wait to get my hands on the Heart's Coda. Such a lovely name.
Congratulations once again!
Thanks for the encouragement, Rabia, Vivian, and nescedral. I do intend to get The Heart's Coda out soon... Hope you enjoy the rest of the lot.
I loved Transformation and it certainly deserves this. :) Congrats, Carol! I now have Daemon Prism in my hands and can't wait to read it.
Awesome news about Transformation! My copy is falling apart, I've read it so many times. I will definitely buy another, as soon as it shows up online. Do you know which vendors will carry it?
Joanne, I am assuming that all print vendors will carry it, including Barnes and Noble and independents. You may have to prod them to order it! (Transformation is still/already available in ebook formats!)
Thanks all for your good wishes, and yes, if you have enjoyed Valen or Portier or Aidan or Dante or any of my gentlemen, you will enjoy meeting Seyonne and Aleksander.
Brilliant news on both counts! Glad to hear Daemon Prism is selling so well, you must be ecstatic! Also great to hear Transformation will be back. Pity about the lack of new cover, though. I think Aleksander would say he has a right to be on the front of a brand-new trade paperback! The French cover was perfect for the two of them; it would be interesting to see any others. Would you know where I could find pictures of your foreign language books?
This is indeed wonderful news! It's nice to know there's still demand for printed books - I still much prefer them.
I'm so looking forward to reading Daemon Prism!
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