Publisher's Weekly today announced that a children's rhyming picture book by Laura Duksta and Karen Keesler, entitled I Love You More, self-published (or more accurately, self-subsidized) by the authors in 2001, was picked up by traditional, independent publisher, Sourcebooks. This book will join this publisher's new children's imprint called Jaberwocky. What makes this acquisition all the more interesting is that the authors have already sold almost 180,000 copies of this book through non-bookstore channels, like specialty retailers, museum shops, and art galleries. Publishers Marketplace, which lists the kind of deals that authors receive from publishers, rates the deal as "significant," which means that they will receive an advance of between $250,000 and $500,000.
In addition, Jaberwocky selected two other author-subsidized books for its Fall 2007 catalog: the first two books of The Fairy Chronicles by J. H. Sweet, who is presently at work on books 31 through 60 of this series. The author commented on an online, young adult site: "The Internet offers many authors a way to sell books that traditional bookstores are not willing to carry on their shelves... I also think that a lot of print-on-demand books and e-books do deserve to be published. I think the Internet has benefited both traditional and non-traditional publishing." And the reason she offered for self-publishing her books is quite obvious: "Most authors, even brilliant ones, still have to know someone to get into the traditional publishing industry because it is so exclusive. It is nearly impossible for those not already in the circle to get an agent, much less sell a manuscript to a traditional publisher."
So, we learn two things from today's PW story: (1) Author-subsidized books do get picked up by traditional publishers (and the payoff can be significant); and (2) one can sell an enormous number of books through unconventional channels. As I explained in an earlier listing: not only is it costly to see your book on the shelves of Barnes & Noble, it is not necessarily the best way of selling your book.
Grey Swan