Etiket

[threemonkeys]

Dymocks Queensgate now have a clearance store. You know the sort of thing - remaindered titles being sold at less than a third of original list price. Talking to the guy running it, a question arose.

What if you spot the work of somebody you know there? Do you mention it next time you are talking to them? I figure that the answer is no - no author like to be reminded that their work has been remaindered. Especially when we are talking about mass market editions here - not trade size editions that have been superseded by a newer release.

But what if the remaindered work is really popular. What if the staff can't keep the books stocked on the shelves because they are selling so fast - selling better than anything else in the shop by a huge margin. Is that now worth mentioning or does the shame of being remaindered outweigh the boost of being popular.

Yes it is somebody I know but no it isn't any of you. I bet none of you ever had your work remaindered.

Comments

[lobelet.livejournal.com]

I've also had the interesting experience of seeing my book for sale in a second hand book shop. This really does engender mixed feelings. First of all there is gratitude that the potential audience expands now that someone else has a chance to buy it, but there is also the niggling, nasty feeling that maybe the previous owner got rid of it because they didn't like it. Oh, no!!

[threemonkeys.livejournal.com]

You can see why I steered clear of secondhand shops in this context. Next thing you know we would be stirring up the "public libraries are theft" line of thought.

Although I remember something a few months back where there was a government proposal that artists (i.e. paint type artists) would receive a royalty from each successive sale of a work. If that was transferred to books then when your book was sold in the secondhand place, you would receive a payment.