Interview with Edie Claire
Introduction
Edie Claire is the author of the humorous “Never” series of reluctant amateur sleuth mysteries starring hapless ad copywriter Leigh Koslow and her friends and family in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. More recently, she has published two Romantic Times Top Picks--Long Time Coming and Meant to Be--both offering a unique blend of mystery and romance with no explicit sex or violence. You can visit her website at www.edieclaire.com
Why has my favorite author stopped publishing?
There are many reasons why an author may go years without having a book published. In some cases, the author has stopped writing for personal reasons. But more often, the problem is lack of a contract. Publishers will only continue to publish a writer if they are happy with that author’s “numbers,” meaning sales of new books. In today’s market, “good” sales are often not good enough. Fewer publishers are willing to give their new authors the time to “grow” an audience; if an author�s numbers don�t start out great and get even better, they are unlikely to continue getting contracts.
I bought her last book used--"barely read"--for half price instead of buying it "new." I was happy to get such a bargain. Didn't that sale help the writer?
Anytime a reader picks up an author�s book (whether new, used, or borrowed from Cousin George), and reads and enjoys it, the author benefits both from the satisfaction of having been read (provided you email and tell them about it!) and the potential sales that may result from that reader talking about the book and recommending it to others. But only new book sales help an author financially. Neither authors nor publishers receive any royalties from the sale of used books, nor do such sales contribute to the “numbers” that determine whether that author will continue to be published.
The Wall Street Journal reports that by 2010, about 10% of all book sales will be used books--and that includes a lot of just-published titles. Do you think that writers should undertake a public education campaign to point out to the reading public the harm being done to authors by those used book sales that are sales of just-published titles?
Authors are in a tight spot on the issue, because sales of used books are a mixed blessing for them. With new books going out of print more quickly than ever, used book stores help authors tremendously in providing a wealth of older and out-of-print titles for readers to enjoy, so authors have no desire to prevent used books from being sold. But when it comes to new titles hot off the presses, the practice of selling inexpensive used copies alongside the new ones both reduces an author’s numbers and decreases their earnings. If knowing these facts would encourage more readers to “buy new books new” in support of their favorites authors, then yes, I think an educational campaign would be worthwhile.
What about library use? Doesn't it help an author if her new book is in high demand at the local library?
Personally, if even half of the libraries in this country had copies of my books, I’d be thrilled! Libraries buy new books, and the sale of every one of those books benefits the author, the publisher, and the public. Once the book is bought, neither author nor publisher have any way of knowing, much less benefiting from, how many times it is checked out, so being “in demand” at the library doesn’t help a book’s numbers directly. BUT, when a library book is well-read and well-worn, that library is more likely to purchase additional copies as well as other new books by the same author, which benefits all concerned.
You don't object if people buy used copies of your out of print titles, do you--even if you don't get royalties for those sales?
Not hardly! It’s disappointing when a book’s opportunity to earn income ends, but the thrill of knowing that someone out there is still reading and enjoying one’s books is the best compensation an author can have.
So--to sum up--what is the best thing readers can do to keep their favorite authors publishing new books?
If you enjoy an author’s books, don’t keep quiet....spread the word! The best way to help your favorite author continue to get contracts is to buy their latest release as soon as it hits the shelves. Tell all your friends what you like about their books, and be sure to drop that special author an email and tell him or her, too...a few encouraging words can really make an author’s day!