What can I do with all these books?

rwoman · 06-03-2007, 06:57 PM

I am a published author and my first book, The Golden Century, went out of print when the publisher went belly up many moons ago. I bought several boxes of the books when they were remaindered but now I'm tired of moving them from one closet to another in my house.

I don't want to just throw them away but certainly don't expect to make much off these suckers either.

So what can I do with them to get them out of my life without actually losing any more money on the deal?

BingoBalls · 06-03-2007, 07:17 PM

Sell them online , ebay or Amazon.

You could even create an affiliate program and create a buzz on forums saying its going to be the next hot book blah blah.

mothproof · 06-03-2007, 11:45 PM

you could sell them at ozfreeonline if you're in australia, or well, you could give us complimentary copies.

or you could donate to libraries.

hey, the important thing is you got published at all. congrats on that

ewomack · 06-04-2007, 10:42 AM

Yes, publishing. Everyone wants to get published until they get published, so it seems.

I know a few people in your same situation: boxes of books, publisher vaporized, very little money made (some of them lost money on the deal). Regardless it still must be great to see and hold a book you've written.

The advice above was good: Amazon (looks like others are already selling it there) or ebay. Also search for used book sites. Sometimes they allow used book sales through their heavily trafficked sites. You could also set up a website promoting the book and offer it for sale. You never know who might pick up a copy.

Do you care to share your publishing story? How did it happen? How long did it take? Was it worth it?

suzjor · 06-04-2007, 06:02 PM

Before throwing them away, I would see of places to donate like your local library. Also, there is half-priced books if you have those around where they will buy your books.

keisuke takahashi · 06-04-2007, 07:31 PM

Donate them to the charity foundation

artmarketblog.com · 06-04-2007, 11:28 PM

What is the book about??

potchie · 06-05-2007, 01:24 AM

you could actually sell them,, but why not donate all that stuff for someone's needy.. maybe in the orphanage..

cessai · 06-05-2007, 02:03 AM

sell them buddy

mr. impossible · 06-05-2007, 02:14 AM

you could retract them.

or drop them off at the local homeland security office. they will burn them for you.

StrongInTheArm · 06-05-2007, 02:55 AM

Just been looking at your amazon link. All it tells me as a book buyer is that you have a book, that it is green with lots of writing on the front and there is a nice picture of you on the front. I can't even read the writing cos its too small. That would never pursade me to buy it, unless I was really fond of green books

You need a review or something to say what the book is about and what it covers. Marketing. If people don't know what they are buying they are not gonna buy it

For instance, have a look and see how many people have seen this thread? How many have gone to the trouble to visit your amazon link? And yet they are still none the wiser about what your book is about. The title is only a vague idea of the contents. I don't know if its factual, a biography, sci-fi or what ...

I'm speaking from experience, if you want someone to buy the books, YOU need to sell them. Get out into the local community, book groups and the like, hand out a few free beeies to editors of local papers or reviewers. Visit a few book shops and give them a few copies to sell. Walk about every where you go with the book and the picture showing and wave it about so people notice. You can't be too subtle.

Tell people about it. Several people in this thread have been asking, have you been listening?

I know when my book was very slow to sell, it was a huge blow to my confidence and I just wanted to throw them away or burn them and go and hide under the bed. You got to get in touch with the enthusiasm of when you first started writing it and what it was about and why you were doing it. Put the doubts aside and let those emotions lead the way.

If you can write it, you can sell it.

Although this isn't entirely pertinant check out: http://www.lulu.com/uk

ewomack · 06-05-2007, 06:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StrongInTheArm

I'm speaking from experience, if you want someone to buy the books, YOU need to sell them.

I know when my book was very slow to sell, it was a huge blow to my confidence and I just wanted to throw them away or burn them and go and hide under the bed. You got to get in touch with the enthusiasm of when you first started writing it and what it was about and why you were doing it. Put the doubts aside and let those emotions lead the way.

Hmmm... looks like someone else has a publishing story to tell... SPILL IT!!!

...oh, and you didn't have to change the hedgehhog avatar... or did Cricket eat it after all?

By the way, you made a lot of good points about selling. I went to the Amazon link and found nothing whatsoever about the poster's book. Not even a cover picture. Nada. I agree with you, if the person wants to sell the book, they have to sell it. If the person wants to dump it (which it sounds like) then dump it!!

GreekCrusader · 06-05-2007, 07:02 AM

Why dont u use the book and give to orphanages?

StrongInTheArm · 06-05-2007, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ewomack

Hmmm... looks like someone else has a publishing story to tell... SPILL IT!!!

...oh, and you didn't have to change the hedgehhog avatar... or did Cricket eat it after all?

By the way, you made a lot of good points about selling. I went to the Amazon link and found nothing whatsoever about the poster's book. Not even a cover picture. Nada. I agree with you, if the person wants to sell the book, they have to sell it. If the person wants to dump it (which it sounds like) then dump it!!

Since it is relevant to this thread and in the hope of helping, and for your Edification Ed (pun intended this time) ...

I used to play a game called Carrom, those from an Indian background will be familiar. I was pretty good at too, so good in fact I appeared in a number of semi-finals and quarter-finals in the United Kingdom Carrom Association National Championships. I also represented Great Britain in the European Carrom Federation Cup which was held in the UK a number of years ago (we lost to the Swiss and the Germans).

Anyways I got to know the guy who ran the UKCA. He produced a newsletter for all the members and I started contributing articles to help people improve their technique. Then one day the guy, who also ran a publishing company, suggested we turn it into a book. Thus several months later we had 1000 copies of a book, 'Carrom: Practice, Play, Perfection'. I wasn't really expecting much, certainly not to make any money, I did it really to help the members of the club. But I kind of got really excited about being a published author and all the dreams of sequels and films etc. And then one day someone asked me to sign a copy

Of course it all turned sour after everyone I knew in the club had bought a copy and the rest of the world who wanted to know about carrom said,

"Whose this smuck?".

We were then left with lots of boxes of books, moving very slowly. Fortunately the 'guy' also made carrom boards and seeing as how the book was about teaching people to play the game it kind of complimented the boards, so there was an accessible market for them. We eventually sold them all and made a profit but it was a real struggle and my little ego took a bit of a battering.

It would have been much worst if I didn't have the contacts to off load the books. Shortly there after the 'guy' disappeared to the South of France. I don't think there was a connection.

StrongInTheArm · 06-05-2007, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ewomack

...oh, and you didn't have to change the hedgehhog avatar... or did Cricket eat it after all?

I do a little cartooning too. My hedggy was going to be my avatar until I noticed your's. Then I changed mine to the 'Baby Face'

Its kind of odd but for some reason I associate people's avatars with their posts and personalities, its like a reference point. I get very confused if someone changes their avatar, so I figured I better change mine back.

I'm way too confused as it is

ewomack · 06-05-2007, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StrongInTheArm

I do a little cartooning too. My hedggy was going to be my avatar until I noticed your's. Then I changed mine to the 'Baby Face'

That's just an excuse. You let your guard down and Cricket ate it, didn't she?

Thanks for sharing the publishing story. I find that every publishing tale is interesting in some way. At least yours has a happy ending: you sold all your books and made a profit. That's rare these days, so I hear.

One industry newsletter stated the average annual income of a writer as $5,000. One bestseller, I can't remember which one, but it was fiction, received a $100,000 advance, but, seeing that it took him five years to write it, he really made about $20,000 a year. It didn't mention if he made profits above his advance, though. In any case, the report made writing seem like a very unprofitable industry for the vast majority.