Apologies in advance of this is a rude question, but, I was wondering how much - if at all - your sales have increased since the internet took off? I mean, I'm guessing that before all your flock gathered here, then your limited edition sales (Gauntlet, Shocklines etc) wouldn't have been anywhere near as big as there are now.
So, the internet - a good thing for sales, or neither here nor there?
So, the internet - a good thing for sales, or neither here nor there?
Paul R Wrote:I mean, I'm guessing that before all your flock gathered here, then your limited edition sales (Gauntlet, Shocklines etc) wouldn't have been anywhere near as big as there are now.
The limited editions always went fast. Independant horror booksellers would get copies from the publisher and sell them for whatever they could get for them. Depending on the book or the author and how many books you had previously purchased from the bookseller the markup could be considerable. The 80's was a great time for horror with King, Wilson, Koontz and McCammon churning out some great books. It used to be a lot more fun finding them pre-internet. I would get mine at Avenue Victor Hugo in Boston or Otherworlds bookstore in Providence (both deceased). The best way to get info on future releases was to bug the shit out of the bookstore owners.
Now you know six months in advance before a limited is published, there is no markup and it gets shipped straight to your house. I liked the old way.
Steve D
Also take into consideration the secondary markets that carry pre-owned fpw books. ebay sells stuff at premium prices for the hard to find stuff and less than cost prices for the abundant stuff. Lettered and numbered editions of the Haunted Air sold out and now demands a premium on ebay, but the trade editions can be purchased at less than cover price. Some people don't buy their copies until the trades hit the secondary market at below cover or wait for the paperbacks.
I believe the "hardcore" fans of fpw still buy up the new stuff, but keep it in their collections. The "softcore" fans buy up the new stuff, but resell it. The "passing" fans only buy from the secondary market. So, if there has been any increase in fpw book purchases based on the internet growth, I would have to point to the secondary markets as the main growth.
When I volunteered in the Out of the Closet Thrift Store, lots of fpw medical thrillers lined the used books shelves, but I never saw an A/C book or a RJ book come through our donation doors. It's all on the internet. I'm sure many non-RJ fans buy up the medical thrillers (even though RJ fans also buy the non-RJ, non-A/C stuff); it's just that the medical thriller fans tend to read the stuff then give it away. They don't use the internet to buy their books; they still rely on "second-hand" stores for their books purchases, so these medical thrillers go round and round and round. On the other hand, the internet stuff is purchased mostly by people looking for specific stuff by fpw, stuff for their collections.
Also take into consideration the secondary markets that carry pre-owned fpw books. ebay sells stuff at premium prices for the hard to find stuff and less than cost prices for the abundant stuff. Lettered and numbered editions of the Haunted Air sold out and now demands a premium on ebay, but the trade editions can be purchased at less than cover price. Some people don't buy their copies until the trades hit the secondary market at below cover or wait for the paperbacks.
I believe the "hardcore" fans of fpw still buy up the new stuff, but keep it in their collections. The "softcore" fans buy up the new stuff, but resell it. The "passing" fans only buy from the secondary market. So, if there has been any increase in fpw book purchases based on the internet growth, I would have to point to the secondary markets as the main growth.
When I volunteered in the Out of the Closet Thrift Store, lots of fpw medical thrillers lined the used books shelves, but I never saw an A/C book or a RJ book come through our donation doors. It's all on the internet. I'm sure many non-RJ fans buy up the medical thrillers (even though RJ fans also buy the non-RJ, non-A/C stuff); it's just that the medical thriller fans tend to read the stuff then give it away. They don't use the internet to buy their books; they still rely on "second-hand" stores for their books purchases, so these medical thrillers go round and round and round. On the other hand, the internet stuff is purchased mostly by people looking for specific stuff by fpw, stuff for their collections.
"He knows more than you've ever forgotten...in your little finger." Laurel's Sister defending Stan to Oliver.
[SIZE="3"]Every RJ novel sells more than the previous one. It's incremental so far, but with the August promotion of the bargain edition of The Tomb we're looking for a quantum leap.
The great advantage of the Internet is that my entire backlist (in and out of print) is available via Amazon and such. Plus, the downloadable short story on Amazon has noticeably boosted my backlist sales.
All hail the Internet.[/SIZE]
The great advantage of the Internet is that my entire backlist (in and out of print) is available via Amazon and such. Plus, the downloadable short story on Amazon has noticeably boosted my backlist sales.
All hail the Internet.[/SIZE]
FPW
FAQ
"It means 'Ask the next question.' Ask the next question, and the one that follows that, and the one that follows that. It's the symbol of everything humanity has ever created." Theodore Sturgeon.
fpw Wrote:..All hail the Internet.
I'll echo that emotion. None of us would be gathering like this if it weren't for the Internet. I wouldn't have met any of the great folks on this board, wouldn't have attended a GU, wouldn't have met FPW, wouldn't have a copy of every one of his books.
All hail the Internet, indeed.
Reading is freedom.
The mind soars, no earthly cares,
no limitations.
A Maggers Haiku, 2005
Years ago my mother used to say to me... "In this world, Elwood, you can be oh so smart or oh so pleasant."
Well, for years I was smart.
I recommend pleasant.
You may quote me.
Elwood P. Dowd
fpw Wrote:[SIZE="3"]Every RJ novel sells more than the previous one. It's incremental so far, but with the August promotion of the bargain edition of The Tomb we're looking for a quantum leap.
The great advantage of the Internet is that my entire backlist (in and out of print) is available via Amazon and such. Plus, the downloadable short story on Amazon has noticeably boosted my backlist sales.
All hail the Internet.[/SIZE]
Good name for a dance!:
I can do the Hippie Crawl
I can do the Midnight Creep
I can do the Adam's Fall
I can do the Quantum Leap
So how come, how come, how come
You don't love me now, baby?
Maggers Wrote:I'll echo that emotion. None of us would be gathering like this if it weren't for the Internet. I wouldn't have met any of the great folks on this board, wouldn't have attended a GU, wouldn't have met FPW, wouldn't have a copy of every one of his books.I second those sentiments! I'll get to a GU yet!
All hail the Internet, indeed.
EWMAN
cobalt79 Wrote:I second those sentiments! I'll get to a GU yet!
Sure gets my vote - I'd be out of a job otherwise!
.
It's Thirteen O'Clock
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"I said, Hey Senorita - that's astute, I said, why don't we get together and call ourselves an institute?" --Paul Simon
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"In the final analysis, the last line of defense in support of freedom and the Constitution consists of the people themselves." -- Ron Paul
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Amon Wrote:I have kept all of my FPW material, and I have no intention of parting with it for a very, very long time. Guess that makes me hardcore then.
I buy the limiteds, sell them and get the paperback when it comes out, and have never been part of a moneyshot either giving or receiving.
Softcore.