It’s just business…

My good friend, Adrianne Byrd, has an insightful post on the current state of the African-American romance industry. Everything she said about the importance of first month numbers for a writers, as compared to that first weekend hype of a movie release, is so true.  The times they are changing and as this industry becomes more and more competitive, I have no shame in asking all my readers to go out and buy my book as soon as you can near the release date.  (hint, hint: HOT LIKE FIRE IS OUT RIGHT NOW!!)  The book(s) might not be available months from now, or they might go indefinitely out of print (like my September 2006 release COUNT ON THIS which has been put of print for months!!!) or they may be removed from the shelves for newer books–which means the bookstores return them and get their money back and the writer takes the hit in a little piece of hell we call “return reserves”.

Yes, it’s all sad but true as hell. Now don’t get me wrong, I am not hating on the player or the game in this publishing industry–it’s just business and I get that, but I’m also doing a little C.Y.A. all day. Readers –black or white–of category romance (ie all those Harlequin and Silhouette lines)  know that the books fly off the shelves quickly and that once they’re gone they’re gone, so they know to grab their copies as soon as they can to avoid that crazy as hell “used book zone” (I’ll save my feelings on that mess for another post).  

I agree with Adrianne about letting our readers in on the secret that the importance of book sales is bigger than ever.   The importance of posting big numbers out the gate is more important than ever.   Please don’t think that I don’t appreciate the book sale whether it’s the first week or first month or months later, I’m just saying it may not be there months later.  Nor am I hating on those who borrow books, buy used copies, or only get books from the library.  Do what you have to do because books are a want and not a need.  But for those who can–for all those who enjoy the “sexy, funny and oh so real” appeal of a Niobia Bryant book :)–I’m getting like the black movie makers out there and laying it on the line: Authors need you to show up to the bookstores as soon as you can.  Let the publisher know you enjoy our books.

Unfortunately the days of the TBB (To be brought) list is declining–and that’s a tip for myself included.

Best y’all,

N. 

Ahem, just once more for the road.  HOT LIKE FIRE. Available NOW wherever books are sold.  Click here for more info on this next installation in my ”Hot Holtsville” series.