How much should you charge for a book? You might consider obvious economic considerations: value for the dollar, how much comparable books cost, impulse buying, and so forth. Or you might throw all that out the window and think, "If I can find just the right buyer, I'll have it made." This, apparently, is the strategy chosen by the sellers on Amazon listed below.
(I wish I could afford that Perry Mason mystery. It looks like a good one. And I wonder what these books went for new?)
A few notes of possible interest:
1. GAMA-GO Postcard Book (v. 1) is no longer listed for $48,597,300.00, as it was when I pulled this list from Amazon a few days ago; its price has been adjusted downward to $5,647,626.24. Almost a 90% discount. Other books have disappeared entirely. I wonder if someone has made a killing?
2. Odds on Miss Seeton is a hardback copy. The paperback goes for $0.01, plus shipping.
3. I can see why college students complain about the price of textbooks, if MA 110 Intro to statistical Methods and Data Analysis is representative.
4. No Sign of Life is available from two different sellers for the same price.
My wife took the picture at the top of this post in the spring(!) of 2007, when we spent a while traveling around England, starting in Oxford. (Here's the story of that trip.) It's a view from the roof of Carfax tower. I don't know the city well enough to say what this photo shows; I'd guess one of the colleges.
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The hell with modesty - what the heck is the book about? Title yet?
Inspirational.piece.for.writers.too~
In any case, congrats.
Eager to learn the details.
Kudos - now, strap yourself in, it only gets rougher from here ;).
Congratulations :).
Rated for victorious!
Fist-pumping along with you, friend!!!
You so deserve this.
I, too, am curious to know a little more about your subject matter, beyond "...the kind of popular science book that (you) aspire to write".
I look forward to learning about the book!
I am so happy for you...remember when we talked about this a while back? Fist pump... and another, and another......
To answer a few questions:
What's the book called? Unfortunately, no one really liked the title I proposed, so that's up in the air.
What's the book about? That's quite a bit easier to describe. You may know the kind of post I tend to write here on OS, the more serious ones, at least. I pick an idea that I think is interesting but perhaps not all that familiar, and I try to explain it in everyday language, drawing connections to everyday life. Sometimes someone might comment, "Oh, that gives me a new way to think about such-and-such." That's my reward for a successful post. It turns out that computer science is full of such interesting ideas, and yet hardly anyone knows about them. I'm writing a book about these ideas, aimed at--well, aimed at a readership much like OS. Not computer lovers or techies, just people who like to read.
Bookstores are full of books about computers, but very few of the kind I'm working on. (I boldy assert.) By analogy, imagine that you want to learn the basics of modern biology, but every book you pick up starts off, "Here's how to set up your Model XYZ microscope..." The vast majority of non-professional computer books are about how to use them. I'd like there to be a book you can settle down with and explore the ideas behind the hardware and software, without having to worry about the nuts and bolts. The same way that people can learn about biology with using a microscope, about space without worrying about rocket ships and telescopes, about the human body even if they don't care about diet programs and exercise regimes. I think the ideas are interesting enough to carry the book, even for people who don't own or use computers.
When's the best time to submit a book proposal? No one asked this, but I'll answer it anyway: If you're submitting a proposal to the American affiliate of a British publisher, and you expect a response near the end of their fiscal year when lots of reports are due and an entire layer of upper management has flown to the UK for meetings, a volcano erupting in Iceland can throw all your expectations into disarray. :-)
I'll respond to a few comments (but I've read them all, and again I'll say thanks):
Thanks, consonantsandvowels, for the college ID. Balliol. Cool.
On the Amazon list, John and HenryR, I'm surprised the sellers don't notice the prices. They must not check their databases very often for outliers.
Cindy, I think that most of the trade books Oxford puts out (though apparently not the academic titles) allow you to "Look Inside". That would be a good thing for me, too. I confess that I hope smart readers pick up the book, but that it's readable by everyone. (For example, high school students wondering whether computer science would be an interesting major.)
Finally, there's hope for everyone. That is, I've had some good opportunities lately, but there are many better writers than me on OS. If you want it, go for it.
I'll try to keep people up to date on what's going on. Dave Cullen did something along these lines, I think, before Columbine was published, and it was fun to read. (We knew him when...)
There's a good deal of advice out there on the Web about creating a "platform" for marketing a book, which can include blogging. The "danger" of my using my OS blog as a book platform is that I'll become as boring as the OS spammers. (Pleaze buy my Air Jordans--I mean, my book! Cheep! Free shiping!) I bring this up because we're an analytical crowd and we're probably all aware of the tradeoffs. I'll be careful about this; I think other OSers have managed it well.
How did you get your foot (or any other body part) in he door?
Hi, Steve. The door is pretty much propped open, I think, for people in my position. Academics tend to publish a lot, so we're a known quantity, even before writing a book. We have steady or recurring contacts with publishers of various kinds, through reviewing and such. Relatively few of us write popular science books, for various reasons, though, so if we're in an interesting area, there's not all that much competition. And I had a good idea for a book...
Reuben! Don't be stalking me, dude... :-)
When I saw his on my iPhone the other day I told my wife and said: I feel like Michael Scott on The Office in the episode where Dwight gives a speech then at the end Michael tells the camera: I entertained the guy who entertained thousands (why? because you have said a nice thing or two about my posts) and she said without batting an eye "o, you are not quite that pathetic."
I want your book. Please PM me when it is available? This is like the time I physically ran into Julie Christie at the toy department at Macy's in Manhattan. I told her "excuse me" for my awkwardness and she smiled at me from like 15" away.
(delighted that Kerry stopped by to congratulate too)
cheers to you and your bride (I know what spousal support means).
Thanks, Barry! And congratulations on your successful book signing in Dallas! The pictures look great, and having sold out of all the copies present... I'd like to be in that position.
Also, you're one of the OSers who have already been through this publishing process. I wonder how many others there are? I know a few--I think this calls for a new post.
Here's wishing you fortune and fame.
Both for your sake...and I like to drop names.
We knew you when....
Thank you for including me in the OS library...
Just came from the picture of Oxford you have up. Loved the visit.
My idea of "Where Are They Now?" is crashing and burning. I found out where everyone has been. They're in a bitter place. One nice real response and a handful of disturbing upset responses.
Anyway, back to the book–good luck and feel feel to contact me if you have any business book questions. It would be a pleasure to help. Please don't respond here but me directly as I have to stay away from Open Salon for awhile–at least until I get less scary emails.