Mandy Hubbard's Blog, page 5

Kids books-- by the numbers

Publishers Weekly just posted its article about what's selling in YA, and I always find it fascinating. They included Ebooks, too.

The data is provided by the publishers, and covers the calendar year of 2010. Although I don't know for certain, i suspect these numbers are books shipped to stores ("sold" to stores) not to consumers.

A snippet of the info:

11 Hardcovers sold over 1MIL copies (Jeff Kinney, Stephenie Meyer, Rick Riorda Suzanne Collins, and Kristin/PC Cast walk away as the big winners).

Some of the same authors topped the 1MIL copies for paperback.

The highest selling ebook was BREAKING DAWN, with 145K copies.

CRESCENDO by Becca Fitzpatrick sold over 10,000 ebooks. (HUSH, HUSH, the first in the series, sold over 16K ebooks)
SHILOH, one of my favorite books from my childhood, sold 125,000 paperback copies. Not too shabby, considering it first pubbed in 1992.  (HATCHET, another of my favorites, sold over 180K paperback copies)
IF I STAY by Gayle Forman sold just over 200K hardcover copies
THIRTEEN REASONS WHY, published in 2007, sold 127K+ hardcover copies
REVOLUTION by Jennifer Donnelly (one of my favorite recent reads) just topped 100K hardcover copies


Interesting stuff!

The times, they are a-changing

Firstly, go read this post on Jessica Verday's blog. It's about how she chose to withdraw her story from an anthology, after the editor asked her to change her m/m story (Read: romance between two boys) to be between a girl and a boy.

Edited: This blog post was longer, but I realized i was just rambling. Just go read Jessica's post. ;-) 

Friday 5

1) I am going to be at two conferences in April-- the first, April 1-3, Whidbey Island Writers, and the second, April 16, is the Cenatral Ohio SCBWI. I hope to meet some of you folks at one of these! I believe they are both still open for registration, and tons of great editors/agents will be at each event.

2) Last night I opened up a blank word document and started work on my 2012 Razorbill book. A blank document is so intimidating! But I managed 2500 words, and its going to be such a fun story.

3)I have about 23 full manuscripts to read right now, but there are so many good ones in the stack! It's so nice to have a kindle just packed with possibility. Since I cleared out my query log a few weeks ago and have been reading like crazy, I've signed two new clients. Wave hello to Elizabeth and Cate!

4) BUT I LOVE HIM, my book written as Amanda Grace, comes out in 8 weeks-- May 8, to be exact. And RIPPLE comes out four months from Monday-- July 21!

5) I'm not sure why it took me so long, but I just read and LOVED cynthialord  's RULES. I think I burst into tears at the "running" scene.

The Grass is Always Greener

This morning I was swapping emails with a writer friend, as I do on most days. Having friends who write is kind of essential, becuase they're the ones that get it.

Our converation was something like:

Me: It would be nice to get some random, epically awesome news.
Her: I know. It seems like every day a new award or list comes out, and we're not on it.
Me: I know. Sigh. And where are my foreign sales?

Some version of this conversation plays out once a week. Man, is it easy getting sucked into that mentality. It is SO easy to focus on what's not happening-- bestseller lists, movie deals, foreign sales, ALAN/YALSA lists, awards, etc. Becuase for other people? Those things ARE happening. So why can't it be you?

And yet, here's the thing: I've sold 7 of my own books. #4 and #5 come out this year. PRADA & PREJUDICE is in its 6th printing (and has earned out) and YOU WISH is in its 3rd. YOU WISH is on track to sell more books in 1 year than Prada & Prejudice will in two.

The problem is being an author-- being published-- isn't a destination. You never "get there" and then feel as if you've made it. There will ALWAYS be a bigger deal, a better selling book, an author who seems to have it all.

When you're unagented, you think, "If I can just get an agent...."

And when you're agented, you think, "If I can just get a book deal..."

And then... "If it just sells a few copies, I'll be happy,"

And then... "If it just goes into a second printing...."

And then... "If I can just sell another book...."

And then.... "If the second book can just sell better...."

The hardest part of being in this career is that you can control what you write, but you can't control how well you're published. Or even if you are published. You never quite reach the carrot on the stick, becuase what you want never stays the same.

Becuase the thing is, of course you're going to care how well your book sells. Its your book. your baby. And of course you're going to freak out if your cover sucks. Or if B&N stocks it. Or if you're a one-hit wonder.

And you're always going to think someone else has it better. The downside of so much social networking-- blogging, tweeting, etc--is that you can actually SEE what other people are doing. you can view their good news in real time. And you can drive yourself absolutely insane.

2007 Mandy? She would run a marathon in Prada heels to get to where 2011 Mandy is. But publishing is so bloody slow, you have plenty of time to think about what you want next--before your first book even hits shelves.

Someone once told me "Satisfaction is a dirty word." I always thought that was stupid. If you can't enjoy what you have, what's the point? But then I got into publishing, and then I understood. I understood what it was like to feel like it was never enough. I understood why people became workaholics. I understood how hard it is to be satisified in this industry. As an agent, it makes me a better agent. I hear a bunch of nos, and all it does is strengthen my resolve to keep going until we get a yes. But as an author, it can be maddening.

I've changed some things. I bought a big glass vase, and whenever I have something to celebrate-- a new book deal, a foreign sale, etc--I pop champagne and i write on the bottom of the cork what I was celebrating, and drop it in the vase. Seeing that-- seeing that I've had things to celebrate in my career-- reminds me of my accomplishments.

Not that I'm satisfied, or anything. ;-)

So here's my question for you guys: Do you feel like you'll ever be satisfied? Do you think it's about being ambitious/driven-- or do you think its unhealthy? Do YOU think you'll ever feel as if you've "Made it?"

On Sticking with it...

In the last two or three months, I have seen sales in PM for authors whose work I passed on. Interestingly, only one of those projects was the project I had actually read.


In other cases, I had a full manuscript under consideration when the author notified me that they had an offer on the table. I read the manuscript and in some cases, chose to step aside for an agent who obviously felt more strongly about it than I did. Fast-forwarded several months, and a name in PM sounds familiar. I look it up, and sure enough, it's someone who queried me-- with an earlier project.

To me, it's this situation that is forever a reminder of how tough it can be to break in--and how important it is to stick with it and keep writing. For whatever reason, that first project didn't sell--but the second one did. One in the last few weeks actually was a major deal (READ: Over 500K).

I signed my agent based on a project that didn't sell. PRADA & PREJUDICE was the second one to go on submissions.

I'm not saying all this to make it sound as if your first agented project won't sell-- those ones sell all the time too!--but to remember that publishing is sometimes just a process, and that luck and timing play into it too, so sticking with it and continuing to write is the best thing you can do for your career.

Friday 5-- LOLCATS version.

1) I had to do RIPPLE copyedits in 5 days, and there were 550 comment bubbles, and so I holed up in my office. Whenver Hubbs and Kiddo came in, I think I looked like this:
 


Seriously. I cannot stop staring at the creepy llama.

BUT! RIPPLE has made it through copyedits, and the file has been sent off to become an ARC! Woo! 


2) I am working on my TOPSEKRET2012 book. It is due on March 1. I am reaching the end of the road and worn out from deadline after deadline, so this is what is going to happen at the end. Sorry for the spoiler...
 

Brilliant, right??

3) I am going to be at the Sumner, Washington Library with Holly Cupola, Kim Derting, Lisa Schroeder, and Dia Calhoun on Saturday, February 26th! We're doing a free panel/talk from 2-4. Come visit us! Ask questions! Buy autographed books!

4) My oldest queries are from prior to January 25th. Once the aforementioned giraffe novel is finished, I'm playing catchup! Promise! 

5) My May title, BUT I LOVE HIM, has a book trailer!


Happy Friday, everyone!

Exciting news at D4EO!

Hi Everyone! Long time, no blog! I have been buried with deadlines, client edits, and submissions, but I had to announce that my intern for the last 9 months, Kristin Miller, has just  been promoted to associate agent. Kristin and I are teaming up to expand the YA and MG side of D4EO, and I couldn't be more happy!

You can find Kristin's submission guidelines HERE.
 

For the month of February ONLY, if I have already passed on your material, you are free to query her. Once March 1 hits, we ask that you choose one agent to query, and if we think it is a better fit for another D4EO agent, we'll pass it along.
 

And of course, I am still building my own client list and eager to find more great work.

My current wishlist (all of below are for middle grade and YA only, no works for the adult market)
Romance. This will always be on my gimme-gimme list!
Historicals, particularly based heavily on real events or people. I just read REVOLUTION by Jennifer Donnely based on the French Revolution and woud love something in that era! 
Sci-FI-- I'd love to get a cool sci-fi for my list. I'm reading Beth Revis' ACROSS THE UNIVERSE and loving it.
Gritty-real world YA. For whatever reason, I just cannot get enough of this subset of YA. I find myself requesting one after another after another. I simply LOVE books that deal with tough issues.

And of course, I am open to anything *not* on the list as well, but that's my particular wish list. Please read my submission guidelines carefully, as well as Kristin's page, and then query one of us.



If you have any questions, please do let me know!

Thanks, and good luck!
 

Mandy

RIVAL contest!

 
Did you guys know a KILLLER book comes out next month? It's called RIVAL by Sara Bennet Wealer.
 
From Amazon: 

Brooke
I don't like Kathryn Pease. I could pretend everything's fine between us. I could be nice to her face, then trash her behind her back. But I think it's better to be honest. I don't like Kathryn, and I'm not afraid to admit it.

Kathryn
I saw a commercial where singers used their voices to shatter glass, but the whole thing is pretty much a myth. The human voice isn't that strong.

Human hatred is. Anybody who doubts that should feel the hate waves coming off of Brooke Dempsey. But I don't shatter; I'm not made of glass. Anyway, the parts that break aren't on the outside.

Brooke and Kathryn used to be best friends . . . until the night when Brooke ruthlessly turned on Kathryn in front of everyone. Suddenly Kathryn was an outcast and Brooke was Queen B. Now, as they prepare to face off one last time, each girl must come to terms with the fact that the person she hates most might just be the best friend she ever had.

This book captures friendship in a way that few books do.Brooke and Kathryn have stuck with  me since I first read this book-- at least two years ago-- and I am SO excited to see it so close to pub day! 

I'm so excited to share my ARC with you guys-- and Sara has generously thrown in a star necklace: 

(SO pretty!)

Here's what you have to do to enter:

1) Copy the HTML code below
2) Paste it into the sidebar of your blog and keep it there through February (Rival's launch month!)
3) Leave me a comment here with your blog URL for verification purposes.
4) Winner will be picked via random.org

You have until Friday, Midnight, to enter.

As a bonus, all entrants can receive a pretty RIVAL bookmark just for participating! Just say, "I'd love a RIVAL bookmark" within your comment.

Ready to enter? Here's the HTML code. Copy everything between the squiggly lines!


~~~~~~


<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Rival-Sara-Bennett-Wealer/dp/0061827622/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;s=books&amp;qid=1294723932&amp;sr=8-1-spell"><img border="0" alt="" width="122" height="240" src="http://pics.livejournal.com/mandyhubbard/pic/000ax8ca" />

~~~~~~

Winner of 5 Flavors of Dumb

First off, the winner of an autographed copy of FIVE FLAVORS OF DUMB, as chosen by the random # generator, is:  hugecerealbox  

Please send me your mailing address at: amandayawriter@Yahoo.com.


Thank you so much for all of the awesome book suggestions! I picked up ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS:


It was, as promised, AH-MAZ-ING!  If you're looking for a book that will transport you right into your teens, where you'll relive that does-he-like-me angst, THIS BOOK IS IT. Ahhhh, I loved it!

Next up, also by popular recommendation:


Can't wait to dive in-- it'll be my first Courtney Summers reading experience. :-)

Amazon Strikes Again!

This morning, the publishing world is in a frenzy over the fact that Amazon's Author Central now allows authors to see their own Nielsen Bookscan data for the last 4 weeks. Essentially, that means you can see how many copies of your book were sold in a single week.

Of course, the jokes abound. Authors are notoriously obsessed with amazon rankings, which is, I've discovered, quite irrelevant to the overall picture. The only useful thing it tells you is whether or not someone recently bought your book on amazon.

Bookscan data captures a larger picture, but not, by any means, all of it. It is *NOT* a number to hang your hat on. Bookscan themselves report that they capture only 75% of the market (Walmart and Samsclub are most definitely excluded, as are various other retail outlets).

Here's the one thing people seem to get confused about:

Bookscan captures point-of-sale data to consumers. Sally walks into Borders, buys your book, it is captured by Bookscan.

ROYALTY STATEMENTS capture something else entirely-- they capture books "sold" by your publisher to stores- -the chains, target, amazon, etc. Your publisher prints 30,000 books and ships 20,000. You get a statement saying you sold 20,000 copies. Did you really SELL 20,000 copies in that royalty period?  Not exactly.

This is where writer's get themselves into trouble-- a lot of data without a lot of framework. 

Wwriter's see their bookscan data and think, LOOK at that! Bookscan says I sold 5,000 copies in the first 6 months on sale. I have no idae if that is good. But that's what they say.

A royalty statement makes its way to your mail box, and this statement covers a 6 month period. But becuase the system is archaic, that period ended 3 months ago--  yeah, it takes them that long to print 'em up and mail em out.

Your royalty statement? Says you sold 20,000 copies in that same period.

Your little brain does some math and-- GASP! Bookscan only captured 25% of your sales! 

Yeah, not really. Chances are, they captured at least half, possibly closer to their purported number of 75%. Let's roll with it and pretend it's somewhere in the middle-- 65%.

Remember-- this is ALL FOR ILLUSTRATIVE PURPOSES! I'm making this up and it will bear no semblance on YOUR reality, becuase there's just no way to know for certain.

Bookscan says 5,000 copies. If you consider that to be 65%, your # of books sold to real live people would be 7,692 copies.

That probably means, at the time they printed your royalty statement, the other 12,000 copies where sitting in stores all across the country. Consumers hand't bought them yet, but you get credit for those sales on a royalty statement, becuase the STORES bought them.
 
Now, let's say on your next statement, which then covers the 6-12 months post-release period,  there were 2,000 returns and 4,000 sales, for a net increase of 2,000 copies. So your royalty statement now says you've "sold" 22,000 copies.

Bookscan has been recording sales too. They say in this second 6 month perirod, you sold  another 5,000 books. Not too shabby for 6-12 months post-release, if you're not a big lead title. Bookscan's total sales now show at 10,000 copies. If we use the same random percent of 65%, it means that consumers have purchased 15,384 copies-- so now, if 22,000 copies were shipped, that means there are 6,000 books left on store bookscelves nationwide.

Remember, these numbers are all for illustrative purposes-- no one knows for sure how accurate bookscan's 75% number is-- and if you ask me they're likely to inflate it a bit, hence the reason I consider it to be a bit lower.

Basic things to remember:
-The % bookscan "captures" compared to the # on your royalty statement will likely get closer and closer the longer you are post-release. That's because your pub probably isn't shipping massive amounts of books any more-- the books are already sitting on shelves now.

-Despite the flawed nature of the beast, publishers still rely on it quite a bit ,and may use those #s to decide whether or not to publish your next book, or what size of an advance to give you. If your bookscan numbers are far off of your royalty statements, make sure your agent uses that to equip her for battle-- she may be able to validate a higher advance with a bigger picture of the numbers than what bookcan has.

-Unlike the full service bookscan, Amazon does not keep running total. You can figure out the last few weeks trends, but you have no idea what the overall # is. So if you want that, dear authors, i suggest you pop open a spreadsheet and start recording the numbers on said sheet.

-At the end of the day, remember: you can't control whether people buy your book.