seeking feedback on possible price for reference work for authors

[Karen]

I could really use some feedback on what writers might feel OK paying for a certain kind of book. I need to give my cover designer the price within a couple of days.

I'm both a lawyer and a writer, and am getting ready to publish a reference book for writers about the law. (It's called Closest to the Fire: A Writer's Guide to Law and Lawyers.) It's well over 600 pages, and is meant as a place to look up particular topics as well as to browse for topics that could provide good story material. The minimum price I can pick and still make a pittance on B&N's online store is $22.99. I'm wondering whether writers who found the basic idea of interest would be willing to pay $23.99 or $24.99 for such a book.

I promise I won't take any opinions expressed as any sort of promise to buy the book, at the suggested price or any other! :-)

[Jan]

We did ours ourselves for nothing - check out my #thedragonsback on my Twitter stream - we like it or my #theriseofthevioletsorcerers my book 3 of #Amethyst fantasies - we think they are good enough and saved money. Used a designer page meant for art and craft.

[Karen]

?? Jan, did you misunderstood my question -- or did I misunderstand your answer? I am talking about what to charge for the paperback of the book I'm about to publish. The cover, formatting, editing, etc., are done or almost done. Unless you're talking about sales avenues other than B&N? I may certainly do some hand-selling, but I'd like to be able to sell the paperback on Amazon and B&N (via CreateSpace) and make some money doing so.

I've decided on $23.99, btw. That'll give me 87 whole cents on B&N, but considerably more on Amazon.

Jan wrote: "We did ours ourselves for nothing - check out my #thedragonsback on my Twitter stream - we like it or my #theriseofthevioletsorcerers my book 3 of #Amethyst fantasies - we think they are good enoug..."

[Jan]

Ah I thought you were talking about cover design - my fault entirely - don't do the marketing and pricing stuff myself - so bad at it - a colleague sees to mine - so can't advise - sorry if I wasted your time.

[Angel]

Personally, as someone who is an author, and married to an author, I would pay up to about 34.99 for a law book. Also, remember, Non-fiction can fetch a higher price, and if you have good knowledge of the subject, you can get a decent price. I'll be honest. I think you are underselling yourself at only $23.99. I would definitely suggest moving the price up to closer to $26.99-29.99 price range.

My husband also agrees, Up the price. Seriously.

[Karen]

Thanks to both of you! I appreciate the feedback -- and I'm aware that underselling can affect a book's credibility.

It's a book full of law, but it's not presented as a legal textbook or as, exactly, a legal reference book. And it's aimed at authors, who (as some recent article emphasized) are not an especially wealthy lot. I'll ponder $26.99 or $27.99 -- but my cover designer might strangle me, as I gave her the $23.99 price and she thinks she's finally done with my questions and tweaks....

Angel wrote: "Personally, as someone who is an author, and married to an author, I would pay up to about 34.99 for a law book. Also, remember, Non-fiction can fetch a higher price, and if you have good knowledge..."