Trilogy vs three books -- Pro's and Con's

[Anita]

I have written a trilogy. I see that many trilogies have been combined into one book. I was wondering if anyone had thoughts on:
1. the pro's and con's of combining them
2. do you charge three times the price?
3. do you still maintain the single books?
4. when in the books life cycle do you bring out the combined book?
5. Do you only bring out the combined book for limited specials?

[Caroline]

Anita,

Great question for which I have no background information. However, I am publishing in January the very thing you speak of.

I wrote two books and then decided to write the third as a continuing story (each could stand alone). I didn't have a following or considerable readership as yet, therefore, I made the decision to make it one large book or volume.

I found a cover artist who paints and splurged for the cover. I feel the story is good and solid (the 2nd book won two awards), and now I can concentrate on marketing one book as six hundred and two pages with 176K words.

I am going to charge the going rate for a novel under my publisher's rate, print and e-read, and enter it in more contests. I have hopes for it but now it will breathe it's own life.

I can also start on another story. :)

[K.P.]

depends on the size. my trilogy of books are too large to combine (they are over 400 pages) and usually comboing is done near the books life cycle to garner new interest. (my trilogy was 5 years old).

[T.]

Just a thought, but you'd probably want to initially release the first book at a low price, then the second and third at higher prices. That way readers can try the series, hopefully get hooked, and be willing to pay higher prices for the continuation of the story. You might even do a eBook giveaway for a short period of the first book, to get reviews and a readership following .

I'd wait till next Christmas to release as a 3 in 1, possibly for a short period during Nov-Jan. This way it can be given as a gift, and after the holiday still be available while people still have all their gift cards to spend. In general, packaged books are always at a discount to buying each book individually.

My 2 cents.

[Jim]

Anita,

You neglected to indicate the length of the three books in question. The number of pages of each could be the deciding factor in deciding whether to release them individually or as a one-book trilogy.

[Anita]

Jim wrote: "Anita,

You neglected to indicate the length of the three books in question. The number of pages of each could be the deciding factor in deciding whether to release them individually or as a one-bo..."

They are a romance series - each book is a little over 160 pages.

[Jim]

Anita,

Based upon the length (160+ pages each), it might prove a better and more profitable marketing strategy to release each as a separate novella. Consider pricing the first at $2 to $3. Base the selling price of the two that follow upon the popularity, demand, and total sales of the initial installment.