Tracking Preorders – June 16
June 16th, 2017Just a few more days until publication!
To review for those new to my blog, I’m publicly tracking preorders on my forthcoming novel The Last Good Man. The novel has already earned a Publishers Weekly starred review, and several glowing endorsements from other writers. But it’s a crowded marketplace…
My goal was a modest 500 preorders before the June 20 publication date. And you know what? I made it! The print orders did it. There were a total of 153 as of this morning — VERY small potatoes in the grand scheme of things — but enough to let me reach my goal. Thank you to everyone who preordered a copy, whether ebook or print!
| Date | Total Preorders | Events |
| May 5 | 31 | Social media announcement of preorder links |
| May 12 | 84 | Email to 1800+ newsletter subscribers** |
| May 19 | 164 |
• New review by Michael Patrick Hicks • probable inclusion in targeted Amazon emails |
| May 26 | 225 | New review at Barnes & Noble blog |
| June 2 | 285 | • Email to 525 newsletter subscribers(++) • Included in a list of summer reads at Kirkus • Included in a list of summer reads at The Verge • Included on 3rd pg of “NOOK Press Presents” |
| June 9 | 377 | Includes some print preorders |
| June 16 | 542 | Figure includes 153 print preorders. |
So what does this mean in dollar terms? After all, I need to contribute something to the family income…
The ebook is priced at $7.99. For most copies sold, I earn 70% of the list price less a few pennies, so let’s say $5.55 per copy. That’s a nice cut, much better than I’d get in traditional publishing. If all preorders go through, I’m looking to net around $2,175 from the ebooks.
By contrast, print — specifically print-on-demand — is expensive. So despite the $18 cover price, I’ll be netting only about $2 a copy for the preordered print books.
Adding estimated income from ebook and print preorders gives me a total of $2,415, which I won’t see until two or three months after publication. Not exactly high finance, eh? But it’s a start.
I’ll write more on income versus expenses in another post.
Find preorder links and info here.
++ The 525 newsletter subscribers are a separate list, newly signed up via a recent promotion. It should be assumed that most are unfamiliar with my work.
**Around 350 subscribers have been long-time subscribers. The others are mostly new to my work, having signed on during recent promotional events. Only 39% of emails sent track as having been opened.
Posted on: Friday, June 16th, 2017 at 8:14 am
Categories: Publishing.
Tags: preorders, The Last Good Man
June 16th, 2017 at 8:55 am
Congratulations!! Looking to reading it in a few days!
June 16th, 2017 at 7:56 pm
That’s a promising start. Good on ya.
June 17th, 2017 at 7:35 am
Thank you both!