[stylist] Out of Print

[Lynda Lambert]

Vejas,
I don't know the overall answer to your question but I do know my own 
experience. I do not know if it is the normal for others. Here is what I 
have experienced personally.

My first book, "Concerti: Psalms for the Pilgrimage" was published in 2002. 
The editors and I agreed that it would be published as a "limited edition" 
for it was to be launched at the same time as an international tour of my 
art. ( I am a retired professor of fine arts and humanities, so my focus is 
always  on fine art and art history and  culturally focused literature) in 
the classroom and in academic conferences and publications).
My first book was printed by a small specialty press/publisher of poetry 
collections.  Most of the books they published had  a focus on grief (my 
book does not focus on grief however).  They  published it as a limited 
edition and once the books were gone, there are no more available.
There was never any contract for reprinting the book - I believed it to be a 
one time event for I wanted it for a very specific purpose. They did a fine 
job and the book is beautiful. The paper in it is excellent quality and the 
text and drawings are perfect. It is a work of art, which is what I wanted 
it to be.

I do know the publisher sold my book, but I never received any money for any 
book sales there or through amazon. I still don't. For me, it was an art 
project - the book is a work of art with my drawings and poetry which was 
written over a period of years during my summers in Europe.
I created this book as part of a tenure project and a way of sharing my  art 
and writing with an audience who would enjoy it.

As far as I know all the original books were gone years ago. I kept about 50 
or so books for my personal archives. I just packed them away for posterity 
because that's how I think.

I see that new copies of the book  are available through amazon and I know 
that people still order it but I get nothing for any of those sales. I 
assume the publisher does but I don't know.
What I see usually is that amazon states they have only limited copies 
 left - but what I also see on amazon is that  other booksellers have a copy 
or two for sale at much higher prices than the $15. prince on the book.
For instance, today I took a look and found 2 booksellers who have my book 
listed on amazon. There are always a few booksellers listed there who have 
copies of my book for sale.

1 copy (new) is for sale through Books Mela for $38.93
1 copy (new) for sale through Any book for $41.88
Amazon seems to  always have new copies for $15. each (I receive nothing for 
any sales of the book from amazon)

On occasion I have seen my book for sale through various booksellers on 
amazon for over $150. each and many of the book sellers are in different 
countries. I wonder how so many booksellers have my book and typically it is 
"new" but sometimes it is used, but in excellent condition. I had someone 
contacted me last year who told me she has 2 copies of my book. She wanted 
to sell one of them and asked me how to do it to make the most money. 
Obviously, I have no clue as to how to sell the book she has. I have no idea 
at all how copies of my book turn up in India, England, Africa or other 
places in this world. It's a mystery to me!

So, while my book is officially "out of print" I have to wonder what that 
really means for obviously it still seems to be available.
It makes me wonder just how many copies of it were initially printed - 
perhaps many more than I knew about?

While a book that is "out of print" sells for far more than the initial 
cover  price, I think the author will never receive a penny for any sales in 
the future for it. That is certainly my experience.

Maybe others here have more insight than I have for book selling was never 
anything I thought about at the time. I was just busy with my academic 
pursuits. But, now I wonder about it, too.
I would love to hear from others who have books that are not "out of print" 
to learn more.
Thanks for this great question!  Lynda




-----Original Message----- 
From: Vejas Vasiliauskas via stylist
Sent: Sunday, October 30, 2016 2:14 AM
To: Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter via stylist
Cc: Vejas Vasiliauskas
Subject: [stylist] Out of Print

Hi All,
I was just wondering if any of you know might know why a book, or other 
product for that matter ever becomes "out of print." Is making an author's 
product out of print usually done with the permission of the author?
Thanks,
Vejas
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