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Author
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Topic: Armstrong
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Fra Mauro
Member Posts: 1586
From: Bethpage, N.Y.
Registered: Jul 2002
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posted 01-16-2006 07:14 PM
   
It's a shame that Armstrong's autobiography has seen poor sales and so little publicity. I guess it's a sign of the times plus the fact that he isn't doing any signings. |
Tonyspace
Member Posts: 120
From: Edison, New Jersey
Registered: Nov 2002
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posted 01-16-2006 08:58 PM
On sale for Christmas at Barnes and Noble
for $15.00. |
mjanovec
Member Posts: 3811
From: Midwest, USA
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 01-16-2006 09:02 PM
It might be a little odd for Armstrong to sign what is essentially a biography, not an autobiography. Granted, it's the closest we'll probably come to getting an autobiography from Armstrong. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 01-16-2006 09:07 PM
I am curious what leads you to this impression. "First Man" reached within the top 20 books selling on Amazon.com and was ranked on the New York Times Bestsellers List in the top 30. I have personally seen interviews, articles and reviews published in at least 35 newspapers (likely more) with new ones still appearing (most recently on January 12 in the South African publication "Tonight"). Jim Hansen is still touring (he was in California this past weekend). Not to mention the feature piece on "60 Minutes"... |
freshspot
unregistered
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posted 01-17-2006 10:30 AM
There are some 50,000 books published in the US each year. "First Man" has done better than, like, 49,950 of them. Sure, there isn't as much publicity as Harry Potter, but the book has done remarkably well supported by many reviews and mentions in all kinds of publications.I've written two books and would be thrilled to get the kind of exposure and sales that this book has gotten. David Scott |
Wehaveliftoff
Member Posts: 2343
From:
Registered: Aug 2001
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posted 01-17-2006 10:46 AM
My local half-price books store already has two for half price...and it's no longer the holidays. |
tfetner
Member Posts: 247
From: Birmingham Alabama USA
Registered: Sep 2002
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posted 01-17-2006 02:48 PM
So does Books-A-Million in B'ham Alabama. Saw two there Sat night with a big 50% off sticker on the front. |
Blackarrow
Member Posts: 3118
From: Belfast, United Kingdom
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 01-17-2006 05:40 PM
Please tell me I'm not the only person to check the profile of new member "Freshspot" just to make sure he's not THAT David Scott.... |
Scott
Member Posts: 3307
From: Houston, TX
Registered: May 2001
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posted 01-17-2006 10:45 PM
It might have been in the spotlight for a week or so, but it unfortunately didn't do as well as some other recent major biographies, like the ones on Benjamin Franklin and Abraham Lincoln. It did OK but I'm guessing not as well as many of us had hoped.[This message has been edited by Scott (edited January 18, 2006).] |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 01-18-2006 05:58 AM
I would caution against equating discounts with poor sales.It is my understanding that they are "deep discounting" the book at some of the chain stores (up to 50%), not because sales are lagging, but to cause an early "sell through" of the first printing, which will result shortly. Then S&S can put the book into an early second printing (which, I understand will include corrections). This is a fairly typical strategy used by the big trade presses to clear the inventory for subsequent editions. If "First Man" wasn't selling, it would be doubtful that S&S would want to support another hardcover edition and instead proceed to the paperback (which is coming, but is coming later). Also, like "Lost Moon" by Lovell/Kluger, "First Man" may have a second rise in connection with anniversaries and/or the release of film adaptation (should that come to be). |
freshspot
unregistered
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posted 01-18-2006 01:46 PM
Another thing is that First Man has a relatively high retail cover price of $30.00 which is $5.00 or so higher than most large publisher hard cover titles. Sometimes the publishers start with a high cover price knowing that they will be discounting after the initial sales hits. But with a high cover price, even at 50% off publishers can still make a profit. This book is now in in a normal period between its hard cover release date with associated press like 60 minutes and the paperback release. It is normal to discount durning this in-between period in a book's life cycle. We will likely see the hardcover available as a "remainder" for $6.00 or even less immediately after the paperback is released because the publisher wants to sell all the hard covers. That does not mean that the book is "doing poorly" - it is normal publishing business practices. Dave Scott (not the astronaut).
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