Midworld Press...

[Sock Monkey]

We've had some other people mention that they would prefer smaller print runs. It was mentioned that it might make the books sell faster and possibly make them worth more on the secondary market. We'd be interested in getting any thoughts on the subject.

I'm in agreement with Ben's response. I don't believe that a smaller print run makes more people want to buy a book. I think that (a) customers need to know about the book, (b) the book needs to be one they are interested in and (c) the quality and price need to be inline with their budget and tastes. If these three things happen, then sales should follow.

The only time that a print run factors into my decision making process is trying to calculate how much time I might have to make a decision before a book sells out. If I'm 80% sold on wanting the book, then the "threat" of the book selling out due to either higher demand or lower print run might push me to pull that trigger. The key is that I'm already sold on the book, I just need to justify the purchase. I've never once bought a book I wasn't interested in because of a low print run.

As a collector, I'm always interested in the aftermarket and like to track prices for various books, even if I wasn't interested in purchasing it. It's a fun little component of the hobby. I've never decided to start or stop buying books from a publisher because of aftermarket prices. If the quality is there, I like to support the publisher directly rather than possibly buying for cheaper on the aftermarket.

[jeffingoff]

If you run your press concerned about how the books perform on the secondary market, you are very loudly advertising that you consider speculators your primary customer base and there's really no quicker way to run off actual fans of the genre/author/artist other than simply not publishing anything. And once the fans stop buying books from speculators because you've made it clear you don't care about them (the fans), the speculators will also stop buying your books because they're not getting a return. Then you don't have a press anymore. There are countless limited edition presses that made this exact mistake.

AGREE with this. It's also a great way to obscure the actual demand. If speculators are choking off supply and driving up the demand that generates the artificially high secondary market prices then there's no real sense of what the books are actually worth to the fans. And once the speculators leave, the tide goes out.

[slayn666]

If you run your press concerned about how the books perform on the secondary market, you are very loudly advertising that you consider speculators your primary customer base and there's really no quicker way to run off actual fans of the genre/author/artist other than simply not publishing anything. And once the fans stop buying books from speculators because you've made it clear you don't care about them (the fans), the speculators will also stop buying your books because they're not getting a return. Then you don't have a press anymore. There are countless limited edition presses that made this exact mistake.

[Splync]

We've had some other people mention that they would prefer smaller print runs. It was mentioned that it might make the books sell faster and possibly make them worth more on the secondary market. We'd be interested in getting any thoughts on the subject.

Welcome to the forums!

As Ben said, a print run ranging from 300 to 500 is pretty standard for small presses. Buzz will drive sales, but that will come from the titles, authors, artists, and treatment of the novels.

I love Daniele Sera's art and will certainly have to pick up a copy when I'm not so poor.

Best of luck!

[Ben Staad]

I don't think a smaller print run would help with sales. You are already at a pretty limited run at 300-500 copies and I can't imagine it makes business sense to go lower than that.

The secondary market is a mystery to me. I try really hard to only buy books that I know I love or from authors that I typically love. In regards to Those Across the River I bought this specifically for the cover art and hope I like the story. There are plenty of books on the secondary market, at or below retail, which I love and plenty of books above retail which I could care less about.

In regards to increased sales, in the small press world, it is all about buzz. Author name, artwork, production value, and upcoming releases all factor in to creating interest and maintaining it. How to get there is beyond me.

I do know, when I flirted with starting a press, that a number of publishers were very open, honest, and generous with their time when I reached out to them for some information.

Not sure if any of that helps but I do wish you the best.

Welcome to the forum!

We've had some other people mention that they would prefer smaller print runs. It was mentioned that it might make the books sell faster and possibly make them worth more on the secondary market. We'd be interested in getting any thoughts on the subject.

[ArtemusGordon]

We've had some other people mention that they would prefer smaller print runs. It was mentioned that it might make the books sell faster and possibly make them worth more on the secondary market. We'd be interested in getting any thoughts on the subject.

[Ben Staad]

Anyone order and receive anything from them yet? Just curious for some additional input on production quality.

[brlesh]

I've liked everything I've read so far by Gemma Files (short story-wise) and I've read a lot of good things about Experimental Film, so I took the plunge on that one.

The Buelhman book sounds interesting, so if I like EF, I will probably give one that a shot also.

Bitter Seeds sounds like it's too much magical-fantasy for my taste.

Plus, it's the first of a trilogy, so if I get the first one, I will feel the need to get the other two.

B

[Ben Staad]

Nice and congrats! Glad not to be the last poster on this one.

I placed my first order with them. Looking forward to checking out their stuff!

[Brian James Freeman]

I placed my first order with them. Looking forward to checking out their stuff!

[Ben Staad]

I would like to also add that I would buy one of their books, at that price point, if it was a book I really wanted. However I haven't read the current book or the one up for pre-order. Those Across the River sounds like something right up my alley but don't really know.

[Ben Staad]

For what it is worth I saw a few photos on an FB group of the Bitter Seed book and the book looks well done. There were only a few photos so couldn't see much but it looked similar to what I see from CD. That being said, for me personally, I would pass on the book due strictly due to the price point.

Not trying to poop on anyone here or the publisher at all I just need to watch my spending a bit more closely these days.

[RonClinton]

I saw they're doing an edition of Blacktop Wasteland. I don't recall how, but I've come across this book and heard good things about it.

Really? Hm, well, maybe I will have a copy of one of their books on my shelf, after all...I’ve been meaning to read that one since its release last year.

[TacomaDiver]

I saw they're doing an edition of Blacktop Wasteland. I don't recall how, but I've come across this book and heard good things about it.

[Ben Staad]

I see a name I recognize as winning a copy of one of their books. I will reach out to him and see if he has any thoughts on the press.