Fly on the wall: How long does it take for a book to become a bestseller
How long does it take for a book to become a bestseller? Dang if I know the answer to that question. (Dang?)
Here’s my shot. It can take days and it can take years. If you have the top tier media in the palm of your hands - all of it – at the release of your book, it could be fast. One or two author appearances on the major network morning shows (preferably Today and GMA, sorry CBS, love ya but sales is sales). An interview with radio diva Terry Gross on NPR’s Fresh Air, a NY Times book review and/or feature in the Style section, and excerpt in O magazine. That ought to do it. Even one good interview or story in one of these media could catapult a book alone.
How often does that happen? Even in the large publisher’s caches these books are but small percentages in their vast lists of titles. You could almost say, it’s relative. But, it’s really not.
It’s hocus pocus.
Coming from a publicist, that might surprise you. I’ve written about the “magic” factor more than once but I really don’t want to expound too much on that here. A book can get on a bestseller list but the real trick is sustaining it. That’s even harder. When you’ve “shot your wad” in your first weeks of pr campaigning, all I can say is, you better have a damn good book that people like, really like. The word of mouth is what’ll save the day. Without it, all the smoke and mirrors in the world will not a long-term bestselling book make.
An anomaly in bestsellerdom was the strange behavior of the HCI title, A Child Called “It” by Dave Pelzer. Years after the book was published it continues to make consistent and substantial sales every week. The book languished for nearly two years before anyone really heard of it. At that mark, the author was invited to be a guest on the Montel show (may it rest in peace and succeed on the radio waves). Montel, who is well known for championing causes that often go under the radar, made Pelzer and the subject of child abuse the centerpiece of his entire hour show.
The show hit a nerve and from that point on the book just sells and sells. More media came about, the author managed a hefty speaking career, the book started being read inside of schools and history was made. Even though the text is often graphic and hard to take, readers can’t put it down. The best side effect besides the obvious sound of the cash register is the tremendous light the book shines on the issue at hand – child abuse.
Watching this book become a bestseller was rewarding on a lot of levels.
So, now we have a really compelling book that hit the NY Times bestseller two weeks ago and we’re ready for people to let us know how much they like it. Reviews are nice, articles are welcome but when people buy the book and then order more copies for friends and family, that’s what I’m talking about. Getting It Through My Thick Skull is on the hot seat right now and is postured to start making its “performance.”
The bestseller can be an elusive event but if you don’t pull out all your stops, it’s not likely to happen. Never mind the top tier media that makes the perfect formula. There are only so many seats on that stage. Creativity is king and maneuvering the new media landscape can get you lots and lots of sales.
Your creative ideas are welcome here.
Just kidding, sort of.
Get out there and sell your book!
0 Comments »
No comments yet.
RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URI
