Why Publishers Buy Books: 28 Reasons
Editors will buy a book for one or more of the following reasons:
1. The author's previous books have sold well 2. They love a
book and think it will sell 3. They think a book will sell 4.
They love it enough to publish, regardless of its commercial
potential 5. It's a book that deserves to be published because
of its value to a cause or the country 6. An editor is
passionate enough about it to overcome any doubts the house may
have about the book 7. A new editor has arrived from another
house and its building a list 8. The publisher has the
opportunity to reflag a successful author from another house 9.
The book will be the first in a series with strong growth
potential 10. The idea for the book is brilliant 11. The idea
for the book is timely 12. The writing is superb 13. The title
alone will sell books 14. An author's promotion plan guarantees
a book's success 15. The author is a media magnet who can
guarantee enough publicity to make a book successful 16. The
author has a national platform such as a column or a radio or
television show that will guarantee continuing exposure for the
book 17. The publisher thinks that a book will backlist and
become an evergreen (like evergreen tree -- sells for long long
time) 18. The book has subsidiary rights potential including
book clubs, audio cassettes or foreign, electronic or movie
rights 19. The book has adoption potential in schools or
universities 20. The house has published similar books with
success 21. The book is on a subject that the house has or wants
to build a list in 22. Overcome by auction fever, publishers
convince themselves that, despite the profit-and-loss statement
rated to determine a book's value, they pay whatever it takes to
outbid their rivals. 23. The author wants to switch houses 24.
The editor discovers a book on a trip to a book fair and thinks
it will sell, or is caught up in the excitement surrounding a
book, or wants to justify the trip 25. The publisher is sending
the industry the message that because of new management or
despite changes in the house, the houses a player 26. The book
being sold may not be a big one, but future books will have
bestseller potential 27. The author has a personal connection
with someone in the house with the power to buy the book 28.
Publishing the book will enhance the house's prestige
This is not a definitive list. John Saul, a novelist, observed
if publishers don't want to buy a book, they say "It's been done
to death." If they do want to buy that book, they'll say "Always
works."