So, I don't know a ton about this because despite a few of my books having been remaindered, I've only been told about it and been given the opportunity to buy my hardcovers once. (I only knew about the others because I am an avid browser on Book Outlet, but apparently I didn't have to be told those books were going out of print because they naturally ran out their print run, or something?) For what it's worth, I bought 75, though they weren't offered to me for quite as cheap as the poster's here are, or I probably would've bought 100. In retrospect, I feel like it wasn't enough and I should've bought all of them. I also haven't done anything with these copies and feel silly that I have 75. So like most things in publishing, there probably is no right answer.
The one thing I feel pretty confident is that there's no reason to panic about a hardcover being remaindered after your paperback release; that's very normal, and also, remainders can happen any time something's been over-ordered. The Spellshop is in Book Outlet right now in hardcover and the paperback just hit USA Today in its first week of release. Hell, Emily Henry has two books there. I mean, Fourth freaking Wing is over there, remaindered and still selling like gangbusters. So do not fret, but don't let this opportunity to buy a bunch of your stuff pass you by, either, because you don't wanna be hunting down copies of your own work on eBay in five years, and you can always do giveaways or put your books in little free libraries if you decide you wish you'd found more readers - you weren't gonna make money off these remaindered books anyway!
Oooh this is such good intel! I forgot about Book Outlet! And to know that you don’t make money off of these copies anyway and that huge hits get remaindered too puts things into perspective about how this is just the life cycle of a hardcover. Thank you, Dahlia!
I've had A LOT of my books get remaindered in different formats and my publishers have been pretty good about informing me when that happens and letting me buy them (with one exception that I'll happily share IRL in hushed tones in a bar one day). I used to buy tons of copies but then...I stopped. I keep a few extras around, but my attic started filling up and I never knew what to do with the copies anyway. And I started to feel like holding on to those copies was sort of me clinging to the past, when I want to move forward, creatively and professionally. So I don't order many copies anymore. I keep about ten or fewer around for each book and, maybe I'll regret it one day, or not have extras to give away, but I just decided I don't want my shelves to be a shrine to my past. I'm trying to be less sentimental about stuff in general, and book stuff specifically, so maybe that's part of it. Like my mother in law says, "I've never seen a hearse pulling a U-Haul." I'm learning to celebrate the publishing wins, mourn the losses and just keep moving forward. The remainder bin is for readers to discover my past work, not for me. I'm already writing my future.
Do whatever brings you the most joy! For me, I'd want them for myself to give away like Oprah. YOU get my book! YOU get my book! But if it brings you more joy to leave them for others to purchase, that's a fine option, too.
So, I don't know a ton about this because despite a few of my books having been remaindered, I've only been told about it and been given the opportunity to buy my hardcovers once. (I only knew about the others because I am an avid browser on Book Outlet, but apparently I didn't have to be told those books were going out of print because they naturally ran out their print run, or something?) For what it's worth, I bought 75, though they weren't offered to me for quite as cheap as the poster's here are, or I probably would've bought 100. In retrospect, I feel like it wasn't enough and I should've bought all of them. I also haven't done anything with these copies and feel silly that I have 75. So like most things in publishing, there probably is no right answer.
The one thing I feel pretty confident is that there's no reason to panic about a hardcover being remaindered after your paperback release; that's very normal, and also, remainders can happen any time something's been over-ordered. The Spellshop is in Book Outlet right now in hardcover and the paperback just hit USA Today in its first week of release. Hell, Emily Henry has two books there. I mean, Fourth freaking Wing is over there, remaindered and still selling like gangbusters. So do not fret, but don't let this opportunity to buy a bunch of your stuff pass you by, either, because you don't wanna be hunting down copies of your own work on eBay in five years, and you can always do giveaways or put your books in little free libraries if you decide you wish you'd found more readers - you weren't gonna make money off these remaindered books anyway!
Oooh this is such good intel! I forgot about Book Outlet! And to know that you don’t make money off of these copies anyway and that huge hits get remaindered too puts things into perspective about how this is just the life cycle of a hardcover. Thank you, Dahlia!
I've had A LOT of my books get remaindered in different formats and my publishers have been pretty good about informing me when that happens and letting me buy them (with one exception that I'll happily share IRL in hushed tones in a bar one day). I used to buy tons of copies but then...I stopped. I keep a few extras around, but my attic started filling up and I never knew what to do with the copies anyway. And I started to feel like holding on to those copies was sort of me clinging to the past, when I want to move forward, creatively and professionally. So I don't order many copies anymore. I keep about ten or fewer around for each book and, maybe I'll regret it one day, or not have extras to give away, but I just decided I don't want my shelves to be a shrine to my past. I'm trying to be less sentimental about stuff in general, and book stuff specifically, so maybe that's part of it. Like my mother in law says, "I've never seen a hearse pulling a U-Haul." I'm learning to celebrate the publishing wins, mourn the losses and just keep moving forward. The remainder bin is for readers to discover my past work, not for me. I'm already writing my future.
"I've never seen a hearse pulling a U-Haul" is such a great saying! Thank you for sharing this perspective, Alex!
Do whatever brings you the most joy! For me, I'd want them for myself to give away like Oprah. YOU get my book! YOU get my book! But if it brings you more joy to leave them for others to purchase, that's a fine option, too.
Love the Oprah giveaway!!