Good news?

[jpskewedthrone]

OK, my editor has hinted yet again that they're thinking of bumping up the release date of The Cracked Throne from the extremely tentative January '07. I've been told I'll hear back by the end of the week. What's everyone's take on earlier than expected releases? I assume that readers love them because they get to see the story continued a little sooner than expected, but what about the writer's career? Is it better to get books out at a quickened pace, thus getting MORE books out as time progresses, assuming the writer can keep up? Or would it be better to have the release dates spread out more? I find that I'm at a loss as to what the downside of an earlier release might be . . . especially if I can keep the books coming at a decent pace.

In other fun and embarrassing book-related news, I offered to send a personally signed copy of the book off to a friend by mail for an agreed upon amount so that she could get it in the mail as a gift for someone else. So I got the book out, along with a bookplate so I could send her my signature for her own book. I signed the bookplate. I stuffed the bookplate and the book into the envelope, sealed it up . . . then realized I hadn't actually signed the book itself. So I opened the package, got the book out, signed the book personally . . . then realized I'd signed the book to HER not to the person she was giving it to as a gift. GAH! So I got a NEW book out, signed it correctly (and extremely slowly so I wouldn't make a mistake) then repackaged the whole thing and have just now mailed it out. So does anyone out there need a copy of the book signed personally to "Susan"? Any takers? Susan? Susan? Beuller?

Update: The book signed to "Susan" has been claimed. Thanks!

Comments

[jennifer-dunne.livejournal.com]

Getting a bump in the release date at this point is fine. What you don't want to have happen is to have all your marketing and promo stuff set up for, say, April, and discover in February that your publisher is releasing your book in March because one of their subcontractors finished part of the publishing process early and the book that was supposed to go there wasn't going to be ready. Because that late, you can't change anything.

It would also stink to get bumped by only a month, so your book hit in December 2006, since, as you know from personal experience, the bookstore staff is not likely to make shelving your baby a high priority. :-)

Those are the only downsides I can see.

[pbray.livejournal.com]

As long as you still have a decent window for revisions, and a long enough lead time for marketing, there's not really a downside. More frequent publication helps build the career of a new writer, because if the interval is too long readers will forget who you are and whether or not they liked your first book.

Publication date changes are irksome when they come close to the release date, upsetting marketing plans that you (and your publisher) may have made, potentially confusing the sales force and the book store buyers.

[makoiyi.livejournal.com]

Ha! Yes, that was funny, but I do hope you haven't wasted a book. If it had been me the air would have been blue. As for the other thing, I haven't the experience to comment, but what your commenter said above (pbray) makes sense to me. I know I get really irate when I have to wait two years for the next book, so I can't see it being to your detriment.

[krteilman.livejournal.com]

Ironically Susan is my first name, but I like the one I have signed to Kat better!!!