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

[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.