Still editing
Still working my tail off and still have lots more to go (add in a crit for a friend I forgot about - the crit, not the person - ah, whatever, I still suck)!
Anyway, I figured today I’d share with you the story of the two women in the romance aisle at Barnes & Noble with me the other day. Both were slirping on their Starbucks.
They looked around a bit, one of them picked up a historical that was faced out by some author I’d never heard of (and don’t remember though my guess is from where it was on the shelf the last name started with an L). She seemed very excited about this.
The other one couldn’t decide what to read.
The first one suggested a couple historical authors, but the other one didn’t seem to excited. Then she saw a book (which I could have sworn was by Lora Leigh but I can’t seem to find the cover on her website so I must be wrong) with a sexy guy on the cover.
She then went on to find the same guy on 4 different covers. They hypothizied that it might have been the “romance guy contest winner.” 1 - I was very impressed that they knew enough (and apparently read RT) to know about Mr. Romance. 2. It wasn’t (I managed to keep my mouth closed and not tell them this though - I didn’t want to be crazy romance section girl).
Anyway, Girl 1 was like “I can’t believe you’d buy a book just ’cause there’s a hot guy on the front.” I pipped up now and said, “you say that like there’s something wrong with that.” Girl with book in her hand agreed with me, “yeah!”
But then she flipped it over, saw that it cost $13 and walked out of the romance section with nothing in her hands. But the crazy historical with kilts and mantitty got a sale.
Now this is what really worries me. I know erotic romance is huge, but there’s no way a poor shmuck like me can support all the authors I want to. I simply don’t have the funds. Do I hope that there are people out there that do - HELL YEAH!!
But I think there are those out there that would say, “erotica/erotic romance doesn’t sell because of content.” BUT THAT’S NOT TRUE - IT’S TOO EXPENSIVE!!
Are these $13 books really good for the genre in the long run?
May 10th, 2006 at 3:25 pm
I don’t know, Emma. I just know I try and spread out my book budget myself. The majority of Erotica Romance I purchase are Ebooks because they are cheaper.
But if it’s something I really want to read, I’ll buy it.
May 10th, 2006 at 5:48 pm
Yeah, I worry that too. And it’s not just erotica books (although I couldn’t say what they retail for over here since I’m having such a hard time finding them in shops!) but all books seem to be getting so expensive, especially in hardback. I often hear writers complaining about second hand and discount bookshops, because it eats into their royalties. Well, I buy books that way ‘cos it’s the only way I can afford to!
Maybe all those huge advances that are always making the news are being subsidised by our own books. What else is making them so dear?
May 10th, 2006 at 10:21 pm
I don’t think so, in the long run. People are willing to spend $5-8.00 on books, but when you start getting over $10, you’d better be sure the book is worth it! :)
May 11th, 2006 at 12:50 am
I think that when they first came out, they were new and everyone was willing to buy one or two. I think the problem now is that it seems EVERYTHING is coming out in them. My guess is that there will be a shift back to the less expensive versions. But I certainly don’t have a crystal ball or anything.
May 11th, 2006 at 7:52 am
I definitely think that erotic romance would sell better if the books were priced less. Or at the very minimum, more people would be willing to pick up the book and give it a try possibly adding to the growing customer/fan base. I can’t afford $13 a book. So I seriously limit the amount of physical books I buy in the genre and stick to ebooks. (which I like but not nearly as much as having the book in my hand.)
And as for hardcover, I almost never buy ‘em.
May 16th, 2006 at 11:50 pm
[…] Via Sybil, Emma Sinclair is concerned about the high price of trade paperbacks. But I think there are those out there that would say, “erotica/erotic romance doesn’t sell because of content.” BUT THAT’S NOT TRUE - IT’S TOO EXPENSIVE!! Are these $13 books really good for the genre in the long run? […]