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cancelling Finding Place?

May 9th, 2006
by Jim Reverend.
| Views (231)

I may be cancelling "my book":http://revjim.net/books/20054q-finding-place/ all together and refunding the money to those that purchased it.

Those of you that pay even moderate attention to my writing will know that I did a lot of market research, opinion seeking, and put out lots of feelers before deciding to sell a book of my work, and even more research before deciding where to have it printed and how much to sell it for. Based on my research, I had expected somewhere between 50 and 100 copies to be sold in pre-sale. It's been very shocking and a bit depressing to find that I haven't even manged to reach 20% of that low estimate.

I've been putting off finishing the book in hopes to pick up a few more before the price goes up but I don't feel like I can put it off any longer. So, I'm currently heavily debating whether I should refund the book pre-sales and cancel the book entirely or finish the production of the book and just not make any more.

At this point, if I consider sales final, finish the book, put in my printing order and call it done I'll make about $75, assuming I don't have any misprints. Considering that I've put in at least 10 hours developing it and Jess has put in at least 3 more, $75 isn't even a fair wage, let alone a real profit.

If you have advice I'm all ears.

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Posted in: business, everything, life, ljxp, photography.

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  • Gloria
    Give it a few more days...I'm going to see if I can't send some more folks your way. I want to see this book so, so badly, and my MOM bought a copy...a copy of a book in which her daughter appears naked...I've hardly ever been so proud:)
  • Jenny
    Well, I agree with what BMG said above.

    Personally, I would go ahead and do it. Especially if you have extra copies to sell because I think your goal is to expand your work beyond just the people who see it now, and thats a great way to do it. Plus maybe more of your friends/etc will buy later.

    It's also a great way to chronicle your work and progress.
  • bmg
    I guess to me it boils down to do you want to produce this so people who have paid can see your art up close and in person or do you only want to produce this to make a profit?

    In going ahead with the publishing, are you going to have excess copies? Have you looked into any forums selling those for you without excess work on your part? (Borders will sometimes sell a self published book by a local here, maybe Half price books? A local gallery?) That is something to consider as well.
  • Rachelle
    I was about to send two guys in suits out to break your kneecaps if I didn't get my book soon, but in this case I'll call them off.

    I say, give it a few more days while I spam your book all over the internet. If you don't get enough sales, then call it off and consider our money a deposit towards your NEXT one.
  • ach!

    I can understand if you cancel the book sale, but believe me when I say that I was greatly looking forward to seeing this in person. And I'm proud to say I'm part of that small group of people who did preorder the book!

    Hell, if you do cancel the book, just keep the money as a donation for the effort you put into your photography. It's great work, and I'm happy to support it.
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