So what's in a bestseller?
There's a crazy thing that happens when you become a published author: people start referring to you as a "bestseller." Even when you aren't.
It's incredibly weird, and it happens all the time. To me.
My local newspaper might say "Bestselling author Ally Carter is signing books at the library on..."
My friends and relatives say things like "Are you still coming to Christmas dinner now that you're a big, bestselling author..."
Random bloggers will say, "I just read this bestselling book..."
But I'm not a bestseller! (Well, unless you count individual store lists--not lists like the New York Times--which some people would argue is the only list.)
So there. I'm not a bestseller. And yet, when I was at Book Expo America a very important member of my publisher's sales team turned to me and said, "Now, Ally, how many weeks was your book on the Times list?"
He wasn't joking. He wasn't trying to embarrass me. This wasn't some passive aggressive attack like the girls in high school were so good at. No. A highly-ranking member of the sales staff honestly thought Love You Kill You had been a New York Times Bestseller!
Like I said...surreal.
And then when I explained that LYKY hadn't been on the Times list things got even stranger because he cocked his head and said, "Are you sure?"
Uh...yeah...let's just say it's not the kind of thing I'm likely forget.
So then the two of us got to talking about bestseller lists and how they're formed and what they mean and how there are many, many instances of non-bestselling books that, in the long run, sell MORE copies than books that can actually carry the "Bestseller" label.
You see, bestseller lists are based on the number of copies that are sold at certain stores during that specific week. Tess Gerritsen explains the whole thing here better than I ever could, but let me just say that there are oodles of factors.
How heavy the competition is in a given week plays a big part. (For example, do you really think any other book has a prayer of being the #1 teen title this week? I don't think so.) There are lots of books that would have been bestsellers in one week that wouldn't have stood a chance in another just because of the competition.
And the second really big factor that most people might not realize is that it's not about total books sold--it's about books sold that week. So "slow and steady" doesn't necessarily win the bestseller race. There are oodles of books that never had a huge week, but may have had a year's worth of really good weeks.
And thanks to all of you who have told your friends and talked about it on your blogs and chatted it up on airplanes, in elevators, and while lying by the pool, it looks like Love You Kill You might just be one of those.
SO THANK YOU! I'll take that over a bestseller list any day.
Have a great one,
Ally (who is off to buy a mattress. For real this time. This process has gotten WAY out of hand!)
It's incredibly weird, and it happens all the time. To me.
My local newspaper might say "Bestselling author Ally Carter is signing books at the library on..."
My friends and relatives say things like "Are you still coming to Christmas dinner now that you're a big, bestselling author..."
Random bloggers will say, "I just read this bestselling book..."
But I'm not a bestseller! (Well, unless you count individual store lists--not lists like the New York Times--which some people would argue is the only list.)
So there. I'm not a bestseller. And yet, when I was at Book Expo America a very important member of my publisher's sales team turned to me and said, "Now, Ally, how many weeks was your book on the Times list?"
He wasn't joking. He wasn't trying to embarrass me. This wasn't some passive aggressive attack like the girls in high school were so good at. No. A highly-ranking member of the sales staff honestly thought Love You Kill You had been a New York Times Bestseller!
Like I said...surreal.
And then when I explained that LYKY hadn't been on the Times list things got even stranger because he cocked his head and said, "Are you sure?"
Uh...yeah...let's just say it's not the kind of thing I'm likely forget.
So then the two of us got to talking about bestseller lists and how they're formed and what they mean and how there are many, many instances of non-bestselling books that, in the long run, sell MORE copies than books that can actually carry the "Bestseller" label.
You see, bestseller lists are based on the number of copies that are sold at certain stores during that specific week. Tess Gerritsen explains the whole thing here better than I ever could, but let me just say that there are oodles of factors.
How heavy the competition is in a given week plays a big part. (For example, do you really think any other book has a prayer of being the #1 teen title this week? I don't think so.) There are lots of books that would have been bestsellers in one week that wouldn't have stood a chance in another just because of the competition.
And the second really big factor that most people might not realize is that it's not about total books sold--it's about books sold that week. So "slow and steady" doesn't necessarily win the bestseller race. There are oodles of books that never had a huge week, but may have had a year's worth of really good weeks.
And thanks to all of you who have told your friends and talked about it on your blogs and chatted it up on airplanes, in elevators, and while lying by the pool, it looks like Love You Kill You might just be one of those.
SO THANK YOU! I'll take that over a bestseller list any day.
Have a great one,
Ally (who is off to buy a mattress. For real this time. This process has gotten WAY out of hand!)
posted by Ally Carter at Wednesday, July 18, 2007
5 Comments:
Ally, I just finished reading I'D TELL YOU I LOVE YOU . . . and I LOVED IT!!!! It was truly brilliant. Better than I even anticipated and I was anticipating a lot from all the buzz. The writing was just so right on - great lines - funny - smart - great characters. I want to go to the Gallagher Academy!!! 'Cept I'm probably not brilliant enough. ;-)
I can't wait to read CROSS MY HEART AND HOPE TO SPY and see what happens with Cammie and Josh.
Great, great job. I'm not surprised the book is doing so well. Warm congratulations to you, from one writer to another.
P. S. Even my young adult boys are fighting over who gets to read it first. My oldest hid it in his room and I had to go rooting for it and make a deal with him.
Thanks, Kimberley!
-Ally
=O It's seriously not a bestseller?
LIAR!!!
Like, seriously?
Wow. Shows how much the Bestseller people know.
You should release Cross My Heart & Hope To Spy sooner, so you can show them.
Or, you know, just send an advanced copy to me.
*Wink wink*
Good luck with sales and stuff.
My book isn't out for another year and change and my friends still say that to me!
Well, it should be a best seller. I always refer to you as a bestselling author. Because even though it wasn't on the bestsellers list, it's optioned for a Disney movie! There should be an award for that.
I hope they really do make it into a movie. I wouldn't mind being Cammie, or Bex, or even an extra. Either way, you are a bestselling author in my eyes.
Also, as Nicki said, do you send out ARCs? **bats eyelashes** You know, you are one of my favorite authors. ;-)
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