| The book publisher says yes but what happens now? | | | | came from, it refers to the title's position in the book |
| After the book has been written and acquired by a | | | | publisher's catalog. Titles in the front of the catalog |
| book publisher the marketing and public relations | | | | receive most of the book publisher's promotional |
| departments work together on developing a | | | | dollars. Front list came to mean the book publisher's |
| promotional plan for each title. That plan can be as | | | | lead books for the season. |
| simple as sending out review copies and a couple of | | | | Midlist are those titles in the middle of the catalog. |
| press releases, or as complicated as arranging a book | | | | Books that should do okay but are not expected to |
| tour, media appearances, radio and TV interviews | | | | have phenomenal sales. Or books that are a little |
| and advertising. | | | | different or quirky. Unfortunately the midlist section |
| In any case every title has one thing in common. It | | | | at some book publishers is shrinking a bit, meaning |
| appears in the book publisher's catalog. That catalog | | | | less opportunity for first time authors. Back list, are |
| is developed five to six months prior to the season, | | | | titles that were published in previous years and are |
| sometimes the title is included in the catalog and the | | | | still available and still selling. A number of books have |
| book hasn't even been finished by the author yet. | | | | strong sales, even though they're back list. |
| The title description includes a blurb about the | | | | Every book publisher has a marketing plan for the |
| content, the author's bio, and any special promotions, | | | | books they publish. Authors can increase their chance |
| such as a six city author tour, or significant first | | | | of being published by developing a marketing plan for |
| printing. The catalog is mailed to the book buyers, or | | | | their own book. It might just be what the book |
| in the case of the major book publishers, taken to | | | | publishing house needs to say yes to publishing your |
| the store's buyers by the sales representatives. | | | | title. |
| If you've ever wondered where the term 'front list' | | | | |