“Publishing’s poor cousins” is how the Wall Street Journal describes some people’s view of paperback originals (we’re presuming they are talking about trade pbk originals) because,

1) reviewers see the format as a signal that the publisher isn’t expecting much from the book

2) unlike a title released in hardcover and subsequently in paperback, an original pbk gets only one shot at making it

3) because of the lower price, everyone in the pipeline, from author to agent, publisher and retailer makes less than if the book were published in hardcover

Occasionally, a paperback original does find success and becomes the exception that proves the rule. The WSJ explores the success of one such title, One Day by David Nichols, which took off, but only after it was announced that Anne Hathaway had been cast for the lead in the movie.

Tellingly, the follow up to One Day will be published in hardcover.

This entry was posted on Thursday, September 23rd, 2010 at 11:15 am and is filed under Publishing Business. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.