Some
people might say that the best time for book publication is any time at all. I
agree to a certain extent. We want our books to go forth and flourish. But are
there better times for this to happen, times when readers are more likely to
buy and read our work?
Here’s a
surprise: According to BookBaby, the Christmas holidays are not the best time
for new or self-published authors to set forth their books. BookBaby observes
that because established authors target this time, new authors tend to be at a
disadvantage. Buyers looking for gifts mostly buy well-known authors and not
new writers.
So when
would be a preferable time to publish? BookBaby believes January and February
show a definite increase in book sales over the holidays for newbes. However,
the largest volume of book sales according to their statistics comes in the
summer months.
This is
another surprise for me since the two books of mine that were published in July and August respectively both received low sales and limited reviews. Therefore, I am not personally big on
summer publication, although BookBaby does offer stats to support their view: There are over $3.4 billion in sales during summer, according
to their industry sources, compared to about $2.9 billion spent for holiday
gift giving.
Fellow writers
and readers, what has your own experience been? When do you buy books if you
are a reader? When do your books sell the best if you are a writer? Let’s share
info!
