Check your figures rabbit.
The lowest priced copy of Fine Gunmaking on ABE is $30+ (most $40+) the only copy of Custom Rifles is $225 (softcover) and the one I have to compete with is Double Guns which is still in print.
ABE There is a steady demand for all my books and I'd buy all I could get of the first two used at your quoted $5-7!!
Much of what Ed has written mirrors my own experience.(The only guy around here who makes lengthy posts then answers his own with more lengthy posts?)
Fine Gunmaking had two printing of about 4500 each, I was spot on the market in 1998 selling it out, and still strong in 1999 with the second printing. I bought the remainders about 2003 when Krause changed hands. With a great sales record I went back to the new company with a proposal for a second book and they didn't even return my call. Told me, "You have a good proposal but we only want to do softcover books that will amortize in one year" (i.e. Gun Digest).
I bought the remainder of Fine Gunmaking, a few hundred, and sat on them until the used market reached retail then started marketing author signed new copies at cover price. It remains a strong seller for holiday season and a steady stream all year, but they are getting low. This isn't residue!
Custom Rifles in Black & White was self published (2000 copies + 200 hardback, 1999) and nearly amortized in 18 months, but my partner couldn't stomach sales so it took almost another year to recoup all invested. (In the meantime I picked up one client who has ordered five times the cost of the book in custom projects!) It is now a cult classic and virtually unobtainable except for the few copies I bought back from a retailer and sell at cover price x3. I think I'm just going to keep them.
The new book (Double Guns & Custom Gunsmithing, 2007) has sold enough to recoup the publishers investment and provide meager royalties for me. I got a relatively healthy advance so it didn't kill me to do it. Both shotgun books are all previously published magazine stories so I've been paid, in essence three times for them; magazine, advances, then royalties.
But the book market is DEAD! I've two more books written but have nowhere to publish and I learned my lesson about self publishing; you had better be a great marketer!
What Ed said about returns is all to true! It kills an author to see the number returned full well knowing they are mostly used by the time they get back to the distributor. Double Guns had an initial performance contract with Walmart, but they wound-up returning a few thousand when it didn't sell as fast as they expected. That Hurt!
But I do look forward to eventually buying the remainder of DG and doing what has been very successful (if one doesn't mind being a shipping clerk!) with Fine Gunmaking.
In the meantime I'll see what I can do with a website. If ya can't beat 'em...
At times I am completely frustrated with the publishing situation...
But at times I feel like I'm at Sutter's Mill in '48!! Some of us are compelled to write and take pictures and must see them published!
Best,
Steve
