THE AUTHOR AND THE BUSINESS OF PUBLISHING*
Every piece of work involved in moving a completed manuscript into a reader's hands takes place within a framework of future considerations. A book signed today will be positioned on a publication list for its formal launch anywhere from nine months to two years (or more) later. During this period, events take place which influence the book and its commercial life, including the design of its cover, what stores order it, how it is promoted, where on the shelf it is placed, how long it stays on the shelf, and, often, whether it ends up in the hands of a reader or forgotten on a remainder table. A crucial irony of the publishing business is that the decisions that contribute so much to the success or failure of a book often have little to do with its quality. Many good books never have a reasonable chance to succeed because of decisions made by an ill- informed publisher. And occasionally, the most unlikely suspect enjoys an immense success in spite of a publisher's complete lack of attention.
In spite of the direct relationship between a book's performance and its publisher's support, the lore of the publishing industry is full of unexpected success and unanticipated failure. Every season, certain books succeed or fail despite the efforts (or lack thereof) of their publishers.____________________