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I would love to win a copy of the book!

Lots of good info here. I'm wondering, what is the average initial print run for debut middle-grade authors? Thanks.

Great post as usual, Robin.

Print runs can vary widely depending on the middle-grade genre; whether its fantasy or humor or historical or contemporary or a girlie book. And the sales figures will also vary from 2,000 - 100,000 if you have a book called Diary of a Wimpy Kid. :-)

I's a tough question to answer because MG novels *are* a slow burn. It's my personal belief that sales also depend hugely on reviews, too. Starred reviews will lead to more of those school/library sales, which is the staple for the trade hardback. Especially when budgets have been cut so badly the past few years.

It's a nerve-rattling time. I've been there the past several months and just got my first statement. Hardcover sales are so-so (good reviews, but no stars), but Scholastic put it into the Book Fairs in January and it's doing extremely well there which I'm VERY excited about.

I'm still hoping for more hardcover sales though and fingers crossed for those wonderful state lists as well as the official trade paperback in September.

So there are many ways a book can earn out, not just in the original hardback edition. Fortunately! Oh, and writing the next book is the most important thing you can do. Amen! :-)

This is such a great post. I'm an aspiring middle grade author and I see for one thing how much harder to get buzz on the Internet than YA. It's good to have a perspective on it. There are a few blogs out there that focus on middle grade which helps. Shannon Messenger started a Marvelous Monday series that some bloggers are doing. I only blog once a week on Monday at Literary Rambles and try to interview at least one middle grade author a month.

Perhaps you could post some links to blogs we should follow to get more in touch with middle grade school librarians, etc., to help promote our books.

Natalie: Talk to your local Barnes and Nobles about their "educator days," when they invite in teachers and librarians. They often have local authors in to talk about how their books can be used in the classroom.

Live events (local book fairs, festivals) also seem to be a good for MG authors--even more so than for YA authors. These events tend to draw families with younger children. And there are many local book fairs and festivals: network locally, talk to local librarians and bookstores, and look at your Chamber of Commerce's calendar.

For MG, I would also work on curriculum guides to show how your book can be used in the classroom.

This is all if you want to do promotion. It takes time away from the writing, so it all depends what works for you.

Love this. Thanks for the post. Agent Joe Monti (who previously worked for B&N) said Holes and Gossip Girls were the first MG/YA novels to have huge numbers in their first year.

I agree, it is all about marketing to help those numbers. Writers need to find ways to reach librarians, parents, and kids. I've heard school visits are very effective for MG.

Great post, Robin! I agree that MG needs more time to move through the layers of gatekeepers -- which include librarians, teachers and parents -- down to the readers. Someone mentioned educator days at bookstores: sometimes these events offer CPDU credit to the teachers, so those are worthwhile events to look into. Speaking at local, state, or national library and teacher conferences can interest these important gatekeepers in your books, too especially if you offer teacher's guides or ways in which your book can be used in the curriculum. School visits are definitely a great way to reach readers directly, but if you're not a good traveler, I think Skype visits are an option. (I haven't done any Skype visits, but I'd love to try some).

I love that you're an optimist, Robin. :-) Thanks for the concrete suggestions on how to get the word out about our middle grade novels!

Loads of great information here - in the post AND in the comments. Thanks to all. It does make sense to me that MG sales are slow and steady. Because unless the book has a huge author name or a blockbuster movie potential attached, the promotion will be a build of positive reviews and word of mouth and author visits - and all of that takes time.

Karen, print runs can be all over the map, from as low as 2500 up to 40,000, depending on the publisher's expectations and pre-orders. A great resource for looking up this info is http://edelweiss.abovethetreeline.com/ which compiles a bunch of publisher's catalogs which include print run information. One thing to be aware of, however, is that for some reason, publishers always report about twice what they actually intend to print. Not sure why that is, but it's been confirmed from a number of sources. So if the print run says 20,000 copies, there's a good chance they're planning on printing 10,000. Just another publishing quirk, I guess.

Kimberly, I agree that MG is more review-dependent.

Natalie, SO glad this post was helpful in understanding what to expect! And I like your idea of posting such links, I just don't know of any. Other violets? Do you have such links?

Thanks for all your great suggestions, Jen and Laura! In the next week or two I plan on posting about what DOES seem to sell MG. I'll be talking about some of this stuff more.

bfav, yes. In my experience, school visits are one of THE most effective ways to connect with readers. The problem can be *finding* the gigs in the first place, especially if you have to work around a day job.

You're welcome, Natalie. :-)

The other difficult part about school visits (or library visits) is finding places with the money to offer an honorarium. So many schools these days (especially in California) just can't, but as a debut author, I feel it's still worth my time to do some visits at no cost. I also feel like it's taking something away from the students to be asked to do a school visit and then refuse simply because they can't afford to pay--especially if it's nearby.

Sorry, that's kind of off topic! Back on topic, it's interesting to hear about debut numbers from an MG perspective. I think a lot of this applies to debut YA books, too, particularly those that don't get released to a lot of hubbub. I'm grateful that my publisher doesn't seem to be overly pushy or have unrealistic expectations about numbers. Not that I've noticed so far, anyway! They also have reminded me that official, reliable numbers don't materialize until several months out, and anything I might run across (e.g. via my Amazon Author Central page) is to be taken with a grain of salt and not to be panicked about. :)

All of those. Lol!

Ditto--I've already pre-ordered some of those despite my plans to read my huge TBR stack first!

Thanks for including WILDEFIRE on your list! I'm very excited for all 10 other 2011 releases around it as well :)

I've only heard of like half of those, and I actually have two of them already, but now I'm looking forward to all of these!

I'm so excited for all of these! Several of them are wonderful authors I've been following and cheering on for a long time too! It's going to be a great year.

Wow - those all look amazing! The breadth of budding talent out there is a little overwhelming. I'm so excited for all these debut authors! In particular, I'm anxiously awaiting Possession. I follow Elana's blog and credit her, in part, with my start in blogging and finding this awesome community of writers!

I'm looking forward to all of those on your list. :D

All these look good, and have great covers. I'm especially entranced by the Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, and I love Elana's Possession cover--simple but striking.

I've pre-ordered Blood Magic and, sad face, I can't order any more books for a few months. I have to read everything I have first and then honeymoon with my credit card.

Aww, thanks for including MARA, Valerie :D It's so crazy think about that first contest!! But it's really awesome that you remember :D

Gah, I'm going broke this year. That's just a fact. But at least I'll be in reader's heaven!

What a cute ode. And we'd all love it even more if we knew *which* debut novel you were talking about!

More affirmation in things subjective and not giving up.

Thanks!

This reminds me that I need to add to my Willy Wonka & the Publishing Industry post...

#7-- One is enough for anybody.

Sometimes one person on your side makes all the difference.

What a great little story. I can hardly wait to read the sequel.

Excellent post, Moonrat.

Improbable success stories mean a lot right now in America, and this little ode to determination hits the spot.

Thanks, moonie, I've needed an, "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can" speech lately.

Congrats to debut novelist (and her obviously awesome debut editor)

i may be dense but..... are you the editor in question?

Okay. I'm choosing to see this as a prediction even though I'm sure this particular editor has already passed on me, leaving my author heartbroken but still hopeful.

Ahhhh... thanks Moonie. Sending out those queries NOW. Peace, Linda

Moonrat, it's always good to hear from someone who roots for the underdog in any sector of the universe, but I think especially this one. Hope is the thing with feathers etc.

I love when you get like this but I've reached a point where the anonymity drives me mental. I want to know what the fabulous little book is so I can partake too!

This was definitely a feel good post that I found at the right time.

Thanks!

THAT IS AWESOME!

"Soon to be a blockbuster movie starring Brad Pitt."

Seriously though — a great read at 6.20am

Okay. So sometimes I get annoyed because I shut down the browser too soon in the evening, and then when I open it up again first thing in the morning I see I missed being on the first train out of the station -- an excellent post (somewhere) and a bunch of just plain old frankly appreciative comments.

But this was really nice to read so early this a.m.

So nice to be reminded that good things can happen to good books, good authors, agents, and editors -- good people. You go, Moonie.

I'd give one of my more minor digits in order to know the title or author of that book!

What a sweet entry, moonie!

Oh how you make me smile.

Hum, sure wish that would have happened to Cold in the Light.

Thanks for the inspiration dear Moonie. A feel good, don't give up story is just what this fledgling unpublished wannabe needed this morning.

Sending a big basket of virtual chocolate chip pecan cookies and pralines your way.

Yay!!! I click virtual champagne glasses in honor of said underdog and said underdog's brilliant editor (and other publishing partners).

how lovely. and it gives all little debut books out there hope. =)

how sweet. I think I'm gonna go make some deep passionate love to my heterosexual female protagonist in my novel-in-progress.

That made my day a little bit brighter.

This ode is why I watch Seabiscuit whenever I'm feeling down.

Such a terrific pick-me-up!!

Congratulations to the terrific author, terrific agent, and terrific editor!!

:-)

Hi ya moonrat, found your link on Linda's Leftbrainwrite blog.
I'll be back (as if that has never been said by anyone)

Love this! In my head this played as a animated short, where unassuming novel makes his way to the big city to find fame and fortune, only to discover he had already won just by finding the right home.

I will stop drinking caffeine now...

Ooh, like a 21st Century "I'm Just a Bill." :)

Ha ha, yes!!

Honestly, I don't know how anybody survived without Schoolhouse Rock.... "Conjunction Junction" probably changed me more than I will ever realize!

Oh man, as the author of a little debut novel, your ode makes my little heart race . . . with both fear and hope!

Moonrat,

As someone with a novel currently on submission, I was momentarily heartwarmed by The Little Novel That Could. But then I saw your post from a few days ago - 17 submissions in one week - and a cold chill went down my spine. Any one of the Gang of 17 still alive to tell a tale? And by the way - when you know it's going to be a no, how soon do you tell the poor bastards? It seems to me "Yes" comes fast and "no" takes forever. As they say in Tinsel Town, if you haven't heard, you've heard.

Great post! And congratulations to all involved...whoever you may be. Yay, hooray!@!@

With all the doom and gloom of the past several weeks -- this was a gem and a real gift. Thank you.

This post brightened my day. Thanks.