Is this nuts or what?

Optimistic Paranoid

Optimistic Paranoid

Adventurist
Got the latest issue of OutdoorX4 today and noticed an ad for a book devoted to overlanding in the US and Canada. I'm one of those inveterate readers who collects every book I can on subjects that interest me, so I eagerly went to the web page to see about ordering it.

http://overlandtravel.us/

$65 + shipping?!? Is this author nuts or what?
 
Yes.. one would also argue subscribing to outdoorx4 is insane too.. they are just another paper magazine making money on advertising and promoting the free products vendors give them to review. I subscribed to them for a short time because they promised a change from the traditional mag... that proved to be false.

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Optimistic Paranoid said:
Got the latest issue of OutdoorX4 today and noticed an ad for a book devoted to overlanding in the US and Canada. I'm one of those inveterate readers who collects every book I can on subjects that interest me, so I eagerly went to the web page to see about ordering it.

http://overlandtravel.us/

$65 + shipping?!? Is this author nuts or what?
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LOL, why yes, yes she is. I think this is book you would be disappointed in and would reveal little. TeriAnn is a sweet person but her chronicles are not much of a revelation for the veteran traveler. I'm sure this would be a valuable resource to the novice traveler. She does have a neat 1960 Land Rover Dormobile and a cool Irish Wolfhound though.
 
TangoBlue said:
LOL, why yes, yes she is. I think this is book you would be disappointed in and would reveal little. TeriAnn is a sweet person but her chronicles are not much of a revelation for the veteran traveler. I'm sure this would be a valuable resource to the novice traveler. She does have a neat 1960 Land Rover Dormobile and a cool Irish Wolfhound though.
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Her wolfhound is pretty cool
 
Scott said:
Yes.. one would also argue subscribing to outdoorx4 is insane too.. they are just another paper magazine making money on advertising and promoting the free products vendors give them to review. I subscribed to them for a short time because they promised a change from the traditional mag... that proved to be false.
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Truth.
 
TangoBlue said:
LOL, why yes, yes she is. I think this is book you would be disappointed in and would reveal little. TeriAnn is a sweet person but her chronicles are not much of a revelation for the veteran traveler. I'm sure this would be a valuable resource to the novice traveler. She does have a neat 1960 Land Rover Dormobile and a cool Irish Wolfhound though.
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Agreed.

Sadly, the days of print (books or magazines) are numbered. I expect to see less and less works like this over the next decade. Pen to paper is becoming a lost art.
 
Books such as there are usually priced higher because they are produced and sold at a much lower volume and to a niche market.
Hopefully she sells enough to keep the Land Rover running.... :p
 
Optimistic Paranoid said:
Got the latest issue of OutdoorX4 today and noticed an ad for a book devoted to overlanding in the US and Canada. I'm one of those inveterate readers who collects every book I can on subjects that interest me, so I eagerly went to the web page to see about ordering it.

http://overlandtravel.us/

$65 + shipping?!? Is this author nuts or what?
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Sounds like they used a vanity publisher to produce print copies.

POD (Print On Demand) is the way to go for such things, using Lightning Source or Create Space. I used Create Space for my books before being picked up by a traditional publisher and having traditional trade paperback print runs. It keeps the cost of the books reasonable and there are no up front costs to the author (besides the editing, cover, etc before publishing). With POD there is no stock to keep and the books ship world wide via distributors like Amazon (who owns Create Space). I can't think of a single reason why an indie author wouldn't use a POD service instead of buying full print runs and having to hold hundreds of print copies in stock to sell.

Side note, if any of you are considering penning your own tome drop me a line and I can give you some of the positives and pitfalls I've learned in this crazy journey.
 
Dave said:
Agreed.

Sadly, the days of print (books or magazines) are numbered. I expect to see less and less works like this over the next decade. Pen to paper is becoming a lost art.
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There has been a resurgence and it really depends on the market. For instance the Young Adult market moves a lot of print copies, more than other genres. The publishers I've had the conversation with thinks it is nostalgia for an era pre-ebook that the kids missed. I say it is because they read the books while at school, where they aren't allowed to use tablets or phones in class but are allowed to read books.

I think the death of the paperback has been declared too soon, though. Across the industry print copies are climbing in sales for some reason that people much smarter than me can't figure out. Brick and mortar book stores are still failing, it's an odd and interesting time to be an author. With that said 95% of my sales are still ebooks from various outlets and a large majority of my print sales are from people buying signed copies at ComicCons or from book stores where I signed copies or have an event, but in the last few months of sales numbers (which are over 6 months behind real time) print copy sales have been climbing for me and for the other authors I'm friends enough with to share sales numbers. Will that be the same next year? Hell it may not be the same tomorrow!
 
Dave said:
Agreed.

Sadly, the days of print (books or magazines) are numbered. I expect to see less and less works like this over the next decade. Pen to paper is becoming a lost art.
Click to expand...

Agreed. Biggest reason I've released my book as an ebook. Lower cost for the reader and higher profit margin for me. It's a win-win. Plus it makes it easier to make updates and correct those pesky spelling errors that slipped past the editor.
 
WUZombies said:
I can't think of a single reason why an indie author wouldn't use a POD service instead of buying full print runs and having to hold hundreds of print copies in stock to sell.
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From the perspective of a buyer, I can. I'm currently waiting on a POD book from Amazon. Going on 3 weeks now, still waiting for a shipping date. A double edged sword for the author IMO. Too much risk in stocking all copies up front, and danger of losing a sale over slow POD service. I won't cancel my order, but still shake my head over not having a Kindle option available.
 
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