A few days ago, Fedex delivered a box full of The Flame and the Shadow at Chez Rossetti. After the cries of joy, I liberated them from the packing and hastened to arrange them on the bookshelf. It gives me such pleasure to gaze at them, scads of the little darlings, all in a lovely row.
Actually, “little” is the operative word, because these are the mass market version. When The Flame and the Shadow was released this time last year, it was in trade paperback. All big and fancy, yeah, yeah. But I have to say trade paperbacks leave me cold. I much prefer the smaller size.
To be honest, I cannot think of a single thing in favour of trade paperbacks. Can you?
Let’s see…
- They cost more. I’m a reader just like everyone else, but I’ll think two - or three, or more - times before paying for a trade paperback by an unknown author. I really hate that my work is priced out of anyone’s reach. It embarrasses me. Here in Oz, book prices are appalling, so I’ll use US prices. At Amazon, Flame is only $6.00 right now, because the mass market will be released on 6th October and they’re selling out old stock. But it was $15.00 Ouch!
- They don’t fit on my shelves! I like to see the spines of my books, but I have to shove trades in on their long sides. Looks dumb.
- They don’t fit in my handbag either. Or if they do, they peek out the top and unbalance me.
- They weigh more, so they cost me more to post as contest prizes. And from Oz, postage is a killer, believe me!
- I have really small hands, so I get tired of holding the damn things.
I suppose there could be a prestige factor. They do look kind of grown-up and impressive. The artwork looks great because they get a larger canvas. Okay, I guess that’s two things. They’re not to be sneezed at either.
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You see? All that wonderful swirling Magick in the background. Ah…
I just wish the damn things didn’t cost so much? *grump, grump* What do you think? Do you like trade paperbacks? Would you pay the money for a trade written by a new author?
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Hi Denise,
gorgeous covers! I totally agree with you about trade paperbacks! Here in Finland they cost about 14 euro, it’s 20 dollar! I really think twice before I buy a book by an unknown author. And they don’t fit on my shelves either….
Morning there,
(that was what you wee talking about wasn’t it.)The slightly larger book, of which all of yours (except my 2 e-books) are in are lovely, but I agrre with the portability of the smaller novel. Maybe that is why so many people I talk to love M&B because they are small and Lightweight.
I’m with you on the cost The better the value the more books I can gobble up. Talking the diffence in size
Many of the historical Novels are sqat but thicker, and you are right about having to fit the trade book on shelves.
You do notice it when you carry around a larger novel.
HAving said that, I am a real sucker for Hard cover books too. Something about the solid feel of it in my hands. Maybe that is old fashioned cause I have several ‘old Books”…when only hard covers were around. (wow I must be ancient) No they were my dad’s.
I do have some modern special ones and They rarey leave the house.
Too bulky.
I too prefer the smaller size off mm pb’s. Mostly it is just cost. only ever now and then will I make the expence of buying a hb or tpb. And that is only for a few authors.
Hey Denise! Congrats on TFATS releasing in mass market!
Hmmm…I don’t mind trade. Yes, it costs me more but if it’s something I’m dying to read or written by an author I love, then I don’t mind. I am more reluctant to buy if the reasons don’t coinside with those. If the story sounds just okay and I don’t know the author, then chances are that I won’t pick up the book. But that goes for mass market too so I guess that’s a wash…
I’m lovin’ the swirling magick too, btw!
(((hugs))) VFG
Hi Denise,
Well, I bought The Flame and The Shadow and you were a new author to me :). I’m usually a bit more picky what I buy when it’s trade, but I rarely ever buy one if I don’t have a coupon. Most of my book shelves are personally sized, I have alot of space specifically for trade size. I would prefer them to all be mass market because of the price, but I do like the size of trade. It’s easy to splay the book across my legs when I’m reading in bed, less stress on my fingers. If only the price were just a dollar or two more than mass market. But then I do love the small size of mass market.
Oh, I am so looking forward to reading Thief of Light! (I’ll try to keep the hero pictured with blond hair *wink*)
Yes, Eva, that’s it, EXACTLY! When a book is expensive, (here a trade will be over A$30.00)I’m much less likely to take a chance on an unknown. Which - let’s face it - is what I am.
Hi Mary, yes, a hardcover means you’ve arrived, baby! There is something lovely about their solidity, isn’t there? I guess that’s why libraries generally prefer to buy a hardcover, because it means a much-borrowed book will last longer.
There you go, Meg. My point exactly!
Hi VFG, welcome to the madhouse! Yep, the evidence is stacking up against trades. And yes, I was so very pleased the lovely little mm’s.
As for the swirling magic effect, I think it’s even more so when the two covers are together. Imagine what it’ll be like when I have four of them. *happy sigh*
Ah, Amy, it was lovely of you to take a chance on an unknown. I’d be interested to know what prompted you to take the plunge though.
Having custom made shelves sounds fabulous. I’ve got different heights too. Only problem is I like to shelve all of an author’s books together and it doesn’t always work. Trades look so dumb on their long sides.
It was the shadow
. I had read a review for the Flame and the Shadow, and even though the reviewer wasn’t exactly thrilled with the idea, I’d learned enough about our tastes in books and how they differ that I was sure I’d find that touch very good. And I was right! I loved the concept. It’s so different and like nothing I’ve read before. And of course it’s fantasy romance. My favorite genre. But it was Shad that initially piqued my curiosity :).
You’re right, I like to keep my authors together on shelves, so when a series begins in paperback then the pub decides to release future books in the series in hardcover, oh that just gets right under my skin. I have two series I read that did that. One I decided to just wait til the book releases in mmp, but the first one I did buy the next three in hardcover. And now they sit out of order on the shelf
. But at least I can still keep them standing together on the same shelf. But still…Why do they have to do that??
Thanks, Amy. That’s really interesting. I love that it was not-so-glowing review that lead you to my work. Heh heh Also that you read the reviews knowing your tastes are so different, you can predict what you’ll enjoy from them. That’s brilliant!
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