What's a fair price for a 500-page trade paperback?

[Ming]

(there was some sarcasm there)
(the author bio is theoretically optional, and I haven't had a terribly exciting or interesting life)

The bad news is that, at present, I can't price it under twelve bucks and change. Thirteen has me making fifty cents a copy on Amazon.com, three bucks if I nudge people to the dedicated CreateSpace e-store.

Then sell it for $14 or $15.
I doubt the 1 or 2 dollar increase will dramatically change the "price point" for purchase. Better to get 1.50 or 2.50 per sale. I doubt the slightly higher price will cut your sales in half.

[Jon Miller]

Yes, the above 10 and below 20 is one price point I think. Small changes within that range will cause only marginal loss of sales. I would then recommend 15 or even 16 (so that you stay below 20 after tax).

JM

[Bereta_Eder]

Okay, I just ordered my proof. I went with slow shipping because I am not anxious enough to let them bait me into ordering INCREDIBLY EXPEDITED SHIPPING for most of the cost of the proof itself. I'll probably have to lower the cost of the book a bit to make it worth buying when S & H are factored in. Hrm.

Anyway, here's the revised cover, with image courtesy BUncle's sister, after BUncle did a whole lot of work on that image and didn't get mad when none of it got used. Yay BUncle. Yay authorial neurosis. Yay this-project-is-almost-done.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]178713[/ATTACH]

Ah yeah!!!!

I like very much the paradoxality of the title.
Eye catching
The art is pretty good too and the two stripes of different shades of blue give it instant class

[Elok]

Thank God for their cover templates. I have the option of expanded distribution channels--libraries, standard bookstores, etc.--but that hikes the price up by something like six dollars. I'm inclined to give that a "nope" just because I very much doubt standard bookstores are going to say, "hmm, a self-published novel by a first-time author? We'd better make room on the shelves for this!" If it gets big enough that bookstores actually express interest, I can look at a second edition or a new publisher or some other such dodge. A twenty-dollar list price would be a kiss of death, and the profit margins at stores would be pitiful anyhow.

Am tempted to price it at $14.53, but suspect that including historical easter eggs in your list price is taking navel-gazing meta-jokery just a bit too far.

[C0ckney]

Also I need some sort of author bio. (...I haven't had a terribly exciting or interesting life).

'brayton cole is dull as dishwater. his book, however, is a seat-of-your-pants ride through a strange world coming apart at the seams. you should buy it.'

[C0ckney]

or, how about: 'unlike other authors, brayton cole won't bore you with the details of his tedious life. instead, he'll take you on a journey a through mysterious world hurtling towards the precipice and introduce you to the heroine who can save it. you should buy his book.'

[Elok]

How about, "Brayton Cole is very uncomfortable referring to myself in the third pers--oh, hell."

[rah]

Most common author bio lines. Choose all that apply.
1. Live in the mountains/back country
2. With a wife and (insert number) children +/- a dog/cat
3. Teaches/professor of some obscure subject
4. If military sf - member of the armed forces else ignore
5. Currently working on my next novel
6. You can follow me at (insert website name that includes your name)

[Bereta_Eder]

I recently read silo - wool (the only one translated in greek) and there were just a few lines about the author.

when and where he was born that he did some sailing and that he wrote the book while working in a library (or bookstore don't remember)
that's all it took.

it's about the book

[Elok]

Well, I got the proof today. It needs a couple of fixes, mostly to section title pages and such. I might be able to get away with tightening up the page spacing a bit. But all that pales into insignificance compared to the fact that I GOT MY PROOF!

[rah]

Congrats, looking forward to purchasing a copy. Remember to provide the info.

[C0ckney]

great stuff elok. be sure to think about an e-book so that those of us who live in countries with a craptastical postal service can get it too.

[Elok]

There's definitely a "publish to Kindle" option. Does Kindle use a proprietary format nobody else can read?

[Jon Miller]

Most people use kindle and there is software to change kindle format to pdf/etc.

JM

[Ming]

Do the Kindle option. Many people no longer buy real books anymore, so you might as well get all the sales you can.
Research shows that the E-books don't really cannibalize hard copy sales that much since most people are either e-book or hard copy specific.
Sure, hard copy sales have gone down thanks to e-books, but many people simply won't buy real books anymore.