Selling a book series - Writers Forum

bamagirl1984 · 04-16-2006, 11:03 PM

I'm nearly finished with the first YA novel in a three-part series. I'm wondering if, after I get my agent, publishers would buy all three books upfront. (Although only the first would be finished). I've read about this happening with other authors, simply because publishing houses seem to want control over the big picture, not just the first of three books. The books would all need to look alike and be done as one long project, so I would think the publisher would sign on for the whole package. Does anyone know if I'm correct?

Karl Himmelreich · 04-17-2006, 06:35 AM

Wow! Do you honestly think you can sell two books without actually writing them! Anyone want to purchase my unwritten novels? I have 47 on offer.

G. Palmer · 04-17-2006, 06:59 AM

I imagine it would probably depend on whether or not you have these sequels planned out and how quickly you would be able to write them.

PAGEMASTER · 04-17-2006, 07:09 AM

You mentioned you've read about authors selling unpublished books, just a question, had the authors already been published before the publisher bought unwritten work from them? I would say that the publisher would have to have total faith in you finishing the work to buy two unfinished stories and if you have no published material already I find it hard to believe that the publisher would trust you enough to go through with this, but eh, I may be wrong.

Nickie · 04-17-2006, 08:50 AM

I would advise you to find an agent first. Then you don't have to worry about all that; the agent will deal with publishers and will try to find you the best possible deal.

Otherwise, you can also do a search for publishers who want to work with unagented authors. Some do. Send them a query, in which you present your first book, and of course you can mention that you plan to write two more books. And then you just have to wait for their answer...

Nickie

Selorian · 04-17-2006, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karl Himmelreich

Wow! Do you honestly think you can sell two books without actually writing them! Anyone want to purchase my unwritten novels? I have 47 on offer.

This is something actually fairly common where series are concerned. Your 47 unwritten novels are a different story though. Very cheeky.

With a first time author, I think it would have to be a case where you have a very strong plotline that carries through the other books of the series. You would need to be able to present a detailed synopsis of the rest of the books, likely deliver some sample chapters to show you can deliver within timelines, along with plenty of other stipulations and conditions.

Is it impossible to happen? No. Is it going to be hard to do? Definitely.

Find an agent and see what happens. While they shop it around, do the second book. If you finish before the first is placed with a publisher, then you have a second to help strengthen the proposal.

Good luck.

Karl Himmelreich · 04-17-2006, 09:18 AM

I apologize for being cheeky. I’ll whittle it back: does anybody want to purchase my one unwritten novel?

Seriously, good luck to her...

bamagirl1984 · 04-17-2006, 10:38 PM

I would never consider going agentless. I was just asking about what the publisher would normally do (in a scenario where I have an agent). I figured one option (buy only the first in the series or buy all three up-front) was more common than the other. I was just curious because I like to know how things work. (I'm actually not quite ready to send my material to agents, though I will be in the next two to three weeks.)

My YA book is the first in a series of three; what I mean is that it's not a stand-alone book. The core plotline for all three books has been planned since before I started writing the first. Think Harry Potter. All the books are building toward the seventh. The first book wouldn't make sense, in a way, without the second, third, and so on. It's one long story split into seven books. That's how my series is. The beginning of the story is the first page of the first book. The end is the last page of the third book. So whoever buys the first book would be signing on for a project--for all three. That's just the nature of the books. I don't think I'm being presumptuous to imagine that if someone buys the first, they'll sign on for the second and the third.

The plot of the first book and the repurcussions of everything that happens in it are designed to feed into books two and three. The plotline is very strong. I have a synopsis for each book already. Good idea, selorian72, about the sample chapters. I should be well into the second book in about a month and a half, so that should work well.

Maybe what I said sounds risky, but it's something I've planned all along. The three-part series is a gamble that the first book and sample chapters from the second will be enough to sell all three. (As I said, I can't see how one house would publish the first and another house publish the second and/or third--I wouldn't go that way if I were a publisher).

Also, although I'm not a published author, I am a published writer. I write investigative news stories for a living and have had two short stories published.

Selorian · 04-17-2006, 11:23 PM

I figured that when you said three book series, it was a continuing story. I'm also working on one, so it was the first thing that came to mind.

It sounds like you have a well thought out plan. Having publishing credits under your belt will help you with finding an agent, as well as helping him/her sell your series. The sample chapters of the second book will show that you are committed to continuing, so should be something that helps ease the publisher's mind about the risk.

I doubt any publisher would pick up the first book without intent to do the others. It wouldn't make sense. If and when one commits to the first, you are pretty much guaranteed to have your series sold. The only way I see it not happening is if something happens on your end that causes them to drop the remaining books.

Good luck, and if I can be of any more help, don't hesitate to ask. I'll do my best to tell you what I know.

Mike C · 04-18-2006, 07:44 AM

If you sell to one of the larger houses it's usual for them to sign you for 3 books, the written one and 2 to follow. They don't want to go to the trouble of making you a star only to have you take 2 and 3 elsewhere.

Selling a series is difficult. volume one should work as a stand-alone; that way publisers have the option of rethinking or redirecting you (hey, we think your next novel shouldn't be YA fantasy, but chick-lit set on mars, that stuff's selling well these days and your last one boombed) if circumstances change.