Hey Authors, Playwrights and Stage 32 Community,
Want to know more about what happens after a book hits the shelves - and it turns out, the story doesn’t end at publication day!In traditional publishing, books are often sold to retailers on a “sale or return” basis. That means bookstores can order plenty of copies to display and sell, but if they don’t sell within a certain timeframe (typically 3-6 months, though sometimes up to a year), they can return those unsold books to the publisher for a credit or refund.
Here’s a quick rundown of what usually happens next:
Bookstore Returns: Unsold stock is sent back to the publisher’s warehouse.
Stripped Covers: For some paperbacks, stores just return the cover for credit - the rest of the book is destroyed or recycled.
Remainders: Publishers may resell leftover stock at a discount through clearance or bargain outlets.
Pulping: If resale isn’t viable, books are pulped and recycled into paper products.
This return system can also impact royalty statements, since authors are often paid based on net sales after returns. So even if a book sells well at launch, some earnings might be held back until the return window closes.
It’s a fascinating - and sometimes nerve-wracking - part of the publishing world that most readers never see. But it’s also completely normal, and part of how bookstores manage space and inventory.
Disclaimer: The specifics can vary by country, publisher, and distributor, so it’s always worth checking the fine print of your contract or agreement.
Hope someone found this useful information! Cheers Team!
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This is such a great post, Lauren Hackney, and such an important reminder that the story behind publishing doesn’t stop once the book hits the shelves! It’s a fascinating balance between art and logistics. I love that you shared this, because so many writers focus on the creative journey without realizing how much strategy and timing play into keeping a book visible after launch.
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That "going out of business" model (I refuse to call it a business model) is part of why publishing is in trouble. If clothing was sold that way, it would be much less profitable.
I succeeded running a brick & mortar retail business for 40 years because I continuously trained & retrained my employees on how to sell. Most of the time, the employees didn't even know they were being trained. Book stores rarely do such training. Books are suppose to sell themselves or, without penalty to the store's owner (except for lost income) shipped back to the publisher.
Does your local restaurant get to return food that hasn't sold? No.
Does your local shoe store get to return unsold shoes? No.
Does your local garden supply get to return unsold rakes? No.
Sometimes I put slow moving merchandise sale -- and when on sale it gained new fans.
Book stores have no motivation to discount the slow movers, and therefore no motivation to help unknown authors become known.
No publisher spends money on a book without a reason for someone to love it, but instead of the discount bin, the Great Unknowns are tossed into the garbage bin.
Then, sometimes the novice writer learns they owe the publisher money...
Yes, publishers can use discount outlets (I've bought a couple very good books at the dollar store), but that's more hassle & we all hate hassle. Discount outlets still rarely helps the writer since they have no motive to push authors, just cheap in & out stuff.
I've friends who were thrilled to be "professionally published." Except for two highly successful writers, the rest lived to regret it.
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FANTASTIC POST Fran Tabor I absolutely hear you and agree. You said it wonderfully! Could not agree more!
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Thank you Ashley Renee Smith for reading the post and responding - it's a massive journey before and after the book is published. :)