Status of more New Frontier books

[shanejayell]

There's a post on PAD's blog about it:

http://www.peterdavid.net/index.php/2011/05/21/blind-mans-bluff-because-you-demanded-it/

Basically, more books will be made if this one sells fairly well.

 

[zarkon]

Here's hoping. Wouldn't want to leave it with that, it's a weak book in an otherwise mostly fantastic series.

 

[Defcon]

I hope they will look at the sales for both the TPB and the MMPB before making a decision, since I can actually see quite a few people waiting for the MMPB, because this time the delay is relatively short ( 8-9 months instead of more than a year).

 

[JD]

Oh yeah, if I didn't go for the ebook I probably would have waited for the MMPB. Usually I'd just get TPB, but this time knowing that the MMPB was coming out so soon I would have been more willing to wait.

 

[Therin of Andor]

I tried to leave a comment on the site, but not sure that it "took". I said:

I'd be quite happy to see a return to the MMPB series if the market can't continue to support "New Frontier" in trade paperback. I worry that too many fans wait too long for MMPB reprints these days, so sales on the recent NF trade might not be as high as needed.

Also, the last few books with swords and Starfleet insignias on deserted planetscapes might be easier to design and paint before the manuscript is finished, but I really miss seeing the "New Frontier" cast and guests on the covers. I want my Arex and M'Ress cover! I had to send off to Germany to get a Janos cover (ie. "Martyr"/"Märtyre").

 

[Therin of Andor]

I tried to leave a comment on the site, but not sure that it "took". I said:

I'd be quite happy to see a return to the MMPB series if the market can't continue to support "New Frontier" in trade paperback. I worry that too many fans wait too long for MMPB reprints these days, so sales on the recent NF trade might not be as high as needed.

Also, the last few books with swords and Starfleet insignias on deserted planetscapes might be easier to design and paint before the manuscript is finished, but I really miss seeing the "New Frontier" cast and guests on the covers. I want my Arex and M'Ress cover! I had to send off to Germany to get a Janos cover (ie. "Martyr"/"Märtyre").

 

[James Cole]

^ It took a couple minutes for my comment to show up on his site.

I'm very sorry to hear that the bad state of the publishing industry is continuing to get worse.

Is it possible that PAD's priced himself out of the Star Trek book market? I don't know how publishing works, but due to his past sales record, could he command a higher initial fee than other less established authors (since the last several NF books have been hardcovers and now trade paperbacks this might provide some evidence to this effect)? And with the dropoff in general book sales, his books can no longer break even? Or does everyone basically get the same advance, and the more your book sells, the higher your take from royalties?

I realize this must be a very sensitive issue (particularly author A gets paid more than author B etc), so hopefully we could discuss the publishing industry/tie-ins in general and not specifically the Star Trek publishing program.

 

[JWolf]

I hope they will look at the sales for both the TPB and the MMPB before making a decision, since I can actually see quite a few people waiting for the MMPB, because this time the delay is relatively short ( 8-9 months instead of more than a year).

Don't forget that eBooks count too.

 

[Therin of Andor]

Is it possible that PAD's priced himself out of the Star Trek book market?

Certainly one of the reasons for offering contracts on hardcovers/trades, that then get reprinted into MMPB, is that the author gets two bites at the royalty cherry - and the royalty on hardcovers/trades is higher than MMPB. So it's more lucrative. And yes, previously successful sales could give leverage to higher advances.

I recall David Gerrold's falling out with Pocket. He had "The Space Vampire" ready to roll (I assume it was an early germ of the concept that became "Blood and Fire"?), but the editor of the day wouldn't agree on price and David figured that writing tie-ins wasn't worth his time any more, since the same effort on an original story, for him, resulted in more $$$$$.

For a lesser-known author, having the "Star Trek" banner probably helps them sell more copies than an original novel. So it kind of balances out at some point in one's career.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

Hmmm...well, here's hoping the book sells well because I would hate for the series to end now and certainly not on this note.

 

[Sxottlan]

Basically, more books will be made if this one sells fairly well.

Well, isn't that kind of the deal with any book series?

 

[Therin of Andor]

Well, isn't that kind of the deal with any book series?

Yes, but at various points PAD was getting four-, three- and two-book contracts for NF novels, signing new ones before the contracts were complete. At the moment he has none.

 

[BillJ]

So you're probably looking at a two year window between this book and the next one.

 

[Sxottlan]

Yes, but at various points PAD was getting four-, three- and two-book contracts for NF novels, signing new ones before the contracts were complete. At the moment he has none.

One might wonder if it's because of New Frontier's quality lately.

Doubtful, but one might wonder.

 

[ryan123450]

Why not go with the old saying, "Always leave them wanting more." End it now while there is still some interest, and make the last book an epic masterpiece.

 

[MatthiasRussell]

When I spoke to David in February, he conveyed a lot of love for NF and its characters, as did his wife. If he can keep it going and can think of a good story, I have every confidence he will keep the series going. I mentioned to him he needs to bring back Janos; he seemed to genuinely like the idea. He also read the chapter where the Doctor comes in with such feeling.

If we love NF, I think he still has more love for it than we do.

 

[Therin of Andor]

One might wonder if it's because of New Frontier's quality lately.

I see no lack of quality, just fewer NF per year.

Resistance to buying hardcovers and trades, and slower pace of each new release? Could be lots of factors. PAD was annoyed that Pocket lost interest in his "Apropos of Nothing" series, even though the series had great sales.

So who knows.