Newsweek is reporting that there has been a fall-out in respect to blog book deals.
In support of their argument they note that a gawker.com deal with Atria for the sum of $250,000.00 turned out lackluster sales - 1,000 copies to date.
Christian Lander (Stuff White People Like) was signed by Random House with an up-front pay-out of $350,000.00 based on the fact he reved up a staggering 20 million hits at his site each month. In spite of the fact the book is slated for a release July 1, I determined after a quick google, that amazon.com has already marked down the sticker price from $14.00 to $10.36. To avoid being left high and dry, Barnes & Noble have also slashed their retail tag from $14.00 to $10.71.
Can the quickie sales bin be far behind?
In contrast, the "Hipster Handbook" (by Robert Lanham) has sold 40,000 copies to date. Understandably, a guide with a humorous twist makes for a good gift, great fodder for idle chit-chat at glittering cocktail parties, that sort-of-thing.
Brette Bloom of Kneerim & Williams Agency notes that may be the exception, though, in respect to blogger material.
"The reading experience for a book needs to go deeper," she asserted.
Obviously, if the material between the pages is rife with of old posts and dated news items, the potential for big bucks offers from the major publishers is just about zilch. Common cents - um - sense, don't 'ya think?
Who wants to read old gossip?
Personally, I think there may be a great market for books on blog material that aims high, is somewhat artsy-fartsy, and expresses a unique viewpoint.
If the blogger creations manage to be innovative, strike new ground, and explore new territory on the cutting edge of all that the rich media proliferating on the Internet, that's certainly a plus.
Indeed, a slick glossy tome designed to strategically lend artistic weight to an aesthetically-pleasing coffee table - tagged at about $60.00 bucks max - is not out of the question in my mind's calculating eye.
But then, I waste my hard-earned cash on just about any old trivial thing.
Eureka!
That's it, a blog on trivia! That's never been done before, has it?
Promo for my Sci-fi thriller "The Blog that ate the Planet"...