S2 E33 - The Myth of the Instant Bestseller, with JT Greathouse

As our one and only return guest, JT Greathouse joins us for the launch of Season 2, this time in his capacity as a true-hybrid author (with a bookseller's eye). JT sold his debut, HAND OF THE SUN KING, to a UK publisher, but didn't get a USA deal. With the support and help of his literary agency, he opted to self-publish the American version in the States. This week, we talk about the process of getting your books into stores, the nitty gritty of distribution in relation to small presses, indie authors, and hybrid folks like JT, how to make smart choices, the ways in which books can build towards success, and the (psychologically) damaging myth of the "instant best seller" launch.###the advantages of splitting rights versus selling world rightsThinking about strategies for selling the rights of your bookself pub USA, trad pub UKThe importance of ingramWhy are book royalties so low in trad? What does higher royalties mean in the context of smaller pressesGood presale numbers--how to calculate this as a debut (jeremy's 'vibe check' formula)Debuts not making or breaking youhow online discussions skew our perception of successhow to make good decisionsJeremy and Scott bicker (good-naturedly) over the definition of "tiers"Bookseller mentality re hype and salesSmall, achievable goals - not totally powerless!NEW PODCAST SECTION: The Smallest Hill You're Willing To Die On