According to The Manchester Journal, Tom Pope, has written The Trouble with Wisdom and will sell it for less than it costs him to print. He does, however, intend to make money on his book.
You can buy his book at his website or in a store that has a Print On Demand machine. You pay $5. When you finish, you pass it on to someone, who goes to Pope’s website and pays him $5 and then signs their name in the book. When that person finishes the book, she passes it on to someone else, who goes to Pope’s website and pays him $5 and so on. When the book is too worn out to pass on, the last person reading it tears out the signature page and sends it to Pope who posts it on his website. Voila. He figures he can make probably $30 per book through these readers who voluntarily pay to lease his book.
Anybody remember music sharing on the Internet? Anybody else see the need for some new glasses for Tom Pope? Mine aren’t pink with sparkles, but I think they’ll help. ‘Course, it could be that I’m from Texas and we don’t give away our horse for a wink and a promise.
I'm thinking that making money is a 'no.' :)
ReplyDeleteElizabeth
Mystery Writing is Murder
Wow. Hmmm. You know, I would probably do it for the novelty of it. Can you track where your particular book goes I wonder?
ReplyDeleteI have a feeling there weren't be many who disagree.
ReplyDeleteI like his idea and I hope it works for him, but I can't see it happening.
ReplyDeleteI'd rather pay full price for the book vs. finding the next person to read the book. Seems complicated. We're all about making things less complicated these days.
ReplyDeleteWe are a cynical bunch, but I agree. He's unlikely to make a cent this time around.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, if he gets a lot of publicity and his name becomes part of a buzz and his book is good and he plans on writing more books....somewhere down the road he may see the benefit of this initial "giveaway."
Bless his heart for being such an optimist and having such a rosy view of human nature. Now come over to the dark side which is where I spend my time.
ReplyDeleteIf this is just the first step in a master plan then it has a different purpose. However, if this is a money-making venture I fear disappoint looms for Mr. Pope.
I guess there's second hand books going round with internet tracking. Even if just a few of his readers do it, the numbers add up. I don't think he'll make a fortune, but I don't think he'll lose one either.
ReplyDeleteI'll say no. There are better ways to focus one's energy.
ReplyDeleteStephen Tremp
Sounds like a reasonably cost effective way to generate a decent amount of buzz around a writer I hadn't heard of before.
ReplyDeleteMoney-making? No, not immediately, but possibly long term.
These days it's all about building a community with your readers and this is one way of doing it.
I'm with you. I don't see him actually making money. (Primarily 'cause I don't see myself going online to pay him $5 to read a hand-me-down book from a friend.) But it certainly has already gotten him some publicity.
ReplyDeleteWell, the first question that comes to my mind is: When is that POD machine going to be in stores? I've heard about it, but thought that it showing up was too far out to already be developing weird marketing plans. Not that it is ever too early to plan--but this... I don't know. Sounds more like a novelty or conversation piece to me--but you never can tell. I might just take off.
ReplyDeleteWhy does this remind me of those weird chain letter schemes--you know where you buy one person a bottle of booze and get 1000 bottles back? Perhaps because it'll work about as well?
ReplyDeleteI applaud his optimism and wish him the best of luck. Not sure it's how I'd do things, but hey, sounds like a brave guy.
ReplyDeleteSounds like the chain letter that dies the moment it's sent out. Not going to happen...
ReplyDeleteMaybe in a few months, there will be a follow-up on his results. That'd be good.
ReplyDeleteHow bizarre. I really thought this was a joke and was waiting for the punch line.
ReplyDeleteVery strange concept. Helen, you always have some novel idea to share with us. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteBargain with the Devil
there is an award for you at Splashed and Lovely
ReplyDeleteI think the internet and eBooks and publishing needs to be all thought of with new wide open minds BUT this is not going to work.
ReplyDeleteAnyone else notice the connection (or lack thereof) between the title of Pope's book and his plan? Hmmm.
ReplyDeleteIf this is his only plan, then no. It's not going to work. I consider myself pretty honest, but I doubt if someone gave me a book and said, "Yeah, you can read it, but you have to go to a website afterward and pay the guy $5" that I'd do it. I mean, what a hassle.
On the other hand...we're all talking about Tom Pope, aren't we? So if it's part of a larger plan, then maybe he's a brilliant marketer. Guess we'll find out.
We'll have to wait to see if there is a punch line.
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