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What are limited edition books, and numbered and
lettered editions?
What is a chapbook?
What are slipcases and traycases?
What is a galley?
It seems the lettered edition comes out months after
the numbered or trade edition. Why?!
How can I submit a manuscript or art for publication
consideration?
Are dealer discounts offered?
Who is the publisher behind all this?
What
are limited edition books, and numbered and lettered editions?
Limited edition books have a specific, stated print run - a print
run much smaller than industry standards (almost always no higher
than 1000 copies). They often have a limitation page, or tip sheet,
signed by the author and/or contributors and bearing a statement
of limitation. Numbered and lettered editions are types of limited
editions. A numbered edition means that each book will be individually
numbered from 1 to the maximum number; for example, books from a
numbered edition of 500 copies will be numbered 1, 2, 3... 499,
500. Likewise, books from a lettered edition are each assigned a
unique letter; some publishers go beyond 26 copies to 52 lettered
copies, so books are lettered A through ZZ. Earthling will most
likely never go beyond 26 copies, as lettered editions are supposed
to be the smallest, most collectible state of a book, and we believe
going beyond 26 copies somewhat defeats the purpose of making a
book collectible. All Earthling books are hand numbered or lettered.
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What
is a chapbook?
A chapbook is a booklet consisting of sheets of letter-sized (8.5x11
inch) paper, folded in half and stapled, with a heavier cover. Chapbooks
are perfect to house shorter tales. Furthermore, because they are
less expensive than trade softcovers or hardcovers to produce and
ultimately to buy, they are a great way to experience fiction (particularly
for an author the reader is unfamiliar with) while picking up a
signed collectible at the same time. Some chapbooks have become
very collectible, such as Dan Simmons's chapbook BANISHED DREAMS,
which now fetches around $200, and Stephen King's THE NEW LIEUTENANT'S
RAP, which goes for at least $1000!
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What
are slipcases and traycases?
Both are specialized boxes to house books. Slipcases contain a
book on all sides except for the book spine, while traycases completely
enclose the book.
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What
is a galley?
A galley (advance reading copy) of a title is produced for early
review and promotion prior to the actual book publication. Galleys
are often produced from uncorrected manuscripts that have been laid
out and partially designed, and often bound as trade paperbacks
with or without cover art. They are not for sale by publishers but
collected on the secondhand market because some folks view galleys
as the true first editions of books (I don't), and because their
production is usually limited, which makes them scarce collectibles.
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It
seems the lettered edition comes out months after the numbered or
trade edition. Why?!
The most often reason for this delay is that the finished book
needs to be in hand before the slipcases or traycases can be built.
Some presses produce "dummy" books that approximate the
final, published dimensions can be created and given to the slip/traycase
builder, so that while the book is at the printers, the cases can
be made. Earthling prefers to wait and have exact dimensions so
that the book fits perfectly in the case, rather than take what
amounts to a best guess and risk having cases that aren't a perfect
fit for the book. Also, some books are specially handbound (handsewn),
which adds time, too. Add onto that the unpredictability of many
bookbinders schedules (who often operate out of very small shops)
and you'll begin to appreciate what many small presses go through
before the lettered edition is finally finished.
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How
can I submit a manuscript or art for publication consideration?
Due to Earthling's publication schedule during 2005 and 2006 (books
both announced and yet-to-be-announced), I regret to say that I
am no longer accepting unsolicited manuscripts. Earthling has had
a relatively open door policy over the past 4 years and has published
some great work that arrived uninvited, but the volume of unsolicited
work has increased (a nice thing) to beyond my capacity to seriously
read and consider most (a bad thing). I will most likely invite
unsolicited manuscripts again in the future, and I look forward
to the day I can do that. Artwork is still invited, preferably by
referring me to your site or alternatively, via hard copy
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Are
dealer discounts offered?
Yes, dealer discounts are offered on all of our books. Please contact
Earthling for details.
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Who
is the publisher behind all this?
I (Paul Miller) have been an avid reader, particularly of the horror
genre, all my life. I started collecting first editions and small
press limited editions in the mid 1990s, so I suppose getting into
publishing grew out of these earlier interests. I currently do everything
at Earthling including book layout, marketing, and shipping. Working
with authors and artists whose work I've admired has been a thrill.
I have a bachelor's degree in Psychology and a Master's degree in
Neuroscience, and my day job is medical writing at a pharmaceutical
company.
Earthling won the HWA 2003 Specialty Press Award — I'm at
the far right, next to Peter Straub, with the other winners.
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