What does it mean to be a "Bestseller"?

[floweringquince]

So, there I am in the drugstore, idly glancing at the paperback display; and I see a whole rack of "Blathering Belinda and the Bupkis Barnstormers", festooned with print informing me that it was a "Bestseller for 37 Weeks!"

Okay, so I made "Blathering Belinda..." up
But I have never yet seen a novel that I've ever heard of claim to be a "Bestseller"; and the novels that do claim "Bestseller" status are almost invariably pulp-borne potboilers that don't promise to be worth the time it would take to read them, much less the cover price.

So what makes a book a "Bestseller"? A "National Bestseller"? A "New York Times Bestseller"?
Anybody know?

 

[Grushenka]

So what makes a book a "Bestseller"? A "National Bestseller"? A "New York Times Bestseller"?

Generally a herd mentality and good publicists. Very occasionally a fine work also sells well.

Gr.

 

[rgraham666]

What Grushenka said.

 

[3113]

Actually, not even herd mentality. From what I understand, positions on the Best Seller's list can be bought.

Now granted, in some cases the Zeitgeist hits and you get a surprised best seller. Who, after all, would have predicted Harry Potter to make it to that list? A kid's book about a kid wizard? Best Seller? That's the right-book-at-the-right-time best seller, and there's always one or more of them, from Gone with the Wind to Love Story, they hit the stands and, good or bad, they also strike a cord with what readers want at that moment in time.

Others are pretty predictable--the lastest thriller/spy novel from a very popular author. Easy read, suspense, thrills, good book for airplane or bus read, sure. Of course it'll hit the list. Or a book on a hit tv or movie series, like Star Wars (doesn't matter who writes the book, it'll be a best seller and the author can claim to be a "best selling" author on his next book!). Or if the subject is recent, new and provacative--a book about some guys trapped in the alps who resorted to cannibalism, or a hot new superstar or politician--someone who is already popular in the media, so people want to read the book. A new diet or self-help book.

These are obvious best sellers.

But honestly, a lot of these books are rigged. For example, a book might become a best seller simply because it got reviews and publicity. Doesn't mean it's a good book, but the publishers put money into it. They got it reviewed in major newspapers and put out ads. They got readers attention and curiosity on it. Other books, that might have done just as well, they didn't sink the money into. And so they don't get noticed or on the list.

Being a best selling author is really more a matter of luck than talent. Luck of timing, or luck in that the publishers decided to favor you. This isn't to say that all best sellers were by talent-less folk, to the contrary. What it says is that there are a lot of talented folk who never got that lucky break.

 

[CharleyH]

Generally a herd mentality and good publicists. Very occasionally a fine work also sells well.

Gr.

How about anything Grushenka and RG don't agree with?

A best seller needs first: A determination on the part of an author.

 

[floweringquince]

...a lot of these books are rigged. For example, a book might become a best seller simply because it got reviews and publicity. Doesn't mean it's a good book, but the publishers put money into it. They got it reviewed in major newspapers and put out ads. They got readers attention and curiosity on it.

Thanks for the responses


I was mostly wondering if any one knew the actual numbers: how many copies sold, in what type of sales (individual vs. bulk, retail vs. wholesale, etc).*
Or, as I have sometimes suspected, does the process involve large envelopes full of cash moving about underneath publishing house conference tables?

- Quince the cynical


(*I once had an English teacher who told a story about a former student who recognized her somewhere, but couldn't remember her name: "I know you, you're Mrs... Mrs... Mrs. 'Be Specific'!"

She'd written that correction on almost every paper I'd turned in to her; and apparently I still haven't learned that lesson

 

[CharleyH]

Thanks for the responses


I was mostly wondering if any one knew the actual numbers: how many copies sold, in what type of sales (individual vs. bulk, retail vs. wholesale, etc).*
Or, as I have sometimes suspected, does the process involve large envelopes full of cash moving about underneath publishing house conference tables?

You are asking the impossible. It really depends.

 

[minsue]

You are asking the impossible. It really depends.

That never stops you

 

[i812]

Being a best selling author is really more a matter of luck than talent. Luck of timing, or luck in that the publishers decided to favor you. This isn't to say that all best sellers were by talent-less folk, to the contrary. What it says is that there are a lot of talented folk who never got that lucky break.

Never have truer words been spoken. They say that the best piano player in the world is playing at a Holiday Inn.

 

[CharleyH]

That never stops you

True - LOL- A best seller depends on the audience, not the author.

 

[S-Des]

Thanks for the responses


I was mostly wondering if any one knew the actual numbers: how many copies sold, in what type of sales (individual vs. bulk, retail vs. wholesale, etc).*
Or, as I have sometimes suspected, does the process involve large envelopes full of cash moving about underneath publishing house conference tables?

I thought that's what you were asking. I was wondering if I was missing something. I thought there was a specific number too, but from the replies, I guess it's a status list, not having to do with the actual numbers. I was pretty sure I'd heard about some authors being on the list when their books were released, which would mean it was just about opinion.

 

[JPMMURPHY]

From a while back

The only example I'm familiar with is the NY Times BS list (not to be confused with bullshit). Several years ago (5 or 6 if I recall correctly) there was a sorta mini scandal over the NY Times BS list - seems books were getting the tag that didn't make the grade. The details are kinda hazy for me (been living out of country for 20 years now) but what I recall is the books were NOT IN FACT selling the million copies needed to make the list.

As I interpreted it (and God and Lit know I could be wrong) at the time, every million gets you on the list or keeps you there. These numbers can be very deceiving given how the business works - B and N can accept 100,000 copies of a book for the US, they're delivered (on consignment) and a count is done at the end of X period (probably a month). They pay for sold issues (maybe it was only 79,000) and the publisher decides if the book should be kept alive (i.e. - keep it in the pop ups and floor displays and keep selling) or if the left over copies are to be destroyed (costs too much to send them back). The bookstore then destorys by tearing off the cover. Magazine newsstand sales work the same way.

Another thing that happens that many people miss is that many books come out under the claim 'From the best selling author Joe Blow'. A Clancey or Grisham would be a best selling author but the book has just hit the market - it might take six months for the book to actually make the claim 'Best Seller'.

There's an (or a few) auditing companies that will sell their services to the publishing houses to certify their numbers for two purposes - best seller status and overall sales for royalty reasons for agents and authors. Again, in the mag business the biggie is ABC - they cirtify circulation for ad space value in magazines.

Anyway, that would be what little I know and I read that so long ago I may be wrong on the million.

Maybe someone else here knows the real numbers for the different best seller lists (there aren't a lot but NY Times is not the only one).