OP is publishing industry speak for “Out of Print.” It happens to many books that either sold out of a predicted press run (with no reprint on the horizon), or the sales were weak, leaving a surplus of unsold or returned books. OP does not mean that the book is gone forever—it just indicates that once the remaining books are sold, that’s the end for now. Kaput.
Usually, a book has a two- to four-year life expectancy. The official pub date provides time for promotion and lobbying for premium space in bookstore windows and other signing and display opportunities. After a few months, the sales are tallied to determine whether the book will remain on view or tucked away.
That tally also determines whether or not an author gets the fateful letter that, owing to low sales, “we have decided to put your [title] into remainder”—at which point large discounts are offered to booksellers and the author(s).
I’ve had many OP letters in my life. Even the envelope projects a vibe of finality. Often the reasoning is that the book has run its course and is no longer relevant. Most of the time, the book is one of the hundreds—or thousands—that annually are ignored for one of the following reasons:
The size of the audience was misjudged
It was poorly promoted
It received little to no critical recognition
It stinks.
If lucky, an OP book could achieve cult status and become available through used book dealers. In New York, the Strand is ground zero for OP books—and hard-to-get books that fell through the publishing industry cracks.
Today, I am listing a few of my OP titles that can be obtained through online services …
The post The Daily Heller: What it Means to Be OP! appeared first on PRINT Magazine.