B is for Backlist

Backlist, in publishing, refers to an author’s older titles still in print – as opposed to the author’s new or newest release.

Authors and others sometimes use the term “backlist” to refer to titles no publisher continues to publish, or to works which have gone out of print and which the author (or a different publisher) chooses to bring back and offer in digital format. Technically, this is only correct for titles in print at the time the description is used – whether by the original publisher, a secondary publisher, or through the author’s own e-publishing efforts.

Once a work goes out of print, it is “out of print” and no longer technically part of the author’s backlist.

2 thoughts on “B is for Backlist

  • April 2, 2012 at 12:23 pm
    Permalink

    Interesting! I’d love to learn more about publishing, I don’t know a lot about it. I’ll be following for the month!

    Aurora Celeste
    yasff.blogspot.com
    dramaticthreads.com

    • April 2, 2012 at 12:47 pm
      Permalink

      Thanks Aurora! I’ll stop by and check out Dramatic Threads too!

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