by Korina Moss
The way some of us read books will be different in the coming year. Two days ago, I read an article in The New York Times about the demise of the mass market paperback. Mass market paperbacks are the smaller paperbacks that sell between $7.99 and $9.99. If you’re a cozy mystery or romance reader, you’re especially familiar with these. But now, publishers have decided to do away with mass market paperbacks, and bookstores will no longer carry them. Anything that would’ve been sold as mass market will soon be in trade paperback size, which will cost between $15.99 and $21.99, which means you’ll have to increase your book budget.
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| Mass markets of my Cheese Shop Mystery (and trade paperback of the Spanish translation of Cheddar Off Dead) |
Almost all cozy mysteries, like my Cheese Shop Mystery series, are published in mass market, because our books are almost always part of a series and our readers are loyal. Like readers of romance novels, our readers are known to devour several books a month (sometimes more), and the mass market price point allows for it. Along with cozy mysteries and romance, other genres, like thrillers, mysteries, and science fiction, will also feel the effects of doing away with the smaller, less expensive printed copy in favor of trade paperback.
There are several reasons for this decision, one being the introduction of the e-book. According to the NY Times article, “… In the United States, about 103 million mass markets were sold in 2006, the year before the Kindle was introduced. Last year, readers bought fewer than 18 million of them.” Although “physical books still account for about 75 percent of book sales,” mass market paperbacks took a hit. Over the past decade, 10,000 fewer mass market books were published.
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| My 5th book, Fondue or Die, on the shelf at Barnes & Noble with the other mass market cozy mysteries |
As a writer and reader of cozy mysteries, this makes me wonder how they will fare. If it’s true, as The NY Times states, that “It wasn’t publishers leading away from mass markets. It was readers,” then it’s up to us. Will cozy mystery readers shell out an extra $6 or more for the pricier trade paperback cozy mystery? Will they accept the new format and higher prices and continue to purchase as many of their beloved books? Or will the cozy mystery genre ultimately pay the price?
If you’d like to read the full New York Times article, click here: So Long to Cheap Books You Could Fit in Your Pocket.
Readers: How will this affect your book buying?
I can't tell you the last time I bought a mass paperback format book. I'm one of those who either buys trade paperback/hardback or Kindle, and those are the formats my books have been published in.
ReplyDeleteI would have guessed the increased audiobook subscription sales also played a part in mass paperback's demise.
That said, I'm not surprised, having watched the continued shrinking of space supermarkets allotted to mass paperbacks.
Fingers crossed that for all cozy authors that readers will continue to read, choosing from their available formats.
It's going to be an adjustment. I believe readers will adapt. But I will probably grumble when I have to rearrange the bookshelves again.
ReplyDeleteI'm echoing Jim's sentiments. I have bought a few mass market novels in recent years, but only to support of an author friend at their book signing. Otherwise, I read eBooks, trade, hardcover, or listen to audio.
ReplyDeleteMy own books have always been in trade paperback, although my latest, which are published in the UK, are in a size somewhere between trade and mass market (7.75 inches x 5 inches). I don't even know what they call it!
I believe the in between size is referred to as max mass market.
DeleteTry to say THAT 5 times fast!
DeleteI get my cozy mysteries---and really anything I don't think will end up on my "keep-forever" shelf (which is distinctly overburdened)--in ebook form. To tell the truth, it lets me buy more books than I might otherwise, since I don't have to deal with them physically and they are so easy to obtain. So I don't expect it to change my buying or reading habits.
ReplyDeleteThe one advantage to the trade paperbacks format is that they are easier to hold and stay open better.
ReplyDeleteIf I like an author I will read any printed format.
That's good to hear!
DeleteI was aware of this change from Ellie Alexander. I am glad for those that can blithely dismiss this as not affecting them, but it truly does affect many people like me. I get most of my books from the library. I don't have a lot of extra money to buy books. But I was able to buy some of my favorite cozy authors books to support them, as well as my own enjoyment.This change will essentially reduce the number of books I can afford to buy in half. With libraries having funding cut, I think that there will be more books that I want to read that I won't be able to. I do read a limited number of books on my phone, but my eyesight suffers if I read too much on my phone. I am not happy with this change, but more disappointed that many people don't take into consideration that not everyone is as fortunate as they are financially, and this change does affect them.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Sue.
DeleteThis saddens, but doesn't surprise, me. I don't remember the last time I bought a mass market sized book, although several books I have won have been in that format. My book purchases tend to be Kindle or trade. Very occasionally, if it's a forever book, I'll spring for a hardback. I'm learning to like audio, but my purchases have been limited and coincide with my craft projects.
ReplyDeleteOne thing no one mentioned yet is how difficult mass market print sizing is to read. The discovery surprised me, but the type is much smaller in mass than trade - at least in those that I have received - I could see that being a problem.
Price-wise, trade are more expensive, but lately I've been noticing Kindle prices climbing to a similar height, which I object to. It's not something most authors have control over unless they're indie, but pricing Kindle books at $15 is insane simply because the buyer does not own the book. Kindle can shut down at any moment (unlikely) or the buyer can be shut-out by Amazon - who knows - it's possible.
It is possible and I think that's crazy that we don't own that content.
DeleteMy first choice is hard-back library books, followed by ebooks for long plane rides and a few trade paperbacks. I used to carry a mass market mystery in my purse for carpool lines, sports practices, and medical appointments. Now I read news articles on my phone.
ReplyDeleteI’m so disappointed by this decision. I haven’t heard about it yet so I’m glad you blogged on this. I love buying the smaller mass market books as when I find a series I love I tend to purchase several in the series at one time. This would allow me the money to do so. While I am trying to use my Kindle more there is still something about having a physical book in my hands that I love. I feel that the publishers may have sealed their doom with this decision as it may backfire. I am seeing more and more used bookstores popping up where you can trade with them and it seems that that is the route that many avid readers are taking now. It’s a shame really.
ReplyDeleteI agree.
DeleteFor those of us who read a lot of books every year, we'll most likely rely on ebooks and libraries. People will still buy cozies, but maybe fewer books.
ReplyDeleteI have recently been buying Large Print books since I find them easier to read. They are easier on the eyes and much larger than mass market.
ReplyDeleteAs someone who remembers buying the old mass market books for anywhere from $1.50 to $5.99, changes have been ongoing for years. I hate to see mass market size book disappearing because they are handy and more affordable. That said, I am finding that as much as I love having a physical book to read, ebooks are easier on my aging eyes and hands. Mass markets are actually the most difficult medium for me to read anymore. At least a hardcover book will stay open on a tabletop without my holding it. I have also recently (in the past year) begun to listen to audio books to help rest my eyes and fill time when I am out running around. Every format definitely has a purpose and I am so very sorry to see such a classic one disappear.
ReplyDeleteMy publisher, Kensington, experimented with the massmaxpb size a few years ago. I loved it. Only a dollar more, it was slightly larger and easier to read but not that much more expensive. Then they discontinued it.
ReplyDeleteMy editor told me a year and a half ago that existing series in mass market would continue in that format. My last book under contract in the Cozy Capers Book Group series (#9) is due April 1. If they renew the contract, we'll see if that's still true.
My new series will come out in trade paperback in 2027. No idea of the price point!
(The new series is also a cozy.)
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