Why Publishers Buy Books: 28 Reasons

Editors will buy a book for one or more of the following
reasons:

1. The author's previous books have sold well
2. They love a book and think it will sell
3. They think a book will sell
4. They love it enough to publish, regardless of its
commercial potential
5. It's a book that deserves to be published because of its
value to a cause or the country
6. An editor is passionate enough about it to overcome any
doubts the house may have about the book
7. A new editor has arrived from another house and its
building a list
8. The publisher has the opportunity to reflag a successful
author from another house
9. The book will be the first in a series with strong
growth potential
10. The idea for the book is brilliant
11. The idea for the book is timely
12. The writing is superb
13. The title alone will sell books
14. An author's promotion plan guarantees a book's success
15. The author is a media magnet who can guarantee enough
publicity to make a book successful
16. The author has a national platform such as a column or
a radio or television show that will guarantee continuing
exposure for the book
17. The publisher thinks that a book will backlist and
become an evergreen (like evergreen tree -- sells for long
long time)
18. The book has subsidiary rights potential including book
clubs, audio cassettes or foreign, electronic or movie
rights
19. The book has adoption potential in schools or
universities
20. The house has published similar books with success
21. The book is on a subject that the house has or wants to
build a list in
22. Overcome by auction fever, publishers convince
themselves that, despite the profit-and-loss statement rated
to determine a book's value, they pay whatever it takes to
outbid their rivals.
23. The author wants to switch houses
24. The editor discovers a book on a trip to a book fair
and thinks it will sell, or is caught up in the excitement
surrounding a book, or wants to justify the trip
25. The publisher is sending the industry the message that
because of new management or despite changes in the house,
the houses a player
26. The book being sold may not be a big one, but future
books will have bestseller potential
27. The author has a personal connection with someone in
the house with the power to buy the book
28. Publishing the book will enhance the house's prestige

This is not a definitive list. John Saul, a novelist,
observed if publishers don't want to buy a book, they say
"It's been done to death." If they do want to buy that
book, they'll say "Always works."