Let’s Talk with Tina Whittle
Happy Book Birthdays!
by Tina Whittle
Guess who’s got a book coming out in five days? Now guess again because even though I’m sure you got it right the first time — it’s me! — my friend and occasional partner in crime-writing, James M. Jackson, will also be celebrating a book birthday on April 3rd.
My sixth in the Tai Randolph/Trey Seaver mystery series, Necessary Ends, will be hitting bookstore shelves near you at the same time that Jim’s Empty Promises also debuts (it’s the fifth in his Seamus McCree series).
Which got me thinking: why is Tuesday the traditional day for new books to come out? I went looking for some answers (because I am a curious creature and will follow almost any tidbit down the research rabbit hole) and discovered something I wasn’t expecting.
Nobody really knows.
People have good guesses. It’s for the book ranking algorithms, some say. Others point to ordering and distribution systems (like the fact that a Tuesday book that’s selling well on that particularly slow day of the week should do even better on the weekend, which gives booksellers time to stock up). One agent speculated that it’s because Tuesday is traditionally associated with Mars, the god of war. PS: If you know the answer, please share in the comment. I am eager to be enlightened.
Regardless, I’m excited to share a book birthday with Jim because our characters once investigated a crime together. Tai and Seamus acquitted themselves quite well as they investigated multiple shenanigans that spanned over one hundred and fifty years in the short story “And Wine To Make Glad the Heart” which appeared in the anthology 50 Shades of Cabernet. They had a little help from Seamus’ mom and Tai’s boyfriend, but the bulk of the crime-solving rested on their capable shoulders.
I hope you’ll join me in wishing Jim a happy book birthday. If you’d like a sneak peek at Empty Promises, go here, and at Necessary Ends, go here.
And I hope that whatever you’re celebrating right now, you savor the joy. I certainly am.
Posted in Let's Talk, with Tina Whittle, zed: Former Authors • Tags: BLB Discussion, book birthday, Empty Promises, Necessary Ends, Seamus McCree, Tai Randolph Mystery, Tina Whittle | 9 Comments
Tina — I am so looking forward to reading Tai’s next adventure and thanks so much for the shout out.
I enjoyed Empty Promises very much! May it have along and successful shelf life.
I read somewhere the rationalization for releasing a book on Tuesday, but I can’t find it in my files anywhere. Whatever it was, the explanation made sense to me at the time. Congrats to you and Jim on your new releases!
Thank you! And if you stumble on that rationalization, let us know!
I’ve read Jim’s book and enjoyed it. Can’t wait for Tina’s. Congratulations to both of you. I’ve released books on different days of the week and can’t really see any difference, but I’m sure the publishing industry has its reasons. Maybe it has something to do with when the big “best seller” lists grab their data.
Thank you! And I am sure there is (was?) a reason. I suspect it has to do with money. That’s where most reasons hang their hat, it seems.
I was fortunate enough to get an early read of both books – and I love them! Each book in these series builds on already strong characterization and interesting stories. Book birthdays are a great reason to celebrate, and also for me, Easter brings me great joy. Happy Easter, all!
Me again. I realized I didn’t answer your question. Since I didn’t knw either, I consulted the Wizard of Everything, Google. I pretty much got all the same answers you alluded to which makes me think it’s a relic of times gone by. The true reason is lost forever (because very few people can remember last week vs a few years back) and we are left to creatively construct a reason. Here’s my reasoning. Publishing is a business, so they won’t release on the weekend because then they’d have to work those days. No one is paying attention to anything on Monday because they are in recovery mode from the weekend. Wednesday is Over the Hump Day and make plans day. Friday is TGIF. Everyone coasts through Thursday because Friday is the next day, and some people often take off both Thursday and Friday to make a longer weekend. Therefore, all business in the world is conducted on Tuesday, the only day anyone is paying attention.
That is as reasonable as anything. Because profit and convenience are at its heart.