On Demand Books’ Espresso Book Machine has had a difficult time gaining traction with just a couple of dozen booksellers using the printer, but the company hopes that will change now that it has reached an agreement with HarperCollins under which HC will make available over 5,000 trade paperback titles through the machine.
Harper will begin making its trade paperbacks, both children and adult titles, available starting in November. Titles from Zondervan and HarperCollins Canada will be available early next year. Titles will be sold under the agency model and prices will be the same as regularly-printed books. Authors will receive a regular print royalty. Booksellers must stock some HC print editions to qualify for what HC calls its “Comprehensive Backlist” program. The number of print editions a store must stock will be determined by the size of the outlet. HC estimated that depending on the size of the store, physical stores carry between 25% and 80% of its backlist.
HC is the first of the Big 6 trade houses to sign up with On Demand.
