To worry I've not got enough book preorders

[blackrabbitwhiterabbit]

I'm very happy generally as I got a literary agent and then a good publisher. I was told my book was amazing, haunting, and likened to Gillian Flynn's writing. The book has been advertised recently as available to preorder, but so far I've had very few preorders. Do you think people are waiting for the real thing to be published, which is not til next year? I'm worried my publisher might drop me.
I know I am BU.

The only book I've ever preordered was Harry Potter tbh though I'd probably only preorder an author I know
Also preorder books don't tend to be as cheap as released books where you can get deals

Is this just an attempt to plug your book?

Is your book in Kindle Unlimited? That attracts fewer pre orders than not. But pre orders across the board have fallen off dramatically in the past few years. If you’re worried talk to your editor.

Is this your first published book?

OK, thank you. I think I just need to be patient:).

Also >4 months is a hell of a long pre order window.

No, not a plug; just wondered if nobody preorders anything!

The only time I’ve ever pre ordered a book was as part of an in conversation with a well known author I’d followed for years, I really wouldn’t worry - I don’t think people tend to pre order many books by new authors, give it some time :)

I pre-order things I am desperate to read and want to read on the day of release. Mostly by authors have read before. Very rarely by authors have not read before.

Why would anyone pre-order a book at this point, from a first-time author with no reviews, publicity or awareness of your work? Apart from your friends and family, no one knows about it and has no reason to take a chance on it until it's out and people are recommending it etc. Hopefully if it's as good as they say and you do plenty of promotion, it'll cut through the noise and sell a lot, but you must know that most new fiction doesn't sell much even when it's released, so you need to understand the trade and manage your expectations.

If it's your first book I wouldn't expect loads of pre-orders, I only do it if it's by an author I already know I love.
Something being likened to Gillian Flynn would only put me off I'm afraid.

I would never pre-order something by a writer whose work I was not already in love with (and I do pre-order!). Just sit tight! Are you active on social media? Are you proactively contacting every bookshop in the country to offer to do a reading when it comes out?

Preorders are helpful to manage PR plans (high preorders = better platform to get you PR, but you need the PR to get you pre orders, annoying vicious circle) and for bookshops to know if/how many to stock, but you wouldn’t be dropped by your publisher over this. Generally writers aren’t “dropped” anyway - there’s a contracted number of books you’ll do, then after those are written you’ll either get another contract with them, or you write a new book that gets passed around other publishers for their interest.

If your advances aren’t absolutely huge and your sales aren’t terrible, there’s no reason you wouldn’t keep having a publishing career for a while yet.

Focus on writing the next one. The rest is beyond your control for now, but that's the best thing you can practically do to keep your publishers interested.

OK, this is very understandable. It's my second book, btw.

The only things I've ever pre-ordered were Terry Pratchett, plus all the Robert Galbraiths and Ben Aaronovitches.

I think you should not panic OP - I read an awful lot of books and apart from the above exceptions (and Terry Pratchett no longer, of course) I always buy 'live'. Instant gratification.

How successful was your first book?

I only ever pre-order books I'm desperate to read the second they come out - either because they are the next in a series I am enjoying, or a very favourite author has a new book out.

Okay, well that's still early days in terms of having a following who'll commit to pre-ordering your book, but you must have some sense of how popular your first book was and ways to promote your work to those existing readers. If you're doing all you can and there's still no pre-orders, you'll just have to be patient and pray. People are strapped at the moment don't forget and will only pay out for something they really have to have, and a book they might read next year is not going to be high on the shopping list.

I wouldn't preorder a book unless it's likely to be hugely snd therefore sold out.

I wouldn't pre-order a book by an unknown author, and I am a voracious reader. I don't even pre-order books by my favourite authors, I wait until they are published and read the reviews.

Congratulations.

I only ever pre-order Barbara Erskine's books and Jodi Taylor's.
And that was only after I'd probably read about half a dozen of each author's books.
I'm afraid I'd only pre-order from authors I'm familiar with.

Did your first book sell well?

Books don't sell out nowadays!

It's really down to the expectations of your publisher. Are you trad or digital first? If it's the former, I think pre-orders matter less than sell-ins at book chains like Waterstones and at supermarkets. If it's the latter, then yes, pre-orders are very important but rather than ask on MN where I can't imagine that many people have inside knowledge, you're better off asking your agent to ask your publisher what kind of figure they're expecting and what you can do at this stage to boost awareness that the book is available for pre-order.

Also, how did your first book sell?