You know the drill: same genre, same publisher, same debut year--but very different deal sizes, and very different publisher treatment. But how does that actually translate to a book's performance, and what impact does it REALLY have? With the help of some Captain Morgan rum, Sunyi and Scott talk about the months surrounding each of their launch dates, and how their books did, or didn't, perform sales-wise.

Other topics include:

• How Scott hired a publicist (and other things he tried to give his book a boost)

• How ARCs create the "word of mouth" effect

• The importance of Goodreads, trade reviews, and influencers

• Sales data for the first 6 months, from both Scott and Sunyi's respective launches

• Pubs supporting you when things go wrong, as well as when things go right

• Why your editor relationship might be the most important one you have in publishing

• Scott's biggest piece of advice for authors on sub

Additional Notes:

• Blog guest posts (scalzi blog)

• Bookseller letter (example on Sunyi's site)

• Shelf Awareness (wiki article)

• Whitebox mailing (link)

• Su Blackwell (Sunyi's cover artist)

• The Orbit cover photo shoot video (youtube)