ABSTRACT
A book comes into being basically because an editor believes that the project is economically viable and/or will make a contribution to knowledge and because he is able to convince his colleagues in the publishing house, especially the management, with his enthusiasm. A lot has been written about bidding for paperback rights. Little of it is conclusive, including the mathematics. It is inconclusive because just about every "big" or potentially "big" book has its own particulars of time and place. With less-than-big books, the bidding parameters are a bit more established, but surprises are possible. A potentially "big" or almost-big book may be put out for paperback bids either before or sometime after hardcover publication: before, if the hardcover publisher is not entirely sure that the book will be a winner and is willing to settle for half-a-loaf; after, if the hardcover firm is reasonably sure that the book's hardcover success will drive up the price for the paperback rights.
