# Hardback to Paperback Time Span? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 31, 2001, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hardback-to-paperback-time-span/67029 "2001-05-31T00:47:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2001, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hardback-to-paperback-time-span/67029/1 "2001-05-31T00:47:42Z")
What is the average amount of time it takes for a hardback novel to appear in paperback? Say a Stephen King, Dean Koontz, or a Stephen Hunter novel… Thanks Quasi ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2001, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hardback-to-paperback-time-span/67029/2 "2001-05-31T02:43:13Z")
IME, about a year would be the average. Actual time may be more or less, depending on a number of factors, including which market the particular author has previously been stronger in. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2001, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hardback-to-paperback-time-span/67029/3 "2001-05-31T03:30:31Z")
I haven’t paid much attention since I escaped from the industry, but it used to be about 8 - 10 months for a moderate selling book an 10 - 14 months for a huge bestseller. ---
**Author:** ![Some\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Some\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Some_Guy)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2001, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hardback-to-paperback-time-span/67029/4 "2001-05-31T13:25:12Z")
Another consideration: for popular authors, the paperback release of their last book may be delayed if it’s clear that their next hardcover release is going to be delayed (for whatever reason). The idea is to have **something** new by that author coming out fairly regularly, so a slightly longer delay looks better than a big gap between the latest paperback release and the newest hardcover. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2001, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hardback-to-paperback-time-span/67029/5 "2001-05-31T13:36:24Z")
Yeah, the paperback release is often timed to come out simultaneously with the new hardcover (you can advertise TWO books for the price of one!), or in some cases the month before…to “soften up” the audience, who try the cheaper paperback, decide they like the writer, and spring for the hardcover when it hits the stores in the next month. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2001, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hardback-to-paperback-time-span/67029/6 "2001-05-31T13:53:58Z")
Sometimes, of course, it takes a LONG time. **Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil** was out for YEARS before it showed up in paperback. I think it’s still only available in a trade paperback, not a “standard” size paperback… On the other end of the spectrum, it looks as if Thomas Harris’ **Hannibal** was first released as a paperback, to tie in with the movie release. I know that plenty of books never get released as hardcovers, but it seems clear to me that “Hannibal” would’ve come out in hardback first if it hadn’t been for the movie. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2001, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hardback-to-paperback-time-span/67029/7 "2001-05-31T14:14:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by CalMeacham \* > **Sometimes, of course, it takes a LONG time** Sure…if the book is enjoying continued sales in hardcover, as was MIDNIGHT, the publisher won’t bring out a paperback edition until things cool down.