# Would you buy Sampiros book? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 19, 2012, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-sampiros-book/613286 "2012-02-19T00:35:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2012, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-sampiros-book/613286/61 "2012-02-20T14:55:44Z")
> [@iftheresaway](#): > > Of course I would buy the book. I would also forge his autograph after the lengthy (fake) dedication I’d inscribe in the front. How else am I supposed to brag about how well I know the author? Wait…_ours_ are going to be autographed, aren’t they? ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2012, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-sampiros-book/613286/62 "2012-02-20T15:06:53Z")
Who? ---
**Author:** ![heater2000ca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/50afbb/32.png) [@heater2000ca](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/heater2000ca)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2012, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-sampiros-book/613286/63 "2012-02-20T17:04:06Z")
I mostly lurk, but when I read that **Sampiro** was doubting that people were interested in reading his book, I HAD to log in and vote “Hells Yes”. Have you looked into self-publishing at all? I have friends who have self-published, so haven’t had to deal with the drama of agents/editors. Yet their stuff is still available on [amazon.com](http://amazon.com), so it’s still widely available. Either way, please hurry! We’re all waiting with breathless anticipation. If you make me wait much longer, I’ll go “nuttier than a bag full of squirrels in a dryer”. (Always been my favourite line from your Mama …) ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2012, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-sampiros-book/613286/64 "2012-02-20T19:00:49Z")
Yes, I’d buy it. And I’d read it. ---
**Author:** ![Scubaqueen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c0e974/32.png) [@Scubaqueen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scubaqueen)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2012, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-sampiros-book/613286/65 "2012-02-20T19:52:25Z")
not just yes, but **hell, yes**. his ghost stories alone are worth a book. ---
**Author:** ![flatlined](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@flatlined](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flatlined)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2012, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-sampiros-book/613286/66 "2012-02-20T23:08:06Z")
Oh, hell yes. I’d even buy the hardback at a bookstore, before the library had a copy for me to borrow. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2012, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-sampiros-book/613286/67 "2012-02-20T23:12:43Z")
I’d probably wait and watch the movie. But only if the trailer is good. ---
**Author:** ![tr0psn4j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@tr0psn4j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tr0psn4j)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2012, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-sampiros-book/613286/68 "2012-02-20T23:22:47Z")
I voted no. I haven’t finished reading ALL the classics to read new books. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2012, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-sampiros-book/613286/69 "2012-02-21T02:08:38Z")
In fact, now that I think about it, I’d pay for mine ahead of time. If a couple hundred of us do that, **Sampiro** ’s got his advance, and an obligation to publish. ---
**Author:** ![MoodIndigo1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e8c25b/32.png) [@MoodIndigo1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MoodIndigo1)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2012, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-sampiros-book/613286/70 "2012-02-21T02:26:49Z")
> [@bup](#): > > In fact, now that I think about it, I’d pay for mine ahead of time. If a couple hundred of us do that, **Sampiro** ’s got his advance, and an obligation to publish. Same here. I’d buy a few copies, one for me, and others for people who are not on the Dope and would enjoy his writing. ---
**Author:** ![Becky2844](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Becky2844](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Becky2844)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2012, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-sampiros-book/613286/71 "2012-02-21T03:06:06Z")
> [@bup](#): > > In fact, now that I think about it, I’d pay for mine ahead of time. If a couple hundred of us do that, **Sampiro** ’s got his advance, and an obligation to publish. Same here. **To be autographed, of course, when it’s ready.** Maybe we could pre-pay enough for him to be able to self publish. There are editors around here on the board (Hey, I’m not an editor but I’ve been readin’ & writin’ for 50 plus years. I’ll gladly read and make suggestions.) The editing touch needs to be light tho or it’ll lose his “voice.” BUT, **Sampiro** , please approach LSU or Tulane/Miss. State or Ole Miss (I’m not sure where you are) because they more readily publish regional material. Have you read _The Southern Cross_ by Skip Horack? It’s a collection of incredible short stories based in the various coastal states. (Gulf of Mexico.) Published by Mariner Books. You might think about contacting them. You have **It** , dude. Don’t ever question your talent. ---
**Author:** ![Becky2844](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Becky2844](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Becky2844)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2012, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-sampiros-book/613286/72 "2012-02-21T03:25:27Z")
> [@hermette](#): > > I went for Yes, Hell yes, and would come back from the dead for this book! He’s the main reason I joined the SDMB after lurking and reading through years of his accumulated posts 🙂 > > Try [this one](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=6389505&postcount=1) Read the post. This better be a loooong book because I want to hear about it all. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2012, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-sampiros-book/613286/73 "2012-02-21T12:03:51Z")
Sampiro, your book is your child. Give birth to the fucking thing so we can adore it properly! -signed, your doper family. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Knig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@Typo\_Knig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Knig)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2012, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-sampiros-book/613286/74 "2012-02-21T12:45:20Z")
Julia Nunes just used Kickstarter to fund her new CD. People who pre-bought on Kickstarter for autographed copies before it was released on Amazon. ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2012, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-sampiros-book/613286/75 "2012-02-21T12:57:17Z")
Sampiro is brilliant, it’s hard to believe he hasn’t published yet. HEY, PLEASE FINISH YOUR BOOK! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2012, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-sampiros-book/613286/76 "2012-02-21T16:37:11Z")
> [@MoodIndigo1](#): > > Same here. I’d buy a few copies, one for me, and others for people who are not on the Dope and would enjoy his writing. So, how do we organize it? \*\*Sampiro \*\*agrees to it? Or do we give the money to someone we trust to keep it in escrow? Do we talk to the ‘powers that be’ to get the OK for a thread, if Sampiro agrees to it? > [@Typo\_Knig](#): > > Julia Nunes just used Kickstarter to fund her new CD. People who pre-bought on Kickstarter for autographed copies before it was released on Amazon. Oh. \*\*Sampiro \*\*uses Kickstarter, then? I’d never heard of it. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2012, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-sampiros-book/613286/77 "2012-02-21T18:33:12Z")
Amazon calls me a “top reviewer”, and if he sent me a review copy, I’d be happy to read and review it. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2012, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-sampiros-book/613286/78 "2012-02-21T19:08:49Z")
What about the missing “I would, if it were a topic I was interested in” selection? Just because the author is a Doper doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to be a literary masterpiece. Consider all the fanfic hammered out by SDMB members, for example. If it gets good reviews outside of the SDMB, I might buy a copy and check it out. Otherwise, no. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2012, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-sampiros-book/613286/79 "2012-02-21T19:26:28Z")
Regardless of the objective or subjective quality of Sampiro’s writing and story-telling abilities (though personally can’t get through his posts and I did vote “No”), close to 250 people have already said that they would buy this book. Something tells me that if Sampiro went ahead and self-published something using a vanity press like LuLu or Blurb, that he would sell at best 50-80 copies (assuming a reasonable price). My point isn’t to threadshit or make a statement about his talent, I just don’t think that many Dopers would actually put their money where their mouth is, even if they’re a professed fan of his work. ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2012, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-sampiros-book/613286/80 "2012-02-21T19:54:27Z")
As I mentioned above, I said “no,” but I disagree with **Bob Ducca** re: the prospects of such a book. If **Sampiro** were to publish it as an e-book with a low price point (and with an optional print version as well) he might do very nicely with very little cost involved on his part – except time and effort, of course, but this seems as if it’d be a project of love that he’d want to set down in print (or virtual print) anyway. I know several writers who’ve priced their e-books at $0.99 and are earning $1K a month. Whether there’s this large an audience for a densely-written Southern saga is another story, but I certainly think there’d be value in the attempt, either way. Actually, considering the inevitable length of his book (heck if his posts seem long, imagine what a final book wordcount might look like!), it might be wise to separate it into segments and publish it serially. Again, I know a few people who’ve offered their first e-books for free (as a way to hook people on the tale/style of writing) and then sell later novels or installments for the abovementioned $0.99 price point, and they’re raking it in. And even disregarding the money, sometimes it might be worth it from the standpoint of a writer who just, well, wants to write and have his/her story told. **Sampiro** seems like one of these, and I don’t see any harm in giving this method a try. (But do so _after_ you’ve either exhausted the print publishing idea or have definitely decided not to go the traditional publishing route in the first place. Publishing companies are notorious for not wanting to purchase previously published materials.) Another suggestion: create a blog and start posting your stories that way. Gain enough of an audience and you can properly judge the market, and then add print versions / ebook compilations of your work. Whew, I’ll shut up now. Just wanted to say that this is one “no” voter who knows that just 'cause I’m not interested in this hypothetical book doesn’t mean there’s no market, or even more importantly, no benefit in compiling one’s work. There are many benefits for telling your tales, and not all of them are financial. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-sampiros-book/613286.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-sampiros-book/613286.md?page=5)