Original paperbacks

Doug Seibold, publisher of Agate in Chicago, wrote an interesting piece in BookStandard about publishing original trade paperbacks.

To me, this piece illuminates how much publishing is at the mercy of so many different factions (bookstores, distributors). This time around is the media. One of the reasons why publishers shied away from doing original trade paperbacks is because the media won't review them? This is why things are so slow to change: Publishers accept the media's decision about paperbacks (which really has no basis, it is just the result of an outdated perception/snobbery) instead of trying new ways of publishing that can help their business.

Of course Doug makes a good point about the money that hardcovers can bring in, but how does that stand up to 40% returns?

I just wish publishers would make decisions based on valid reasoning instead of based on "tradition."