Garden Book Authors in for Rough Times
In its annual review of the gardening book business, Publishers Weekly flatly declares that "the bloom is off the rose." Just last year, PW's garden books issue briefly surveyed over 100 new titles. This year, PW previews less than 30 new 2007 titles, (although there's no mention of at least 28 new books this year from the premiere garden publisher Timber Press -- so do check those out on Timber's website).
Clarkson Potter's editorial director Doris Cooper told PW that although consumers are still spending a lot of money on gardens, garden accessories and outdoor furniture, "books in the category are downtrending." Sterling publisher Charles Nurnberg agreed: "The days of the big bestseller in this category seem to be over," he said.
Despite all the gloom, PW says that publishers of garden books are hopeful that some bad seasons may be followed by better ones.
Among the new titles, Clarkson Potter's The Way We Garden Now: 41 Pick and Choose Projects for Planting Your Paradise Large or Small by Katherine Whiteside had a first printing of 25,000 copies and has already gone back to press.
Firefly plans a 20,000 first run of The Plant Finder: The Right Plants for Every Garden covering 5000-plus plants and with 1600 color photos. Barron's is publishing 1001 Gardens You Must See Before You Die edited by Rae Spencer-Jones. And, Merrell Publishers has just released Dream Gardens: 100 Inspirational Gardens.
Over at Houghton Mifflin, legendary gardening editor Frances Tenembaum is publishing A Natural History of North American Trees: An Environmental Classic. It combines two books published by HM more than 50 years ago, but Tenenbaum didn't want them to go completely out of print. She told PW that "I think there'll be a whole new audience of younger people because it's not only a natural history. It's a cultural history, too." Let's all hope she's right.
