Fascinating Numbers

It is not the easiest thing in the world for the small, out-of-the-loop, author to find out exactly what the sales numbers are for your work. It is tougher still to be able to compare them to what the "big boys" are doing. You get a royalty accounting every six months but you don't get updates of what happens along the way, not even if the book goes to reprint. That's why these numbers at Drudge are fascinating;

FLASH: WOODWARD 'WARS' TOP-SELLING BOOK IN OPENING WEEK AFTER SCANNING 65,347... JON STEWART 'EARTH' SLIPS TO #2 WITH 44,429 [98,401 SINCE RELEASE]... DINESH D'SOUZA 'OBAMA'S RAGE' OPENS WITH 21,173... O'REILLY 'PINHEADS' SCANS 18,101 [71,961]... CARTER 'WHITE HOUSE' 6,827 [19,179]... TONY BLAIR 4,550 [38,296]... MORE...

Fighter Pilot initial press run was 20,000 which is quite optimistic for a book in that genre. In the first week it sold through and went to a second and third press run. That puts it in the league with several of the much more prominent listings including well above O'Reilly's performance and former President Carter. It hugely overshadows Tony Blair.

That's a good feeling!