Topic: Why are books release dates always on a Tuesday?

[217mom]

On my debut novel's release day, I got to wondering why books seem to all be launched on a Tuesday.  What's a wonderer to do? Google, of course. At least this wonderer does.

 This is what came up. I thought you might find this interesting-

http://www.themillions.com/2009/06/ask-book-question-73-tuesday-new_09.html

[Ev]

Intriguing.  Thanks for sharing.  And congrats again on The Voice of Thunder's release today.

[Natalie]

My book's release was Sunday, July 1.

[Mike Jung]

I believe the entire fall line for Arthur A. Levine Books (including my book) launches on October 1, which is a Monday...

[Just Jodi]

Oooo! Congrats on your release!!! 

WHEN A DRAGON MOVES IN released on May 1...which was a Sunday...so obviously, I have no idea. 

Hugs, Jodi 

[writerjenn]

I've noticed that the Big 6 novels all seem to release on a Tuesday or Thursday. The article and comments presented speculation, but nobody seems to know for sure. I'm willing to bet that whatever the reason for the Tuesday-Thursday rule, it has its origins in the pre-digital era, and is still followed just as a leftover custom. Maybe it had to do with book reviews being in Sunday and Wednesday papers, or some bookstores being closed on Sundays and Mondays rather than Fridays and Saturdays, or something like that.

[217mom]

Oopsy-
Glad to see some publishers have discovered the other days. But I did notice my publisher sticks to Tuesdays, and when they upped my MG's release date they again chose that day of the week. This got me wondering, which led to a plethora of Internet references, and the rest.

So- whatever your day, it's a glorious one. "Goodbye Ruby Tuesday..."
 
{That ^ sure dates me}

[Benjamin Martin]

Well, the official date for Samurai Awakening is October 10, a Wednesday, but I know it will be out and about before that even.  I'll be hitting up the SCBWI AZ confrence on the 6th and we'll likely have books there.

[HDWestlund]

The bookstore worker says: There are "hard" release dates (which are almost always Tuesdays) and "soft" release dates. Books with soft release dates may come in any time before or on the day given and be put on the shelf to sell. Hard releases are legally required to only be put on the shelf on the date given. If you sell one of these books early, you are subject to fines and penalties from the publisher. (Usually the penalty = late shipment of the next several months worth of books from that publisher.) The hard release dates are most likely on Tuesday to guarantee that bookstores can receive their shipments in time to put hard release books on the shelves first thing Tuesday morning.

Holly

[NLowe]

Just for the record - my release day is a Tuesday! Next Tuesday September 4th to be exact!

[Mara]

Hey, my new picture book came out last Tuesday! I did notice a lot of tweets about new books that day, but I assumed I was just more aware of it because it was my own book's pub date.

[Karen K]

My next book comes out on October 8, which is a Monday. I believe it was going to be a bit earlier, but the time was chosen to better fit with book-buying schedules. Barnes & Noble, I believe. Who knows what's up with Tuesday!

Karen

[m_stiefvater]

My books all come out on Tuesdays now, but back before they had strict release dates, they were other days of the week (and bookstores often got them a week before or after). I'm going to second the logic of the shipments arriving in time for stores to have them on the shelves on Tuesday morning. And yep, it's true — there are legal ramifications to a bookstore violating embargo for a book with a strict release date. It can be serious business (imagine if the last Harry Potter, for instance, had been set out a day early by Barnes & Noble — everyone would cancel their pre-orders with Amazon and indie bookstores to run to B& N to get it).

[JenniB]

Interesting. I never realized that about release dates. Great article!

(P.S. Congrats Mara on your new book!)

[olmue]

Aha! I just found the answer here: http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2012/08/17/amazon-monthly-100/ (it has to do with bestseller lists, according to the article).

[m_stiefvater]

Aha! I just found the answer here: http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2012/08/17/amazon-monthly-100/ (it has to do with bestseller lists, according to the article).

Ahhh! This was very cool to read. Thanks for finding it!!

[jonbard]

It might also have something to do with music and DVDs being released on Tuesday.  That was  a tradition with LPs that started back in the 80's to put record store owners (back when there were record store owners  ) on equal footing around the country.  They'd get the shipments on Monday and have them out for sale on Tuesday.  It's now crossed over to CDs, DVDs and, perhaps, books.  Here's more on that:  http://rulefortytwo.com/secret-rock-knowledge/chapter-4/why-are-cds-released-on-tuesdays/