Why is March 2024 the Best Month in Years For Books?
In her debut column, Maris Kreizman discusses why March 2024 is an exceptional month for book releases and explores the challenges of covering all the exciting new titles.
The Overwhelming Pleasure and Guilt of Covering Books
Those who cover books for a living often find themselves torn between the overwhelming pleasure of discovering new and exciting titles and the guilt of knowing they will never be able to read them all. The books that truly move these critics and editors are often hidden gems that may not have a built-in audience or receive massive marketing pushes. As a result, they feel a strong responsibility to advocate for these underappreciated works, but the sheer number of books makes it impossible to cover everything.
In March 2024, however, the challenge becomes even greater. Instead of the usual eight or nine books per month that catch their interest, there are a staggering 30 books that have caught Maris Kreizman's attention on her trusty spreadsheet. This abundance of new releases raises the question: Is the publishing industry thriving? Unfortunately, most book publishing revenues come from a small percentage of highly successful books, leaving many new releases overlooked and struggling to find an audience.
The Challenges of Book Promotion and Coverage
With media coverage and marketing budgets becoming increasingly sparse for midlist books, the odds of a new book breaking out and becoming successful are slim. Thirty titles in one month alone are beyond the capacity of any single person or publication to adequately cover. This overcrowding also increases the likelihood of some books falling through the cracks and not receiving the critical attention they deserve.
Book promotion is heavily tied to the initial publication month in the hopes that it will generate buzz and lead to word-of-mouth recommendations. However, this approach leaves little room for extended coverage and marketing efforts beyond the release window. The challenge lies in finding a balance between giving new books a chance to gain traction and ensuring a rich and thriving literary coverage that highlights each deserving title.
The March 2024 Publishing Boom
March 2024 stands out as a particularly crowded month because it is often a low-key period tucked between the New Year self-help craze and the summer beach reads. However, publishers seeking to avoid the distractions of the upcoming presidential election have opted to release many debut novels and other exciting titles in March. The intention was to give these books better chances by avoiding the highly competitive fall release schedule. Yet, this approach has inadvertently caused overcrowding and limited the number of spaces available on the bestseller lists.
While the overcrowding in March presents a challenge to critics and readers alike, it also offers an opportunity to discover hidden gems. Maris Kreizman provides a rundown of some of the most anticipated releases, including debut novels, nonfiction works, and highly anticipated follow-ups from established authors. By encouraging readers to explore beyond the few buzzy books of the month, Kreizman hopes to shed light on the many outstanding titles that may otherwise go unnoticed.
