Greetings fellow bc skiers,
The following might clear up some questions about guidebooks and at least one publisher and author. These comments are based on my personal experience only. In my first go-around, I decided that, since "Northwest Ski Trails"was out of print and that no one else (to my knowledge) was working on a guidebook, that I could do it. I wrote to the most obvious publisher, The Mountaineers, Books, for a guideline for prospective authors and followed the instructions to the letter. The result was that "Backcountry Skiing" was published in 1986 with a printing of 5,000 volumes.
The first year saw sales of 2,000 books reflecting pent-up demand. A disastrous snow fall the following year was reflected in meager sales of 700 volumes. To be fair, my work commitments and other interests prevented active promotion and slide shows but the trend continued until all books were sold by 1990. The Publisher declined to reprint, statting that they would wait until demand rebuilt. So much for serving the community. I was disappointed in the negative comments and personal attacks I received but that is part of the guidebook business. The positive remarks outweighed the naysayers by ten to one. I received a $ 1,000. advance which was repaid out of approximately $ 5,000. in royalties received over four years. I spent over $ 3,000. in miscellaneous expenses (internegatives, travel, etc.) to do do the project. Good thing I have a real job.
In 1990, the Publisher asked me to redo the Book. Basically, the story was a retelling: 5,000 copies, sell 'em, let the demand build, and do it again. The most rewarding experience has been skiers who've told me their parents raised them on "Backcountry Skiing..." and now they are introducing their kids to the mountains using the new book. The negative experience was "no reprint": Book buyers go suck eggs.
As Mr. Beckey said: "Writing a guidebook is like having a baby: There's no money in it." Personally, I ALWAYS check out Half-Price Books and try to buy my book. Many of my friends would like a copy and when I find one, I give it away.
Finally, check out John Baldwin's "Exploring the Coast Range on Skis", the latest edition. It includes a good section on the Mount Baker area and is a first rate effort.
Best Regards, Rainer Burgdorfer
