Each Saturday, we ask our founder, Namrata, one thoughtful question, on books, writing, cinema, marketing in India or publishing. One question. One insight. Every week.
Question of the Week: Why is there such opacity in the publishing process, especially around marketing in India and sales figures?
Let’s call it like it is: The publishing world especially in India sometimes feels like a secret society with a decoder ring that no one gives you.
So, why the cloak-and-dagger vibe around marketing in India and sales?
1. Because… Parampara, Prathistha, Anushashan
Publishing has always been a bit old-school, like that one uncle who still carries a flip phone and calls it “classic.” Sales data was once guarded like the family recipe for gajar halwa, no one shared it because no one had to. That habit just… stuck.
2. Because numbers = power
Sales figures are currency. If an author doesn’t know how many copies they’ve sold, they can’t negotiate better royalties or ask intelligent questions. So some publishers (not all, let’s be fair) prefer to keep authors in the dark. It’s like “Don’t ask, don’t count.”
3. Because accountability is uncomfortable
If an author asks, “Why weren’t 500 copies sold when we had a launch, influencers, and a newspaper article?” — the answers might expose broken systems: poor distribution, lazy marketing, or a complete lack of follow-through. So it’s easier to be vague and say, “We’re still collecting data.” (Translation: We don’t want to talk about it.)
4. Because there’s a LOT of bluffing
Every second book is a “bestseller” — but… where? Amazon category #157 in ‘Self-Help: Time Management for Pet Owners’?
Authors often fake success because the industry doesn’t share real benchmarks. Publishers play along because it looks good. It’s a hall of mirrors.
5. Because most authors don’t push back
And this is where I want to throw metaphorical coffee at the wall.
Authors are made to feel grateful just to be published. So they hesitate to ask questions like:
- Where’s the marketing plan?
- How many copies are in stock?
- Can I see my sales report?
But hey, you’re not asking for a kidney. You’re asking for what’s yours. And that’s the mindset shift we desperately need.
That’s actually why I started BookBots India, to decode all this nonsense and give authors data, direction, and dignity. The power shift starts when writers stop whispering and start asking loud, smart questions.
Bookbots India offers Marketing in India
At Bookbots India, we’re a dedicated team of book marketers committed to simplifying the complex world of book marketing for you.
Our mission is simple: We make your books sell!
What Do We Do?
- Free Advice: Through our podcast, The Bookbot Theory, we offer free, expert advice on book marketing in South Asia. Tune in to learn strategies and tips that can help you reach your target audience.
- Goal Setting for Authors: We run a comprehensive course designed to guide authors through the crucial steps after finishing their manuscript. Learn how to set achievable goals and the best ways to reach them.
- Marketing Services: Through Keemiya Creatives, we provide personalized marketing services tailored to the unique needs of authors. Let us help you create a marketing plan that drives success.
To know more check out our website and listen to our podcast.
About Namrata, Founder- Keemiya Creatives
Namrata is the founder of Keemiya Creatives, a literary consultancy based in Mumbai, and Bookbots India, an initiative bringing transparency to publishing and book marketing. She also hosts The Bookbot Theory, a podcast that makes book marketing accessible for authors and creators worldwide.
She is the editor of Kitaab, a Singapore-based South Asian literary magazine, and a published author with a focus on travel, relationships, and gender. Her travelogue-cum-memoir, A Lost Wanderer: A Book of Memories, reflects her deep connection with storytelling. A UEA alumna, she has also studied travel writing at the University of Sydney.
She also writes a weekly column on literature called, Between the Lines.
As an independent editor and book reviewer, her work has appeared in Asian Review of Books, Scroll, Contemporary South Asia Journal (King’s College London), The Friday Times, Feminism in India, and more. Her short stories have been featured in various anthologies, and she has published two short story collections of her own. She is currently working on her debut novel.
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