Ginette Reno’s autobiography – simply titled Ginette – would have sold more than 50,000 copies in less than a month, according to producer and businessman Nicolas Lemieux, responsible for marketing the book in pharmacies Jean Coutu and on his Oziko website.
The Quebec diva’s autobiography, signed by singer-songwriter Lambert, was launched on April 6 by bypassing the book chain, which raised the ire of the Association des libraires du Québec and many publishers.
Ginette Reno has indeed self-published her book. She paid for the writing, publishing, printing and marketing costs. Ginette was not offered in almost any bookstore. The few booksellers who acquired the book did so on the producer’s terms, including receiving a 15% share instead of the usual 40%.
In the end, according to Nicolas Lemieux, by eliminating intermediaries, the artist’s share of profit would approach 50% – rather than the 10% usually given to authors. And the sales continue.
The producer, who also launched the album C’est tout moi by Ginette Reno – already a gold record with 40,000 copies sold – speaks of a “grandiose operation”.
Nicolas Lemieux also praised his partnership with Jean Coutu, responsible for selling the book in the chain’s 460 pharmacies – in Quebec, New Brunswick and Ontario – until December 31.
Are there any discussions with Ginette Reno to release sequels? Nicolas Lemieux did not want to come forward too much. “Yes, there are discussions, but with Ginette it’s one thing at a time. There will be others. Whether with Ginette or with other stars for that matter, following the same business model, he insisted. I will never go through the book chain. »
The producer behind the Harmonium symphonique music project admits that this operation was facilitated by Ms. Reno’s superstar status. He would not engage in a similar project with an unknown author. “I definitely work with stars on big projects. »
Since the beginning of this adventure, Nicolas Lemieux believes that his business model works, in particular because there are no returns. “There are no losses, no pounded books. I repeat, I did not do it against booksellers or against libraries, but for Ginette. I maintain that in the current model of the book chain, sharing is not fair. There is something wrong. »
As La Presse already wrote a few weeks ago, public libraries in Quebec cannot legally acquire the book, the Act respecting the development of Quebec businesses in the field of books forcing them to buy their books ” in at least three approved bookstores” in their administrative region. As the book is almost impossible to find in bookstores…
“There is indeed a procedure for exemption from the law, told us the director general of the Association of public libraries of Quebec, Ève Lagacé, but after having received a notice from the Ministry of Culture and Communications, this avenue has been excluded, she confirmed. The only way to find this book in the library is if a user or citizen donates it. But we are talking about an anecdotal number. »
Despite this policy, Nicolas Lemieux assures us that some libraries have acquired the book directly from his website.
On the merits, there were of course criticisms, some quite harsh, on the quality of the story and the writing of the autobiography of Ginette, who jumped from rooster to donkey. Reviews that would probably have been avoided if an editor and a real author had been involved. What does Nicolas Lemieux think?
“All tastes are in nature,” he replies. This book is written in a different way, but it looks like Ginette. Maybe one day she will ask an author or a journalist to write a book, but this one, she did it like that. Everyone has the right to criticize, there is nothing perfect, but it was done with heart, it was done in good faith and the public reception was very positive, so we are very satisfied of this launch. »
