A normal workplace discussion after looking at the 2019 P&L

Colleague
bloody [Christmas anthology]

Me
yes - however remember we've done all those separate ebooks
so will work out alright in the end

Colleague
oh i remember
sold 1,247 combined of the ebooks!
not too shabby
(compared to 68 of the anthology...)

Me
and we shall push them every year
for so it is written

Colleague
and so it shall be

Me
'On the twelfth day of Christmas, [imprint] shall try to make you buy our Christmas backlist once more'

Colleague
AND YOU WILL LIKE IT
some people are buying copies right now
just 2 people
but more than expected

Me
is it you?

Colleague
hahahahha

Me
and is it your mum?

Colleague
things aren't that bad yet

just give it time

Me
that's the Christmas spirit!

Colleague
maybe i should be pushing it on fb now - long tail and all that jazz

Me
I think you're the wrong way round the animal - isn't it a long neck?

Colleague
isn't that pre-pub?
but yes maybe that works better in this situation...

Me
oh you are right

Colleague
the pre-christmas long neck

Me
tails/necks hard to keep track of currently
but either way no. We don't have to see those books again for at least a few months

Colleague
*thumbs up*