New Laura Ingalls Wilder book in the works

The South Dakota State Historical Society Press will publish a new book on Laura Ingalls Wilder, but details won’t be released for at least another six weeks.

The book will be a scholarly work on the famed author who wrote the “Little House” series, the fictionalized account of Wilder’s life growing up as a pioneer on the American frontier, including Dakota Territory.

“We’re about discovering the back story – more about discovering the history of South Dakota,” said Nancy Tystad Koupal, the director of the press.

The new book follows the most successful publication in the press’ history. That, too, featured Wilder. “Pioneer Girl: The Annotated Autobiography,” was a surprise hit for the press, given that it was Wilder’s unpublished autobiography. The book, which was published in November, 2014, was a vast, scholarly work that included context about Wilder’s life.

It proved to be a darker, more realistic version of life on the frontier, although it did serve as the basis for her children’s series.

The original plan was to print just 5,000 copies of “Pioneer Girl.” The first run was eventually bumped to 15,000 copies. And then it took off.

Sales have fallen since its release, although there was a nice bump before Christmas, Tystad Koupal said. The press recently ordered another run, which will bring the number of print copies to 165,000. The press will need to keep an inventory on hand to meet demand in the coming years.

“I’m relatively sure this is the last printing we’ll have to do,” she said.

At some point, the press also plans to release an E-book version of “Pioneer Girl.”

Tystad Koupal said she didn’t know how much money the press had made off the book, but she added that “it’s not as much as you might think.”

It took about four years to get the book ready for publication. The press also pays royalties. The Little House Heritage Trust, which administers Wilder’s estate, had the rights to the book. And royalties will be an ongoing expense, Tystad Koupal said.

“We had quite a bit of equity in it,” she said.

The profits, she said, will be used to underwrite future projects, including the release of the next book on Wilder.