I have a fondness for Roman poetry and books, and I have realised that it seems that certain books gained fame immediately and were widely read. Considering the Romans did not have a printing press how did the manufacturing and distribution of books work? My impression is that in the middle ages books were incredibly rare and valuable and took an immense skill to create. So how is it that Martial can declare in an opening Epigram:

"May I present myself--the man

You read, admire and long to meet,

Known the world over for his neat

And witty epigrams. The name

Thank you, earnest fan,

For having granted me the fame

Seldom enjoyed by a dead poet

While I'm alive and here to know it."

Is this just literary bravado, or did he really have an empire wide audience? If so the book industry must have been a behemoth of complexity. In short my questions are: To whom did a poet sell his manuscript? Was he paid a lump sum or royalties? How did the manufacturing and distribution work? Was there a decent enough living to be made with writing (Martial enjoys complaining of his unproductive and barren farm and shitty apartments in rome) or was it all for prestige? How quickly could one earn literary fame? How extensive would that fame have been; would a illiterate urban worker be aware of who were the major poets? Thank you for your replies.