Highly Successful Authors Put In Their Two Cents' Worth on the Money Question
Recently, two very successful authors helped us all by providing commentary on the business end of publishing. Yes, I've eventually get around to posting more about writing - but I need to learn about these realities if I am pursuing more than a hobby here. And I am. Assuming you are, too, dear reader -- you need to know this stuff, too. Sigh, I know, I know.
First: Tess Gerritsen - who writes a great blog, as well as a great book, discusses first books, and book deals.
Second: Sara Donati, who also writes under the name of Rosina Lippi, offers some plain truths on her great blog. You need to keep coming here, she offers publishing info and advice, regularly. And the organization is fantastic.
From Tess Gerritsen (for the full post, go HERE to the 11/08/05 entry):
"First, let's dispose of the "first book" question. Because the answer on that one is, it's a total crap shoot. First book advances are completely unpredictable and involve a lot of hocus pocus, because no one really knows the potential of a first-time author. Some first books get a pitiful advance of a thousand dollars. Then there's Elizabeth Kostova who earned a two million dollar payday for her first book, THE HISTORIAN. Which, incidentally, turned into a very good investment for her publisher, as the book will almost certainly recoup that astronomical advance. Obviously the range for first-book advances is all over the board, and depends on factors as diverse as who your agent is, whether you've got a compelling personal history, whether you're a hot looking stud....
".... It's no secret that publishing is a business, and the goal is to make money. Or at the very least, to break even. If you follow the announced deals in PUBLISHERS WEEKLY or the online website PUBLISHERS MARKETPLACE, you'll start to get an inkling of what multi-published authors are getting. But you can also guess, knowing typical royalty rates, what an author is probably worth in real dollars. With major publishers, hardcover royalties tend to run around 12 - 15% and paperback royalties tend to be around 6- 10% of cover price. So a writer who's sold 25,000 hardcover copies has earned $75,000 in royalties in hardcover sales alone, and his next book deal should certainly reflect that. His next advance should be, at a bare minimum, $75,000. (And we're not even talking about paperback earnings yet, which will be on top of that.) More likely, the next advance will take into account continued growth, and will probably reach well into six figures.
"But once you get into the stratosphere of NYT-bestselling authors, the numbers may no longer be anchored to real sales figures, but may soar much much higher. From my own observations of the business, authors who consistently place in the bottom third of the NYT list (Positions # 11 - 15) are worth at least a million dollars a book, North American rights. We're talking combined hard/soft deals here, since most publishers now retain paperback rights. If you consistently place #6-10, your deals go even higher, into multi-million dollar range. Once your books consistently place in the top third, the deals become wildly unpredictable, because now we're talking Harry Potter and Dan Brown territory. Eight-figure book deals are not out of the question."
From Sara Donati:
"The money an author makes from a given book usually comes in two ways. The advance is the upfront money, 5 or 10 or 200 thousand dollars, or, occasionally, more. The book is published, the book starts to earn (hopefully), but the author doesn't get any money until the advance is "earned out" -- that is, if author X is supposed to get (for example) 10% on a cover price of $20, and she received $10,000 as an advance, she won't get anymore money until 5,000 copies of the book have sold.
"If she takes the $10,000 advance on an unwritten book and can't write it? The money has to be repaid.
"If she gets an advance of $200,000 and the book only sells a total of 1,000 copies? She doesn't have to pay back the advance, but the publisher is unlikely to buy another book from her.
"...A publisher offers you a contract, and an advance. The amount of the advance doesn't have to do with how good the novel is, or how much they like it. A million dollars does not equal an A+. The advance is their best guess on how many copies of the book they can sell. No matter how much the acquiring editor loves your novel, the publishing house does not want to overpay you. End of story.
"...I hasten to add that I do know how much money I make a year in total, all royalties and advances, domestic and foreign. Since I've started publishing novels in 1999, my annual income has fluctuated between 400,000 and 170,000, with the average around 220,000. Something to remember: this will not last forever. Sooner or later, this well will dry up.
"The information about advances and pay outs becomes more important if there's a new contract being negotiated. Publisher X says: well, we'd like to offer you more but her last novel didn't pay out... or Agent X says: look, she's had four novels pay out within a year each, you've got to do better."
Collecting online information on writing fiction for publication...and beginning in 2012, writing about whatever else I darn well please that deals with plot, or character, or anything else related in some vague way to writing fiction.
November 25, 2005
November 18, 2005
The Perspective of an Acquisitions Editor
The only acquisitions editor that's talking to writers out there on the web, at least that I can find, is Terry Whalin at The Writing Life. Since an acquisition editor is the key player in buying my book, I definitely want to hear what he has to say. And Mr. Whalin explains a lot ....
From this week's entries:
An itemization of the "big six" in publishing, along with their imprints (i.e., subsidiaries).
His perspective on agents, and how to find a good one.
A tremendous recommendation for the landmark book, On Writing Well by William Zinsser.
A discussion of the use of longer magazine articles as a springboard for a book proposal - with recommendations to look for these articles in O Magazine, Atlantic Monthly, and the New Yorker. The evolution of Janice Latus's article "All the Wrong Men," from magazine article in O to book proposal to Simon & Schuster's win of a resulting bidding war is referenced.
A lengthy discussion on how few books succeed - and how few proposals make it to book form, prior to that - that somehow leaves you less than depressed. In fact, if you're confident in your work and your vision, it's really rather encouraging.
And, yes, he's written a book, as well. It's called Book Proposals That Sell.
If you're writing for the love of writing, I don't suppose that this stuff means much to you. But my dream is more than that -- I want to see my work bound and shelved in a Barnes & Noble, as trite as that might be. And, that means I have to understand the publishing business, like it or not. Mr. Whalin's efforts to help me in that endeavor are very much appreciated. So much so, I thought I'd share them with you ....
November 10, 2005
Romance Royalties Revealed
I think it's smart to put any snobbery aside (you know who you are) and recognize that lots and lots of readers are out there, choosing romances -- because these books give them something. And I predict that sales of romances are going to continue to increase, maybe even skyrocket, as the economy gets tighter and tighter, and the media keeps up its Fear Campaign (It's Y2K, the end of the world! It's Global Warming, the end of the world! It's terrorist attacks, the end of the world! And, now, currently -- it's the avian flu, the end of the world! The sky is falling!)
So, let's talk numbers here. Romance writers are a helpful, friendly bunch (see PBW, for example). Two successful authors (read that: earns living by writing, no day job) have both shared the wealth, so to speak, in recent postings.
First, Brenda Hiatt keeps track of the bottom line over at her website, under the tagline "Show Me the Money!" And, as of the date of this posting, her survey showed:
Publishing House/# of titles included
Avalon.............................................................................................................17
Average advance (first book): $1000
Average advance (subsequent books): $1000
Advance range: $1000 - $1200
Standard royalty percentage: 10%
Average earn-out: $1200 Range: $1000 - $2100
Avon/HarperCollins ...........................................................................................55
Average advance (first book): $13,500
Average advance (subsequent books): $26,500
Advance range: $3500 - $100,000
Standard royalty percentage: 8%
Average earn-out: $26,000 Range: $7000 - $100,000
Baker/Revell.....................................................................................................3
Average advance: $10,000
Standard royalty percentage: 8% (of net)
Average earn-out: n/a
Bantam/Dell....................................................................................................10
Average advance (first book): $7500
Average advance (subsequent books): $13,500
Advance range: $7500 - $25,000
Standard royalty percentage: 8%
Average earn-out: n/a
Barbour & Co. (Heartsong Presents).......................................................................7
Average advance (first book): $2600
Average advance (subsequent books): $2700
Advance range: $2500 - $2800
Standard royalty percentage: 8%
Average earn-out: $2750 Range: $2500 - $3600
Barbour & Co. (Novellas).....................................................................................7
Average advance (first book): $1000
Average advance (subsequent books): $1000
Standard royalty percentage: 2.5%
Average earn-out: n/a
Berkley/Jove "line" books...................................................................................33
Average advance (first book): $4600
Average advance (subsequent books): $5875
Advance range: $3,200 - $8,500
Standard royalty percentage: 4% - 8%
Average earn-out: $6,500 Range: $3,200 - $10,000
Berkley/Jove (single title)..................................................................................7
Average advance (first book): $7000
Average advance (subsequent books): $12,500
Advance range: $6000 - $30,000
Standard royalty percentage: 6% - 8%
Average earn-out: n/a
BET..............................................................................................................6
Average advance (first book): $2500
Average advance (subsequent books): $7600
Advance range: $2500 - $15,000
Standard royalty percentage: 4% - 6%
Average earn-out: n/a
DiskUs...........................................................................................................18
Average advance: none standard royalty percentage: 40%
Average earn-out: $25 Range: $0 - $130
Dorchester/Leisure.........................................................................................42
Average advance (first book): $1950
Average advance (subsequent books): $9600
Advance range: $1000 - $60,000
Standard royalty percentage: 4% - 6%
Average earn-out: $7,500 Range: $2,000 - $15,000
Dutton/Signet/NAL (single title)...........................................................................14
Average advance (first book): $8750
Average advance (subsequent books): $37,000
Advance range: $7500 - $85,000
Standard royalty percentage: 8%
Average earn-out: n/a
Dutton/Signet (Regency)....................................................................................12
Average advance (first book): $3500
Average advance (subsequent books): $4000
Advance range: $3000 - $5000
Standard royalty percentage: 6%
Average earn-out: $6000 Range: $3000 - $7500
Ellora's Cave ..................................................................................................95
Average advance: none
Standard royalty percentage: 40% of net / 37.5% digital / 7.5% print
Average earn-out: $2340 Range: $350 - $9000
Ellora's Cave (anthologies/novellas)......................................................................19
Average advance: none
Standard royalty percentage: varies by number of authors
Average earn-out: $940 Range: $300 - $2300
Fiction Works....................................................................................................5
Average advance: none
Standard royalty percentage: 30%
Average earn-out: $150 Range: $0 - $350
Five Star/Thorndike (hardcover)...........................................................................6
Average advance: $1200
Standard royalty percentage: 10%
Average earn-out: $1275
Genesis...........................................................................................................6
Average advance (first book): $650
Average advance (subsequent books): $2000
Advance range: $500 - $2500
Standard royalty percentage: 6% ("of invoice")
Average earn-out: n/a
HardShell Word Factory.......................................................................................21
Average advance: none
Standard royalty percentage: 30%
Average earn-out: $185 Range: $25 - $475
Harlequin American..............................................................................................23
Average advance (first book): $4200
Average advance (subsequent books): $4800
Advance range: $4000 - $5500
Standard royalty percentage: 6%
Average earn-out: $10,000 Range: $7300 - $16,000
Harlequin Blaze......................................................................................................20
Average advance (first book): n/a
Average advance (subsequent books): $6200
Advance range: $4500 - $10,500
Standard royalty percentage: 6%
Average earn-out: $12,200
Harlequin Historical..............................................................................................42
Average advance (first book): $5000
Average advance (subsequent books): $6800
Advance range: $5000 - $15,000
Standard royalty percentage: 6%
Average earn-out: $13,700 Range: $6500 - $24,000
Harlequin Intrigue..................................................................................................24
Average advance (first book): $4000
Average advance (subsequent books): $6000
Advance range: $3500 - $7000
Standard royalty percentage: 6%
Average earn-out: $17,000 Range: $11,000 - $18,000
Harlequin Mills & Boon........................................................................................3
Average advance (first book): $2500
Average advance (subsequent books): $2500
Standard royalty percentage: 4-6%
Average earn-out: n/a
Harlequin Romance ...............................................................................................8
Average advance (first book): $2600
Average advance (subsequent books): $2800
Advance range: $2600 - $3000
Standard royalty percentage: 6%
Average earn-out: n/a
Harlequin Superromance......................................................................................43
Average advance (first book): $5000
Average advance (subsequent books): $5400
Advance range: $5000 - $6000
Standard royalty percentage: 6%
Average earn-out: $24,300 Range: $10,000 - $58,000
Harlequin Temptation...........................................................................................51
Average advance (first book): $4100
Average advance (subsequent books): $5000
Advance range: $4000 - $10,000
Standard royalty percentage: 6%
Average earn-out: $13,700 Range: $11,000 - $18,000
HQN...........................................................................................................................2
Average advance (first book): $8500
Average advance (subsequent books): $10,000
Standard royalty percentage: 6%
Average earn-out: n/a
Imajinn......................................................................................................................5
Average advance (first book): $25
Average advance (subsequent books): $85
Standard royalty percentage: 8 -10%
Average earn-out: $180
Kensington/Zebra..................................................................................................123
Average advance (first book): $3500
Average advance (subsequent books): $5500
Advance range: $1750 - $17,500
Standard royalty percentage: 6 - 8.5%
Average earn-out: $5200 Range: $2500 - $17,500
Kensington (novellas)............................................................................................14
Average advance: $4050
Advance range: $1000 - $9000
Standard royalty percentage: 2 - 2.5%
Average earn-out: n/a
Mira............................................................................................................................9
Average advance (first book): n/a
Average advance (subsequent books): $105,000
Advance range: $15,000 - $450,000
Standard royalty percentage: 8%
Average earn-out: n/a
New Concepts Publishing.......................................................................................13
Average advance: none
Standard royalty percentage: 9.5% - 40% elec. 4% - 11% print
Average earn-out: $340 Range: $50 - $1100
Pocket.........................................................................................................................14
Average advance (first book): $16,000
Average advance (subsequent books): $24,500
Advance range: $7000 - $50,000
Standard royalty percentage: 8%
Average earn-out: n/a
Red Dress Ink.............................................................................................................3
Average advance (first book): $12,000
Average advance (subsequent books): $15,000
Standard royalty percentage: 7 - 7.5%
Average earn-out: n/a
Renaissance E-books.................................................................................................4
Average advance: none
Standard royalty percentage: 27 - 40%
Average earn-out: $1300 Range: $400 - $4000
St. Martin's Press......................................................................................................23
Average advance (first book): $6300
Average advance (subsequent books): $14,700
Advance range: $4500 - $150,000
Standard royalty percentage: 8%
Average earn-out: $25,600 Range: $6800 - $51,000
Silhouette Bombshell................................................................................................11
Average advance (first book): $4000
Average advance (subsequent books): $8750
Standard royalty percentage: 6%
Average earn-out: n/a
Silhouette Desire.......................................................................................................13
Average advance (first book): $4000
Average advance (subsequent books): $9850
Advance range: $4000 - $15,000
Standard royalty percentage: 6%
Average earn-out: $21,100 Range: $17,000 - $28,000
Silhouette Intimate Moments..................................................................................14
Average advance (first book): n/a
Average advance (subsequent books): $5900
Advance range: $4000 - $7500
Standard royalty percentage: 6%
Average earn-out: $12,000 Range: $10,000 - $16,000
Silhouette Romance...............................................................................................56
Average advance (first book): $3750
Average advance (subsequent books): $4900
Advance range: $3,500 - $10,000
Standard royalty percentage: 6%
Average earn-out: $10,300 Range: $6,000 - $18,000
Silhouette Special Edition....................................................................................44
Average advance (first book): $4000
Average advance (subsequent books): $8200
Advance range: $4000 - $12,000
Standard royalty percentage: 6%
Average earn-out: $21,500 Range: $12,000 - $37,000
Steeple Hill (Love Inspired)..................................................................................61
Average advance (first book): $3400
Average advance (subsequent books): $4900
Advance range: $3000 - $7000
Standard royalty percentage: 6%
Average earn-out: $7700 Range: $5,000 - $18,000
Tor/Forge.................................................................................................................8
Average advance (first book): $13,300
Average advance (subsequent books): $17,250
Advance range: $8000 - $20,000
Standard royalty percentage: 8%
Average earn-out: n/a
Treble Heart Books.................................................................................................6
Average advance: none
Standard royalty percentage: 15 - 35% print, 40% elec.
Average earn-out: $65 Range: $5 - $110
Warner.....................................................................................................................19
Average advance (first book): $7150
Average advance (subsequent books): $12,200
Advance range: $5000 - $34,000
Standard royalty percentage: 8%
Average earn-out: n/a
Zebra Regency.........................................................................................................14
Average advance (first book): $2000
Average advance (subsequent books): $2850
Advance range: $2000 - $4000
Standard royalty percentage: 4% - 6%
Average earn-out: $2500 Range: $2000 - $4000
And, from Alison Kent, a candid explanation of her personal experience and a brief education on royalties at her blog:
"The only books I get royalties on straight from the home office are my five Temptations published between 1996 and 1999. I signed with my agent in 1998 while she was at Writers House. That means I still get a statement through them covering my first three Blazes and my two Bouquets written as Michaila Callan. Everything else comes through Spencerhill Associates, the agency Karen established when she left Writers House.
"Harlequin releases all reserves against returns by the fourth royalty statement on a book, meaning by that time - two years or so after a book’s release (aka 4 six-month periods) - a book has pretty much earned out all of its North American sales. Many foreign sales $$ have come in by then, too. If there is no activity for a period, then there is no statement issued. Reissues and foreign sales are what keep a book alive.
"The only statements I received in this packet were for my first and fifth Temptations as they were the only ones with any activity in this period (Jan 2005 - June 2005). I thought the differences in the earn-outs were interesting.
"FOUR MEN & A LADY, published in October 1999, has earned $13,109.88 to date - and I happen to know it was the #1 bestselling Temptation that month. That number includes North American (US and Canadian) sales, as well as sales in the UK, Australia, France, Switzerland, Belgium, Holland, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Germany, Italy, Greece, Spain, Brazil, Latin America, and Korea. This royalty period, believe it or not, I sold 795 copies in Spain for royalties of $34.15. *gg*
"CALL ME (7/96) is a different story. The royalties this period were for the reserves of the mail order reissue in May 2003 - 2850 copies for royalties of $346.12. The foreign sales on this book were to the UK, Australia, France, Switzerland, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Czech Republic, Italy, Greece, Argentina, Spain, Brazil, and Latin America. The book has earned a total of $21,495.09. (Note: It’s taken 9 years to earn that amount, while the advance on my fourth single title (not #’s 1 - 3!) was more than that.)
"I hate to be all about the $$$$, but when this is my only real income, I have to be. But what I wanted to point out was the decline in individual book income from 1996 to 1999 to the tune of $8300+. Yes, I know. Not all books will perform the same, except when those books are in a category line, they tend to be a lot closer than that! If authors across the board experienced the same, I have to say the signs for Temptation’s demise were there for quite awhile.
"Now I’m anxiously waiting for the money from both agencies to arrive, (and for Kensington royalties which I think arrive around year’s end)! Of course, I’m not expecting much this go round from HQ. This royalty period cut off in June, and KISS & MAKEUP wasn’t released until August. My last HQ publication was MOTHER, PLEASE! in May 2004. Next year should be better!"
I think it's smart to put any snobbery aside (you know who you are) and recognize that lots and lots of readers are out there, choosing romances -- because these books give them something. And I predict that sales of romances are going to continue to increase, maybe even skyrocket, as the economy gets tighter and tighter, and the media keeps up its Fear Campaign (It's Y2K, the end of the world! It's Global Warming, the end of the world! It's terrorist attacks, the end of the world! And, now, currently -- it's the avian flu, the end of the world! The sky is falling!)
So, let's talk numbers here. Romance writers are a helpful, friendly bunch (see PBW, for example). Two successful authors (read that: earns living by writing, no day job) have both shared the wealth, so to speak, in recent postings.
First, Brenda Hiatt keeps track of the bottom line over at her website, under the tagline "Show Me the Money!" And, as of the date of this posting, her survey showed:
Publishing House/# of titles included
Avalon.............................................................................................................17
Average advance (first book): $1000
Average advance (subsequent books): $1000
Advance range: $1000 - $1200
Standard royalty percentage: 10%
Average earn-out: $1200 Range: $1000 - $2100
Avon/HarperCollins ...........................................................................................55
Average advance (first book): $13,500
Average advance (subsequent books): $26,500
Advance range: $3500 - $100,000
Standard royalty percentage: 8%
Average earn-out: $26,000 Range: $7000 - $100,000
Baker/Revell.....................................................................................................3
Average advance: $10,000
Standard royalty percentage: 8% (of net)
Average earn-out: n/a
Bantam/Dell....................................................................................................10
Average advance (first book): $7500
Average advance (subsequent books): $13,500
Advance range: $7500 - $25,000
Standard royalty percentage: 8%
Average earn-out: n/a
Barbour & Co. (Heartsong Presents).......................................................................7
Average advance (first book): $2600
Average advance (subsequent books): $2700
Advance range: $2500 - $2800
Standard royalty percentage: 8%
Average earn-out: $2750 Range: $2500 - $3600
Barbour & Co. (Novellas).....................................................................................7
Average advance (first book): $1000
Average advance (subsequent books): $1000
Standard royalty percentage: 2.5%
Average earn-out: n/a
Berkley/Jove "line" books...................................................................................33
Average advance (first book): $4600
Average advance (subsequent books): $5875
Advance range: $3,200 - $8,500
Standard royalty percentage: 4% - 8%
Average earn-out: $6,500 Range: $3,200 - $10,000
Berkley/Jove (single title)..................................................................................7
Average advance (first book): $7000
Average advance (subsequent books): $12,500
Advance range: $6000 - $30,000
Standard royalty percentage: 6% - 8%
Average earn-out: n/a
BET..............................................................................................................6
Average advance (first book): $2500
Average advance (subsequent books): $7600
Advance range: $2500 - $15,000
Standard royalty percentage: 4% - 6%
Average earn-out: n/a
DiskUs...........................................................................................................18
Average advance: none standard royalty percentage: 40%
Average earn-out: $25 Range: $0 - $130
Dorchester/Leisure.........................................................................................42
Average advance (first book): $1950
Average advance (subsequent books): $9600
Advance range: $1000 - $60,000
Standard royalty percentage: 4% - 6%
Average earn-out: $7,500 Range: $2,000 - $15,000
Dutton/Signet/NAL (single title)...........................................................................14
Average advance (first book): $8750
Average advance (subsequent books): $37,000
Advance range: $7500 - $85,000
Standard royalty percentage: 8%
Average earn-out: n/a
Dutton/Signet (Regency)....................................................................................12
Average advance (first book): $3500
Average advance (subsequent books): $4000
Advance range: $3000 - $5000
Standard royalty percentage: 6%
Average earn-out: $6000 Range: $3000 - $7500
Ellora's Cave ..................................................................................................95
Average advance: none
Standard royalty percentage: 40% of net / 37.5% digital / 7.5% print
Average earn-out: $2340 Range: $350 - $9000
Ellora's Cave (anthologies/novellas)......................................................................19
Average advance: none
Standard royalty percentage: varies by number of authors
Average earn-out: $940 Range: $300 - $2300
Fiction Works....................................................................................................5
Average advance: none
Standard royalty percentage: 30%
Average earn-out: $150 Range: $0 - $350
Five Star/Thorndike (hardcover)...........................................................................6
Average advance: $1200
Standard royalty percentage: 10%
Average earn-out: $1275
Genesis...........................................................................................................6
Average advance (first book): $650
Average advance (subsequent books): $2000
Advance range: $500 - $2500
Standard royalty percentage: 6% ("of invoice")
Average earn-out: n/a
HardShell Word Factory.......................................................................................21
Average advance: none
Standard royalty percentage: 30%
Average earn-out: $185 Range: $25 - $475
Harlequin American..............................................................................................23
Average advance (first book): $4200
Average advance (subsequent books): $4800
Advance range: $4000 - $5500
Standard royalty percentage: 6%
Average earn-out: $10,000 Range: $7300 - $16,000
Harlequin Blaze......................................................................................................20
Average advance (first book): n/a
Average advance (subsequent books): $6200
Advance range: $4500 - $10,500
Standard royalty percentage: 6%
Average earn-out: $12,200
Harlequin Historical..............................................................................................42
Average advance (first book): $5000
Average advance (subsequent books): $6800
Advance range: $5000 - $15,000
Standard royalty percentage: 6%
Average earn-out: $13,700 Range: $6500 - $24,000
Harlequin Intrigue..................................................................................................24
Average advance (first book): $4000
Average advance (subsequent books): $6000
Advance range: $3500 - $7000
Standard royalty percentage: 6%
Average earn-out: $17,000 Range: $11,000 - $18,000
Harlequin Mills & Boon........................................................................................3
Average advance (first book): $2500
Average advance (subsequent books): $2500
Standard royalty percentage: 4-6%
Average earn-out: n/a
Harlequin Romance ...............................................................................................8
Average advance (first book): $2600
Average advance (subsequent books): $2800
Advance range: $2600 - $3000
Standard royalty percentage: 6%
Average earn-out: n/a
Harlequin Superromance......................................................................................43
Average advance (first book): $5000
Average advance (subsequent books): $5400
Advance range: $5000 - $6000
Standard royalty percentage: 6%
Average earn-out: $24,300 Range: $10,000 - $58,000
Harlequin Temptation...........................................................................................51
Average advance (first book): $4100
Average advance (subsequent books): $5000
Advance range: $4000 - $10,000
Standard royalty percentage: 6%
Average earn-out: $13,700 Range: $11,000 - $18,000
HQN...........................................................................................................................2
Average advance (first book): $8500
Average advance (subsequent books): $10,000
Standard royalty percentage: 6%
Average earn-out: n/a
Imajinn......................................................................................................................5
Average advance (first book): $25
Average advance (subsequent books): $85
Standard royalty percentage: 8 -10%
Average earn-out: $180
Kensington/Zebra..................................................................................................123
Average advance (first book): $3500
Average advance (subsequent books): $5500
Advance range: $1750 - $17,500
Standard royalty percentage: 6 - 8.5%
Average earn-out: $5200 Range: $2500 - $17,500
Kensington (novellas)............................................................................................14
Average advance: $4050
Advance range: $1000 - $9000
Standard royalty percentage: 2 - 2.5%
Average earn-out: n/a
Mira............................................................................................................................9
Average advance (first book): n/a
Average advance (subsequent books): $105,000
Advance range: $15,000 - $450,000
Standard royalty percentage: 8%
Average earn-out: n/a
New Concepts Publishing.......................................................................................13
Average advance: none
Standard royalty percentage: 9.5% - 40% elec. 4% - 11% print
Average earn-out: $340 Range: $50 - $1100
Pocket.........................................................................................................................14
Average advance (first book): $16,000
Average advance (subsequent books): $24,500
Advance range: $7000 - $50,000
Standard royalty percentage: 8%
Average earn-out: n/a
Red Dress Ink.............................................................................................................3
Average advance (first book): $12,000
Average advance (subsequent books): $15,000
Standard royalty percentage: 7 - 7.5%
Average earn-out: n/a
Renaissance E-books.................................................................................................4
Average advance: none
Standard royalty percentage: 27 - 40%
Average earn-out: $1300 Range: $400 - $4000
St. Martin's Press......................................................................................................23
Average advance (first book): $6300
Average advance (subsequent books): $14,700
Advance range: $4500 - $150,000
Standard royalty percentage: 8%
Average earn-out: $25,600 Range: $6800 - $51,000
Silhouette Bombshell................................................................................................11
Average advance (first book): $4000
Average advance (subsequent books): $8750
Standard royalty percentage: 6%
Average earn-out: n/a
Silhouette Desire.......................................................................................................13
Average advance (first book): $4000
Average advance (subsequent books): $9850
Advance range: $4000 - $15,000
Standard royalty percentage: 6%
Average earn-out: $21,100 Range: $17,000 - $28,000
Silhouette Intimate Moments..................................................................................14
Average advance (first book): n/a
Average advance (subsequent books): $5900
Advance range: $4000 - $7500
Standard royalty percentage: 6%
Average earn-out: $12,000 Range: $10,000 - $16,000
Silhouette Romance...............................................................................................56
Average advance (first book): $3750
Average advance (subsequent books): $4900
Advance range: $3,500 - $10,000
Standard royalty percentage: 6%
Average earn-out: $10,300 Range: $6,000 - $18,000
Silhouette Special Edition....................................................................................44
Average advance (first book): $4000
Average advance (subsequent books): $8200
Advance range: $4000 - $12,000
Standard royalty percentage: 6%
Average earn-out: $21,500 Range: $12,000 - $37,000
Steeple Hill (Love Inspired)..................................................................................61
Average advance (first book): $3400
Average advance (subsequent books): $4900
Advance range: $3000 - $7000
Standard royalty percentage: 6%
Average earn-out: $7700 Range: $5,000 - $18,000
Tor/Forge.................................................................................................................8
Average advance (first book): $13,300
Average advance (subsequent books): $17,250
Advance range: $8000 - $20,000
Standard royalty percentage: 8%
Average earn-out: n/a
Treble Heart Books.................................................................................................6
Average advance: none
Standard royalty percentage: 15 - 35% print, 40% elec.
Average earn-out: $65 Range: $5 - $110
Warner.....................................................................................................................19
Average advance (first book): $7150
Average advance (subsequent books): $12,200
Advance range: $5000 - $34,000
Standard royalty percentage: 8%
Average earn-out: n/a
Zebra Regency.........................................................................................................14
Average advance (first book): $2000
Average advance (subsequent books): $2850
Advance range: $2000 - $4000
Standard royalty percentage: 4% - 6%
Average earn-out: $2500 Range: $2000 - $4000
And, from Alison Kent, a candid explanation of her personal experience and a brief education on royalties at her blog:
"The only books I get royalties on straight from the home office are my five Temptations published between 1996 and 1999. I signed with my agent in 1998 while she was at Writers House. That means I still get a statement through them covering my first three Blazes and my two Bouquets written as Michaila Callan. Everything else comes through Spencerhill Associates, the agency Karen established when she left Writers House.
"Harlequin releases all reserves against returns by the fourth royalty statement on a book, meaning by that time - two years or so after a book’s release (aka 4 six-month periods) - a book has pretty much earned out all of its North American sales. Many foreign sales $$ have come in by then, too. If there is no activity for a period, then there is no statement issued. Reissues and foreign sales are what keep a book alive.
"The only statements I received in this packet were for my first and fifth Temptations as they were the only ones with any activity in this period (Jan 2005 - June 2005). I thought the differences in the earn-outs were interesting.
"FOUR MEN & A LADY, published in October 1999, has earned $13,109.88 to date - and I happen to know it was the #1 bestselling Temptation that month. That number includes North American (US and Canadian) sales, as well as sales in the UK, Australia, France, Switzerland, Belgium, Holland, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Germany, Italy, Greece, Spain, Brazil, Latin America, and Korea. This royalty period, believe it or not, I sold 795 copies in Spain for royalties of $34.15. *gg*
"CALL ME (7/96) is a different story. The royalties this period were for the reserves of the mail order reissue in May 2003 - 2850 copies for royalties of $346.12. The foreign sales on this book were to the UK, Australia, France, Switzerland, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Czech Republic, Italy, Greece, Argentina, Spain, Brazil, and Latin America. The book has earned a total of $21,495.09. (Note: It’s taken 9 years to earn that amount, while the advance on my fourth single title (not #’s 1 - 3!) was more than that.)
"I hate to be all about the $$$$, but when this is my only real income, I have to be. But what I wanted to point out was the decline in individual book income from 1996 to 1999 to the tune of $8300+. Yes, I know. Not all books will perform the same, except when those books are in a category line, they tend to be a lot closer than that! If authors across the board experienced the same, I have to say the signs for Temptation’s demise were there for quite awhile.
"Now I’m anxiously waiting for the money from both agencies to arrive, (and for Kensington royalties which I think arrive around year’s end)! Of course, I’m not expecting much this go round from HQ. This royalty period cut off in June, and KISS & MAKEUP wasn’t released until August. My last HQ publication was MOTHER, PLEASE! in May 2004. Next year should be better!"
November 2, 2005
The Razor's Edge and Truman Capote
Somerset Maugham's famous work The Razor's Edge has been made into a movie twice: first, with Tyrone Power in the lead; and later, with Bill Murray portraying the seeker, Larry Darrell. It's hard to say which version I prefer at this point.
Both made me think - and Bill Murray's version introduced me to the work of Maugham, for which I'm very grateful. Edge was one of those books of which I bought multiple copies to share with friends. I was seeking truth, my way of moving forward after a divorce left me lost and brokenhearted - and this book helped me. I wanted to share that.
A movie brought me to the book, to the author.
And, a movie has done that again, with Capote.
Not that I haven't read Truman Capote before now - I have. I think I own copies of most all his work - Other Voices, Other Rooms through Unanswered Prayers. (Why is it that Dominick Dunne always come to mind here?)
But the movie Capote introduced me to the writer - and his process - that I hadn't understood before now. I don't know that I like the man. Take for example that snide aside he makes at the bar about sweet, kind, patient Harper Lee -- well, yes, it's scripted - but when you recall all the Capote interviews, it's accurate.
This was not a nice man. This was, however, a great writer.
Either you are a writer, or you're not. And I think many writers waste away in jobs that miss the mark for them -- stymied by a lack of confidence, or maybe a fear of money - and the lack of it. Doesn't matter. Writers just are. They are humans given charge over words, and only some take up that responsibility.
Capote, the movie, explained to me that writers aren't perfect. They may not be kind or meek or subtle. They come in all shapes and sizes, and some can be quite disheartening in their failings.
Capote took writers off the pedestal for me -- and left the writing there.
Somerset Maugham's famous work The Razor's Edge has been made into a movie twice: first, with Tyrone Power in the lead; and later, with Bill Murray portraying the seeker, Larry Darrell. It's hard to say which version I prefer at this point.
Both made me think - and Bill Murray's version introduced me to the work of Maugham, for which I'm very grateful. Edge was one of those books of which I bought multiple copies to share with friends. I was seeking truth, my way of moving forward after a divorce left me lost and brokenhearted - and this book helped me. I wanted to share that.
A movie brought me to the book, to the author.
And, a movie has done that again, with Capote.
Not that I haven't read Truman Capote before now - I have. I think I own copies of most all his work - Other Voices, Other Rooms through Unanswered Prayers. (Why is it that Dominick Dunne always come to mind here?)
But the movie Capote introduced me to the writer - and his process - that I hadn't understood before now. I don't know that I like the man. Take for example that snide aside he makes at the bar about sweet, kind, patient Harper Lee -- well, yes, it's scripted - but when you recall all the Capote interviews, it's accurate.
This was not a nice man. This was, however, a great writer.
Either you are a writer, or you're not. And I think many writers waste away in jobs that miss the mark for them -- stymied by a lack of confidence, or maybe a fear of money - and the lack of it. Doesn't matter. Writers just are. They are humans given charge over words, and only some take up that responsibility.
Capote, the movie, explained to me that writers aren't perfect. They may not be kind or meek or subtle. They come in all shapes and sizes, and some can be quite disheartening in their failings.
Capote took writers off the pedestal for me -- and left the writing there.
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