*Read Before You Invite . . .
Posted on July 25, 2009 by Big Universe in Uncategorized.
Every year I hear from a number of well-meaning, hard-working event organizers. Sometimes these are teachers squeezing in a few more hours of work into their already full days. Sometimes these are volunteers laboring on behalf of causes they deeply support. As an author, I feel privileged to be invited to speak, present, or sign at these events.
However, there are always some misconceptions that need to be cleared up; and often it is difficult to do that tactfully. So I think it behooves me to post this here in the hopes of enlightening some of the teachers, booksellers, parents, or other folks who visit Big Universe and who are working on an event to which they hope to invite an author, or authors.
1.) The majority of authors make very little money.* Surprised? Do the math. The basic contract for a novel is 10%, so that’s $1.50 for a $15 novel. General first, or second, print runs are usually less than seven thousand copies. Many authors can only produce one or two books a year. For picture books, it’s worse! That 10% must be shared between the author and the illustrator. (No one magically comes up with another 10% for the illustrator.) Thus, 5% of a $16 hard-cover picture book is only 80¢ per book! So event organizers take note: most authors will not travel long distances for “the opportunity” to sell a few copies of their books—the price of gas would eat up any royalties made on the sales. (The exception to this is bookstore signings/large conferences when networking is of more importance than the number of books sold.)
*We do it for the love of writing, and for children.
2.) Authors do not get unlimited supplies of free copies. Generally, an author will get anywhere between five and twenty-five free copies. That’s it, folks! After that, authors must buy their own books—–though at a discounted rate. So event organizers, or teachers: when you’re looking for “donations” for various causes, know that most authors will only donate to personal causes, or make family decisions on donation requests as the cost of the books will be coming out of the author’s pocket.
3.) To extend #1 a bit further, unless an author is self-published (or published through a print-on-demand company, or a subsidized/vanity publisher), most authors cannot purchase author copies of their titles at a discount price and then turn around and sell them at the listed price—you can see that would cut out most of the profits made by others. In fact, some contracts expressly forbid this . . . so most authors who are not self-published do not rent tables to be vendors at book fairs or other functions. Don’t expect them to self-sell their books. However, many authors are very happy to appear and autograph books if the sponsoring agencies handle the book ordering and sales. (ps.—–I would also venture to guess that most mainstream authors do not have sales tax licenses for all the states to which they are invited.)
4.) Finally, most authors do not have the time to be online pen pals with you or your very talented students/children. Yes, we love children, we love schools and teachers, and parents who care. It’s just that there are not enough hours in the day—–barely enough to be available to love our own children, spouses, and students. (Due to # 1 above, some of us hold down full-time day jobs, as well–—like teaching.)
I hope this does not sound curmudgeonly! It isn’t meant to. These were things I, too, had to learn about the business. Of course, there are some exceptions to every rule. There are families who have incorporated and the majority of their life is spent taking the book(s) a family member wrote on the road. These few folks are the publishers as well as the authors and can sell or do whatever they wish with their merchandise. However, most of us do not have that luxury.
I enjoy doing speaking at venues around the country—-as do most authors. Just realize, that a little more planning and preparation may be needed on the part of the organizers to make the event flow smoothly.
(If you are interested in more tips on working with authors and illustrators check out this list at my website. )
Happy planning!
Shutta
Shutta you do not sound curmudgeon like at all. You sound quite reasonable and sane. It’s like people who complain about doctors who charge too much. Do they ever stop to realize the years and years of medical school costs, the outrageous malpractice insurance costs, and maybe worse or at least equally bad, the insurance companies. Being a doctor isn’t such a hot deal any more. Being a doctor or a writer is not a ticket to fortune or fame. It’s really just the entrance into the world where people think you’re making more money than you are and you are still you.
Thank you for bringing us back to earth on the reason for prices. As a teacher I know questions arise about why prices are so high for visiting authors. Now, I have even more information to answer that question with. I’m going to forward your blog on to our reading specialist at my elementary school. She’ll love having this to send to all of the “nay sayers” who would rather have more supplies than “waste” money on visitors.
Writing as a career has changed dramatically over the past couple of decades. It’s going to continue to change even more. There are many ways for authors to publish their work but the big question remains on how an author will be paid for their hard work. Once you’ve written something, your writing is out there for all to read. Being an author is a very under recognized career, much like a teacher. As a teacher at least you collect some kind of a salary but as an author you still depend on book sales. How are we going to adjust this for the future of the written word?
Thanks, Bernice! The problem is, it’s so touchy to try to explain these things in the middle of an upbeat email from someone who is sooooooo excited about their event. I am always afraid of sounding miserly–I’m not. Nor are most authors I know–they simply have to pick and choose which events to be involved in, given the parameters of their family’s needs and what percentage of time they can contribute to free or almost free events for others, etc.
I just never know when to insert this eye-opening information. There never seems to be a best time. At least it is posted here, so I can refer folks to this post.
Take care,
Shutta
I’m considering signing up for a big universe membership, but I’m concerned that the authors of the books me and my kids read will not be compensated for our reading. Can you illuminate what sort of compensation authors receive?