Comments on: Authors are entitled http://graysonagency.com/blog/publishing/authors-are-entitled/ Agents, Publishers, Business, and your book Tue, 24 May 2011 13:35:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Ed http://graysonagency.com/blog/publishing/authors-are-entitled/comment-page-1/#comment-1130 Ed Thu, 14 May 2009 17:36:44 +0000 http://graysonagency.com/blog/publishing/authors-are-entitled/#comment-1130 While the Publisher's advance is a loan against royalties, it is also a guaranteed amount; an enticement to trust the Publisher with the author's work. So a hefty advance is always an expression of commitment by the Publisher. For mega-bestseller authors who always earn out even large advances, a clever agent can horse trade advance money for long term earnings (higher royalty for example) which can benefit both the Publisher and author. For the novice author who may not earn out, the advance is money in hand. Since publishers often lose interest in books during pre-publication or find them difficult to place with retailers, the advance may be the only money the author ever sees. Every author and book is different, but in general, "take the money" is good advice. Publishers don't "charge interest" on advances as a line item, but the publishing business model amounts to a usurious interest rate for books that sell well over time. I can't address the last question because "it" is an undefined pronoun reference. What does "it" refer to? The advance, the concept of declining the advance, any interest rate? what? While the Publisher’s advance is a loan against royalties, it is also a guaranteed amount; an enticement to trust the Publisher with the author’s work. So a hefty advance is always an expression of commitment by the Publisher. For mega-bestseller authors who always earn out even large advances, a clever agent can horse trade advance money for long term earnings (higher royalty for example) which can benefit both the Publisher and author. For the novice author who may not earn out, the advance is money in hand. Since publishers often lose interest in books during pre-publication or find them difficult to place with retailers, the advance may be the only money the author ever sees. Every author and book is different, but in general, “take the money” is good advice. Publishers don’t “charge interest” on advances as a line item, but the publishing business model amounts to a usurious interest rate for books that sell well over time. I can’t address the last question because “it” is an undefined pronoun reference. What does “it” refer to? The advance, the concept of declining the advance, any interest rate? what?

]]> By: Claudia Ross http://graysonagency.com/blog/publishing/authors-are-entitled/comment-page-1/#comment-1108 Claudia Ross Wed, 06 May 2009 17:03:15 +0000 http://graysonagency.com/blog/publishing/authors-are-entitled/#comment-1108 Thank you so much for your posts! I always desired to learn about financial side of the business, and this is an excellent start. Since the 'advance' is considered as a loan against royalties, is it wiser for the author to decline it? Do publishers charge interest on advances? Will it encourage the publisher to excellerate the 'acceptance' process? Thanks! Thank you so much for your posts! I always desired to learn about financial side of the business, and this is an excellent start.

Since the ‘advance’ is considered as a loan against royalties, is it wiser for the author to decline it? Do publishers charge interest on advances? Will it encourage the publisher to excellerate the ‘acceptance’ process?

Thanks!

]]> By: Bridgette http://graysonagency.com/blog/publishing/authors-are-entitled/comment-page-1/#comment-752 Bridgette Fri, 05 Dec 2008 17:08:20 +0000 http://graysonagency.com/blog/publishing/authors-are-entitled/#comment-752 You got my attention. Will be returning. You got my attention. Will be returning.

]]> By: Amber L. Smith http://graysonagency.com/blog/publishing/authors-are-entitled/comment-page-1/#comment-484 Amber L. Smith Wed, 27 Aug 2008 16:43:27 +0000 http://graysonagency.com/blog/publishing/authors-are-entitled/#comment-484 The contract I have been offered (and have yet to accept) uses many of these "strategies." For instance, they have based the royalty at 10%. Not bad, you think. But if you do a little research, you find out that they base it off of the distributor price, which is at a discout of 50%. So they're really only offering me 5%. And they won't budge. Another issue, they want all rights. Again, they won't budge. They aren't a big publisher, nor would they invest lots of money in publicity. I'd have to do most of it on my own. That makes the last clause nearly unbearable. They want rights of first refusal on author's next work. Lovely. So the question is--to sign or not to sign? The contract I have been offered (and have yet to accept) uses many of these “strategies.” For instance, they have based the royalty at 10%. Not bad, you think. But if you do a little research, you find out that they base it off of the distributor price, which is at a discout of 50%. So they’re really only offering me 5%.
And they won’t budge.
Another issue, they want all rights. Again, they won’t budge.
They aren’t a big publisher, nor would they invest lots of money in publicity. I’d have to do most of it on my own. That makes the last clause nearly unbearable. They want rights of first refusal on author’s next work.
Lovely.
So the question is–to sign or not to sign?

]]> By: Chelsea Talks Smack http://graysonagency.com/blog/publishing/authors-are-entitled/comment-page-1/#comment-401 Chelsea Talks Smack Fri, 04 Jul 2008 06:05:18 +0000 http://graysonagency.com/blog/publishing/authors-are-entitled/#comment-401 SO HAPPY I CAME ACROSS YOUR BLOG. I'll will be reading it for your words of wisdom....I'm working on my query right now. From the number of readers I have on my blog and the amount of comments I get, I've decided to take the plunge. CHEERS and happy 4th! SO HAPPY I CAME ACROSS YOUR BLOG. I’ll will be reading it for your words of wisdom….I’m working on my query right now. From the number of readers I have on my blog and the amount of comments I get, I’ve decided to take the plunge. CHEERS and happy 4th!

]]> By: Jean http://graysonagency.com/blog/publishing/authors-are-entitled/comment-page-1/#comment-374 Jean Mon, 16 Jun 2008 19:24:27 +0000 http://graysonagency.com/blog/publishing/authors-are-entitled/#comment-374 This sounds like a really interesting and informative topic. I'll be sure to check back soon--information is knowledge! Thanks! :) Jean This sounds like a really interesting and informative topic. I’ll be sure to check back soon–information is knowledge!

Thanks!
:)
Jean

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