In which the author is easily amused

[rolanni]

So, it says here that Carousel Tides (published November 2010) has earned out and paid its fond author royalties. This is the second period in which this has happened, so, yay! Carousel Tides!

Carousel Sun (published February 2014) only has $520 to earn back until it, too, can begin contributing to the author's income stream. Last period, it had more than $1,800 to earn back, so -- well done, Carousel Sun!

For the completists -- Carousel Seas was only published in February 2015 (2015, The Longest Year Ever), so no royalty report this time. Maybe next time.

Across all the royalty statements, sales of ebooks are slightly ahead of hard copy sales.  In the case of the books we've written under contract with Baen, of which Trade Secret is only the most recent example, esales paid back the advance in the first six month's of the titles lives.  Which is interesting, if these sorts of things happen to interest you.

And, no, no report for Dragon in Exile -- maybe the time after next time.

So, that.

# # #

Tomorrow bids fair to be an Odd Day.  Tai Chi from 9-10 am, then change into my impression of business clothes, and head out to the hospital for the afternoon shift.  No one has told me precisely where to report, or even pointed out the employee's entrance, though I think I know where it is.  Also, there's some snafu with my badge, so I won't have it, going in.  Well, at least I know my boss' name, and the location of her office.  The rest can be figured out.

This evening, having finished the errands, and cleaned All The Things, it's time at last to get to work, though what I really want to do is curl up on the couch under a floofy blanket and take a nap.

Ah, well.

Maine continues to labor under a snow-free forecast for at least the next 10 days.  This is just. . .eerie.  Mind you, I'm not complaining; there's a very significant part of me that is Perfectly Happy Never to Shovel Snow Again, but, still -- this is Maine.

And so to work.

Comments

[ebartley.livejournal.com]

I am confused; how can a book earn out more than once? Or is that one of the things amusing you?

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

It's a messy sentence, but friendly and well-meaning.

The book has earned out. I have received two royalty payments from its sales since earn out.

Which are boring sentences, but more accurate.

[charlie russel (from livejournal.com)]

Earned out is a very good thing! I have two active books right now, one of which earned out 8 months ago, and has paid a nice little chunk to me every month since. The other will never earn out. I sort of knew it when I went in, but the advance was enough to make it worth it.

If your Baen books are earning out in 6 months, that's really good news. Well done.

[ariaflame.livejournal.com]

Alas looking at the dates not that quick, but they do seem to be earning out eventually which is good.

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

Well, the Liaden books earn quick; always have. Way back in what now is Ancient Times, when Meisha Merlin was doing the Special Signed by the Authors Hardcover Limited Editions, we typically earned back our advance with just those orders alone. Mind you, earn out is also closely linked to how big an advance you get -- so, a small advance means royalties come quicker. Most authors don't want to gamble that way though, given...errr...various histories here and there, and the Group Wisdom is to go for the biggest advance the publisher will write the check for, and figure you'll never see any royalties. Certainly, our latter day dealings with Meisha Merlin would seem to reinforce that.

[mbarker.livejournal.com]

"earned out and paid its fond author royalties. This is the second period in which this has happened"

Hum... okay, three possible referents for "this has happened." Could be the bundle (earned out and paid royalties), could be earned out, or it could be paid royalties. Now, with a smidgeon of inside knowledge that earning out is a one time event (it means the book has sold enough to cover the advance payments, kind of like paying off the mortgage on a house), we are left with ... second period in which the book has paid royalties. And a round of applause for books that keep on earning their way (this is sometimes referred to as the long tail, although no one seems to mind being hit with that long tail, unlike crocodile tails, kangaroo tails, and other long tails that I can think of).

Yes, I'm enjoying my lunch break and splitting grammar at the same time. Thanks!

[kalimeg.livejournal.com]

Our fine authors really SHOULD get royanties. It's only fair.

[sharon murphy karpierz (from livejournal.com)]

Does it help that Baen does higher-priced eARCs to boost quick earn outs?