For those of you who are published, I have a question.

Elizabeth Slick · Jul 22, 2006

I was wondering if, when you are newly published, do you get copies of your own book for free?
Friends and family are already asking me for copies of my book when the time comes. I don't know what to tell them. My book is about to be presented to publishers, but is not there, yet.
Do you get 1 free book? 8? 10? a crate? none?
Thanks for any information.

LoisP · Jul 22, 2006

Elizabeth Slick said:
I was wondering if, when you are newly published, do you get copies of your own book for free?
Friends and family are already asking me for copies of my book when the time comes. I don't know what to tell them. My book is about to be presented to publishers, but is not there, yet.
Do you get 1 free book? 8? 10? a crate? none?
Thanks for any information.

It will depend on whatever contract you finally get with a publisher. I'd suggest 3-6 copies might be the average, although larger publishers might offer more to big name writers. You would also very likely be offered the chance to buy as many copies as you want from the publisher at cost, or at least a reduced rate.

However, I'd always suggest that you respond to requests for free books from friends/family by emphasizing that your goal is to make a liviing from your writing and when your supporters are willing to go to a bookstore and request/buy your book there they are helping you do that.

LoisP

Carlene · Jul 22, 2006

I agree with Lois. It depends on the publisher but do try and get as many free copies as you can - then sell those suckers! You can usually get copies at a reduced price, too, if you want to give speechs and sell you books from the back of the room.

Carlene

Jamesaritchie · Jul 22, 2006

Elizabeth Slick said:
I was wondering if, when you are newly published, do you get copies of your own book for free?
Friends and family are already asking me for copies of my book when the time comes. I don't know what to tell them. My book is about to be presented to publishers, but is not there, yet.
Do you get 1 free book? 8? 10? a crate? none?
Thanks for any information.

Twelve hardcover and twenty-five paperback, if I remember correctly. This seems to be about average. Thanks to my agent, the number then doubled.

I've always given copies to close friends and family members. I figure these few are not going to change sales numbers enough to matter. If they do, sales are going to stink, anyway. I still have more copies lying around than I have use for.

Publishers have always been very good about sending copies to any reviewers or critics we missed during the initial pre-release push, and you can, if you want, but more copies at the author's discount.

jchines · Jul 22, 2006

About a dozen hardcover and trade paperbacks with the last publisher. The current one gives 48, which I'm splitting with my agent so he can send 'em overseas.

Most of my family and friends have been good about buying copies. It might help to stress that author copies are often used for promotion, and while you can usually get more at a discount, you'll still have to pay for 'em.

Jamesaritchie · Jul 22, 2006

Carlene said:
I agree with Lois. It depends on the publisher but do try and get as many free copies as you can - then sell those suckers! You can usually get copies at a reduced price, too, if you want to give speechs and sell you books from the back of the room.

Carlene

The trouble with selling free copies you receive from the publisher is that it can cut down on official sales numbers. If you're going to sell books, don't sell your free copies. Many contracts state you aren't allowed to sell free copies the publisher gives you. Much better to refer people to bookstores, or to buy copies from bookstores or the publisher yourself and then resell them.

When you sell a free copy, you may put a couple of bucks in your pocket, but you take away an official sale, and every official sale gives the publisher opne more reason to buy your next book.

The idea is always to add to official sales numbers, never to take away.

Scribhneoir · Jul 22, 2006

Elizabeth Slick said:
I was wondering if, when you are newly published, do you get copies of your own book for free?
... Do you get 1 free book? 8? 10? a crate? none?

My co-author and I got 10 each and, before they shipped, the publisher asked us if that was enough or if we wanted more. That was enough for me; co-author asked for and received 13.

Susan Gable · Jul 22, 2006

Carlene said:
I agree with Lois. It depends on the publisher but do try and get as many free copies as you can - then sell those suckers! You can usually get copies at a reduced price, too, if you want to give speechs and sell you books from the back of the room.

Carlene

Most contracts prohibit authors from selling their free author copies. I'm not 100% certain, but it might be that even the copies purchased at an author's discount may be off-limits for selling. (Check your contract carefully!) If that's the case, there are often other ways to buy copies at good discounts and then sell those.

Most HQ authors I know get anywhere from 25-100-ish free author copies.

Susan G.

veinglory · Jul 22, 2006

Elizabeth Slick said:
I was wondering if, when you are newly published, do you get copies of your own book for free? .

Of course, in my case 10, and that's from a smallish press.

Gillhoughly · Jul 22, 2006

With a small press publisher I got 2 copies, with a larger, major house I got 12, 2 of those going to my agent so she could court foreign sales rights. When I trib to an anthology I get 1 copy. They nearly always send them AFTER the books hit the racks.

Usually the number of authors' copies is stipulated in the boilerplate contract. You can increase that number, but the publishers don't like authors to sell those copies, since those don't count as royalty sales.

You can buy copies of your own book from the publisher at an authors' discount, about 40% off cover price. I don't think those count as a royalty, either. Since I have a small business I buy copies through it using my tax ID number, so those DO count as royalty sales.

If your relatives really want to support your writing, tell them to buy a copy off Amazon. Many sellers will have brand new books for a considerable discount available on the day of release.

Your relatives may also be under the impression that you will become instantly wealthy once a book as been bought. Send them to me. I'll show them what kind of car I still drive after selling over 20 novels. I bet they could use a laugh.

Jamesaritchie · Jul 22, 2006

books

Susan Gable said:
Most contracts prohibit authors from selling their free author copies. I'm not 100% certain, but it might be that even the copies purchased at an author's discount may be off-limits for selling. (Check your contract carefully!) If that's the case, there are often other ways to buy copies at good discounts and then sell those.

Most HQ authors I know get anywhere from 25-100-ish free author copies.

Susan G.

I receive no royalty from novels I buy at author's discount, but no publisher has ever objected to me selling them. The publisher has still been paid. Most writers I know who buy at author's discount buy them expressly to sell, at least if they buy more than a copy or two.

And, of course, should your book go out of print, most publishers will offer to sell you all remaining copies, usually at a price far below author's discount, and you can do what you like with them.

But I rarely give away more than twenty to twenty-five copies. If twenty to twenty-five sales makes a difference to either my bottom line, or the publisher's bottom line, it means the publisher is definitely not going to be happy with the way things are going, anyway.

And what else am I going to do with all those free copies?

Susan Gable · Jul 22, 2006

Jamesaritchie said:
.

And what else am I going to do with all those free copies?

Well, in the romance genre, often times they're used for a variety of promotional things, from giving them away through an author's website contests, to entering the book in the vast contests for published books (some of those are obviously more prestigious than others) to donating them for various charity-events (from on-line auctions, like Brenda Novak's for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, to individual auctions/gift baskets to support local RWA chapters, or other charity-type deals), to sending them out for reviews, (HQ sends out some copies for review, but not many.), or in press kits.

And that's how we use our books.

Susan G.

Christine N. · Jul 22, 2006

I concur with Susan. I've heard from at least two authors who are expressly prohibited from selling author's copies or copies they purchase. Of course it depends on your contract.

Now, me, I negotiated for more author's copies that were in the original contract. Most publishers don't mind upping the copies; generally it's flexible. I asked for a couple more this time around, realizing that I actually ran out after giving to family. This time they'll mostly go to reviewers who won't take ARC's, like Midwest, or when a newspaper person wants a copy for an interview after the ARC's are gone or the book's been released, or to charity like Susan said. A copy to the elementary school library across the street, where I went to school, things like that. Of course some family will still get them - nieces, nephews, my aunt the librarian.

Tish Davidson · Jul 22, 2006

Carlene said:
I agree with Lois. It depends on the publisher but do try and get as many free copies as you can - then sell those suckers! You can usually get copies at a reduced price, too, if you want to give speechs and sell you books from the back of the room.

Carlene

My contract with Scholastic specifically forbids this.

Jamesaritchie · Jul 22, 2006

Susan Gable said:
Well, in the romance genre, often times they're used for a variety of promotional things, from giving them away through an author's website contests, to entering the book in the vast contests for published books (some of those are obviously more prestigious than others) to donating them for various charity-events (from on-line auctions, like Brenda Novak's for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, to individual auctions/gift baskets to support local RWA chapters, or other charity-type deals), to sending them out for reviews, (HQ sends out some copies for review, but not many.), or in press kits.

And that's how we use our books.

Susan G.

My publishers have always provided extra copies for such things. The free copies I have are either for keeping or giving away, and the publisher provides additional free copies for any specific purpose that even remotely helps the book. If I find a list of reviewers or critics we missed, the publisher sends each a copy. The publisher provides copies for contests, charity events, etc. I've found that if you, or your agent, calls the marketing department, they're usually very good about getting copies to anyone or anyting that mighthelps sales.

I do keep a couple of copies with me when I travel for those spur of the moment opportunities to get a book in the right hands, but even with giving books to friends and family, I have more copies around here than I'll ever need.

Besides, I figure close friends and family are entitled to free copies just for putting up with me over the years.

spacejock2 · Jul 23, 2006

I got 10 copies of each book free and took another 40 instead of some of the royalties. I can buy additional books from my publisher at 40% off, but I'm not allowed to sell them.

Edit to add: I don't have to post out review copies myself. My publisher sends out about 100 each time, and always asks me for 20-30 additional names to send to.

underthecity · Jul 23, 2006

With my publisher, the author normally receives ten author copies. For my third book, I requested a case of forty and received it. The majority of these copies were promised to contributors (of photos and/or information) in exchange for free usage of their materials. The ones left over went to family and friends.

allen

victoriastrauss · Jul 23, 2006

Susan Gable said:
Most contracts prohibit authors from selling their free author copies. I'm not 100% certain, but it might be that even the copies purchased at an author's discount may be off-limits for selling.

With the big houses and larger independents, prohibiting resale is standard (you do get a royalty on author-discount purchases, though). If your publisher has a good distribution system in place, there's no reason for you to be peddling your own books.

The number of free author copies should be something the publisher is willing to negotiate. My current publisher gives me 50 of each edition--I get 25 and my agent gets 25. They'll also send out reader copies to anyone I request (for instance, if I'm on an interview program and the host wants to see the book), and, although I've never had reason to ask, I'm sure they'd send me a free case if I needed it for promo purposes.

- Victoria

illiterwrite · Jul 23, 2006

For my first novel coming out next year, I'm getting 12 copies, and my agent gets 2. I can buy additional copies at 40% off, but it states right in the contract that they're not for resale.

Jamesaritchie · Jul 23, 2006

resale

illiterwrite said:
For my first novel coming out next year, I'm getting 12 copies, and my agent gets 2. I can buy additional copies at 40% off, but it states right in the contract that they're not for resale.

This is interesting. I've never had a publisher tell me I couldn't resell copies bought at author's discount, as long as I sell them at the same price I pay for them, which I'm more than happy to do.

There have been times, at workshops, libraries, etc., where I have to supply the books those attending will buy. I always used books bought at author's discount, and the publishers said this was fine.

Cathy C · Jul 23, 2006

We get a lot more ARCs (advance reader copies) than we do final copies. I think with this last book, we got 50 ARCs and should get 30 copies (each, because there are two of us.) Pretty much ALL of the ARCs go out for promo stuff, and that's primarily what I do with the free ones too. We have an unusual issue in that we're in a very small town, where the nearest bookstore is 70 miles away. So, I've rented a small unit at a consignment store and sell books there. But I definitely do NOT sell my author copies because the contract forbids it. I find the best price at Wal-Mart, where our $6.99 paperback usually comes out for $4.88. The manager has been really good about ordering in extras. I tear off the tag and resell locally for the list price. No harm, no foul.

cwfgal · Jul 23, 2006

This is interesting. I've never had a publisher tell me I couldn't resell copies bought at author's discount, as long as I sell them at the same price I pay for them, which I'm more than happy to do.

There have been times, at workshops, libraries, etc., where I have to supply the books those attending will buy. I always used books bought at author's discount, and the publishers said this was fine.

That surprises me because most of the writers I know are forbidden to resell any books they receive through their contract or purchase with their author discounts unless the books go out of print. I know that is the case with HarperCollins, Pocket, Leisure, and St. Martins, though I suppose some of the smaller publishers might have different policies.

I always used my copies for promotional stuff: I gave them as gifts to bookstore personnel, I gave copies to newspaper reporters who wrote articles about me/them, I gave copies to TV news and radio personalities who did on-air interviews with me, etc. I gave a few away as gifts. My agent negotiated 50 free copies of each of my books, which were evenly divided between the two of us. She used hers to solicit foreign sales and to send to the side agents who got us movie options on two of the books. I purchased extra, discounted copies of my first two to use for marketing and still have 20 - 30 copies of each, but I never purchased extras of the third one and I only have one copy of it.

Beth

HapiSofi · Jul 23, 2006

As I understand it, you can resell books you buy at the author's discount, but you don't get royalties on those copies.

It's true that publishing contracts tend to stipulate that authors can't resell their freebie copies. Have you ever heard of someone being caught out or prosecuted for doing so? I haven't. I expect the provision's there to stop large-scale exploitation. Selling off a half-dozen superfluous copies at your local bookstore shouldn't be a problem. (It's a good thing HapiSofi isn't affiliated with any known publishing house.)

Here's my question: who has that many freebie copies? Or, who's that short on friends and relations? Suitably inscribed freebie author copies make great Christmas presents.

victoriastrauss · Jul 23, 2006

My current Harper contract says that I can buy books at a 50% discount "for personal use, but not for resale."

All my other contracts (Avon, Morrow, Macmillan, and Federick Warne) say something similar.

- Victoria

MadScientistMatt · Jul 23, 2006

The author of Candymaking for Dummies owns a candy store. I found out about that by chance when I happened to wander into that store and find that it had several stacks of the book sitting around for sale alongside the candy. I wonder how the contract handles things like that.

For those of you who are published, I have a question.

New kid, be gentle!

Got the hang of it, here

Reinventing Myself

Dreamer of dreams, teller of tales

volitare nequeo

Grumpy writer and editor

Dreamer of dreams, teller of tales

haz a shiny new book cover

Finestkind

Writer Beware Goddess

Ooo! Shiny new cover!

On the rocks

Hagiographically Advantaged

Writer Beware Goddess

Empirical Storm Trooper