Show Me The Money!

Brenda Hiatt's list at http://www.brendahiatt.com/id2.html
(which is called Show Me The Money, I think) doesn't even have Temptation that I can see. She regularly updates, she asks regularly for people to send her info.


They really are just there to give people ideas, maybe help when negotiating contracts or to understand where they are in the field of authors or what they can expect if they sell to a certain publisher?
I know I check Brenda's list all the time, though can't say they have really reflected my experience (my single titles make way less - probably the lists are skewered by the huge names with sizable paydays) and my category books make more than the lists (again probably because new authors whose books haven't earned out yet are more willing to participate). I'm just curious.

annie jones - The Barefoot Believers - mar 08

Has Brenda's site been updated lately? The last time it was August 2006, I think.

I was pretty surprised by how little places like Kensington and dorchester pay. Sometimes less for a single title than for a harlequin series. Made me wonder why the heck I wasn't trying to write for harlequin! lol.

I think it is updated annually, and any data set tends to date pretty quickly.

Chumplet said:

Has Brenda's site been updated lately? The last time it was August 2006, I think.

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It says June 2007 on the site.

I think Brenda usually updates once a year. Often just before National or so.

Do remember that any data you see is a few years old, even if Brenda's only just collected it. Royalty periods being what they are, the data is on books sold a few years ago even if it's new.

Sales are down all over the place, I fear.

Take it all with a grain of salt because your milage may totally vary. But at least you get some idea.

Susan G.

The other site that has posted information is Karen Fox - http://www.karenafox.com

And yeah, not all that representative (wasn't for me), but it's a good reality check.

Karen Fox's show me the money is borrowed from Brenda Hiatt's web site. They are one and the same.

Keep in mind that the minimum/maximums are based on what the writers told her.

Compare those numbers to how many writers responded.

If a house gives an advance of 1000.00 and only seven writers replied, that may not be typical for their better paid writers.

I ran this one past my agent and she recommended I pay attention to the low end of the royalties.

For instance, the average earn-out for a HQ SuperRomance is between 10,000 and 54,000.

It is just TOO easy to focus on the 54K and expect it. My agent said to always expect the least amount shown on that list. If you earn more than 10K, then kick up your heels!

If you expect to make the 54K, you're in for a disappointment. That amount likely represents the numbers for a very popular writer with a long track record and a lot of fans, not a first sale from a newbie.

Ditto for the advance. However fantastic your HQ might be, they will offer the low end on that scale.

Still--they are seeking NEW writers all the time and it's a pro credit.

Count me in for an Intrigue, soon as I get the time!

Gillhoughly said:

For instance, the average earn-out for a HQ SuperRomance is between 10,000 and 54,000.

It is just TOO easy to focus on the 54K and expect it. My agent said to always expect the least amount shown on that list. If you earn more than 10K, then kick up your heels!

If you expect to make the 54K, you're in for a disappointment. That amount likely represents the numbers for a very popular writer with a long track record and a lot of fans, not a first sale from a newbie.

Ditto for the advance. However fantastic your HQ might be, they will offer the low end on that scale.

!

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LOL - I've got news for ANYONE who expects to make $54K on a Super. Ain't gonna happen.

Those figures came from books from YEARS ago, back when we had a bookclub of over 300K. Yes, you read that right.

The bookclub now is waaaayyy lower than it used to be, as are print runs and retail sales. Trust me when I say $54k would be...amazing...these days. Probably Debbie Macomber made more than that for the Super she did about 5 years back, but then, she's Debbie Macomber. (A delightful lady, by the way.)

And as to advances, HQ has basic standard advances for new authors of each line. Perhaps some agents can get a little more, but it's pretty...standard...for newbies.

Susan G. - who'd LOVE to earn out $54k on her Supers.

WOW

musilian said:

WOW

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Care to elaborate?

Susan G.