Business Question

I wasn't sure if this was better suited in the Publishing Forum, but since it's about ebook numbers and romance, I thought I'd start it here. Please move if it's more appropriate elsewhere.

I am going over my first standalone book contract (for an erotic romance novella) and the one item I'm having trouble pinning down by research is the numbers on the escalator clause for digital copies. (Not that I expect to reach them, but I'd just like to make sure I understand the numbers.)

Ebook royalties bump up at 50,000 net copies sold. The number in the paperback clause is 10,000, which, from what I've been able to gather, is in the zone (maybe on the high side, but in) of making USAT or NYT--not Amazon--bestseller status. (I understand "bestseller" numbers are nebulous at best. I'm relying here on various author experiences, not all of them romance authors.) So for e-books, does that 50,000 number seem about the equivalent of "bestseller" level for ebooks? Or, for those who have signed contracts, is that escalator number within industry-standard?

Thanks for any insight anyone can offer.

Yeah, I saw that news last week. Doesn't apply to my situation, but it's extremely disappointing.

My print version is Nothing at the moment, and might never be. I just received the contract and I'm trying to understand all the numbers to make sure they are within industry standard, specifically the ebook 50,000-copy number, which seems like a lot, but I don't know. I suspect the numbers are within standard range, I just wanted to get some feedback yea or nay.

Old Hack said:

What you want is an escalator clause which is triggered at a point which your book has a reasonable to good chance of reaching.

Click to expand...

You're correct, OH, I don't have an agent. This bit was my thought as well, but I worried I might be off-base. Thank you so very much for the suggested questions. That's exactly what I needed and what I'll do.

Thank you, NineLimes and WhirlyGirly (great user names, both!) for stopping by, and for the encouragement.

Interesting question, Dennis. There was no mention of Audio numbers with respect to the escalator. Because this is a novella, I don't anticipate there being an audio deal, but I'll definitely ask about how those numbers play into total sales numbers. Audio rights are listed separately, as a subsidiary right, so I don't know if they're counted separately. Great seed to plant, though. I don't have a lot of--well, any--clout to negotiate much, but someday I might have more and this will be on my list of Things to Discuss. Thanks so much for posing it.