Just offered a Publishing Contract

Shadiyaray

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Hi, I've been searching the threads and can't find anything out about this publisher. They offered me a contract, but I'm concerned with the royalty part. I'm new to publishing contracts so I would greatly appreciate your help with this one. Is 6% off the cover price too low? The royalty part is listed below. I know that there are a lot of scams out there so I wanted to make sure. They seem nice over the email, but I just want to be extra cautious.

The publisher is Secret Cravings Publishings.

Thanks!


SECTION VI. ROYALTY COMMISSIONS
A. PUBLISHER agrees to pay AUTHOR the following royalty commissions:
1. For single author title electronic edition, PUBLISHER will pay AUTHOR forty percent (40%) of the download price for sales of the WORK at PUBLISHER's website, or fifty percent (50%) of net sales PUBLISHER receives if sold through distribution outlets.
2. For single title trade paperback edition if WORK goes into print, PUBLISHER will pay AUTHOR six percent (6%) of the cover price.
 

thefreshchuff

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I would've thought something around 8 to 10% more standard, but perhaps someone else will know more about this. Did you look up the publisher to see if they're in the Bewares, Recommendations & Background Check section?
 
Stacia Kane

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40% is pretty standard for an ebook royalty. 6% is a bit low for a trade paperback royalty; those are usually around 8%.

But yes, please check out the Bewares forum and if there is no thread for this publisher, start one.

:)
 
themanda

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i am super new to this game as well, and readily admit i don't know the answer to your question. however, it seems to be pretty standard practice to approach an agent with a publishing contract in hand to see if they would like to represent you...the theory being that they have a better knowledge to negotiating terms with publishers and do all of that work for you, on your behalf.
i think that's what i would do were i in your (enviable) shoes.

congratulations on the contract!!
 
Stacia Kane

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themanda said:
i am super new to this game as well, and readily admit i don't know the answer to your question. however, it seems to be pretty standard practice to approach an agent with a publishing contract in hand to see if they would like to represent you...the theory being that they have a better knowledge to negotiating terms with publishers and do all of that work for you, on your behalf.
i think that's what i would do were i in your (enviable) shoes.

congratulations on the contract!!
Click to expand...


An agent isn't going to be interested in a small epublisher contract with no advance, though. :( The contract-in-hand approach really only works if the contract is from a NY house, or one which at least pays decent advances.
 

Shadiyaray

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Thanks so much for your help with this! I'll reply back momentarily and let you know my decision. It's kinda leaning towards no as of right now.
 
Snappy

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Stacia Kane said:
An agent isn't going to be interested in a small epublisher contract with no advance, though. :( The contract-in-hand approach really only works if the contract is from a NY house, or one which at least pays decent advances.
Click to expand...

I'd be curious to how an agent would react to a larger epublishing house like Wild Rose or Samhain. What do you think?
 
Stacia Kane

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Its2Snappy said:
I'd be curious to how an agent would react to a larger epublishing house like Wild Rose or Samhain. What do you think?
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Nope.

They *might* want to look at the ms to see if it's worth subbing elsewhere--if the blurb in your initial email really strikes their fancy--but they're not going to take on a client to negotiate an epub contract, even for the biggest houses. No advance+low sales (in NY terms)=no agent interest.
 

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Stacia Kane said:
Nope.

They *might* want to look at the ms to see if it's worth subbing elsewhere--if the blurb in your initial email really strikes their fancy--but they're not going to take on a client to negotiate an epub contract, even for the biggest houses. No advance+low sales (in NY terms)=no agent interest.
Click to expand...

Very true.

Samhain and EC may be big by E-pub standards, but I've never heard of an agent subbing to them. If I were going to approach an agent with an offer in hand, I'd first make sure that the agent had dealt with that publisher already. Actually, I choose where to submit my work based on which publishers agents deal with. If respected agents deal with the publisher, I feel confident they're a safe bet. (Faster way to get a reputable list of publishers than searching books at a stores,too)
 
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