Quote:
Originally Posted by Daithi
Her publisher paid her a $50,000 advance and an 8% royalty. Another publisher may have offered her only a $25,000 advance but at a 10% royalty.
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Absolutely. But Ms Viehl and her agent may have told Publisher B to get bent.
Big advances are actually better in many ways for the author. Authors encourage it, if not request it, if not demand it. They get their money earlier; they don't have to wait months and months for the publisher to calculate and pay royalties; they don't have to pay back the remainder of the advance (afaik); and most importantly, the author gets bragging rights.
The publisher is a bit more out of pocket. But they seem to go for it because it helps them attract and retain talent.
I'm not saying this is the best system. I'm saying that:
• "7 out of 10 books don't recoup their advance" says nothing meaningful about a title's profitability, or a book's publisher's efficiency. (on this point I assume we agree)
• I have yet to see anyone cite that particular stat (or a variant) as an indication thereof.
So, not really sure who exactly you are trying to correct here....